• Neighborhoods
• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Activities
• Travel Tips
• Features

By Air

Nonstop flights from New York to San Francisco take about 5 1/2 hours, and with the 3-hour time change, it is possible to leave JFK by 8 AM and be in San Francisco by 10:30 AM. Some flights may require a midway stop, making the total excursion between 8 and 9 1/2 hours. Nonstop times are approximately 1 1/2 hours from Los Angeles, 3 hours from Dallas, 4 1/2 hours from Chicago, 4 1/2 hours from Atlanta, 11 hours from London, 12 hours from Auckland, and 13 1/2 hours from Sydney. Travel time from Melbourne is about 16 hours. There is no nonstop service from Melbourne to San Francisco.

Heavy fog is infamous for causing chronic delays into and out of San Francisco. If you're heading to the East or South Bay, make every effort to fly into Oakland or San Jose airport, respectively. Oakland International Airport, which is easy to navigate and accessible by public transit, is a good alternative to San Francisco International Airport.

Airport Information

The major gateway to San Francisco is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 15 mi south of the city. It's off U.S. 101 near Millbrae and San Bruno. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is across the bay, not much farther away from downtown San Francisco (via I-80 east and I-880 south), but rush-hour traffic on the Bay Bridge may lengthen travel times considerably. San Jose International Airport (SJC) is about 40 mi south of San Francisco; travel time depends largely on traffic flow, but plan one hour with moderate traffic. At all three airports security check-in can take 15-30 minutes at peak travel times.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO. 650/761-0800. www.flysfo.com). Oakland International Airport (OAK. 510/577-4000. www.flyoakland.com). San Jose International Airport (SJC. 408/277-4759. www.sjc.org).

Getting from San Francisco International Airport

A taxi ride to downtown costs $35-$40. Airport shuttles are inexpensive and generally efficient. Lorrie's Airport Service and SuperShuttle both stop at the upper-level traffic islands, outside from the ticket counters, and take you anywhere within the city limits of San Francisco. They charge $15-$17, depending on where you're going. Lorrie's also sells tickets online, at a $2 discount; you can print them out before leaving home. SuperShuttle offers discounts for more than one person traveling in the same party ($15 for the first passenger, $8 each additional), but only if you're traveling to a residential address. Shuttles to the East Bay, such as BayPorter Express, also depart from the upper-level traffic islands; expect to pay around $35. Inquire about the number of stops a shuttle makes en route to or from the airport; some companies, such as East Bay Express, have nonstop service, but they cost a bit more. Marin Door to Door operates van service to Marin County for $25 to $35 for the first passenger, $12 each additional; you must make reservations by noon the day before travel. Marin Airporter buses cost $16 to $19 and require no reservations but stop only at designated stations in Marin; buses leave every 30 minutes, on the half hour and hour, from 5 AM to 10 PM.

You can take BART directly to downtown San Francisco; the trip takes about 30 minutes and costs less than $5. Trains leave from the international terminal every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends.

Another inexpensive way to get to San Francisco is via two SamTrans buses: No. 292 (55 minutes, $1.50 from SFO, $3 to SFO) and the KX (35 minutes, $4; only one small carry-on bag permitted). Board the SamTrans buses on the lower level.

To drive to downtown San Francisco from the airport, take U.S. 101 north to the Civic Center/9th Street, 7th Street, or 4th Street/Downtown exit. If you're headed to the Embarcadero or Fisherman's Wharf, take Interstate 280 north (the exit is to the right, just north of the airport, off U.S. 101) and get off at the 4th Street/King Street exit. King Street becomes the Embarcadero a few blocks east of the exit. The Embarcadero winds around the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.

Getting from Oakland International Airport

A taxi to downtown San Francisco costs $35-$40. By airport regulations, you must make reservations for shuttle service. BayPorter Express and other shuttles serve major hotels and provide door-to-door service to the East Bay and San Francisco. SuperShuttle operates vans to San Francisco and Oakland. Marin Door to Door serves Marin County for a flat $45 for the first passenger, $12 each additional; make reservations by noon the day before travel.

The best way to get to San Francisco via public transit is to take the AIR BART bus ($2) to the Coliseum/Oakland International Airport BART station (BART fares vary depending on where you're going; the ride to downtown San Francisco costs $3.15).

If you're driving from Oakland International Airport, take Hegenberger Road east to I-880 north to I-80 west over the Bay Bridge.

Getting from San Jose International Airport

A taxi to downtown San Jose costs about $15; a trip to San Francisco runs about $110. South & East Bay Airport Shuttle transports you to the South Bay and East Bay; a ride to downtown San Jose costs $39 for the first passenger, $9 each additional, and a van to San Francisco costs $89 for the first passenger, $9 each additional. Reservations are required to the airport, but not from the airport; call from baggage claim before you collect your luggage. Reservations are also required for VIP Airport Shuttle, which has service to downtown San Francisco for $89 for the first three passengers, $7 each additional; to downtown San Jose costs $19.

To drive to downtown San Jose from the airport, take Airport Boulevard east to Route 87 south. To get to San Francisco from the airport, take Route 87 south to Interstate 280 north.

Taxis & Shuttles

American Airporter (415/202-0733. www.americanairporter.com). BayPorter Express (415/467-1800. www.bayporter.com). East Bay Express Airporter (510/526-0304). Lorrie's Airport Service (415/334-9000. www.sfovan.com). Marin Airporter (415/461-4222. www.marinairporter.com). Marin Door to Door (415/457-2717. www.marindoortodoor.com). SamTrans (800/660-4287. www.samtrans.com). South & East Bay Airport Shuttle (408/559-9477). SuperShuttle (800/258-3826 or 415/558-8500. www.supershuttle.com). VIP Airport Shuttle (800/235-8847, 408/885-1800, or 408/986-6000. www.yourairportride.com).