San Francisco is a popular destination for travelers, and therefore San Francisco Airport is one of the busiest in the country. San Francisco has everything from iconic restaurants to historic cable cars, a thriving art scene, and eclectic museums – it has something to offer to everyone. Besides having amazing places to visit, San Francisco is also a gateway to other popular and iconic destinations. This makes the San Francisco International Airport quite a busy airport, and affordable SFO Airport parking pretty hard to come by!
With so many people coming in and going out via the San Francisco Airport, you might think that finding a parking spot will be an ordeal. Luckily, that’s not the case at SFO. In fact, there are many parking options at the airport itself, as well as plenty of parking near SFO. These include SFO short-term parking, long-term parking, offsite airport parking, hotel parking, hourly parking, and more.
Here is all you need to know about parking at San Francisco Airport and SFO parking rates.
On-Airport Parking
San Francisco Airport offers both short-term and long-term on-airport parking options. SFO parking rates vary depending on the duration of parking.
1. Short-Term / Hourly Parking
San Francisco Airport offers a Domestic Garage where the option of SFO short-term or hourly parking is available. It is a 5-level facility located in the center of San Francisco Airport for travelers’ convenience. The short-term parking offers easy access to various tunnels that lead to all terminals. The short access to the terminals makes it an ideal place to park your vehicles if you are a business traveler and going on a short trip. It is also ideal for people who are coming to pick up domestic passengers.
Accessing the short-term parking facility is easy. You can access it by following the Domestic Terminal sign located under the International Terminal. Drive along and follow the “hourly” parking sign to enter the domestic parking garage at the San Francisco Airport. Once you arrive in the domestic garage, park at the appropriate color-coded sections designated by the airline.
SFO Short Term Parking Rates
$2 for every 15 minutes
Max $36 for every 24 hours of parking
The domestic garage doesn’t allow vehicles over 6’ 6”.
2. Daily/Hourly Parking
The International Parking Garages at the San Francisco Airport offer daily/hourly parking. It is located right in front of the airport’s International Terminal. There are three ways of accessing the daily/hourly parking lot.
From 280
- If you are coming from 280 South or North, take the 101 South exits towards San Jose by taking the Highway 380 East
- Turn towards the San Francisco International Airport Exit
- Enter the designated area for domestic or international flights
- Follow the Hourly Parking sign
From the North (San Francisco)
- Enter San Francisco International Airport exit by taking 101 South
- Choose between international and domestic flights
- Follow the Hourly Parking sign
From the South (San Jose)
- Enter San Francisco International Airport by taking 101 North
- Enter the designated domestic or international flights area
- Follow the Hourly Parking sign
SFO Daily Parking Rates
$2 for every 15 minutes
Max $36 for every 24 hours of parking
The domestic garage doesn’t allow vehicles over 8’ 2”.
3. SFO Long-Term Parking
San Francisco also offers Long-Term Parking to facilitate travelers traveling internationally or domestically for a long time. The Long-Term Parking facility is located at 801 South Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco. The Long-Term Parking facility offers express entry and exit facilities, in addition to convenient shuttle service, guaranteed parking, and curbside baggage check-in service for several domestic flights. You can reach the Long-Term Parking facility from three directions.
From 280
- Take Highway 380 East from Highway 280 South or North
- Exit the Highway at the South Airport Boulevard
- Make a right turn at the end of the off-ramp
- When you reach the first traffic signal, turn right to enter the garage
From the North (San Francisco)
- Take 101 South
- Make an exit at the San Francisco International Airport
- Take the exit at San Bruno Avenue
- Turn left when you reach the traffic signal and follow the signs to take you to the Long-Term Parking garage.
- Turn left when you reach South Airport Boulevard
- Turn left to enter the garage
From the South (San Jose)
- Take 101 North
- Make an exit at San Bruno Avenue
- Turn right when you reach the end of the off-ramp
- Turn left when you reach the South Airport Boulevard
- Turn left to enter the garage
Express Entry and Exit
Long-Term Parking San Francisco International Airport also offers express entry and exit options. You can swipe in or out using your credit card or use the pay-on-foot kiosk located conveniently close to the garage.
Shuttle Service
San Francisco Airport offers a 24-hour shuttle bus service at the long-term parking facility. Shuttle service runs every 5 to 15 minutes to take passengers to the designated area. With electronic displays installed in the garage, you will be informed about when the next bus is due to arrive. San Francisco buses also have priority loading zones located at each terminal for quick access.
Shuttle Pick-up and Drop-off Locations
The Long-Term Parking shuttle at San Francisco Airport picks passengers up at Departure Level roadway at the center island at the International Terminal and Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 2 also has pickup locations at the curbside.
4. SFO Cellphone Waiting Lot
San Francisco Airport has a designated Cellphone Waiting Lot where people can wait for the arrival of flights. It is a convenient option for people to pick up someone at SFO airport as they can conveniently park in the Cellphone Waiting Lot. It is located adjacent to the Long-Term Parking lot, and parking is free. However, there are some important things to take care of when parking in the Cellphone Waiting Lot.
- Maximum wait time while parking in the Cellphone Waiting Lot is 60 minutes
- The Cellphone Waiting Lot is closed from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. every day
- You cannot leave your vehicle unattended
- Spaces in the Cellphone Waiting Lot are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Cellphone Waiting Lot is located at North McDonnell Rd. and San Bruno Ave.
You can reach the Cellphone Waiting Lot from three different directions.
From 280
- Take Highway 380 East from Highway 280 South or North
- Make an exit at the South Airport Boulevard
- Turn right onto the South Airport Boulevard and then take another right when you reach the second traffic signal.
- Turn left at the end of the road.
- At the next intersection, turn right and then take a quick left turn to enter the parking lot.
From the North
- Take 101 South
- Make an exit at the SAN Francisco International Airport/ San Bruno Avenue
- Turn left onto San Bruno Avenue and follow the signs that will take you to the Long-Term Parking
- Make a left turn at the South Airport Boulevard
- Turn left when you reach the first traffic signal and then turn left when you reach the end of the road.
- Make a right turn when you reach the next intersection, and then take a quick left to enter the parking lot.
From the South
- Take 101 North
- When you have just passed the airport exit, make an exit at San Bruno Avenue.
- Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard and then retake a left when you reach the first traffic signal.
- Turn left when you have reached the end of the road, and then turn right at the next intersection.
- A quick left turn will take you to the Cellphone Waiting Lot.
5. SFO International Parking Garages A and G
San Francisco Airport also has two International Parking Garages. These parking garages are located right in front of the International Terminal to make it easy for them. One parking garage is located on the south side and the other on the airport’s north side.
Accessing International Parking Garages is easy. Just follow the International Terminal signs that you will see on the roadways. You will notice Garages A & G signs present on the flyway. These International Garages have access to all terminals at the San Francisco Airport. You can access the International Terminal by taking the pedestrian walkways. You can also use AirTrain if you want to reach Terminals 1,2, and 3. You will find AirTrain stations in both the International Parking Garages. You can reach the Domestic Terminal 1 or 3 easily by the AirTrain in 10 minutes.
You can reach International Parking Garage in three ways.
From 280
- Take Highway 380 East from Highway 280 South or North
- Exit towards San Jose at 101 South
- Take the exit that takes you to the San Francisco International Airport
- Pick between international and domestic flights
- Follow the signs that guide you to the International Parking Garage
From the North
- Take 101 South to reach the San Francisco International Airport Exit
- Pick between international and domestic flights
- Follow the International Parking Garage sign to enter the parking lot
From the South
- Take 101 North to reach the San Francisco International Airport Exit
- Pick between international and domestic flights
- Follow the International Parking Garage sign to enter the parking lot
SFO International Garage Parking Rates
$2 for every 15 minutes
Max $36 for every 24 hours of parking
The International Parking Garages do not allow vehicles bigger than 8’2”.
San Francisco Airport Parking FAQs
1. Where can I find short-term parking at the San Francisco Airport?
All San Francisco Airport terminals offer short-term parking facilities. There is also an option of hourly parking, which is available at almost all the airport terminals, including
- Domestic parking garage
- International parking garage
- Long-term parking garage
If you are looking for short-term parking at the San Francisco Airport, go for any on-site parking garage except for the ParkValet and the Cellphone Waiting Lot.
2. What are the rates for parking at the San Francisco Airport?
Short-term parking is available at the San Francisco Airport at the rate of $2 for every 15 minutes. If you wish to leave your car in long-term parking, you will have to pay $24 every 24 hours for parking in the long-term parking garage and $36 every 24 hours for the domestic or international parking garage.
3. Can I find free parking at the San Francisco Airport?
You can get free parking at the San Francisco Airport Cellphone Waiting Lot if you are coming to pick up arriving passengers at the airport. You can park your car for a maximum of 60 minutes in this parking lot and cannot leave your car unattended. Parking in the Cellphone Waiting Lot is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only non-commercial vehicles can park in this parking lot. The Cellphone Waiting Lot remains closed from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
4. Does the San Francisco Airport offer shuttles for long-term airport parking?
You will find shuttles for both on and offsite long-term San Francisco Airport parking which runs every 5-15 minutes. They offer round trips and operate 24 hours a day.
5. Is there an AirTrain at SFO?
AirTrain is a form of transportation offered for free at the San Francisco Airport to get in and around the airport. San Francisco Airport has 9 AirTrain stations that offer free-of-charge transport. They stop at each terminal, parking garage, rental car center, and West Field Road for the convenience of the passengers.
This was an overview of parking at San Francisco Airport. We hope that this detailed guide will help you find the best parking option at San Francisco Airport. There are many options for parking near SFO and also at the airport at varying SFO parking rates. You can choose the one that suits your needs and budget the best.
Keep visiting our blog for more information on airport parking across various airports in the U.S.
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