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How to Get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco

San Francisco is Bay Area’s crown jewel and should definitely be on your list if you’re exploring the US’s west. It’s among the country’s largest cities and attracts all types of travellers from across the globe for good reason. The Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic cable cars, and its rich food culture are only a few of the reasons to visit San Francisco.

If your flight arrives at San Jose Airport, there’s no need to worry; you can still easily make your way to San Francisco. The fastest and most convenient transportation option is to take an airport taxi or pre-book a San Jose airport to San Francisco transfer and reach your accommodation comfortably. If you’re travelling on a budget and don’t mind a slower ride, you can reach San Francisco by train. There is no direct connection from San Jose Airport so you’ll need to take a bus first but there are two different train companies that operate in the Bay Area; BART and Caltrain. Both options will take you to downtown San Francisco for a low fare, while you get to enjoy the view.

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

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €155 60min 24/7
Taxi €196 60min 24/7
Train €26 110min 04:34–23:18

How to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco by taxi

The fastest and most comfortable transportation option to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco is taking an airport taxi or pre-booking a personalised private shuttle. The ride is approximately 1 hour long and you’ll reach your accommodation directly, no matter what time your flight arrives at SJC Airport.

How much is the fare for a taxi from San Jose Airport to San Francisco?

Official San Jose taxis are metered but for longer routes, you might be able to negotiate a price with the driver beforehand. The average cost to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco with a standard taxi should be about $210 (€196) for up to 4 passengers; keep in mind that each operator might have different rates and additional fees. Pre-booking your airport shuttle will ensure a competitive rate which you’ll know and pay in advance.

Cost

$210

Trip Duration

60 Min.

The total fare might differ depending on the provider, exact distance and other fees that might apply per operator.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available at San Jose Airport 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

Official taxis are available at San Jose Airport 24/7 for on-demand service. You’ll find them lined up outside Terminal A at Stop 2 and Terminal B at Stop 1.

Convenience

If you’re looking for the most convenient transportation option to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco, taking an airport taxi or booking a reliable private shuttle service in advance is definitely it. It might be a pricey option but you’ll save valuable time and energy, without having to wait for the bus or train and check timetables. Especially if you’re travelling with many pieces of luggage or young children, taking a taxi to reach your accommodation directly, will ensure a smooth, stress-free experience.

Editor’s Note

The high fare might make taking a taxi a less attractive transportation option if you're a solo traveller or you're travelling on a budget. For larger groups or families with young children, however, choosing an airport taxi to reach San Francisco will offer a much smoother and more comfortable travel experience.

Useful Tips

Different rates apply among the different taxi companies so if you don’t book your taxi in advance, you can ask the driver what the rate is before you start the ride.
Most taxis in San Jose accept card payments but it’s best to carry some cash on you just in case.
Tipping your driver is at your discretion; a 10% tip or more is customary in San Jose, especially for longer routes.
Make sure to ask for a receipt at the end of the ride in case you leave any personal items behind or wish to file a complaint.

How to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco by train

San Jose Airport isn’t directly connected to San Francisco by train but it still is a possible and budget-friendly transportation option. There are two options available; the BART Green line or L1, L2, and L5 operated by Caltrain. Each train company is accessible at a different train station but you can easily reach both stations by taking the VTA bus line 60 from San Jose Airport.

How much does the train ticket cost from San Jose Airport to San Francisco cost?

The total fare for the trip from San Jose Airport to San Francisco depends on which train you’ll choose. A single BART ticket costs $8.15 (€7.60), while a Caltrain ticket costs $10.50 (€9.80) per traveller. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to purchase a bus ticket for taking line 60 from the airport, which costs $2.50 (€2.30) per traveller.

Cost

$10 - $13

Trip Duration

1 h 50 min

The cost and trip duration depend on the itinerary you'll choose as there are more than one options for this trip.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The BART passes through Milpitas station every 30-40 minutes from 05:15 until 20:33. The Caltrain passes through Santa Clara station every 30-40 minutes from 04:34 until 23:18.

Where do I take the train from?

The first bus you’ll need to catch is line 60 which departs frequently, both from Terminal A and B. The bus stop is located on Airport Blvd in front of each Terminal. To catch the BART, you’ll need to ride the bus for 19 stops until you reach Milpitas Transit Center. To catch the Caltrain, you’ll need to ride the bus for 12 stops until you reach Santa Clara Transit Center.

Convenience

Getting from San Jose Airport to San Francisco with BART or Caltrain is a slower but convenient option if you’re aiming to spend less on transportation. A major downside to this option is the multiple transfers along with some walking in between; combined with checking timetables and purchasing multiple tickets, it can be quite stressful if you’re carrying many pieces of luggage or you’re travelling with young children. For a smoother transportation option to your accommodation in San Francisco, you can pre-book your private San Jose Airport to San Francisco shuttle and enjoy peace of mind.

Editor’s Note

Taking the train to reach San Francisco is a great option for solo travellers or small groups with light luggage, especially if you're travelling on a budget. If you're carrying many pieces of luggage or you're part of a larger group, you'll be much more comfortable taking an airport taxi, despite the higher cost.

Useful Tips

You can purchase your bus ticket onboard only in cash; make sure to have the exact change ready when boarding.
"Clipper", a plastic card, is the only fare product available for purchase if you wish to ride the BART train; there are Automatic Clipper Vending Machines and there is a $3 acquisition fee to purchase the card.
Tickets to ride the Caltrain can be purchased at the train station or through the online app; both regular tickets and Clipper are available.
On Caltrain, strollers must be folded before boarding and stored on the racks in the Luggage Car.
Children up to 5 years old can ride the train for free.

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 jose (ca). 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
€145.0
NIGHTTIME
€174.0
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

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

There are two different transportation options to get from San Jose Airport to San Francisco easily. The fastest option is to get an airport taxi and reach SF in about 55 minutes in light traffic. A cheaper but slower alternative is to take bus line 60 from San Jose Airport and disembark either at Milpitas Transit Center to take the BART train or at Santa Clara and take the Caltrain train. The trip with either of the companies will take about 1 hour and 50 minutes in total.

What’s the cost of a taxi from San Jose Airport to San Francisco?

The average cost of a standard taxi from San Jose Airport to San Francisco is about $210 (€196) for up to 4 passengers; keep in mind that each operator might have different rates and additional fees.

Does BART run from San Jose Airport to San Francisco?

There is no direct connection from San Jose Airport to San Francisco with BART. However, if you wish, you can take bus line 60 from San Jose Airport to Milpitas Transit Center and then change to the BART there.

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