Parking at San Francisco Airport: Every Option Compared

Parking at San Francisco Airport (SFO) is the process of leaving your vehicle at one of several on-airport garages or nearby off-site lots while you travel, with prices ranging from about $9/day at off-site lots to $60/day for ParkFAST on the airport grounds. SFO sits 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco along US-101. Triply sells five off-site lots near SFO. Only one has a shuttle (part-time), and the other four have no shuttle, so you add a rideshare each way. Knowing which option fits your trip length, terminal, and budget can save you real money.

• Cheapest on-airport rate: Long-Term Garage at $27/day, connected to all terminals via the free AirTrain Blue Line
• Cheapest off-site rate on Triply: Best Western Grosvenor Hotel at about $9/day, with a complimentary shuttle only 5:00 to 10:15 AM and 5:00 to 10:25 PM and a 5-day minimum booking
• No-shuttle lots on Triply: Hampton Inn and Courtyard San Francisco Airport at about $10/day, DoubleTree San Francisco Airport North Bayfront at about $13/day, Home2Suites by Hilton at about $24/day. You pay for a rideshare each way.
• Most convenient: Domestic Garage ($41 per 24 hours) or International Garage ($37 per 24 hours), both connected to the terminals on foot
• Free option: Cell Phone Waiting Lot on North Access Road, free for up to 60 minutes
• Valet: SFO Valet now operates at the Grand Hyatt at SFO and can be booked online through the airport
• Best for long trips: Best Western Grosvenor at about $9/day is about 65% less per day than the Long-Term Garage, if its shuttle hours fit your flights

Complete SFO Airport Parking Guide | Back to SFO Airport Parking

How Much Does Parking at San Francisco Airport Cost?

SFO parking costs vary widely depending on the facility. On-airport options run from $27/day to $60/day, based on rates checked on flysfo.com in October 2026. Off-site lots Triply sells near SFO start at about $9/day. That's about 77% less per day than the $41 Domestic Garage and about 65% less than the Long-Term Garage.

Here's a full breakdown of the parking options at SFO. On-airport rates were checked on flysfo.com in October 2026 and are booked through the airport, not Triply. Triply's off-site rates are for a 7-day stay booked ahead and change by date.

Ready to compare SFO parking rates and book a spot? Search the off-site SFO lots on Triply, starting at about $9/day.

What Are the Different Parking Options at SFO?

SFO offers several on-airport parking facilities, and Triply sells five off-site lots nearby. Each serves a different type of traveler. Here's how they break down:

On-Airport Parking

• Domestic Garage: $41 per 24 hours, walkable to Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Best for short trips where convenience matters most.
• International Garages A and G: $37 per 24 hours, with pedestrian walkways to the International Terminal (Boarding Areas A & G). Ideal for international flights on airlines like United, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines.
• Long-Term Garage: $27 per 24 hours, the most affordable on-site choice. Access terminals via the free AirTrain Blue Line from Level 5, running 24 hours a day, as often as every 4 minutes.
• ParkFAST: $60 per 24 hours, inside the Domestic Garage with its own entry. It has an 8-hour minimum and is online booking only.
• SFO Valet: now operates at the Grand Hyatt at SFO hotel entrance, connected to all terminals by AirTrain, and can be booked online. Check flysfo.com for the current rate.

Off-Site Parking Near SFO

Off-site lots are private facilities near the airport. Triply sells five near SFO, listed 2.1 to 3.6 miles from the terminals. Prices start at about $9/day at Best Western Grosvenor Hotel (shuttle only 5:00 to 10:15 AM and 5:00 to 10:25 PM, 5-day minimum). Hampton Inn and Courtyard San Francisco Airport are about $10/day, DoubleTree San Francisco Airport North Bayfront is about $13/day and Home2Suites by Hilton is about $24/day, and none of those four has a shuttle, so you pay for a taxi, Uber or Lyft each way. Bookings on Triply come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

What Is the Cell Phone Waiting Lot?

The Cell Phone Waiting Lot is a free, short-stay area near North Access Road at SFO's entrance. Drivers picking up arriving passengers can wait here at no charge for up to 60 minutes. It's a smart way to avoid circling the terminal or paying for short-term parking.

Which SFO Parking Lot Is Closest to Your Terminal?

The right parking lot depends on which terminal your airline uses. SFO has four main terminal areas, and each connects to a different on-site garage.

• Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (Southwest, JetBlue, American, Hawaiian, WestJet, Alaska select): Use the Domestic Garage — it connects via a covered walkway.
• Terminal 2 (Alaska, Air Canada, Breeze, Sun Country, Southwest): Also served by the Domestic Garage.
• Terminal 3 (United domestic flights, Boarding Areas E & F): Domestic Garage is your closest option.
• International Terminal (Boarding Areas A & G — United international, Delta, Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and more): Use the International Garage at $37/day.

Not sure which terminal your airline uses? Check the SFO terminal map before you head out. If you're flying internationally and want to save money, the Long-Term Garage works for any terminal — the AirTrain Blue Line connects it to all four areas in under 10 minutes.

Is Off-Site SFO Parking Worth It?

For many travelers staying five days or more, an off-site lot can cost much less. The cheapest on-airport option is the Long-Term Garage at $27/day, about $189 for 7 days. Best Western Grosvenor Hotel on Triply is about $9/day, roughly $66 for 7 days, but it needs a 5-day minimum booking and its shuttle runs only at set hours. Hampton Inn and Courtyard (about $10/day) and DoubleTree San Francisco Airport North Bayfront (about $13/day) have no shuttle, so add a rideshare each way. Home2Suites by Hilton at about $24/day has no shuttle and is only about 11% below Long-Term, so it isn't a money saver.

Only Best Western Grosvenor Hotel has a shuttle. It is complimentary with your online booking and runs every 45 minutes, from 5:00 to 10:15 AM and 5:00 to 10:25 PM. Outside those hours you can park but must arrange your own Uber or Lyft. To arrange an airport pickup, call 650-873-3200. Hampton Inn, Courtyard San Francisco Airport, DoubleTree San Francisco Airport North Bayfront and Home2Suites by Hilton have no shuttle at all. At the DoubleTree, check in at the front desk first for a validation code, then register your car using the on-site QR code. The lot has security patrolling.

For a deeper look at every off-site option, see our guide to San Francisco Airport off-site parking, which covers shuttle frequency, security, and how to book.

How Does the SFO AirTrain Connect Parking to Terminals?

The AirTrain is SFO's free inter-terminal people mover. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and arrives every 4 minutes on the Blue Line. For parking, the most important connection is between the Long-Term Garage (Level 5) and the rest of the airport.

Here's how it works in practice:

1. Park your car in the Long-Term Garage and ride the elevator to Level 5.
2. Board the AirTrain Blue Line — no ticket or fare needed.
3. The train loops through all four terminal areas: Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal.
4. Total travel time from the garage to your terminal is typically under 10 minutes.

The AirTrain also connects to the BART station at SFO, where you can reach downtown San Francisco in about 30 minutes for $8.95 one-way. If you're comparing the true cost of driving vs. transit, check the BART SFO station page for current schedules and fares.

How Far in Advance Should You Book SFO Airport Parking?

Book ahead, ideally at least one to two weeks before your trip. SFO is one of the busiest airports on the West Coast, and lots can fill up during peak travel periods. Courtyard San Francisco Airport and Home2Suites by Hilton showed limited availability for some November dates.

Booking ahead holds your space at the rate you booked. Triply bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in, so there's no downside to reserving early. If you're considering Best Western Grosvenor Hotel, remember it needs a booking of at least 5 days.

For tips on finding discounted rates and promo codes before you book, see our guide to San Francisco Airport parking deals.

Is Parking at SFO or Taking Uber/Lyft Cheaper?

It depends on your trip length and how many people are traveling. A round-trip Uber or Lyft from downtown San Francisco to SFO typically costs $50–$90 total, based on current rideshare estimates for the 12-mile route. Which is cheaper depends on trip length, group size and which lot you pick.

Here's a quick comparison by trip length (daily rate times days; your checkout total can be higher with fees, tax and extra billed days, and a no-shuttle lot needs a rideshare each way):

For trips of five days or more, Best Western Grosvenor at about $9/day can cost far less than Long-Term, as long as its shuttle hours fit your flights. A no-shuttle lot like the DoubleTree needs a rideshare each way, so count that cost too. For a single overnight trip, rideshare may make more sense, especially if you're traveling from close to downtown. BART is also worth considering: $8.95 each way and roughly 30 minutes from downtown SF to SFO with no parking stress.

Keep in mind that SFO is experiencing major FAA and construction-related disruptions in 2026. Traffic on US-101 near the airport can be unpredictable. Before you drive, check real-time traffic on Waze to avoid surprises.

Tips for Parking at SFO During Holidays and Peak Travel Periods

SFO sees some of the highest passenger volumes in the U.S. during Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer travel season. Lots can fill up on busy travel days, so plan ahead.

• Book at least 2 weeks ahead during Thanksgiving and Christmas, since lots can fill up.
• Book a lot with free cancellation so you can cancel if your flight changes. Triply bookings come with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.
• Plan around your lot's ride. Best Western Grosvenor's shuttle runs every 45 minutes only 5:00 to 10:15 AM and 5:00 to 10:25 PM, and the other four Triply lots have no shuttle, so allow time to get an Uber or Lyft.
• Arrive at the airport earlier than usual. Review TSA security screening guidelines and plan for longer lines at SFO around major holidays.
• Consider the Long-Term Garage as a backup. It's the largest on-site facility and tends to have more availability than the Domestic or International Garages.
• Use the AirTrain. Even if you park off-site, the AirTrain loop means no terminal confusion once you're at the airport.

For a complete breakdown of SFO parking prices across all trip lengths and seasons, our SFO airport parking prices guide goes deeper on what you'll pay and when rates spike.

Parking at San Francisco Airport doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Triply's SFO lots start at about $9/day at Best Western Grosvenor Hotel (part-time shuttle, 5-day minimum), and the other four lots have no shuttle, so you add a rideshare each way. The AirTrain makes getting between terminals simple, and it connects directly to the Long-Term Garage. Book early, pick a lot that matches your terminal, flight times and trip length, and you're set.

Compare the off-site SFO lots on Triply, from about $9/day, and reserve your spot with free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before check-in.

Compare SFO parking rates. Best Western Grosvenor Hotel, the lowest-priced lot Triply sells near SFO, costs about 77% less per day than the $41 Domestic Garage (part-time shuttle, 5-day minimum).