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), every figure cited to the airport's own data.

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 4 terminals, airside-connected
  • Minimum connection time: 45 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: 2 hr before domestic, 3 hr before international
  • To San Francisco: about 30 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes

Terminals & connections

San Francisco International Airport has 4 terminals. All are airside-connected; you can transfer between them without re-clearing security. T1, T2, T3 are connected airside. International Terminal requires passing through security (G from domestic requires short walk).

Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk)

5 airlines: Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines

Non-United domestic.

Terminal 2

2 airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines

American and Delta.

Terminal 3

1 airline: United Airlines

United Airlines domestic hub.

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
45 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 30 min
International to international
1 hr 15 min
Transfer system
AirTrain (landside loop); most terminal-to-terminal transfers inside security via walkways
Airside connected
Yes

Layover helper

Interactive tool

Enter your layover details and we will tell you whether you have a tight connection, a comfortable connection, or enough time to leave SFO.

Security & TSA

Typical TSA wait at SFO is 25 minutes at peak and 8 minutes off-peak. Arrive at least 2 hr before a domestic flight and 3 hr before international.

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.

Option Cost Time
BART
Train
Direct BART to downtown SF (Embarcadero).
 $11 30-35 min
Uber/Lyft
Rideshare
 $40-$80 25-60 min

Parking

SFO parking ranges from $25/day economy to $42/day short-term.

Short-term
$42/day
Long-term
$27/day
Economy
$25/day
Valet
$48/day

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 30 min for $11 one-way. With 5+ hours, you can do Embarcadero or the Mission. Budget 3 hours round trip.

Overnight layover hotels

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

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at SFO?

Arrive at least 120 minutes before a domestic flight from SFO, and 180 minutes before an international flight.

What is the minimum connection time at SFO?

SFO requires at least 45 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. All terminals are airside-connected, so you do not need to re-clear security when changing terminals.

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

Budget 10 min for same-terminal transfers and 20 min for different-terminal transfers at SFO via AirTrain (landside loop); most terminal-to-terminal transfers inside security via walkways. T1, T2, T3 are connected airside. International Terminal requires passing through security (G from domestic requires short walk).

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 30 min for $11 one-way. With 5+ hours, you can do Embarcadero or the Mission. Budget 3 hours round trip.

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?

The cheapest option is typically BART at $11, taking 30-35 minutes. Direct BART to downtown SF (Embarcadero).

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. Typical peak-hour wait is 25 minutes.

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: $42/day short-term, $27/day long-term, $25/day economy, $48/day valet. Book online in advance for significant discounts vs. drive-up rates.

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): Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines; Terminal 2: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines; Terminal 3: United Airlines; 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.

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 69 airports in our dataset.

Best for layovers SFO is workable for 6h+ layovers With sleep pods See which airports offer capsule hotels and nap rooms Shortest MCT SFO dom-to-dom: 45 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 30 min

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.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Verified 2026-04-14. Airport operations, parking rates, and amenities change; always confirm with San Francisco International Airport before flying.