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How to get from SFO to Berkeley

There are three ways to get from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley: taxi, shuttle, or train.

Taking a San Francisco Airport taxi to Berkeley is a great choice, as they are readily available. The journey only takes 30 minutes by car. Equally, you can book a SFO to Berkeley shuttle with a trusted company like Welcome Pickups for even more comfort and convenience. 

Alternatively, the BART Red Line will take you straight to Downtown Berkeley in around 1 hour. 

Read on for the full breakdown! 

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to San Francisco at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2 PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY Action
Taxi €80 30min 24/7
BART Red Line €20 60min 05:00–00:00
BART Yellow Line + No.6 Bus €23.60 80min 05:00–00:00
Welcome Airport Transfer €100 30min 24/7

How to get from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley by taxi

One of the quickest and most direct ways to get from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley is by taxi. SFO Airport taxis offer a speedy and comfortable journey to downtown Berkeley in just 30 minutes.

Taxi fares from SFO to Berkeley

There’s no fixed fare for this journey. Your driver will use a taximeter to calculate your fare depending on the exact distance traveled and time of day. That said, you can expect your taxi cost from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley to be around $85 (€80).

Cost

$85 (€80)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 from San Francisco Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at San Francisco Airport?

The taxi rank at San Francisco Airport can be found directly outside of the Arrivals Hall of the terminal buildings. You will see the cars queuing as you exit the airport.

Convenience

If you’re looking for a smooth and quick way to get from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley, taking a taxi is one of the best options. This direct door-to-door service will take just 35 minutes, and you won’t have to worry about the safety of your personal belongings throughout the journey. If you want to skip the line and have a driver ready for you when you land, you can pre-book a ride instead for added convenience. 

Editor’s Note

Great for a convenient travel solution on demand.

Useful Tips

Ensure your driver resets their taximeter when you get in the taxi.
Tipping your driver around 10% is customary.
Luggage that fits in the trunk of the vehicle can be transported for free.

How to get from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley by BART?

The BART runs from the SFO BART Station to Berkeley daily. To get to the station, you will need to take the Red AirTrain line from arrivals. From here, you will jump on the Richmond-bound red line to Berkeley. The total journey time on the BART from SFO to Berkeley will be 1 hour.

How much is the BART from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley?

To reach SFO BART Station, you will need to take the Red AirTrain line from the Arrivals Hall. From there, you can easily take the Red Line train into Berkeley.

Cost

$11.90 (€10)

Trip Duration

1 Hr.

*There's a waiting time of up to 20 minutes for the BART.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The BART runs from 05:00 to 24:00 Monday to Friday 06:00 to 24:00 on Saturdays and 08:00 to 24:00 on Sundays.

Where do I find the BART at San Francisco Airport?

To reach SFO BART Station, you will need to take the Red AirTrain line from the Arrivals Hall. From there, you can easily take the Red Line train into Berkeley. 

Convenience

Although a more affordable transfer option, taking the BART from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley isn’t the most convenient way to travel. You may need to wait up to 20 minutes for the BART to arrive, there’s very limited luggage space onboard, and once you reach Berkeley, you will need to find alternate transport to reach your exact location.

Editor’s Note

Best option for travelers on a tight budget.

Useful Tips

Be sure to keep your luggage close when on the train.
The service on Sundays and in the evenings isn't direct, you will need to make a change at the MacArthur BART station.
There's a free Red AirTrain from the terminal to the BART station at the airport.

How to get from SFO to UC Berkeley by bus (Yellow Line + No.6 Bus)

If you want to travel from SFO to the University of California, Berkeley you have two choices. You can take the above route to downtown Berkeley and walk. Or you can take the BART Yellow Line to 12th St / Oakland Station. From there, hop on the No. 6 bus, which passes a number of stops through the campus of UC Berkeley. This journey takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

How much is public transport from San Francisco Airport to UC Berkeley?

The BART from SFO to 12th St / Oakland Station costs $11.50 (€10). The Bus costs $2 (€1.80). Therefore, the total cost is $13.50 (€11.80) per person.

Cost

$13.50 (€11.80)

Trip Duration

1 Hr. 20 Min.

Buses leave every 20 minutes from the airport.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

BART runs weekdays from 05:11 to midnight, and on weekends from 06:25 a.m. or 07:02 a.m. until midnight.

Where do I get a bus from?

You can get the bus from outside 12th Street Oakland Station. To get there from SFO, take the BART Yellow Line.

Convenience

Taking this route to UC Berkeley is the least convenient method, given that you’ll need to change transportation and the journey is very long. That said, the bus can get you closer to campus than the BART line alone.

Editor’s Note

Decent option for students getting to UC Berkeley.

Useful Tips

If the No.6 bus isn’t available, you can also get the No.88 bus to UC Berkeley.
You can pay for the bus in cash as you board.
Discounted fares are available for students, children, and seniors.

How to get from SFO to Berkeley by private shuttle

The best way to travel from SFO to Berkeley is to take a private shuttle. That way, you get all of the convenience of a taxi, but you can skip the taxi queue. Instead, your driver will meet you in the Arrivals Hall.

Booking your San Francisco Airport transfer from an international company like Welcome Pickups ensures that you receive top-quality personalized service from beginning to end. We also include great perks for our customers, like: 

  • Customized meet&greet service
  • Guaranteed on-time pickups with flight monitoring
  • Professionally trained English-speaking drivers
  • Fixed fares with online payment 
  • 24/7 customer support

Once you’ve booked your transfer, you can relax knowing that everything will be handled on your behalf, including finding the right vehicle for your group and the best driver for the job.

How much is a private shuttle from SFO to Berkeley?

The price for an airport transfer from SFO to Berkeley starts at €100 for a sedan. The full breakdown of our rates is as follows: 

  • Sedan (1-3 passengers) – $116 (€100)
  • Minivan (4-5 passengers) – $162 (€140)
  • Minibus (6-12 passengers) – $372 (€320)

To get your personalized quote, all you need to do is put in your contact details, flight number, number of passengers, and desired pickup time on our online form or mobile app (App Store || Google Play). The quote we present to you is fixed and not subject to change. That means no nasty surprises on the day. You can pay using our secure online payment system, and that’s it! Your transfer is booked, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Cost

$116 (€100)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

*Booking your private transfer from SFO Airport in advance is the best way to ensure a seamless experience.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

Private shuttles are available 24/7 from Athens International Airport.

Where do I get a private shuttle from?

Your friendly local driver will be waiting in the Arrivals Hall for you when you land. If your flight is delayed, your driver will be monitoring your flight so they know when to meet you. After greeting you at the airport, they’ll help you with your luggage as they guide you to your pre-selected vehicle.

Convenience

Nothing beats the convenience and ease of taking an airport shuttle from SFO to Berkeley. You won’t have to wait by the taxi stand, nor will you have to worry about the taximeter. Everything will be pre-planned for you to ensure the smoothest arrival possible. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, we’ll ensure that your first moments in Berkeley are hassle-free.

Editor’s Note

Ideal for couples, families, business, and solo travelers who want a convenient, safe, reliable journey.

Useful Tips

You can download the Welcome Pickups app to keep useful information about your transfer handy or contact your driver.
We recommend setting your pickup time at least 30-60 minutes after your predicted flight arrival time to give you time to get through passport control, baggage reclaim, and customs.
Sedans can accommodate up to 3 passengers, minivans up to 5, and minibusses up to 12.
Before your transfer, you will receive an email including your driver's name, contact information, photo, and vehicle information so that you know who to expect on the day.
You will have 60 minutes of complimentary waiting time after your scheduled pickup to go through passport control and baggage claim.
You can request a baby/child seat during the booking process and your driver will provide one for you.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in San francisco. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€105.0
NIGHTTIME
€115.5
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Frequently asked questions

Does BART run from SFO to Berkeley?

Yes, the BART runs from SFO to Berkeley daily for around $11.50 (€10) per person.

How much is a taxi from SFO to Berkeley?

The cost of a taxi from San Francisco International Airport to Berkeley will be around $85 (€80). However, this isn’t a fixed fare. The actual cost of a local taxi will be calculated using a taximeter.

How much is the BART from SFO to downtown Berkeley?

The BART from SFO to Berkeley costs $11.90 (€10) per person.

What is the best airport to fly into for Berkeley?

The best airport to fly into to get to Berkeley is Oakland International Airport. However, there are good transport links from Berkeley to SFO Airport too.

Olivia De Santos

Olivia De Santos is a seasoned travel writer and adventurer with bylines in Lonely Planet and A Way Abroad. With over ten years of professional writing experience and a degree in Linguistics, she blends cultural insight and personal storytelling to help travelers see the world in a new light.

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