How to Get from Oakland Airport to San Francisco [4 Easy Ways]

With more than 13 million passengers passing through its gates yearly, Oakland Airport is the fourth largest airport in California and the second-largest in the Bay Area.

Traveling from Oakland Airport to San Francisco has never been easier with its world-class amenities and services.

There are four ways to get there. You can ride the BART, shuttle service, rideshare, or taxi. This article will help you decide which one will best suit you.

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How to get from Oakland Airport to San Francisco Comparison Table 

	Length of Time	Cost	Best For
BART	32-38 mins	$11	Traveling on a budget
Shuttle Service	24-45 mins	$30-$300	Traveling with large groups or with a lot of luggage
Rideshare	24-45 mins	$20-$120	Traveling in private with a small group of people
Taxi	24-45 mins	$63-$90	Traveling alone or those avoiding surge pricing on rideshare apps

4 Best Ways to get from Oakland Airport to San Francisco

BART

• Cost: $11
• Length of time: 32-38 minutes
• Hours of Operation: Weekdays (5:00 am – Midnight), Saturday (6:00 am – Midnight), Sunday (8:00 am – Midnight)

The cheapest way to get from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to San Francisco is by taking the BART, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit.

The regular fare is only $11, and you can quickly arrive at your destination without having to worry about getting stuck in traffic.

The train ride from Oakland airport to Downtown San Francisco will take about 32 to 38 minutes depending on your departure time.

There is a 15-30 minute interval between each train depending on the day you’re traveling. Check the BART Trip Planner here.

To get to Downtown San Francisco, take the BART from OAK to Coliseum Station, then board the blue or green Daly City line.

Both of them will pass through Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street, Civic Center stations, and the Mission District. 

How to get from Oakland Airport to BART 

Before the OAK station was opened, you had to ride the AirBART bus service to the Coliseum station.

Now you can find the BART station at Oakland International Airport right across the Terminal 1 baggage claim area and just a short walk from Terminal 2.

Oakland Airport BART Map

How to use the BART 

To use the BART, you need to have a Clipper card. A Clipper card is an all-in-one transit card that can be used on the BART and other transit systems in the Bay Area.

Everyone needs a Clipper card, except for children ages four and under who can ride for free.

You can get plastic Clipper cards through vending machines in every station. There’s a one-time $3 fee if you’re purchasing it for the first time.

If you prefer to go digital, you can also load value on your Clipper card through Apple Pay or Google Pay.  

Is the BART safe?

BART is relatively safe, especially during the day when crime levels are lower and mostly limited to petty theft like pickpocketing or people swiping phones.

At night after the evening commute is over and the number of riders goes way down, the BART can get a little sketchy.

Although there are a lot of BART police on patrol and over 4000 cameras watching, crime does happen at night.

Disadvantaged people including the homeless, transients and drug addicts use the BART to seek shelter. This occasionally leads to some dangerous interactions.

If you need to ride the BART at night, stick to the first car on the train as this is the safest area.

Also, be aware of your surroundings and what neighborhood you are getting off in as the Bay Area has some dangerous neighborhoods. 

Shuttle from Oakland Airport to San Francisco

• Estimated Cost: $30-$300
• Length of time: 24-45 minutes, depending on traffic
• Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Pick-up Location: Varies depending on what ride you choose

If you’re looking for transportation from Oakland airport to San Francisco, one of the most convenient ways is through a shuttle.

If you’re traveling with a group or bringing a lot of luggage, this might just be the best option for you. 

Depending on how heavy the traffic is, you can get to your destination in about 24-45 minutes by shuttle.

The cost varies depending on the ride that you choose and the number of people traveling with you. It can be as low as $89 for three passengers and up to $300 for 10 passengers.

If you’re not sure what shuttle service to book, you can use this service to find the best prices or choose from these two well-known companies below:

SuperShuttle

You can never go wrong with choosing SuperShuttle. This is a popular and reliable airport transportation company that services more than 60 airports in over 50 cities. 

If you’re traveling with a large group, you can choose to hire a private shuttle that can accommodate up to 10 people for about $300.

For private black car service, the estimated cost is about $120 for a premium sedan for up to two passengers.

For Express and shared rides, instructions about your pick-up location will be sent to your smartphone after checking in through their SuperShuttle app.

For the exclusive black cars, you can choose between a curbside pickup or a meet-and-greet service.

United Shuttle

United Shuttle is another great and reliable shuttle service that you can check out. They are a family-owned company that is insured and licensed by the California Public Utility Commission. 

They have four vehicles that you can choose from. Depending on how many people are traveling with you and the number of luggage that you have, the estimated cost is around $89 for up to 3 passengers and $160 for up to 9 people.

Oakland Airport to San Francisco by Rideshare

• Estimated Cost: $20-$120
• Length of time: 24-45 minutes, depending on traffic
• Pick-up Location: Uber and Lyft (Terminals 1 and 2, 3rd Curb, sections 2-9)

Depending on how heavy the traffic is, it will take 24 to 45 minutes to get from Oakland airport to downtown San Francisco.

The cost also differs depending on the type of car that you book, with prices ranging from $20 to $120.

Uber or Lyft have the same pick-up locations at OAK airport. You can choose between sections two to nine on the 3rd curb outside Terminals 1 and 2, and your driver will meet you there.

One downside to ridesharing is their surge pricing. When there’s a lot of demand for drivers in your area, the fare could become pricey.

Both apps also allow for scheduling of rides but keep in mind that Uber and Lyft drivers can cancel rides for any reason.

By Taxi

• Estimated Cost: $63-$90
• Length of time: 24-45 minutes, depending on traffic
• Pick-up Location: Designated areas are located on the curbside of Terminals 1 and 2

For those traveling alone or who want to avoid surge pricing, taxis are the way to go.

Despite being pricier than rideshare apps, the screening process for taxi drivers tends to be a lot stricter and more comprehensive. 

Just like with ridesharing, it will take 24 to 45 minutes to get to your downtown San Francisco hotel from Oakland airport depending on the traffic.

Taxis have no surge pricing, so whatever the demand, the ride will cost around $63 to $90 to get there.

Oakland Airport to San Francisco Airport

If you’re not sure how to get from Oakland Airport to San Francisco Airport (SFO), here are two ways you can do it. 

For the budget-conscious, the BART can take you there in about 1 hour and 11 minutes for only $17.

From Coliseum Station, board the blue Daly City line and then change to the yellow Millbrae line at 24th St. Mission Station. That will take you directly to SFO airport.  

If you decide to book a shuttle service, rideshare, or taxi, it will take 30 to 60 minutes depending on the traffic, and the cost would also vary depending on the vehicle that you’ll pick.

How Far is Oakland Airport from San Francisco?

The distance between Oakland Airport to downtown San Francisco is around 20 miles, which takes 25-45 minutes by car depending on the traffic. If you take the BART, it will take you 38 minutes and cost you $11.

Wrap-Up: Oakland Airport to San Francisco

Traveling from Oakland Airport to San Francisco might seem daunting to first-timers, but you have nothing to worry about.

There are many ways to get there that will fit whatever budget you have in mind. Both OAK and SFO have world-class amenities that will make your trip easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

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