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SFO · San Francisco, CA · Major Hub

San Francisco International Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for San Francisco International Airport (SFO), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 4 terminals
  • Minimum connection time: 50 min domestic, 1 hr 45 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: 2 hr before domestic, 3 hr before international (airport's advice)
  • To San Francisco: about 30 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

San Francisco International Airport has 4 terminals. Transfer system: Walkways connect all terminals; AirTrain (landside loop, 24h, every ~4 min) for pre-security transfers. All terminals, including the International Terminal A and G gates, are connected by walkways (per official flysfo guidance). Non-precleared international arrivals clear CBP bags-first and re-enter via a security checkpoint. T3 AirTrain station closed until the new facility opens in 2027; use the Terminals 2 & 3 station.

Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk)

6 airlines: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines

Non-United domestic carriers: American, Alaska/Hawaiian, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier, plus Sun Country, Aer Lingus, and Porter.

Terminal 2

3 airlines: Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet

Southwest, Air Canada, and WestJet. United's domestic check-in is grouped into the combined Terminals 2 & 3 area while the Terminal 3 AirTrain station is closed for redevelopment through 2027 (flysfo.com lists United under Terminal 2).

Terminal 3

1 airline: United Airlines

United domestic hub (E/F gates). The Terminal 3 AirTrain station is closed through 2027; passengers use the Terminals 2 & 3 station.

Dianne Feinstein International Terminal (A, G)

14 airlines: United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Emirates, and more

All international; G is United intl, A is other carriers.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
50 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 45 min
International to international
1 hr 45 min
Transfer system
Walkways connect all terminals; AirTrain (landside loop, 24h, every ~4 min) for pre-security transfers
Airside connected
Not published
Check your connection time at SFO

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at SFO: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at SFO

50min

Comfortable

80+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying United both ways?United is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on United?
ConnectionUnitedAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic35'50'-15'
Domestic → International50'60'-10'
International → Domestic80'105'-25'
International → International70'105'-35'

United's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about SFO? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at SFO vary by time of day and checkpoint. San Francisco International Airport recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Check live SFO security wait times

TSA PreCheck
Available
CLEAR
Available
Global Entry
Available

Lounges

1 notable lounge at SFO, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

United Polaris Lounge

International G

United / Star Alliance

Access: Polaris Business intl

Amenities: Sit-down dining, Showers

Amenities

6 of 7 core amenities available at SFO: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.

Showers

Available

Premium lounges

Sleep pods

Not available

WiFi

Free (good)

Nursing rooms

Available

All terminals

Chapel

Available

Terminal 3 Boarding Area E

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas

Dining highlights

Terminal 3: The Plant Cafe, Napa Farms Market

Ground transport to San Francisco

SFO is about 30 min from downtown San Francisco by the fastest transit option.

OptionCostTime
BART
Train
Direct BART to downtown SF (Embarcadero); the station is in the International Terminal, with a free AirTrain link from the other terminals.
Variesabout 30 min
Uber/Lyft
Rideshare
VariesVaries

Parking

SFO parking ranges from $27/day economy to $37/day short-term. The International Garage is $37 per 24 hours and the Domestic Garage is $41 per 24 hours, so the lower garage rate is shown as short-term. The Long-Term Garage (AirTrain to all terminals) is the cheapest at $27/day. Valet is run by the Grand Hyatt at SFO, which does not post a fixed daily rate on the airport's site.

Short-term
$37/day
Long-term
$27/day
Economy
$27/day
Valet
Not published

Can I leave SFO during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside SFO. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of San Francisco. Round-trip to the city center is about 1 hr plus re-screening on return.

BART connects SFO to downtown SF in about 30 min (the one-way fare includes BART's SFO airport surcharge; check bart.gov for the current rate, which rose with BART's January 2026 fare increase). With 5+ hours, you can do Embarcadero or the Mission.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Grand Hyatt at SFO
    On-airport AirTrain
    $$$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at SFO?

San Francisco International Airport recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at SFO?

SFO requires at least 50 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 105 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. Transfer system: Walkways connect all terminals; AirTrain (landside loop, 24h, every ~4 min) for pre-security transfers.

How long does it take to get between terminals at SFO?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for SFO, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave SFO during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside SFO. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 60 minutes plus re-screening. BART connects SFO to downtown SF in about 30 min (the one-way fare includes BART's SFO airport surcharge; check bart.gov for the current rate, which rose with BART's January 2026 fare increase). With 5+ hours, you can do Embarcadero or the Mission.

Does SFO have showers?

Yes, SFO has showers at Premium lounges.

Does SFO have sleep pods?

SFO does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.

Is WiFi free at SFO?

Yes. SFO offers free WiFi throughout the airport.

What is the cheapest way to get from SFO to San Francisco?

See the ground transport section for all options from SFO to San Francisco.

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at SFO?

SFO supports TSA PreCheck and has CLEAR lanes. Global Entry kiosks are available for returning international travelers. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, and SFO posts live wait times on its website.

Where should I eat at SFO during a layover?

Notable dining at SFO includes The Plant Cafe (Terminal 3), Napa Farms Market (Terminal 3).

How much does parking cost at SFO?

SFO parking rates: $37/day short-term, $27/day long-term, $27/day economy. The International Garage is $37 per 24 hours and the Domestic Garage is $41 per 24 hours, so the lower garage rate is shown as short-term. The Long-Term Garage (AirTrain to all terminals) is the cheapest at $27/day. Valet is run by the Grand Hyatt at SFO, which does not post a fixed daily rate on the airport's site.

Is there a hotel at SFO for overnight layovers?

Yes. Grand Hyatt at SFO is on-airport (On-airport AirTrain) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.

Which terminal does my airline use at SFO?

SFO has 4 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk): American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines; Terminal 2: Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet; Terminal 3: United Airlines; Dianne Feinstein International Terminal (A, G): United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Are there pet relief areas at SFO?

Yes. Pet relief areas. SFO has the Wag Brigade therapy animal program.

Can I cruise from San Francisco?

Yes. Cruise ports within 100 miles of SFO: San Francisco Cruise Terminal (13 mi). See our cruise port guides for sailing lines, parking, and embarkation details.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at SFO?

Yes. Terminal 3 Boarding Area E.

Compare SFO to other airports

See how SFO ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversSFO is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsSee which airports offer capsule hotels and nap roomsShortest MCTSFO dom-to-dom: 50 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 45 min

More on San Francisco and SFO

Go deeper on connecting through SFO and on visiting San Francisco.

Airlines operating at SFO

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of SFO.

Pack for your San Francisco trip

Destination packing lists for cities served by SFO.

Cruise ports near SFO

Cruise terminals within 100 miles of San Francisco International Airport.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security, ground transport and parking verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with San Francisco International Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.