Airport Shuttle Transportation in San
Francisco

Researching airport shuttle transportation in San Francisco is a good idea for anyone flying in or out of the city. San Francisco has a number of providers to choose from and your best bet is to know your options before making any final plans.

Getting to and from SFO.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. Most hotels are found in and around Union Square and you'll need to find a way to get to this area after you arrive. What are your options? Ground transportation from SFO includes taxis, public transit, charters and van services.

While BART can get you to the city for less than $10, it's not an ideal mode of transportation if you have a lot of luggage. Taxis on the other hand, can handle the luggage, but can easily cost $40 or more (before the tip). Town cars are a good investment for groups of four or more people; however, any number less and the luxury becomes a bit pricey.

For those traveling solo or as a couple, the alternative is to use a shared-rider service. Similar to a carpool, such services can get you and your bags to the city for less than $20 a person. The key though, is knowing which shuttle company to choose.

From SFO, nine shuttle services are listed to get you started. They are:

• Advanced Airport Shuttle
• Airport Express
• American Airporter Shuttle
• Bay Shuttle
• Go Lorrie's Airport Shuttle
• Pacific Airport Shuttle
• Quake City Shuttle
• San Francisco City Shuttle
• SuperShuttle

The last one on the list, SuperShuttle, has been in business for over 25 years. It provides service to 28 major airports in 23 cities across the nation, including San Francisco's SFO. As a result, the company's name may already be familiar to some travelers, but it should be noted that SuperShuttle is not the best-reviewed service for SF. That distinction goes to the smaller San Francisco City Shuttle (according to Yelp).

When flying into a city, always research what’s available in airport shuttle transportation. In San Francisco for instance, you really only need to get to your hotel. From there, you can pretty much walk or take public transportation to wherever you need to go.

While you can certainly rent a car, it's not really necessary in a city like San Francisco. Parking is limited and garages are expensive, while one-way streets and steep hills are a challenge. Indeed, if possible, avoid renting a car. Instead, go with a shuttle service. The same service can take you back to SFO when your trip is over.

Compare rates and look up reviews. Benefit from other people's experiences. If the consensus for a particular company is positive (or negative), take that for what it's worth and be confident in your choice.

In order to stay competitive, most airport shuttle transportation in San Francisco charges the same rates. In general, expect to pay $17 per person and $10 for each additional person. Also, be aware that you'll have to go by the shuttle driver's clock. Even if you're ready to depart for the city, the driver may not be. For this reason, it takes some patience to ride a shuttle. (Rates as of Fall 2009)

• SuperShuttle: $17 first person, $10 for each additional person (3 years or older)
• Bay Shuttle: $17 per person, $8 for children
• San Francisco City Shuttle: $16 first person, $10 each additional person
• Quake City Shuttle: $14/$15 first person, $9 each additional person

A final word on BART: Consider it if you don’t have a lot of bags. For some, riding the BART system is one of the many experiences of visiting the Bay Area. If so, you might want to take it once you arrive. A direct route takes riders to and from SFO and Union Square. A one-way fare from the airport to Powell Street is only $8.10 as of Fall 2009 (no tip required).

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