Traveling to San Fransisco

San Francisco has a little something for everybody when it comes to transportation. Public transport, rideshares, and even walking are all viable options for getting from Point A to Point B. While sorting it all out can seem overwhelming at first, don’t be intimidated. With our guide, you’ll be an old pro in no time.

Flying to San Fransisco

There are three main airports in the San Francisco area:

1. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
2. Oakland International Airport (OAK)
3. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

If you’re planning to fly to S.F., the airport you want to select will depend on several factors:

1. Where you are coming from
2. Where you are planning to stay
3. What time you’re going to want to depart to return home

San Fransisco International Airport (SFO)

SFO is about 13 miles south of Downtown San Francisco and Oracle Park. It is a hub for Alaska and United Airlines, has four terminals, and offers nearly 1,000 international and domestic flights each day. It’s unquestionably the busiest airport in the Bay Area.

Advantages of flying into SFO

• Flight selection: Because SFO is a main hub for both national and international flights, you are going to have way more options in terms of airline and flight schedule than the other airports on this list. 
• Proximity: SFO is the closest airport to the ballpark and San Francisco proper. If you are staying in the city, you can shave off some time from your journey to and from the airport. 
• Cost: It is usually fairly easy to find reasonable flights into SFO if you are flexible about the airline and schedule, especially if you plan in advance.
• Although it’s perhaps not as straightforward as we’d like, SFO is accessible via the BART system, so you can get to/from the airport for less than $10 per person.

Disadvantages of flying into SFO

• Traffic: There’s no gentle way to say this. Traffic from SFO can be an absolute nightmare, which can be extra stressful after a big day of travel. 
• Fog: SFO is well known for having flight delays due to fog. Significantly more issues than Oakland International Airport (OAK), which is located directly across the bay.

You should fly into SFO if…

• You want to use public transportation or rideshares on your trip. 
• You are staying somewhere in downtown San Francisco or close to the ballpark.
• You want flexibility to change your return flights.
• You are flying east later in the day. SFO will offer more late-departing and red-eye flights going cross-country than the other two airports

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland International Airport is located across the Bay Bridge to the east of San Francisco and is roughly 20 miles from Oracle Park. It is significantly smaller than SFO and provides a lot of easy options for getting into the city, including access via the subway system after a short shuttle ride from the terminal to the station. 

With two terminals and only 32 gates in total, OAK is an extremely convenient option if you can find a direct flight from your origin airport. You’ll tend to have better luck booking into OAK if you’re flying from somewhere on the west coast, because the airport has significant service from airlines like Southwest and Alaska Air. 

That all being said, flights to and from OAK are often pricier than options at the other two airports. If SFO were a particularly difficult airport to navigate, the extra price might be worth it, but given that it’s pretty easy, it might be hard to justify the extra cost. 

Advantages of flying into OAK

• It’s smaller and easier to navigate than SFO
• It is convenient for flying nonstop to west coast destinations
• It’s accessible via BART
• It doesn’t have issues with fog like SFO

Disadvantages of flying into OAK

• Limited flights leaving later in the day going cross-country, so more difficult to return to the midwest or east coast following a day game
• It is more expensive to get into the city if you’re using rideshare
• It can sometimes be more expensive

You should fly into Oakland if…

• You can get a direct flight to/from your destination. 
• You are staying in the East Bay. 
• You want an easier airport experience and don’t mind spending a few extra bucks.

San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

San Jose Mineta International Airport houses 12 airlines and has numerous nonstop flight options. But it’s a whopping 46 miles from Oracle Park with limited options for public transportation into San Francisco and you need to take a bus to reach the closest BART station at Milpitas Station. 

Perhaps the most notable and heartwarming thing about SJC is that they were the first airport to have therapy dogs in the terminals post 9/11 as a way to help calm anxious passengers. They now have 41 active therapy dogs and 4 therapy cats that make their regular rounds. So if you are an animal lover and anxious flier, this might make the inconvenience of this airport worth it. 

Advantages of flying into SJC

• It can be super cheap. 
• There are dogs. 
• There are cats. 

Disadvantages of flying into SJC

• Pretty much everything else. 

You should fly into San Jose if…

• Honestly, you probably shouldn’t. It doesn’t really make sense. 
• You find a super good deal that makes the schlepping around worth it. 
• You are as obsessed as I am with their therapy animal program and want to see it for yourself. 

Getting from the airports to downtown

When you are figuring out how to get from the airports to downtown, you’ll want to consider transit time, how convenient your destination is to the nearest subway station, and, of course, cost. Here’s a breakdown of what it will cost you to get from each airport to a few points within the city:

Getting from airports to Union Square

Getting from airports to Pier 39

Should I use public transportation in SF?

Yes. Definitely. If you fly into SFO there is a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station located at the airport in the International Terminal, and at Oakland you can take a short 8-minute shuttle to the BART Coliseum station. The BART train will take you to the center of San Francisco. You can transfer to the MUNI (San Francisco Municipal Railway) at Powell or Embarcadero Station, and take a train that basically drops you at Oracle Park’s doorstep. The N Judah, gameday shuttle, or T Train will all get you there. MUNI and BART in San Francisco are reliable, fast, and cheap.

BART Safety

Even for folks who aren’t accustomed to public transportation, BART is a fairly user-friendly and generally safe option. Tons of locals use it to get around the Bay Area, it’s pretty easy to get your luggage on, and the automated kiosks at the station will help guide you through obtaining a Clipper card, the reloadable ticket for both MUNI and BART (more on this in our “Local Transit” chapter). 

If you are traveling later at night, by yourself, or aren’t used to some of the challenges of public transport, take all the precautions you generally would while moving about a new place. Remain aware of your surroundings, keep valuables tucked away, and keep in mind that rush hour is often prime time for pickpockets. 

But overall, taking the BART should be a good experience, and we feel very comfortable recommending it to visitors. Thousands of people ride BART everyday without incident, and it’s a super convenient, reliable way to get around the Bay Area.

Should I use rideshare in SF?

You sure should! If you’d rather avoid the subway, or if it’s not convenient to where you’ll be staying, rideshares in San Francisco are easy to get, albeit sometimes on the pricey side.

Taxis from each airport will be more predictable in terms of fares. You can expect it to cost around $50 to get from SFO to downtown San Francisco, and about $65 to get from OAK. SJC is a totally different story, and will cost you $125, which is another reason we don’t think it’s a great option.

When you get to the airport, check your rideshare apps to see what the going rate is. If it’s less than the standard taxi rates, go ahead and book one. If not, head to the taxi stand and do this the old fashioned way.

Should I rent a car in SF?

Probably not, unless you want to do some sightseeing in Marin County or travel up to wine country in Napa or Sonoma. Parking can be horrendous in the city, and worse than that, break-ins are shockingly common (seriously… you can find this on your Instagram feed pretty easily), so a rental car will come with the absolute requirement of an expensive garage parking space. Renting a car is really not worth the angst unless you absolutely need one. 

One option to consider if you do need a car for limited purposes is ZipCar, which is an hourly car rental service that allows you to explore the Bay Area on your terms. It’s relatively inexpensive (usually $15-$20/hour, including gas and insurance), the cars can be picked up at parking spots all over the city, and it’s great if you just want a vehicle for a day trip or a scenic drive around the city. You just reserve the car on your app, walk up to it, scan in with your app, and the door opens up. The keys are inside and you’re ready to go. (Note: you’ll need a Zipcar membership, which will cost $90/year, so that might make this less appealing financially, but you’d have access to Zipcars around the country). 

Can I do SF on foot?

My favorite way to explore the city is on foot. You can take MUNI to Embarcadero Station, and walk the gorgeous mile and a half stretch along the water to the ballpark. The city is only 7×7 miles, so if you’re an avid walker, you arguably don’t need a motorized vehicle at all once you are inside the city limits. 

Do remember that you are in a major metropolitan area, and in San Francisco you will encounter a large population of unhoused people. While it may be uncomfortable to deal with panhandling, encampments, and the sad reality of poverty, it’s important to be respectful, compassionate, and kind. As you would in any new place, continue to remain aware of your surroundings and stick to main streets, keep any valuables tucked away, and trust your gut. 

Bottom Line

There are a number of transportation options when it comes to traversing the wilds of the San Francisco Bay Area. Opt for SFO or OAK depending on where you’re coming from and how flexible your schedule is, and remember that public transportation is going to be your best friend during your travels. Bring a comfy pair of shoes if you’ll be doing any amount of walking, and only rent a car if absolutely necessary. Be prepared for encounters to write home about and, above all, bring your spirit of adventure.