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SFO Terminal Guide: Pickups, Uber, AirTrain and Parking

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.

How Many Terminals Does SFO Have?

SFO has four passenger terminals:

  • Harvey Milk Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3
  • Dianne Feinstein International Terminal

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:

  • Air Canada operates from Terminal 2.
  • Aer Lingus and WestJet use Terminal 1.
  • Frontier uses the International Terminal A Gates, including for domestic flights.
  • Some flights to Canada depart from domestic terminals because passengers complete U.S. immigration before leaving Canada.
  • Some Mexico flights may depart from a domestic terminal but return through the International Terminal because arriving passengers must clear U.S. Customs.

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.

Meeting Family or Friends After Their Flight

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:

  1. Complete immigration and customs if arriving internationally.
  2. Collect all checked luggage.
  3. Check which terminal you are in.
  4. Find the nearest exit and note the door or pickup-zone number.
  5. Send the terminal and door number to your driver.
  6. Wait inside until the driver says they are approaching.
  7. Walk outside with your luggage when the vehicle is close.

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.

Where to Find Uber or Lyft at SFO

Uber and Lyft pickup locations depend on whether you arrive at a domestic terminal or the International Terminal.

Uber and Lyft at Terminals 1, 2 and 3

Standard Uber and Lyft pickups for the domestic terminals are located on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.

After collecting your luggage:

  1. Follow the airport signs for “Ride App Pickup,” “Uber/Lyft” or “Domestic Garage.”
  2. Cross into the Domestic Garage.
  3. Take an elevator to Level 5.
  4. Check the app for your assigned pickup zone.

The garage sections generally correspond with the terminals:

  • Terminal 1: Zones A/B and B
  • Terminal 2: Zones C and D
  • Terminal 3: Zones E and F/G

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.

Uber and Lyft at the International Terminal

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:

  1. Take the elevator or escalator to the Departures/Ticketing Level.
  2. Exit the terminal.
  3. Cross to the center island.
  4. Look for Ride App Pickup zones 14–17.
  5. Confirm the zone and vehicle information in the app.

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.

Can You Walk Between SFO Terminals?

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:

  • International Terminal to Terminal 1: Walking is often easiest.
  • International Terminal to Terminal 2: AirTrain is usually more convenient.
  • International Terminal to Terminal 3: Walking may be faster, especially during the Terminal 3 AirTrain station closure.
  • Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3: All are within walking distance of one another.

If you have several bags, young children, an older passenger or limited mobility, use AirTrain even when walking is possible.

How to Use the Free SFO AirTrain

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:

  • Red Line: Connects all terminals, terminal garages, the SFO BART station and Grand Hyatt at SFO. A complete loop takes approximately nine minutes.
  • Blue Line: Connects all terminals and also serves the Rental Car Center and SFO Long-Term Parking. A complete loop takes approximately 25 minutes.

Use the Blue Line when traveling between a terminal and:

  • SFO Long-Term Parking
  • The Rental Car Center
  • The Kiss & Fly area

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.

Where Drivers Can Wait Near SFO

Vehicles may not wait at terminal curbs or along airport roadways. The safest official option is the SFO Cell Phone Waiting Lot.

Official 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:

  • Maximum stay: 60 minutes
  • Closed between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
  • The driver must remain with the vehicle.
  • Commercial vehicles are not permitted.
  • Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wait there until the passenger confirms that all luggage has been collected and that they are standing outside at a specific terminal door.

Nearby Places to Stop

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.

Helping Someone Check In or Check Bags

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:

  • Domestic Garage: $4 per 30 minutes, up to $39 per 24 hours
  • International Garages A and G: $4 per 30 minutes, up to $37 per 24 hours

A one-hour visit therefore costs approximately $8.

Inside the terminal, you can help the passenger:

  • Find the correct airline counter
  • Check in and print a boarding pass
  • Check baggage
  • Locate the TSA security entrance
  • Request wheelchair assistance from the airline
  • Ask an SFO information desk for language assistance

Normally, only ticketed passengers can continue through security. After check-in and baggage assistance are complete, accompany the traveler to the security checkpoint entrance.

Long-Term Parking at SFO

For trips lasting more than a few hours, consider SFO Long-Term Parking or an off-site airport parking facility.

SFO Long-Term Parking

The official SFO Long-Term Parking facility is located at:

794 South Airport Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94128

The current drive-up rate is:

  • $4 per 30 minutes
  • $27 maximum per 24 hours

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.

Off-Site Airport Parking

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:

  • Whether the shuttle operates 24 hours
  • How frequently it runs
  • Whether reservations are required
  • Whether taxes and airport fees are included
  • Whether the parking is covered or uncovered
  • Instructions for the return shuttle

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.

Quick SFO Navigation Summary

  • SFO has four terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and the International Terminal.
  • Do not identify a terminal solely by whether the flight is domestic or international.
  • Family and friends should approach the Arrivals curb only after the passenger is outside and ready.
  • Standard Uber and Lyft pickups for Terminals 1–3 are on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.
  • International Terminal Uber and Lyft pickups are on the Departures/Ticketing Level, center island, Zones 14–17.
  • All terminals are connected by walkways.
  • AirTrain is free and operates 24 hours a day.
  • Use hourly parking when helping someone check in.
  • SFO Long-Term Parking is connected to the terminals by the AirTrain Blue Line.
  • Never wait at a terminal curb or on an airport roadway.

Written by a local Bay Area airport transportation operator with firsthand experience navigating SFO terminals, pickup zones and surrounding waiting areas.