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San Francisco International Airport can look confusing when you first arrive, but its layout is relatively simple once you understand the four terminals and where each type of pickup takes place.
This guide explains how to navigate SFO, meet family or friends, find an Uber or Lyft, move between terminals, and choose the right parking option.
This guide is based on our experience picking up and dropping off passengers at SFO every week, including the practical details that are often missing from official airport instructions.
Information and parking rates last checked in August 2026. Airport procedures may change, so always follow current signs and instructions in your airline or rideshare app.
SFO has four passenger terminals:
The International Terminal is divided into the A Gates and G Gates.
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 primarily handle domestic flights, while most international flights use the International Terminal. However, the terminal name does not always tell you whether a flight is domestic or international.
For example:
Always check the airline, flight number or boarding pass before driving to the airport. Do not choose a terminal based only on the passenger’s destination.
If a family member, friend or private driver is picking you up, collect all checked baggage before asking the driver to approach the terminal.
The easiest process is:
Drivers cannot wait at an SFO terminal curb. Under SFO's passenger pickup and drop-off rules, the Arrivals curb is for active passenger loading only, and vehicles that remain stopped without a passenger ready may be directed to leave or receive a citation.
Do not tell your driver only that you are “at SFO.” A useful message would be:
I have my luggage and am waiting outside Terminal 2, Arrivals Level, Door 5.
Because different terminals have similarly numbered doors, always include both the terminal and door number.
Uber and Lyft pickup locations depend on whether you arrive at a domestic terminal or the International Terminal.
Standard Uber and Lyft pickups for the domestic terminals are located on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.
After collecting your luggage:
The garage sections generally correspond with the terminals:
Terminal 3 is undergoing construction, and its AirTrain station is currently closed. Passengers using AirTrain for Terminal 3 should use the combined Terminals 2 and 3 station until the new Terminal 3 station opens.
Premium rides have different rules. Uber Black, Uber Black SUV, Uber Assist, Lyft Black and Lyft Black SUV may pick up at designated Arrivals-level curbside locations. Follow the pickup instructions shown in the app.
At the International Terminal, Uber and Lyft do not use Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.
International Terminal pickups are located on the Departures/Ticketing Level, on the roadway center island in Zones 14–17.
After leaving Customs or baggage claim:
Because airport pickup rules occasionally change, you can double-check SFO's official Uber and Lyft pickup instructions — but the directions displayed in the Uber or Lyft app should take priority.
Yes. All four SFO terminals are now connected by walkways both before and after security.
You can walk between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and you can also walk between the domestic terminals and the International Terminal. Passengers with a same-day boarding pass can use the post-security connections, subject to TSA requirements.
However, walking is not always the fastest option:
If you have several bags, young children, an older passenger or limited mobility, use AirTrain even when walking is possible.
AirTrain is SFO’s free automated train system. It operates 24 hours a day, with trains arriving as frequently as every four minutes, and SFO’s Getting Around the Airport page has the current route map and station list.
There are two lines:
Use the Blue Line when traveling between a terminal and:
The Red Line does not serve Long-Term Parking or the Rental Car Center.
AirTrain is wheelchair accessible and has space for luggage carts. Late-night maintenance between approximately 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. may increase travel time.
Vehicles may not wait at terminal curbs or along airport roadways. The safest official option is the SFO Cell Phone Waiting Lot.
The free waiting lot is located near SFO Long-Term Parking:
North McDonnell Road and San Bruno Avenue San Francisco, CA 94128
It is approximately five minutes from the terminals.
Important restrictions:
Wait there until the passenger confirms that all luggage has been collected and that they are standing outside at a specific terminal door.
There are also several businesses near the airport where a driver can get food, fuel or a car wash while monitoring a flight.
South of SFO:
In-N-Out Burger 11 Rollins Road Millbrae, CA 94030
This location is approximately five minutes from the airport under normal traffic conditions. A car wash and several other businesses are nearby.
North of SFO:
Costco 451 South Airport Boulevard South San Francisco, CA 94080
Costco can be convenient for members who need fuel, food or shopping while waiting.
These are private business parking lots, not official airport waiting lots. Use them only while patronizing the business, follow all posted restrictions and do not leave a vehicle unattended.
Another common waiting area is near the Park ’N Fly facility at 160 Produce Avenue in South San Francisco. Black car and Flywheel drivers can often be seen waiting along the curb nearby. Parking regulations may vary by location, so drivers should check posted street signs before stopping.
If you are helping an older passenger, a first-time traveler or someone who does not speak English, do not try to remain at the Departures curb. Park in an hourly garage and walk into the terminal with the passenger.
For Terminals 1, 2 and 3, use the Domestic Garage. For the International Terminal, use International Garage A or G, depending on the airline and gate.
Current drive-up rates are:
A one-hour visit therefore costs approximately $8.
Inside the terminal, you can help the passenger:
Normally, only ticketed passengers can continue through security. After check-in and baggage assistance are complete, accompany the traveler to the security checkpoint entrance.
For trips lasting more than a few hours, consider SFO Long-Term Parking or an off-site airport parking facility.
The official SFO Long-Term Parking facility is located at:
794 South Airport Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94128
The current drive-up rate is:
Passengers travel between Long-Term Parking and the terminals on the free AirTrain Blue Line. AirTrain operates 24 hours a day.
Booking in advance through SFO’s official parking page may provide a lower rate and can help secure a space during busy travel periods.
Several private parking companies and airport hotels near SFO offer long-term parking. Many provide complimentary terminal shuttles, but prices, shuttle hours and pickup locations vary.
Before booking, check:
Allow extra time when using off-site parking. A low daily rate may not be worthwhile if the shuttle adds significant waiting time before a flight.
Written by a local Bay Area airport transportation operator with firsthand experience navigating SFO terminals, pickup zones and surrounding waiting areas.