Two weeks in Portugal sounds great. Then you check what the car costs while you’re gone. Leave it in the airport garage and the bill reads $378. That’s before you buy a single souvenir.
SFO long-term parking rates aren’t complicated, but they punish people who don’t plan. The airport’s own garage is the cheapest official choice at $27 a day. Offsite lots can come in at a fraction of that. The real question is what you give up for the savings. Below, we compare the options side by side so you can pick one and stop worrying.
Prices here were checked in October 2026. We matched the airport’s published garage rates against several rate trackers. Offsite numbers come from Way’s own SFO listings. Rates change, so confirm before you book.
What Counts as Long-Term Parking at SFO?
SFO has a garage literally named Long-Term Parking. But the phrase also covers any multi-day stay, in any lot. Two nights counts. Two months counts too.
SFO’s online parking bookings cover stays of up to 60 days; for a longer stay, contact SFO’s pre-booked parking service first. Offsite lots set their own limits, so ask about extended stays before you book.
Most travelers land in one of two camps. Some want the official garage and its AirTrain. Others want the lowest daily rate and don’t mind a shuttle. Both groups reach the terminal fine. The difference is price, and a little convenience.
SFO Long-Term Parking Rates: Onsite vs. Offsite
Here’s how the main choices stack up over common stay lengths. Offsite totals use $7.70 a day, a typical starting rate on Way.
| Option | Per day | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offsite lot at $7.70 | $7.70 | $53.90 | $107.80 | $231 |
| Long-Term Garage | $27 | $189 | $378 | $810 |
| International Garages A and G | $37 | $259 | $518 | $1,110 |
| Domestic Garage | $41 | $287 | $574 | $1,230 |
| ParkFAST | $70 | $490 | $980 | $2,100 |
Onsite rates include taxes and fees. Inside the airport, the Long-Term Garage wins on price. Outside it, offsite wins almost everywhere. You can see current lots and prices on Way’s SFO long-term parking link.
ParkFAST deserves a quick mention. It needs an 8-hour minimum and costs $70 a day. It isn’t built for long stays.
The Onsite Choice: SFO’s Long-Term Garage
It’s the garage most people picture when they think about long term parking at SFO. Here are the facts that matter:
- Rate: $4 per 30 minutes, capped at $27 per 24 hours.
- Getting to your terminal: a free AirTrain, about every four minutes. A skybridge links the garage to the station.
- Height limits: Garage 1 allows up to 6 feet 10 inches. Garage 2 allows up to 8 feet 2 inches.
- Taller vehicles: a surface lot takes vehicles 8 feet 2 inches and over.
- Reservations: optional, but they guarantee a space in busy weeks.
- Maximum stay: 60 days when booked online; longer stays through SFO’s pre-booked parking service.
The AirTrain reached this garage in May 2021. Before that, travelers rode a shuttle bus. It’s a small change that made the garage a lot easier to like.
Who is it for? Drivers who want an official airport garage. Drivers with taller vehicles who need clear height rules. And anyone who’d rather ride a train than wait for a van.
Why Offsite Wins on Long Stays
The longer you stay, the louder the math gets. The Long-Term Garage costs $19.30 more per day than an offsite lot at $7.70. That gap compounds.
- 7 days: you save about $135.
- 14 days: you save about $270.
- 30 days: you save about $579.
Here’s a real-feeling example. A software engineer heads to Singapore for a six-week project. Forty-two days in the Long-Term Garage costs $1,134. An offsite lot at $7.70 a day costs about $323. The difference is roughly $811. That’s a serious chunk of a project budget.
Two more quick cases:
- Nine days in Boston: $243 in the Long-Term Garage, about $69 offsite. You keep roughly $174.
- A 28-day semester break: $756 against about $216. That’s around $540 back.
Not every offsite lot is that cheap. Some run $14 or more a day. Aloft Westin SFO Airport Parking sits about a mile out. It lists from $14.20 a day with a free shuttle. Even at that price, you come out ahead of the garage.
Offsite Lot Types Compared
Offsite lots aren’t all the same. Hotel lots tend to be steady and well signed. Independent lots can be closer. Here’s a snapshot from Way’s SFO listings in October 2026.
| Lot | Type | Distance | Rate from | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Western Grosvenor Hotel (SFO) | Hotel lot | 1.5 mi | $5.50/day | Free |
| Hilton Garden Inn North SFO | Hotel lot | 1.5 mi | $9.30/day | Free |
| Aloft Westin SFO | Hotel lot | 1.0 mi | $14.20/day | Free |
| Anza Parking SFO | Independent lot | 0.8 mi | $15.60/day | Free |
| Courtyard San Francisco Airport | Hotel lot | 1.5 mi | $7.80/day | None |
The last row is the one to watch. A $7.80 rate looks great until you add a rideshare each way. Check the shuttle column before anything else.
What do you give up with offsite? About 30 extra minutes at the start of the trip, plus a shuttle wait at the end. You also load your luggage twice. On a long trip that’s a fair trade. On a one-night stay, maybe not.
Parking vs. BART and Rideshare for Long Trips
Parking isn’t your only way to reach SFO. BART runs to the airport, and rideshare is everywhere. On a long trip, both deserve a look.
Here’s the logic. Parking cost grows with every day you’re away. A rideshare round trip costs about the same whether you’re gone for three days or thirty. So the longer the trip, the better rideshare looks.
Get a quote for your own address. If the round trip costs less than your parking total, the car can stay home.
Luggage changes things. So does a very early flight, when options thin out. And if you live outside the city, your car waiting for you at midnight is worth something. For many drivers, parking still wins on convenience.
Reading Parking Rates Without Getting Fooled
A listed rate is only half the story. Onsite garages bill by the half hour and cap each 24 hours. Offsite lots usually quote a price per day booked. Those aren’t quite the same thing.
- Look at the total, not the teaser.
- Confirm that taxes and fees are included.
- Count days the way the lot does, since check-in and check-out times can shift the bill.
- Compare the shuttle situation, not just the sticker price.
A $9 lot that adds a rideshare each way isn’t really a $9 lot.
Booking Long-Term Parking Without Getting Burned
- Book before your flight. Lots can sell out at peak travel times. A reservation guarantees your spot.
- Read the cancellation terms. Most Way partner lots allow free cancellation before check-in.
- Check shuttle hours for your return. Flights land late. Your shuttle should still be running.
- Screenshot your pass. Cell service can get patchy inside garages.
- Know the extension rules. Some lots let you extend, and some don’t.
- Check the price breakdown. The final screen shows taxes and fees, so compare totals, not teasers.
Not sure where to start? Our quick answer on booking long-term airport parking online covers the basic steps.
Getting Your Car Ready for a Long Stay
A car sitting for three weeks has needs. None of them are dramatic. Most are five-minute jobs.
- Check the battery. An older one can drain over a few weeks.
- Look at your tire pressure before you leave.
- Take valuables out of sight, or take them with you.
- Photograph the car and your parking spot.
- Write down your level and row.
That last item sounds silly. It isn’t. After three weeks away, Level 4 and Level 5 look identical. Ask anyone who has wandered a garage at midnight.
Long-Term Parking with an Electric Vehicle
SFO’s garages offer EV charging at no extra charge. You still pay the normal parking rate. Spots are first come, first served, and you need your own cable for Level 1.
Garage 1 has six charging stalls on each floor from Levels 2 to 6. Garage 2 has 18 stalls on Levels 2 to 6, plus 24 on Level 1. A stall isn’t guaranteed, so charge your battery well before you leave home.
Staying longer than two weeks? Check the charging options at your chosen lot first. Many EV drivers also use EV chargers near the airport for a top-up on the way in.
Peak Seasons and Long-Term Rates
SFO handled about 54.1 million passengers in 2025. Holiday weeks feel like it. Lots sell out faster, and the lower-priced options disappear first.
Picture a family leaving for winter break two days before Christmas. They won’t get many choices. Book early for Thanksgiving, winter break and summer weekends. Offsite lots also keep your total well below garage rates in those weeks.
When the Trip Runs Long: Extending Your Stay
Plans change. A meeting becomes a second week. A flight gets canceled.
On Way, you can often extend a reservation in the app or on the site. Open “My Orders,” pick your booking, and choose to extend. Whether it works depends on the lot. If a lot doesn’t support extensions, you may pay the extra days directly to the lot.
At the SFO garages, you simply pay when you exit. If you booked online, you can change or cancel up to two hours before your entry time.
Which Option Fits Your Trip?
- 2 to 3 days: the Long-Term Garage is fine if you like the AirTrain. Offsite saves about $58 over three days.
- One week: offsite saves about $135.
- Two weeks: offsite saves about $270.
- 30 days or more: offsite, and confirm the lot’s maximum stay.
- Oversized vehicle: use the garage’s surface lot, or call the lot first.
- Electric vehicle: use the SFO garage chargers, or ask your lot what it offers.
Still have a question? Way’s SFO airport FAQs cover the rest.
Mistakes That Cost Travelers Money
Most overspending comes from a few repeat errors. We see the same ones every season.
- Booking the garage out of habit, without checking offsite totals.
- Choosing a no-shuttle lot to save a few dollars.
- Forgetting that the return flight lands after the shuttle’s last run.
- Skipping the height limit, then turning around at the entrance.
- Waiting until the week of a holiday to book.
Each one takes about ten minutes of planning to avoid. That’s a cheap fix for a costly problem.
The Bottom Line
SFO long-term parking rates reward people who compare. The garage is easy and fairly priced for the airport. Offsite lots are cheaper by a wide margin. Pick based on trip length, shuttle hours and your vehicle. Then book early. Go enjoy Portugal. The car will be fine.
Related guides
- How Much Does Long-Term Parking at SFO Cost?
- SFO Parking Fee: Garage and Long-Term Parking Costs Explained
- What Is Long-Term Parking at an Airport and Who Is It For?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is long-term parking at SFO?
The Long-Term Garage costs $27 per 24 hours. Other onsite garages cost $37 to $70. Uncovered offsite lots on Way typically start around $7.70 a day, and a few list lower.
What is the cheapest long-term parking near SFO?
An offsite lot. Rates on Way start near $7.70 a day, and a few listings go lower. Always check whether the lot has a free shuttle.
Can I leave my car at SFO for a month?
Yes. SFO’s online booking covers up to 60 days. Thirty days in the Long-Term Garage comes to $810. Offsite lots set their own limits, so ask first.
Is there a weekly rate at SFO?
SFO bills $4 per 30 minutes, capped at $27 per 24 hours in the Long-Term Garage. Seven days comes to $189.
Is long-term parking safe at SFO?
Onsite garages have official airport security. Many offsite lots offer 24/7 surveillance and attendants. Features differ, so check the listing.
Do I need a reservation for long-term parking at SFO?
For the Long-Term Garage, no. Drive-up parking is available. A reservation still helps in busy weeks. Offsite lots on Way need a booking, which also guarantees your spot.
What are the height limits at the Long-Term Garage?
Garage 1 allows up to 6 feet 10 inches. Garage 2 allows up to 8 feet 2 inches. Taller vehicles use the surface lot.
Can I leave my electric vehicle for two weeks?
Yes. Many onsite and offsite lots allow it. Check the charging options at your lot first if the stay runs longer.
How early should I arrive if I use an offsite lot?
Plan on two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one. Then add roughly 30 minutes for parking and the shuttle.
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