Airport Info
Three Bay Area airports serving the same metro, plus Sacramento as a meaningful alternate with a direct train connection to the stadium.
Bay Area Airports
SJC, SFO, and OAK all serve the same match. SJC is the proximity winner at 4 miles from Levi’s Stadium. SFO is United’s hub and the international gateway with the widest carrier selection. OAK has a cleaner BART connection and lower fares on many routes. For nonrevs, check all three — the best option depends entirely on which carriers serve your origin.
SFOSan Francisco International Airport27 miles to Levi’s Stadium · BART + Caltrain + VTA ~75 minUnited’s primary West Coast hub and the Bay Area’s international gateway — 53 carriers including the full Asian, European, and Latin American roster. Most distant of the three Bay Area airports from the stadium, but the widest carrier selection. Transit: BART SFO → Millbrae, transfer to Caltrain south to Mountain View, then VTA Orange Line to Great America Station. Get a Clipper card at the airport for tap-and-go across all three systems. Allow 90 min on match days.Airlines serving SFO: Aer Lingus (EI), Aeromexico (AM), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air New Zealand (NZ), Air Premia (YP), Alaska Airlines (AS), ANA (NH), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Avianca (AV), Breeze Airways (MX), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern (MU), China Southern (CZ), Condor (DE), Copa Airlines (CM), Delta Air Lines (DL), Edelweiss Air (WK), Emirates (EK), EVA Air (BR), Fiji Airways (FJ), Flair Airlines (F8), French Bee (BF), Frontier Airlines (F9), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Iberia (IB), ITA Airways (AZ), JAL (JL), JetBlue (B6), KLM (KL), Korean Air (KE), LOT Polish Airlines (LO), Lufthansa (LH), Philippine Airlines (PR), Porter Airlines (PD), Qatar Airways (QR), Qantas (QF), SAS (SK), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Southwest Airlines (WN), Starlux Airlines (JX), Sun Country Airlines (SY), Swiss (LX), TAP Air Portugal (TP), Turkish Airlines (TK), United Airlines (UA), Vietnam Airlines (VN), Virgin Atlantic (VS), WestJet (WS).
SJCSan Jose Mineta International Airport4 miles to Levi’s Stadium · Free shuttle to Caltrain · ~20 min by carThe closest airport to Levi’s Stadium in the entire tournament — 4 miles, 10–15 min by car. A free shuttle runs from SJC terminals to Santa Clara Caltrain station, and VTA light rail runs from downtown San Jose directly to Great America Station. Primarily domestic and regional routes — if you can route into SJC on AA, AS, DL, UA, WN, or HA, this is the easiest match-day airport. Car rental from SJC to stadium is the simplest option of any World Cup venue in the US.Airlines serving SJC: Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Frontier Airlines (F9), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines (UA), Volaris (Y4).
OAKSan Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport26 miles to Levi’s Stadium · BART + VTA ~60 minSmaller and often less congested than SFO. Southwest’s Bay Area focus and good LCC coverage. Transit: BART from Oakland Airport (OAK Coliseum station, free connector shuttle) to Milpitas Station, then VTA Orange Line direct to Great America Station — approximately 60 min. No Caltrain transfer needed from OAK. Clipper card works across BART and VTA. Worth checking for Southwest, Alaska, Delta, Allegiant, and Hawaiian routings when SFO is showing impossible.Airlines serving OAK: Advanced Air (AN), Alaska Airlines (AS), Allegiant Air (G4), Delta Air Lines (DL), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Southwest Airlines (WN), VivaAerobus (VB), Volaris (Y4), Volaris El Salvador (N3).
Regional Alternates
Four airports within 135 miles worth checking when all three Bay Area airports are showing impossible. SMF has the strongest carrier mix of any alternate and a direct Capitol Corridor train to the stadium. STS, MRY, and FAT are last resorts.
SMFSacramento International Airport92 miles northeast · ~90 min drive or Capitol Corridor trainThe strongest regional alternate — 11 carriers including AA, AS, DL, UA, WN, B6, F9, and Hawaiian. Capitol Corridor (Amtrak) runs from Sacramento directly to Santa Clara station, which is about a mile from Levi’s Stadium — take a rideshare for the last leg. Several daily departures, approximately 2.5 hrs. Drive is about 90 min via I-80 west. A confirmed Capitol Corridor ticket is an insurable transportation leg.Airlines serving SMF: Aeromexico (AM), Air Canada (AC), Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Frontier Airlines (F9), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), JetBlue (B6), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines (UA), Volaris (Y4).
STSCharles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa)89 miles north · ~90 min driveAmerican, Alaska, and Southwest serve STS. Santa Rosa is north of San Francisco — drive south on US-101 through the city, then down the Peninsula or via I-280 to Santa Clara. No direct rail to the stadium. Worth checking if you’re routing on AA, AS, or WN from a Pacific Northwest or Pacific Southwest origin with no Bay Area options.Airlines serving STS: Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Southwest Airlines (WN).
MRYMonterey Regional Airport57 miles south · ~65 min driveAmerican, Alaska, United, and Allegiant serve MRY. Drive north on US-101 to Santa Clara. No rail connection. Primarily regional feed flights connecting through SFO, LAX, or PHX. Last resort for AA, AS, or UA routings when all Bay Area options are impossible.Airlines serving MRY: Alaska Airlines (AS), Allegiant Air (G4), American Airlines (AA), United Airlines (UA).
FATFresno Yosemite International Airport132 miles southeast · ~2 hrs driveAA, AS, DL, UA, WN, Allegiant, Volaris, and Aeromexico serve FAT — a reasonable carrier mix for the distance. Drive north on CA-99 then west on I-580 or US-101. No direct rail to the stadium. The furthest viable alternate. Only worth checking if everything closer is impossible and you’re on a carrier with FAT coverage.Airlines serving FAT: Aeromexico (AM), Alaska Airlines (AS), Allegiant Air (G4), American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Southwest Airlines (WN), United Airlines (UA), Volaris (Y4).
Nonrev strategy: Check SFO, SJC, and OAK simultaneously — they serve the same market and your best option depends on which carriers you can use. SFO first for international and United routings. SJC for domestic carriers when stadium proximity matters. OAK for Southwest, Delta, and Alaska when SFO is showing impossible. SMF is the best regional alternate with Capitol Corridor train access. For Paraguay vs. Australia (Jun 25) and the R32 (Jul 1), expect loads to be heaviest on Group D fan carriers — Australia means Pacific carrier loads spike.
Getting to Levi’s Stadium
VTA Great America Station is steps from the stadium north gates. The transit routing depends on which airport you land at.
🚇From SJC — Free Shuttle + VTAFree shuttle from SJC terminals to Santa Clara Caltrain/VTA station (5 min). From there, VTA Green or Orange Line north to Great America Station — about 15 min, steps from the stadium. Alternatively, rideshare from SJC to Levi’s Stadium is ~10 min and under $15. The easiest airport-to-stadium transit of any World Cup venue in the US.
🚇From SFO — BART + Caltrain + VTABART from SFO to Millbrae (~10 min). Transfer to Caltrain southbound to Mountain View (~35 min). Transfer to VTA Orange Line to Great America Station (~15 min). Get a Clipper card at the airport — it works on BART, Caltrain, and VTA. Allow 90 min total on match days. Alternatively, Caltrain from 4th & King in SF to Mountain View then VTA.
🚇From OAK — BART + VTAFree BART connector from OAK terminals to OAK/Coliseum BART station. BART to Milpitas Station (East Bay routing, ~50 min). Transfer to VTA Orange Line south to Great America Station (~20 min). Approximately 60 min total. Simpler than the SFO route — no Caltrain transfer. Clipper card works on both BART and VTA.
🚂Capitol Corridor (Amtrak) from SacramentoAmtrak Capitol Corridor runs from Sacramento through Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and Emeryville to Santa Clara station — about a mile from the stadium, rideshare the last leg. Multiple daily departures, approximately 2.5 hrs from Sacramento. Also stops at Oakland Jack London Square and Berkeley — useful if you’re staying in the East Bay. Book at amtrak.com.
🚗Rideshare & DrivingLevi’s Stadium is at 4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara — off Great America Parkway near Highways 101, 237, and 880. From SJC: ~10 min. From downtown San Jose: ~15 min. From downtown SF: ~45 min (much more on match days). Parking is prepaid-only — book in advance at the stadium website. Transit is faster on match days from all Bay Area origins.
⚠️Late Match Note (Jun 16 & Jun 19)Both the Austria vs. Jordan and Türkiye/Playoff C vs. Paraguay matches kick off at 9pm PT — midnight Eastern. VTA runs post-event service but frequencies drop after midnight. Verify return train times at vta.org before these matches. If transit is uncertain, plan to rideshare back or stay in a Santa Clara hotel within walking distance of the stadium.
5 Things To Do in the Bay Area
Between matches — the Bay Area rewards every direction you point yourself.
1San Francisco Waterfront & Ferry BuildingThe Ferry Building Marketplace on the Embarcadero is one of the great food markets in the US — artisan cheese, bread, coffee, oysters, and some of the best restaurants in the city clustered around it. Walk north to Pier 39 or south to the Bay Bridge. Take a ferry from the Ferry Building terminal to Sausalito or Tiburon for the best views of the San Francisco skyline on the water.
2Golden Gate BridgeWalk or cycle across the bridge from the south side — the 1.7-mile crossing takes about 45 min on foot with views of the bay, Alcatraz, and Marin County on the other side. Rent a bike at Fisherman’s Wharf and ride across, then take the ferry back from Sausalito. One of the great half-day excursions from any city in the world.
3Mission District — Valencia StreetSan Francisco’s most vibrant neighborhood — taquerias, bars, murals, and some of the best restaurants in the city on Valencia and 24th. La Taqueria on Mission Street is frequently cited as the best burrito in the US. During the World Cup with Latin American teams playing, the Mission will be electric. Go on a match evening when you don’t have a ticket and find a bar showing the game.
4Napa Valley Day Trip90 minutes north of Santa Clara — rent a car or take the BART/Ferry to Vallejo and bus to Napa. World-class wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and a distinctly Californian summer afternoon. June and July are warm and dry — perfect wine country weather. Book tastings in advance, especially for the better-known estates.
5Chinatown & North Beach, San FranciscoSan Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and most densely populated in the US — Grant Avenue, Dim Sum on weekends, herbal shops, and a cultural density unlike anything else in the country. Walk uphill five minutes to North Beach — the Italian neighborhood with City Lights Bookstore, Vesuvio bar, and Washington Square Park. An afternoon that costs almost nothing and covers more cultural ground than most museums.
