Airport Connections (SFO & OAK)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
BART trains connect SFO with downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland and many other Bay Area destinations. BART is the best way to avoid sitting in Bay Area traffic. Trains depart from the SFO International Terminal, and it's just 30 minutes to downtown San Francisco. Plan your trip with the Trip Planner.
The BART station is located in the International Terminal, a short walk from Terminals 1 and 3.
You can also take the free SFO AirTrain from all terminals directly to the BART station. Follow the signs upstairs and board an AirTrain to the BART station.
If you fly into the International Terminal, turn right when leaving customs, and take the escalator up to the departures level. Walk straight ahead and turn left at the art exhibit and you’ll see the station entrance.
To Downtown San Francisco
Board an Antioch train or Richmond train to one of the four downtown San Francisco BART stations. From there, it’s an easy walk or short cab ride to most San Francisco hotels and the Moscone Convention Center.
Find your hotel on this map of downtown San Francisco.
To Downtown Oakland
Board an Antioch train or Richmond train to the City Center/12th Street Station and you'll be right in downtown, a few blocks from Oakland Chinatown and Jack London Square.
Returning to SFO
Take any SFO-bound train. Direct service is available from downtown San Francisco and Downtown Oakland on the Antioch to SFO (Yellow) line and the Richmond to Millbrae + SFO (Red) line. SFO will always be listed in the name of the train and line. From other areas, it may be necessary to transfer to an SFO-bound train. Check the BART System Map for transfer points.
Upon arriving at SFO, walk, or take the AirTrain Red Line from BART to Terminal 1, 2 or 3 for domestic flights. The International Terminal check-in counters are a short walk from the BART station main entrance.
BART Fares
Fare Payment
Children 4 and under ride free.
BART no longer sells paper tickets. Every rider needs a Clipper card. There is a one-time $3 charge to purchase a Clipper card from a BART vending machine. You can avoid this fee by adding a new Clipper card to your digital wallet.
Step by Step instructions on how to add a Clipper card to your Apple Wallet.
Step by Step instructions on how to add a Clipper card in Google Pay.
Clipper cards are like debit cards with stored value.
All BART stations have Clipper vending machines that accept cash or credit cards. BART's fare structure is built on a mileage-based formula. To find your fare, click here or check the chart posted on the ticket vending machine. Weekly or monthly passes are not available.
To enter the BART system, hold your Clipper card or phone loaded with Clipper in your wallet over the fare gate card reader. The correct fare will be deducted automatically. If your card has too little value, a sign on the fare gate will tell you to go to a nearby Addfare vending machine where you can add enough value to exit the BART system.
BART Schedule
Use the BART Trip Planner to look up BART departure and arrival times.
BART Weekday Airport Service Hours
5:00 a.m. to Midnight.
BART Weekend Airport Service Hours
Sat: 6:14 a.m. to Midnight.
Sun: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday morning, SFO Airport trains from downtown San Francisco start at 7:57 a.m. Please make alternative airport travel plans if you need to catch an early morning Sunday flight.
Luggage and Accessibility
Luggage may be stowed under your seat or held in your lap. Please keep the doorways clear. Some cars have space near the doors to accommodate wheelchairs, bikes or strollers. If the space is not being used by a person with a disability, you may store your luggage there, but please keep it under your control at all times.
All BART stations have elevators and extra wide faregates for large luggage and for use by people with disabilities.
Long Term Parking
Airport parking can be a hassle and is always expensive, except at BART stations. We offer inexpensive multi-day parking at many stations with easy online reservations.
Another option to get to SFO via BART is to drive to Millbrae Station and use the BART app to purchase multi-day reserve parking (formerly called airport/long term parking). Then take a quick ride from Millbrae to SFO airport. The official BART app is a convenient way to purchase reserved parking without needing to print out paper permits in advance. Reserve parking is $6.00 per day. To pay for reserved parking on the app, select single/multi-day reserved parking, and add the license plate of the car you plan to drive and phone number to your profile. Make the payment. Park in the Reserved or “Permit” area. There is no need to print anything in advance or display anything inside your car.
Multi-day reserved parking may be purchased up to one month in advance, and twenty days of parking may be purchased at a time. Parking on weekends is free.
Visit the Parking section for more information.
Download the BART app