An airport car service to SFO is a pre-booked sedan, SUV or Sprinter that collects you at your hotel, office or home and drops you at your terminal's departures curb at a price fixed before you travel. With Elly8.net, the Union Square to SFO route is listed from US$180 in a Business Sedan to US$470 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in, and a round trip from US$345.
Departures are where a flight is most often missed, not arrivals. The arrival leg has flight tracking and waiting built in; the departure leg has a hard deadline and a highway that can double its drive time without warning. This guide is about getting the pickup time right, the drop-off at each terminal, what the fixed fare covers, and an honest comparison with BART, taxis and rideshare.
How much is a car service to SFO?
An Elly8.net car between Union Square and SFO costs from US$180 in a Business Sedan, US$235 in a Business SUV, US$290 in a First Class SUV, US$315 in a First Class Sedan and US$470 in an Executive Sprinter. Prices are fixed and all-in, including the chauffeur, taxes and standard gratuity; tolls and parking are billed at cost.
For pickups away from Union Square, in the Marina, Pacific Heights, the Mission or across the Bay, the web booker returns a fixed price for your exact address. Rides in San Francisco are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk.
See San Francisco prices and reserve
Setting the pickup time
SFO is about 15 miles (24 km) south of Union Square, roughly 24 minutes on a clear road. On a weekday evening, or when US-101 southbound slows through the Peninsula, the same drive can take 45 minutes or more. The fare does not change with the traffic, but your margin does.
The desk works a departure pickup backwards from the flight:
- Start with your airline's recommended arrival time for your route, domestic or international, and whether you are checking bags.
- Add the drive time at the hour you travel, not the clear-road time. Early mornings are usually quicker; weekday afternoons and Friday evenings are not.
- Add a buffer for hotel lifts, the walk to the car and the last-minute passport check.
If you tell us the flight number and terminal, the desk proposes a pickup time and you confirm it. For very early flights, the chauffeur's name and number arrive before pickup, so you can message if you are running a few minutes late rather than waiting on the street.
Where you are dropped: SFO terminal by terminal
SFO has three domestic terminals, 1, 2 and 3, and the International Terminal with its A and G gates. Your chauffeur drops you at the departures curb for your airline unless you ask otherwise.
| Terminal | What it serves | Drop-off |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Domestic flights, B and C gates | Departures level curb |
| Terminal 2 | Domestic flights, D gates | Departures level curb |
| Terminal 3 | Domestic flights, E and F gates | Departures level curb |
| International Terminal | A and G gates, international and some domestic flights | Departures/Ticketing level curb |
SFO's pickup and drop-off rules say curbsides are for active passenger pickup and drop-off only, and vehicles may not wait at the curb. In practice, that means a quick, organized stop: the chauffeur unloads your bags, you check the trunk or the rear of the Sprinter, and the car moves on.
The airport also notes, on its ride-app page, that it encourages Arrivals level or garage drop-offs to avoid traffic on the Departures level at peak times. If the departures roadway is backed up, the chauffeur may suggest the Arrivals level directly below, which can save several minutes. Check your airline's terminal on your booking confirmation the day before; airlines sometimes move.
What the fixed fare includes, and what it does not
The price you see is per vehicle and includes the chauffeur, the vehicle, taxes and standard gratuity. Tolls and parking are billed at cost; on a straight city-to-SFO run there is usually neither. If you ask the chauffeur to wait while you collect a colleague or stop for coffee, waiting beyond the included time is billed at cost, and the desk tells you before it applies.
| Route | Business Sedan | Business SUV | Executive Sprinter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Square to SFO, one way | US$180 | US$235 | US$470 |
| SFO round trip | US$345 | US$450 | US$895 |
| Union Square to Oakland (OAK) | US$215 | US$280 | US$560 |
| Union Square to San Jose (SJC) | US$340 | US$445 | US$885 |
For departures from wine country, the downtown Napa and SFO route is listed from US$390 in a Business Sedan on our Napa Valley car service page. If you are staying in the South Bay, the San Jose and Silicon Valley page lists fares to SJC, which is often the better departure airport from there.
Taxi, BART, rideshare or a pre-booked car to SFO
Every option below reaches SFO from downtown. Which one is right depends on the hour, the bags and how much risk you can accept.
| Option, downtown to SFO | Price | What to know | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BART | US$11.80 from Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell or Civic Center | Arrives on the Departures/Ticketing level of the International Terminal; free AirTrain to other terminals | One traveler, light bags, near a Market Street station |
| Metered taxi | About US$52 on distance for 15 miles, plus traffic time | No SFO drop-off fee; tip extra | Short notice, two travelers |
| Rideshare | Dynamic, changes with demand | Drop-off on the Departures curb | Off-peak, flexible plans |
| Elly8.net Business Sedan | US$180 fixed, all-in | Pre-booked, chauffeur waits for you | Early flights, meetings, guaranteed pickup |
| Elly8.net Executive Sprinter | US$470 fixed, all-in | Up to 12 passengers and 12 bags | Families and teams |
BART. BART's SFO station is on the Departures/Ticketing level of the International Terminal, and AirTrain connects it to every terminal at no charge. The adult fare from Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell Street or Civic Center to SFO is US$11.80, and from 16th Street Mission US$11.70. For one person with a carry-on, BART is honest value and we would not argue otherwise.
Taxi. San Francisco taxis run on the SFMTA meter: US$4.15 for the first fifth of a mile, US$0.65 for each additional fifth and US$0.65 per minute of waiting or traffic delay. On distance alone a 15-mile ride comes to about US$52. The SFMTA says there is no drop-off fee at SFO, so the US$6 airport fee applies only to rides leaving the airport. Add slow-traffic minutes and a tip, and a busy-hour taxi comes closer to a sedan fare than people expect, but it is still cheaper for one or two.
Rideshare. Prices follow demand, so a weekday evening or a big convention week can cost far more than a quiet morning, and availability at 4:30 a.m. is not guaranteed. Our chauffeur vs Uber and Lyft and chauffeur vs taxi pages cover the trade-offs.
A pre-booked car wins for early-morning departures, for families with child seats (available on request), for three or four people with checked bags, and for anyone flying out the afternoon of a meeting who needs the car to be there at a known time. For shared vans, see chauffeur vs airport shuttle.
SFO, Oakland or San Jose for your departure?
Most travelers leave the city through SFO because that is where their airline flies, but it is worth checking the other two airports before you book, because the drive can decide the day.
- SFO is the shortest run from downtown, about 15 miles (24 km), from US$180 in a Business Sedan. It is the right choice for most international flights and for hotels in Union Square, SoMa and the Financial District.
- Oakland (OAK) is about 20 miles (32 km) from Union Square, around 32 minutes on a clear road, from US$215. The Bay Bridge is the variable; if your last meeting is in Oakland, Emeryville or Berkeley, book from that address instead and the trip is usually shorter.
- San Jose (SJC) is about 46 miles (75 km) from Union Square, roughly an hour on a clear road and longer at the evening peak, from US$340. If your final day is on the Peninsula or in Silicon Valley, book the car from your last meeting rather than from the city.
A multi-stop day ending at the airport, with meetings on the way, is often best booked as an hourly car; see our hourly chauffeur page.
Departing during a convention week
Convention weeks at Moscone change the departure side too. Microsoft Ignite runs November 17-20, 2026, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference January 11-14, 2027, RSAC April 5-8, 2027 and Dreamforce September 21-23, 2027. On the last afternoon of a big show, thousands of attendees head for SFO at once, and rideshare pricing and taxi lines reflect it. Book the departure car when you book the arrival; the SFO round trip is listed from US$345 in a Business Sedan. Exhibitor teams should look at our conference and trade show transportation page.
Hotel and home pickups
Hotel driveways around Union Square and Nob Hill are tight and several streets are one-way, so the chauffeur confirms the exact door the day before. For residential pickups, tell us about steep driveways, building entrances or loading zones. If you have more bags than the class allows, upgrade: a Business Sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, a Business SUV up to 6 and 6, an Executive Sprinter up to 12 and 12. The fleet page has the detail, and the SFO limo guide covers luggage for groups.
How to book the departure
- Enter the pickup address and SFO, with your flight number and terminal.
- Choose the vehicle by passengers and bags.
- Reserve now, or use the web booker for any address not on the list. Confirmation arrives by email, with the chauffeur's details before pickup.
Arriving as well as leaving? The SFO to San Francisco car service guide covers the arrival leg, and the SFO black car service guide is written for business travelers. Our airport transfers page explains how both work across the network, and companies can open a corporate account with monthly invoicing.
Frequently asked questions
How early should my car pick me up for an SFO flight?
Work backwards from your airline's recommended arrival time, add the drive time at the hour you travel and add a buffer. From Union Square the drive is about 24 minutes on a clear road and can be 45 minutes or more at the evening peak. Give the desk your flight number and it proposes a pickup time.
How much is a car service from downtown San Francisco to SFO?
From Union Square, the fixed one-way fare is US$180 in a Business Sedan, US$235 in a Business SUV and US$470 in an Executive Sprinter for up to 12. Prices include the chauffeur, taxes and standard gratuity. Other addresses are quoted in the web booker.
Is there a fee for dropping off at SFO?
There is no airport drop-off fee in the Elly8.net fare. For taxis, the SFMTA says there is no drop-off fee at SFO; its US$6 airport fee applies to rides leaving the airport. Curbside stops at SFO must be brief, as vehicles may not wait at the curb.
Is BART cheaper than a car service to SFO?
Yes, for one person. BART from downtown stations is US$11.80 and arrives at the International Terminal, with free AirTrain to the domestic terminals. A pre-booked car makes more sense for early flights, families, groups with checked bags, and anyone who needs a guaranteed pickup time.
Can the car stop to collect a colleague on the way?
Yes. Add the second address when you book and the fare is quoted for the multi-stop route in the web booker. Waiting beyond the included time is billed at cost, so let the desk know the colleague's exact address and time.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup. At 72 hours or less, 10% applies; at 48 hours or less, 50%; and at 24 hours or less or for a no-show, 100%. Refunds go to the original card. Changing a pickup time is usually possible if you contact the desk early.
