San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Getting There

Getting to San Francisco

Getting to San Francisco can be done any number of ways; cars, buses, railroads, and the most common method, airplanes, are all feasible ways to reach the city, though some may offer benefits such as speed or cost-effectiveness. Plan your departure times carefully and be sure to factor in potential traffic or flight delays, especially if you are on a tight schedule.

Arriving by Air: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Arriving by Air: Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Arriving by Air: Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Arriving by Rail
Arriving by Car
Arriving by Bus

Arriving by Air: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport is the city's busiest airport and one of the busiest in the USA, with over 40 million passengers passing through its terminals each year. You can find more detailed information on San Francisco International Airport on our dedicated San Francisco Airport Guide page.

You can easily reach the airport or the city by taking the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) system - a local train service which has its own station inside the airport. A single journey from the airport to the Pittsburg/Bat Point stop will cos $10.90. A shared shuttle service is offered by FO Airporter and Sam Transport, with tickets costing from $12 to $50 depending on your end destination. If comfort is your main quest, there are several airport taxi companies to be found outside the Arrivals hall - a journey into the city will cost between $30 and $45.

Arriving by Air: Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland International Airport is smaller than San Francisco International but much less daunting. If you require more detailed information on Oakland International Airport, please view our dedicated San Francisco Airport Guide.

You can easily access the city using the BART train system, with a journey to the Pittsburg/Bat Point stop costing just under $5, however you will first need to catch a connecting AirBART shuttle for $3 from the airport to the closest BART stop, Coliseum Station. If you prefer a private journey into town, there are several taxi companies available at the airport however the fare can cost upwards of $60.

Arriving by Air: Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

The Mineta San Jose International Airport is located 50 miles south of downtown San Francisco, and two miles north of downtown San Jose city. For detailed information on this airport as well as the other airports in San Francisco, see our San Francisco Airport Guide.

The closest Greyhound bus and Amtrak Rail stations are situated 3.2 miles from the airport and are reachable by taking a taxi. You can access the Metro Light Rail Station (for connections to the wider-reaching BART rail network) and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station by taking VTA Airport Flyer bus.

Arriving by Rail

Amtrak is the primary railroad service that can get passengers to and from the Bay Area utilizing both long-distance as well as intercity trains. Travelling to San Francisco on Amtrak, you will disembark at Emeryville or Oakland’s Jack London Square Station, located in the East Bay. From there, take the Amtrak California Thruway bus over the Bay Bridge. It stops at 101 The Embarcadero (near the Ferry Building) as well as other destinations in the downtown area. It costs nothing to take the bus as it is provided free to Amtrak customers.

If you are traveling on a shorter distance rail line, you may be able to transfer over to BART trains at stations in Richmond or the Oakland Coliseum. Amtrak passengers that are visiting from southern areas may find the Caltrain to be more convenient and transfer over at Diridon Station in San Jose, and from there take a direct route to 4th and King in San Francisco. You can contact Amtrak either by calling 1-800-872-7245, or check out tickets and their rail lines on their website.

Some of the Amtrak routes in the Bay Area include:

The California Zephyr - Running daily between Chicago and Emeryville. Contains connections to and from the east coast.

The Coast Starlight - Running daily between Seattle, Portland, Emeryville, and Los Angeles. You can reach San Francisco by either transferring to the Caltrain in San Jose or the Amtrak bus in Emeryville.

The Capitol Corridor - Running 16 times daily (11 on weekends and holidays) between Sacramento and Emeryville. Some trains serve San Jose but using the Caltrain to move between San Jose and San Francisco is often easier and faster. You can also use the BART system at the Richmond station and you can purchase discount tickets in the café car.

The San Joaquins - Running 4 times daily between Bakersfield, Stockton and Emeryville. From here you can head straight to San Francisco on the Amtrak bus or transferring at the Richmond station to a BART train.

Whatever method you decide to use or whatever rail you decide to ride, always make sure to have your tickets ready and your luggage clearly tagged. Cyclists are allowed on the Caltrain and BART trains, but there is limited space. Check prices beforehand so you have exact change when making transfers and purchasing ride tickets. There are often machines at the stations in order to purchase tickets, but if the station you are at has no ticket machine, you can simply ask the driver in order to avoid fines from the fare inspector.

Arriving by Car

Cars and buses are also good ways to making it into the city. Cars are much less desirable though, as new visitors may not be comfortable navigating the steep streets, winding roads, and sudden one-way switches. There is also very little parking. What parking you might find will likely be very expensive. Taxis within the city are available, but can also quickly become expensive. Finding your way into the city can be a little tricky, so examine maps beforehand or utilize a GPS navigation unit (which can also reroute you much quicker if you take a wrong turn than consulting a map).

Make sure to time your drive appropriately in order to avoid traffic as much as possible, otherwise you may find yourself stuck on the road for hours. Peak rush hour times occur during the weekdays (however, weekends are not always exempt from traffic) before 9:00am and after 5:00pm. Consult key radio stations to obtain information about road conditions while you drive. You may also want to check websites or call for information regarding any construction or road closings.

Four major highways approach San Francisco and can lead you into the heart of the city:

The US 101 comes in on the eastern side of the San Francisco peninsula. It is the most direct route if you are visiting from the south, but can become full of traffic and quickly back up for miles.

If you are interested more in scenery, you can take Interstate 280 for some lovely sights of the area. It too comes in from the east, but has poorer connections than US 101.

Interstate 80 comes in from the east and travels over the San Francisco Bay Bridge. This can offer you a good taste of what it to come in your visit by offering a nice view.

US 101 also comes through the north, but in taking this direction you get an extra treat, as it comes over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Smaller roads can take you into the city, but if you are unfamiliar with the area, you may end up somewhere you didn’t plan to be, which may or may not be a questionable district. It is best to stick with main roads and plan your trip out beforehand.

Arriving by Bus

Several bus companies provide service to the Bay Areas and San Francisco. However, Greyhound bus is the only regular bus in the region that travels long distances to bring passengers to San Francisco. Terminals are located at the Transbay terminal in SoMa. You can purchase tickets online– doing so early on can get you better prices, and be sure to look for extra ways to obtain discounts. You can also call them at 1-800-231-2222.

Backpackers and hikers might enjoy trying the Green Tortoise bus line as it ferries them around the town adding in plenty of sights and a little bit of adventure as well.

You can contact GotoBus at 1-617-354-2101 for tickets to and from Los Angeles for a variety of bus companies.

Several regional bus systems serve San Francisco from the immediate suburbs:

Hotels in San Francisco, California