5 Ways to Get from San Francisco Airport to San Jose Airport 2023

Looking to get from San Francisco Airport to San Jose?

This guide will provide you with 5 different ways to travel from SFO to SJC to help you decide which one works best for you.

San Francisco International Airport is about 33.6 miles away from San Jose Airport, which is about a 30-45 minute drive, depending on the traffic.

The quickest way to get there is by taxi or Uber, although they’re not the most budget-friendly. 

The cheapest option is by BART and by bus, but these two will require several transfers to get to SJC.

If you’re wondering how to get from SFO to San Jose without the hassle of taking the train or bus, the best option is riding the Monterey Airbus. It’s the most convenient and cost-effective option on this list.

• Most Convenient: Shuttle (Monterey Airbus) 
• Fastest: consider rush hour traffic): Uber or Taxi
• Cheapest: Bus + Caltrain + Bus

Click the links below to see each option in detail.

Getting from San Francisco Airport to San Jose Airport

Transportation	Time	Cost
Shuttle (Monterey Airbus)	1:15	$25
BART + Caltrain + Bus	1:27	$15.70
Bus + Caltrain + Bus	1:47	$13
By Taxi	00:45	$125
By Uber/Lyft	00:45	$60-70

💡 Read this article if you need to get from San Jose Airport to SFO Airport

1. SFO to SJC Shuttle (Monterey Airbus)

• Travel Time: 1:15 
• Cost: $25
• Book here | Schedule
• Earliest Trip / Latest Trip: 5:30 am / 11:00 PM, once every hour

If you’re looking for the most convenient and cost-effective way to travel between two airports, then taking the shuttle from SFO to San Jose is your best option.

The Monterey Airbus will take you directly to SJC without having to transfer to another form of transportation. It only costs $25 and the entire ride from SFO will take only 1:15 hours. 

Even though it’s not the cheapest option on this list, it’s definitely the best option on this list as it’s not too expensive, the travel time is not too long, and it’s also easy to access.

This airport shuttle runs once every hour from 5:30 am to  11:00 PM, and you can book your tickets online.

• Pick-up Location: For SFO International, cross the street from the customs exit (door #2) to the signpost on the center island labeled “Airporters.” For SFO domestic, cross the street from the lower level baggage claim at terminals 1, 2, or 3 to the blue posts on the center island labeled “Airporters.”

2. By BART

• Travel Time: 1:27
• Cost: $4.95 (BART) + $8.25 (Caltrain) + $2.50 (VTA) = $15.70
• Suggested Route: SFO BART > Millbrae Caltrain Station (~4 mins) > Santa Clara Caltrain (~49 mins) > VTA Bus #60 to SJC Airport (~9 mins)

Traveling by BART from SFO to San Jose is one of the cheapest ways to get there, but it also has the second longest travel time.

From the SFO BART Station, take the red Richmond Line to Millbrae Caltrain Station to avoid any transfers. 

At Millbrae Caltrain Station, buy a one-way ticket to Santa Clara Caltrain Station.

The trains run once every 30 minutes on weekdays and once every hour on weekends, with the last train leaving at 12:30 AM.

From Santa Clara Caltrain Station, take the #60 bus to SJC. The bus runs every 12 to 15 minutes from 5:20 AM to 12:06 AM and stops at both terminals at SJC.

• Where is BART located in SFO? 

The SFO BART Station is located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal (G Gates side). 

BART can be accessed easily from any terminal by riding SFO’s AirTrain to the Garage G/BART Station stop. The AirTrain is free to all passengers.

Clipper Cards are required to ride the BART, and you can buy them online beforehand or at the SFO BART Station by cash or card. 

• How to Ride Caltrain

You can ride the Caltrain by buying tickets at the ticket machine at Caltrain Station or by using your Clipper Card.

You can also buy mobile tickets through the official Caltrain mobile app. Make sure to buy your ticket before you board.

The fares are based on the number of zones traveled. From Millbrae to Santa Clara, you’ll be traveling through two zones.

• Hours of Operation:
  • BART: 5:56 AM to 1:00 AM, once every 30 minutes
  • Millbrae Caltrain: Weekdays, 5:16 AM to 12:30 AM, every 30 minutes; Weekends, 8:53 AM to 12:31 AM, every hour | Timetable
  • Santa Clara VTA Bus #60: Weekdays, 5:20 AM to 12:06 AM; Weekends, 5:48 AM to 12:05 AM; once every 12 – 15 minutes | Timetable

3. By Taxi

• Travel Time: 00:45
• Estimated Cost: ~$125
• Pick-up Location: Designated taxi zones are located at the roadway center islands, on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals.

Taking a taxi from San Francisco Airport to San Jose is the quickest way but it’s also the most expensive. 

It will take about 45 minutes to get there, provided it’s outside the rush hour, and the estimated cost is roughly $125.

If you need to get to SJC fast without having to deal with shared van rides or transfers, this is definitely the option for you.

Taxis are a lot more expensive than rideshare apps, but they’re also safer as their screening process is stricter. If you’re traveling alone or at night, this is probably the better option.

4. By Uber/Lyft

• Travel Time: 00:45
• Estimated Cost: $60-$100 (see estimator)
• Pick-up Location: Domestic pick-ups are located on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage: Terminal 1 – B & C, Terminal 2 – D, Terminal 3 – E, F and F/G. International pick-ups are located at the Departures/Ticketing Level center island, Ride-App Pick-Up/Drop-Off zones 14-17.

Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft will only take 45 minutes to get to SJC, and it will cost anywhere from $60-$100, which is a lot cheaper than taxi fares. 

If you want to get to San Jose Airport as fast as possible without shelling out too much money, rideshare apps are the way to go.

Do take note that these apps have surge pricing wherein the fare rises when demand for rides exceeds the number of available drivers. 

The prices can get really steep, so keep that in mind especially since you’re coming from a large and busy international airport.

5. By Bus + Caltrain + Bus

• Travel Time: 1:47
• Cost: $2.25 (SamTrans) + $8.25 (Caltrain) + $2.50 (VTA Bus) = $13
• Suggested Route: SamTrans Route 292 > Millbrae Caltrain (~9 mins) > Santa Clara Caltrain (~1:07) > VTA Bus #60 to SJC Airport (~9 mins)

This is the cheapest way to get to SJC from SFO, but it will also take the longest.

From SFO, take the Route 292 SamTrans bus to the Millbrae Caltrain Station, which comes once every 27 to 37 minutes. 

At the Millbrae Caltrain Station, purchase a one-way ticket to Santa Clara Caltrain Station, which costs $8.25 for two zones. 

The trains run once every hour from 5:16 AM to 12:30 AM on weekdays and 8:53 AM to 12:31 AM on weekends.

At Santa Clara Caltrain Station, take the #60 bus to the San Jose airport, which runs once every 12 to 15 minutes from 5:20 AM to 12:06 AM. 

The bus stops at both terminals at SJC and will take about nine minutes.

• How to ride SamTrans

To ride the SamTrans buses, you can pay through cash (exact change only), through the SamTrans Mobile app, paper tickets, or with your Clipper Card.

You can use your credit card or debit card when buying tickets or reloading your Clipper Card. 

If you decide to pay by cash, make sure to use flat bills and drop coins one at a time when inserting your fare into the farebox to prevent jamming.

Be at the bus stop a few minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive, and verify the route number and destination before boarding.

• SamTrans Pick-up Locations from SFO
  • Terminal 2:  Level 1 Arrivals/Baggage Claim, center island next to Courtyard 2
  • Terminal 3:  Level 1 Arrivals/Baggage Claim, curbside next to Courtyard 4
  • International Terminal:  Level 1 at Courtyard A, and curbside next to Courtyard G

• Hours of Operation:
  • SamTrans: Weekdays, 5:18 AM to 1:00 AM; Weekends, 5:31 AM to 1:32 AM; every 27 – 37 minutes | Timetable
  • Millbrae Caltrain: Weekdays, 5:16 AM to 12:30 AM, every 30 minutes; Weekends, 8:53 AM to 12:31 AM (last), once every hour | Timetable
  • Santa Clara VTA Bus #60: Weekdays, 5:20 AM to 12:06 AM; Weekends, 5:48 AM to 12:05 AM; once every 12 – 15 minutes | Timetable

What is the best way to get from SFO airport to San Jose? 

The best way to get from SFO to SJC is by taking the Monterey Airbus. The entire trip would only take 1:15 hours and would cost only $25. 

Even though it’s not the fastest or the cheapest way, it’s the most cost-effective and convenient as you don’t have transfer lines or vehicles unlike taking the bus or the BART.

What is the fastest way to get from SFO to San Jose airport?

The fastest way to get from SFO to San Jose is by grabbing a taxi or booking rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. 

Both modes of transportation would take around 45 minutes depending on traffic conditions. 

While taking a taxi is a lot more expensive, it does not have price surging as rideshare apps have. It would cost $145 to take the taxi and only $60-$70 for rideshare apps.

What is the cheapest way to from SFO to SJC?

The cheapest public transportation from SFO to San Jose Airport would be riding the SamTrans bus from SFO, transferring to Caltrain, and then hopping on the #60 VTA bus, which would only cost $13. 

Depending on how early you start your travel, it will take 1:47 hours to get there. Rush hour traffic might affect your travel time as well so make sure to avoid commuting during those hours.

FAQs

How far is San Jose airport from San Francisco airport?

The distance from San Jose airport to San Francisco airport is 33.6 miles, which is about a 30-45 minute drive, depending on the traffic.

Is there a shuttle from SFO to SJC?

Yes. You can take the Monterey Airbus, an airport shuttle that will take you directly to San Jose Airport. 

The entire trip would only take 1:15 hours and costs only $25. While it is not the fastest or the cheapest way to get to SJC, it’s the most convenient way to travel there.

Does BART go to San Jose Airport?

No, it doesn’t. From SFO, take the BART to Millbrae Station, transfer to the Caltrain, and get off at Santa Clara Caltrain Station. 

From there, you have to transfer to take the #60 VTA bus, which would take you directly to San Jose Airport.

Is there a train from SFO to San Jose?

There is no direct train from SFO to San Jose. However, you can ride the BART Station at SFO and connect with Caltrain, then finally transfer to a VTA bus to get you to San Jose Airport.

 The entire trip from SFO to SJC using the BART would only take about 1:27 depending on how early you start your trip and it will cost $15.70.

How do I get from San Francisco airport to San Jose?

The most convenient way to get from San Francisco airport to San Jose is by taking the Monterey Airbus shuttle, which will take about 1:15 hours of travel time.

If you want a cheaper option and don’t mind the longer travel time, you can hop on the BART and Caltrain to get to San Jose from SFO.

How long does it take to get from San Francisco Airport to San Jose?

Traveling from SFO airport to San Jose takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

If you’re taking public transportation, it could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1:45 hours.  

The fastest travel time would be grabbing a taxi or by Uber, which would take about 45 minutes. 

The cheapest would be a Bus-Caltrain-Bus combination, which costs only $13, and would take 1:47 to get to SJC.

You can expect traffic in different parts of the Bay Area, especially if traveling during rush hour.

Wrap-Up: SFO to SJC

Getting from SFO to San Jose Airport is quite easy, and there are a lot of options that you can take.

From budget-friendly public transportation to quick, and pricey ones, this guide has it all. Now it’s your turn to decide for yourself which form of transportation you’ll be taking from SFO to SJC.

Related:

• San Jose to San Francisco
• Oakland Airport to San Francisco