Santa Cruz to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - iridethebus.org
Trip overview
| Transportation | To | Time | Fare | Runs every |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walk/bike/drive | Pacific Station (Metro Center) | |||
| 920 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz | ||||
| Highway 17 Express | San Jose (Diridon) Station | 1 hour | $4.00 | 1-2 hours |
| Caltrain | Millbrae Station | 1 hour | $5.75 | 30-60 min |
| BART | San Francisco Airport (SFO) | 15-25 min | $1.50 | 15 min |
| BART Station, Int’l Terminal |
| Total fare | $11.25 |
|---|---|
| Total travel time | 2 to 3 hours |
| Latest departure time | 9 PM |
| Latest return time | 7:45 PM |
SFO is convenient for public transit users. Tip: If you travel frequently, print your own wallet-size Highway 17 + Caltrain schedule, only available here!
1st Step: Highway 17 Express to San Jose
Please review the Santa Cruz to San Jose page. When you are finished with that page, use your Web browser’s “Back”
command to return here. Differences to note:
- If you are leaving Santa Cruz on a Sunday, do not use the last Highway 17 bus of the day. There is no train left for it to connect to.
2nd Step: Caltrain to Millbrae
Please review the Caltrain instructions on the Santa Cruz to San Francisco page. Again, use the “Back”
command to return here. Differences to note:
- Buy a Caltrain ticket from the current zone to Zone 2, not Zone 1.
- The Caltrain fare is $5.75, not $6.75.
- Have your BART fare (see below) ready before you get off Caltrain.
- Get off Caltrain at Millbrae Station, which comes well before San Francisco.
3rd Step: BART to the Airport
You will use Bay Area Rapid Transit District trains to get from Millbrae to the Airport. BART’s ultra-modern cars have comfortable seats and ample storage space.
Buying a BART ticket
Look for a metallic BART ticket machine right after you get off Caltrain. Buy a $1.50 ticket for each passenger.
Finding the BART train
After buying your ticket, find a BART fare gate. Insert your ticket into the slot on the front of the fare gate (the slot you want is always to your right), retrieve it from the slot on top, and go through. Keep the ticket; you will need it later.
To find the right platform and train, read the timetable posted in the station and check the overhead signs. Due to incompetence and inter-jurisdictional squabbling, direct train service between Millbrae and SFO was eliminated in 2008, with the exception of a few special trips shown in the BART timetable. Depending on the day and the time, you will:
- take a Richmod train to San Bruno and transfer to an SFO train; or
- take a Dublin/Pleasanton train to San Bruno and transfer to an SFO train; or
- take a Pittsburgh/Bay Point train directly to SFO.
Preparing to get off
If you must change trains in San Bruno, San Bruno is one stop away from Millbrae, and SFO is one stop away from San Bruno. For direct trains, SFO is one stop away from Millbrae. All stops are announced.
Finding your terminal
After you get off the BART train at SFO, go forward to the fare gates and re-process your ticket. The fare gate will not return your ticket this time, unless there is money left on the ticket. Leave the BART Station and enter the International Terminal.
Here is a general list of terminal assignments. There are exceptions, so always check with your airline.
| Countries | Airlines | Terminal | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| US, Canada | United/Ted, American | Terminal 3 | Go forward and bear left until you come to an escalator. Go down. A short walkway leads to Terminal 3. |
| Other than United/Ted, American | Terminal 1 | Go forward and turn right. Cross the entire check-in area and you will come to an escalator. Go down. A short walkway leads to Terminal 1. | |
| Other than US, Canada | All airlines | International Terminal | Attached to the BART Station. |
Attractions at the Airport
| Who | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Subway | Healthiest and cheapest food in the Airport. Good take-out option for flights without meals. | In Terminal 3. Find middle of United Air Lines check-in section, and go up to mezzanine. |
| Art exhibits | Ever-changing art displays. | Throughout the Airport. |
| Terminal 2 | Old terminal, no longer in use. Great place to relax. Provocative Joan Brown painting on display. | Between Terminals 1 and 3, opposite the International Terminal. Use walkway from end of 1 or 3. |
| Aviation Library and Museum | Replica of original 1937 waiting room. Exhibits, photos, models, and books. Great place to relax. | In the International Terminal. Go to the escalator that leads to Terminal 1. Bear right instead of going down. |
Photos: flowers for the grand opening of the BART Station; the classy Aviation Library and Museum (*); empty Terminal 2.
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Returning home
Finding the return train (BART)
The BART Station is attached to the International Terminal. Buy a $1.50 ticket and process it in one of the fare gates.
To find the right platform and train, read the timetable posted in the station and check the overhead signs. As of 2008, direct train service between SFO and Millbrae has been eliminated, except for a few special trips shown in the BART timetable. Depending on the day and the time, you will:
- take a Pittsburg/Bay Point train to San Bruno and transfer to a Millbrae train; or
- take a Millbrae train directly to Millbrae.
Preparing to get off at Millbrae
If you must change trains in San Bruno, San Bruno is one stop away from SFO and Millbrae is one stop away from San Bruno. For direct trains, Millbrae is one stop away from SFO. All stops are announced.
Finding the return train (Caltrain)
After getting off the BART train, go up to the mezzanine and re-process your ticket. Now, go down to the far Caltrain platform — the one that’s across the Caltrain tracks. Find a red Caltrain ticket machine and buy a ticket from the current zone to Zone 4 ($5.75). All trains that stop at this platform go to San Jose.
Planning your trip
Plan flights and ground transportation together. Tips:
- Outbound, pick a flight that leaves in the afternoon or evening
- Inbound, pick a flight that arrives in the morning or afternoon
- Assess the consequences of missing your flight, or your ride home
- If you live in Santa Cruz, definitely do not use public transit for flights scheduled to leave San Francisco Airport before 8:30 AM (weekends, 11:30 AM) or flights scheduled to arrive after 7 PM.
Telephone numbers
For the Highway 17 Express, dial 1 877 9-RIDE-CC (nationwide, toll-free). Ask for schedules between Santa Cruz and San Jose. For other transportation services, dial 511 (San Francisco Bay Area, toll-free) or 1 408 817-1717.
Know before you go
The information on this Web page might be incomplete, out of date, or incorrect. Also, there is always a risk of delays and missed connections.
© 2001-2008, Paul Marcelin. This Web site is a public service, not affiliated with any transportation provider. (*) The museum attendant gave us permission to take a picture of the museum hall. We had informed him that we would be using the picture in an online transit guide.