Search Flights from San Francisco to Seattle

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Neighboring Canada, the seaport city of Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington and a major city in the U.S. The city gets its name from an ancient Native American chief and its official nickname is Emerald City due to its lush greenery and beautiful nature.

The city of Seattle is served by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a major airport that handled over 42 million passengers in 2015. Also referred to as Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is used as a major transfer airport due to its proximity to Canada. Located about 24 km from the city, there are a variety of transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport that are both quick and easy. The Link Light Rail system provides transportation between Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle, which takes about 40 minutes. Other transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport include taxis, shuttle services, and rental cars.

Link Light Rail

The Link Light Rail system is the most commonly used means of public transportation in Seattle. These light rail trains are a great transportation alternative to get to the city center from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. These trains provide transportation directly from the airport to downtown Seattle. The Link Light Rail is accessibly from the parking lot, on level 4. Trains operate every 7.5 to 15 minutes and take about 40 minutes to get to the city center from the airport. Monday to Saturday the Link Light Rail operates from 5 am to 1 am and on Sundays it operates from 6 am to midnight. Tickets can be purchased from kiosks at the station with cash or credit card.

Bicycle

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport features various bicycle resources for passengers who want to travel to and from the airport by bike. The airport features bicycle assembly stations, bicycle parking areas, and long-term storage areas. There are over 50 bicycle rental stations located in the city that are a part of the city’s bike share system. Fees start at 8 USD. You can get to the city center from the airport by following the special bike paths and shared roadways.

Hotel Shuttle Services

Many hotels located in Seattle provide their guests with airport shuttle services. To take advantage of this service make sure to discuss it with the hotel you are staying at in advance. We recommend making a reservation for this service. Hotel shuttle services are an extremely practical and comfortable means of transportation but it can be a bit more expensive than taking a taxi. Depending on your destination in the city it can take about 20 minutes to get to downtown Seattle from the airport. 

Taxi

Taxis are a very convenient transportation alternative to get to the city center from Sea-Tac Airport. Taxis are easily accessible from the taxi stands that are located on the 3^rd floor of the parking lot. A taxi to the city center from the airport costs 50 USD on average and takes 20 minutes if there’s no traffic. The fare and duration will vary depending on your final destination in the city.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another way to get to the city center from the airport. Renting a car is also a great option for getting around in the city during your trip. Rental car companies at the airport are located at the Rental Car Facility. Shuttle buses depart from the terminal exits and provide transportation to the Rental Car Facility. Depending on the traffic it takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center from Sea-Tac Airport. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Enterprise, Firefly, Hertz, National, Payless, and Sixt.

Shuttle

There are various shared ride van and scheduled airporter services that provide transportation from Sea-Tac Airport to the city center. Each company has specific drop off and pick up locations. For more information on shuttle services to the city, shuttle operators and fares please visit Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s website.