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Hints and information on how to efficiently navigate the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
Note: The information is subject to change.
The San Francisco Bay Area is served by three airports; Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO), and San Jose (SJC). Here is some information on how to get to the cities of San Francisco and San Jose and between airports from each of these airports:
- Oakland (OAK)
- OAK to downtown San Francisco
- Take the AirBART express bus service to the BART Coliseum Station stop (the end of the line). You have to pay about $2.00 for this ride. You may pay on the bus or at the machines at the bus stop at the airport. Transfer to the SF Daly City line BART train to Powell Road after you have paid your fare using the machines at the station. The cost for this segment is about $3.00. The entire journey should take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
OAK to SFO
- Take the AirBART express bus service to the BART Coliseum Station stop (the end of the line). Transfer to the SF Daly City line BART train to Balboa Park. Transfer to the SF Colma line to Colma and ride it to the last stop. At Colma, take the BX bus to the SFO airport. The entire journey should take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours and cost a little under $7.00 in all.
- OAK to SJC
- Take the AirBart express bus to the Coliseum Station. Take Bart from there to the Freemont Station, then take the VTA #180 Express Bus to the Civic Center. There you can take the Light Rail to the Metro Light Rail Station where you can take the VTA Airport Flyer to the SJC airport.
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight
- San Francisco (SFO)
- The airport's Web site have a lot of information on Ground Transportation Services. Please review before going out to the airport.
- SFO to OAK
- Take the BX Caltrans bus to the Colma station. This is an express bus that only stops at the airport terminals and the United Maintenance hangars. At Colma take the SF Colma line to Balboa Park station. At Balboa Park, change to the SF Daly City line to the Coliseum Station. At the Coliseum Station, take the AirBart express bus to OAK. The entire journey should take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours and cost a little under $7.00 in all.
- You may also take the SF Colma line to Balboa Park station. At Balboa Park, change to the SF Daly City line to the Coliseum Station. At the Coliseum Station, take the AirBart express bus to OAK. The entire journey should take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours and cost a little under $7.00 in all.
- SFO to downtown San Francisco, public transportation is your best bet:
- Take the Express bus provided by SamTrans, it is very inexpensive (about $3.50), and you are there in about 20 minutes. You can find more details here. Note: The Express is currently the KX; ensure that you look at the destination of the bus. It should say Downtown San Francisco, not Palo Alto. The buses stop in the same place regardless of whether they are coming from or going to the city. You may also take the local bus, the 292, it is cheaper, but takes almost 45 minutes to complete the journey. If you have questions, please call 1-800-736-2008.
- Take the BART train to Powell Road. The cost is about $5.00 and takes about 30 minutes. Follow the signs to the above ground station.
- Take the Airport Express Shuttle bus for about $12.00 to one of the local hotels downtown
- No airline employee discounts are available
- Take the Super Shuttle [1-800-258-3826 (1-800-BLUE-VAN)]
- Pickup and drop off at the upper boarding level in front of United Airlines and US Airways
- $17.00 for 1st per person; 8 for each additional if you are going to a residence, business or landmarks, etc. If you are going to a hotel then it is $12.50 per person
- No reservations is necessary from the airport but, if you are going to the airport you should try to make reservations at least 24 hours in advance. Reservations can be made online or via the telephone.
- Drive time is about 30 minutes from the airport to the city and about 45 minutes to one hour to the airport (due to several stops). Give yourself extra time during rush hour.
- No airline employee discounts are available
- SFO to SJC
- Take Bart to the Freemont Station, then take the VTA #180 Express Bus to the Civic Center. There you can take the Light Rail to the Metro Light Rail Station where you can take the VTA Airport Flyer to the SJC airport.
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight
- Mineta San José (SJC)
- You can find more detailed information here on public transportation from the airport
- SJC to downtown San José
- Take the VTA Airport Flyer to the Metro Light Rail Station and then into the city
- The shuttle runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.
- Take the VTA Airport Flyer to the Caltrain station and then into the city
- SJC to downtown San Francisco
- Take the Santa Clara Station bound VTA Airport Flyer. Once there, take the Caltrain to downtown San Francisco. The fare is $5.50 and the journey is 15 minutes on the VTA and then 1.5 hours on Caltrain. The train makes 27 stops, is very comfortable and has power outlets at select seats.
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.
- Last train is at 10:30 p.m.
- Take the Light Rail bound VTA Airport Flyer to the Metro Light Rail Station. Take the Light Rail to the Civic Center, then the VTA #180 Express Bus to Fremont Bart Station. You can then take Bart to downtown San Francisco (Powell Street).
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight
- SJC to SFO
- Take the VTA Airport Flyer to the Metro Light Rail Station. Take the Light Rail to the Civic Center, then the VTA #180 Express Bus to Fremont Bart Station. You can then take Bart to the San Francisco airport
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight
- SJC to OAK
- Take the VTA Airport Flyer to the Metro Light Rail Station. Take the Light Rail to the Civic Center, then the VTA #180 Express Bus to Fremont Bart Station. You can then take Bart to Balboa Park station. At Balboa Park, change to the SF Daly City line to the Coliseum Station. At the Coliseum Station, take the AirBart express bus to OAK.
- The VTA Airport Flyer runs about every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to midnight
- Naturally, you can always take a cab, but it will be more expensive. Just follow the airport signs to the cab stand and tell the agent where you are heading or just stand on the cab line.
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