From San Francisco airport to the South Bay by public transit

I'll be landing at San Francisco International Airport, and my final destination is Silicon Valley. To be precise, I want to get to the VTA light rail line from Mountain View, but more general advice regarding destinations south of the airport would be welcome. How can I get there by public transport in a reasonable time?

I see that many different carriers may be involved (BART, Caltrain, Samtrans, VTA, …). I won't have Internet access during the journey, so any decision regarding routes will have to be made based on posted schedules. Ideally, I'd like a recommendation of one route that won't make me wait too long if I just miss a bus or train. Also, I may have a limited supply of coins for buses that require exact fare.

Best Answer

You take BART from the Airport station to Millbrae. BART headways are 15-20 minutes. In the off chance BART trains only go to San Bruno instead of Millbrae, take a BART in the other direction to Millbrae.

There, you will have an easy transfer to CalTrain, which takes you down the peninsula to Mountain View. All CalTrains stop at Millbrae and Mountain View, except for a few express trains in the morning (before 8:45) or afternoon (4-7) weekday commutes. At those times check the schedules in the station or ask commuters. CalTrain headways are 30-60 minutes.

At Mountain View you change to the VTA light rail. It has headways of 30 minutes or better.

The peninsula and south bay is certainly not the best of Bay Area transit. It's much better in the City/Oakland/Berkeley.

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How much does it cost from San Francisco Airport to Union Square?

The cheapest way to get from Union Square to San Francisco Airport (SFO) is to drive which costs $1 - $2 and takes 16 min.

Can you take BART from SFO?

BART trains connect SFO with downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland and many other Bay Area destinations. BART is the best way to avoid sitting in Bay Area traffic. Trains depart from the SFO International Terminal, and it's just 30 minutes to downtown San Francisco. Plan your trip with the Trip Planner.

How much does Uber cost from SFO to downtown?

From SFO. The fare to downtown San Francisco is only $9.65 ($19.30 round trip). That's less than a shuttle van ($19), an average Uber/Lyft ride ($27), and $40 less than an average taxi ($50).

Is the AirTrain free SFO?

AirTrain is a fully automated people mover at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) that opened on February 24, 2003. It operates 24 hours a day on two separate lines, covering a total of 6.4 miles (10.3 km). The service is free of charge, funded by a $20 "airport fee" charged by rental car companies.

San Francisco Airport Train to City - On The BART

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