SFO parking | 5 ways to uncover the best cheap San Francisco Airport parking rates

If you’re searching for cheap SFO parking rates, you’ve come to the right place. The cost for long-term parking at SFO recently skyrocketed 40% to a record-high $25 a day. In garages A and G, the rate is now a whopping $36 per day. That’s why it’s critical to consider off-site options to find the best discount parking deals. (Note: The links on this page open in new tabs to make comparing your parking options easier)

No time to waste? We reveal many techniques to get cheap San Francisco airport parking rates. Follow these links and reserve now:

1. Compare cheap offsite long term parking near SFO*

*Save an extra $5 with our coupon code HELPER5

2. Check out SFO airport hotels with free parking**

**Save 15% off deposit with our coupon code HELPER15

3. Try Groupon for San Francisco parking coupons
4. Look at using two 1-way car rentals in lieu of parking
5. Compare cheapest parking SFO offers at on-airport lots

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Still undecided? Read on for more details on our top tips and money-saving parking techniques. We have a number of options that allow travelers to save money without sacrificing convenience, which makes locating cheap SFO airport long term parking uncomplicated and painless!

Compare off-site lots – which is often the cheapest SFO long term parking

Located around the San Francisco airport, there are a number of independent parking facilities that will often have significantly cheaper parking options than the available on-site airport parking. Most of them are within a 10-minute ride on the free SFO shuttle straight to your terminal.

We recommend this helpful website to compare cheap parking near SFO airport.

BONUS SAVINGS: Use our coupon code HELPER5 at checkout to save an extra $5 on your reservation!

EXPERT TIP: If off-site lots are full for your travel dates, check availability for hotels near SFO with free parking packages or SFO Groupon deals for other transportation options. Read more below.

This resource shows daily pricing, customer reviews and allows you to make parking reservations immediately, which will save you a ton of frustration when you're already stressed about getting to the terminal on time. Using these offsite lots has become a very popular option not only because they can be more affordable, but also because the perks that are offered to customers will more than make up for not being on the airport’s property.

Lots like Anza Parking, Burlingame Airport Parking, Park and Fly, SkyPark and many more, offer you the opportunity to secure parking discounts online in advance, offer complimentary shuttle service, and some even have specials for frequent users.

Consider San Francisco hotels with free parking packages

Hotels near SFO airport will often offer free long term parking options. This is especially nice if you have an early morning flight and would rather get a great night's sleep, stay under the covers a little longer, and have a great complimentary breakfast before you head off to the airport. Depending on your trip length, this could end up being a better option for you.

Here's a great resource where you can view all the hotels in San Francisco with free parking offers.

BONUS SAVINGS: Use our coupon code HELPER15 at checkout to save an additional 15% on your deposit!

It's easy to run a quick comparison and see how the price stacks up against other SFO parking options.

Let's look at the La Quinta Inn – San Francisco Airport hotel for example. This hotel is located 2 miles from the airport and offers a standard room for 4 people for around $180. In addition, your overnight stay includes free parking for up to 10 days as well as and airport transportation to the SFO terminals.

Now if we compare that with paying the airport rates of $25 per day for a 10-day trip and you are better off taking this deal if it works into your schedule to stay over the night before or upon your return. This is not necessarily going to be the best long term parking SFO option for everyone, but it could be the perfect solution for fly-in, fly-out meetings for business travel or for those who will be gone for more than a week or so.

Hotels also offer other package deals during different times of the year. Different seasons and holidays call for more traveling. Around Christmas time, these parking packages usually go up a bit in price because the hotels understand that it is a very busy time of the year. This adds to the demand for parking because people are going to be gone for weeks at a time and they need a place to keep their cars when they get to the airport.

Book early and knock this off your travel to-do list!

Search local deal sites – like Groupon – for special parking offers

When hunting around for online coupons doesn't turn up anything, you might have some luck checking to see if there are available SFO airport parking deals being offered through local deal sites like Groupon.

We did find a few parking offers that might work for someone departing from SFO – you can check them out on this San Francisco deals page.

It's worth a quick look before you purchase any other parking arrangements to see if there's a new deal being promoted.

Be sure and scroll down through all the local offerings, as you might find other options such as limo airport transfers or taxi services at really reduced rates that could also help you get to the airport with no parking involved at all.

You might be surprised how many local goods and services are being represented in the San Francisco area. You might also want to check out deals in the city you are traveling to and pick up some great prices on local attractions and restaurants.

Keep in mind that some deals on Groupon can be offered for a limited time, while others may be seen consistently on the deal site. So if you see a good deal, grab it while you can.

Eliminate SFO parking with two one-way San Francisco airport car rentals

Sometimes, finding the cheapest parking at San Francisco airport means avoiding it altogether. How? Reserve two one-way car rentals and leave your personal vehicle at home.

Here’s what you do: Use a San Francisco car rental aggregator like this one to find a good deal on a rental that originates in your hometown. Reserve a vehicle for two one-way rentals (the day you fly out and the day you return).

On departure day, pick up the car in your hometown, drive it straight to the airport and turn it in before leaving on your trip. When you fly back in, you reverse the process with your one-way rental back home. You don’t keep the vehicle overnight either time so rates are generally lower. (However, be advised that prices do tend to go up during popular times to visit San Francisco.)

The pros of this strategy: You avoid having to ask a relative or friend to drive you to and from the airport; no wear and tear on your personal vehicle (or worrying about its safety in the long-term lot while you’re gone); and no driving around searching for a spot in the SFO remote parking area with your flight time looming. Stressful!

Long term SFO parking rates run $18 per day. So if you’ll be gone more than 10 days, chances are you can find two one-way car rentals that will be cheaper than on-site San Francisco airport parking. Will it be less expensive than an offsite SFO parking lot or hotel with free parking package? You’ll have to run the numbers to find out.

The site we recommend, RentalCars.com, is a car rental aggregator that compares rates of top-brand companies like Avis, Alamo, National and Enterprise. It's a division of Priceline, and the site helps you find low prices and make easy online reservations without a credit card. And don’t forget to check pricing for a car rental at your destination city, too.

Choose on-site economy parking options for SFO

We’re frequently asked, “Where’s the best place to park at SFO?” Also popular is, “How much is parking at San Francisco Airport?” Basically, SFO has three options available for on-site parking: Long-Term, International/Hourly and Domestic/Hourly.

The long term SFO parking lots, located at 806 South Airport Boulevard, are the cheapest. The rate is $2 per 15 minutes up to a maximum of $25 per day. The lots are accessible 24/7 and shuttle buses run to the terminals every 5-15 minutes.

The closer, more convenient domestic and international lots will run you $36 per day. For frequent flyers, the airport also offers a membership called ParkFAST which offers access to a covered, reserved area. You must apply and additional fees apply. The rate for members is $40 per day. Non-members pay $42 per day.

You can check here for more information on SFO parking options on the airport grounds.

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San Francisco airport Q&A

Where is San Francisco airport located?

The San Francisco airport address is 780 S Airport Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94128.

How can I call the San Francisco airport?

The San Francisco airport phone number is (800) 435-9736 or (650) 821-8211.

What is the San Francisco airport code?

SFO

Where's the best place to park at SFO on the airport grounds?

On-site parking rates are among the highest in the nation at SFO. The airport offers a number of parking lots on site with costs changing depending on distance from the terminals. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reserved and/or prepay choices available. The SFO economy lots can reach maximum capacity, leaving you no option but to use the lots closest to the terminals at higher rates.

How much is long-term parking at San Francisco airport?

Look up the SFO parking rates for short term and extended stay parking at the official website for San Francisco International Airport.

Where can I find SFO parking coupons?

Visit our Top Travel Deals page for most recent discounts for SFO off-site lots or San Francisco hotels with free airport parking packages, as well as discounts on other travel needs like airfare, car rentals and more.

How can I confirm the parking status at San Francisco airport?

Unfortunately, San Francisco airport doesn't feature an online portal to confirm the status of its parking lots, which means you risk showing up at the airport, driving around and around (stressful!) only to find the affordable lots are completely full. With your flight time looming you'll have no alternative but to park in one of the closer lots with a more expensive daily rate.

That's the reason it's generally a good idea to plan in advance and make a reservation at a private off-site SFO lot. It's fast, simple and you'll be assured of a guaranteed space close by along with a hassle-free shuttle ride directly to your airport terminal. You'll likely save a bit of money, too. Be sure to use the code HELPER5 when you checkout to save an additional $5!

(Already on your way to the airport? Don't worry. Unless it's a busy holiday travel season, odds are some of the off-airport lots might still have availability. Check now then book quickly and easily online. Remember your coupon code!)

What is SFO valet parking and should I use it?

There are plenty of classifications for “valet” with regards to airport car parking. Here's a rundown.

First, there's the classic definition of “valet parking,” when an attendant who is employed by the airport is waiting in front of your departing terminal, takes your car and parks it on-site at the airport. Your vehicle is then delivered back to you when you get back.

Valet parking at SFO is the ultimate convenience, which also makes it the most expensive alternative ($45 per day). Frugal travelers will certainly want to think about different plans.

There will also be a variety of “valet” options offered by private off-site facilities, but the meaning can vary. At some parking lots, the attendant will drive you to the airport in your car, leave you at your terminal and then park the car in their secure off-site lot during your trip. At other lots, the employee can meet you at the airport and then take your car back to the off-site property. One final meaning of “valet parking” is when the attendant meets you at your car in the off-site parking lot to help you with your luggage when you board the shuttle (and again when you're arriving at the terminal).

Luckily, the privately-owned parking lots do a great job of defining what their valet amenities include within the individual profile (along with additional amenities), so it is quite easy to determine whether spending a little extra is worth it to you for this benefit.

How big is San Francisco airport?

SFO has four terminals (three domestic and one international) with seven concourses and four runways. The airport covers a total of 5,207 acres.

How busy is SFO?

In 2015, SFO ranked as the 7th busiest airport in the United States with more than 24 million boardings. [source]

Where can I find a San Francisco airport map?

Click for a direct link to the SFO airport map, also referred to as the SFO terminal map.

What's the best way to get to San Francisco International Airport?

To find the best route to SFO, it's always a good idea to map it prior to taking off for the airport. You'll type in your starting location and let the app do the rest. Either print the directions or use your mobile device and follow the turn-by-turn directions. With your mobile device you'll also get traffic alerts, which will enable you to alter your route, if needed.

Click for directions to San Francisco airport.

Related Bay Area information

72 things to do in the Bay Area before you die [via SFGate]
Ten day weather forecast for San Francisco
San Francisco traffic updates

Read more details about our airport parking tactics

Having difficulty choosing which of these cost-effective options is good for you? Explore our in depth Airport Parking 101 posts. These helpful write-ups explain the chief advantages of each airport parking option in an easy-to-digest format.

• Great reasons to it's smart to pre-book at an off-site airport parking lot
• Great benefits of using hotel parking packages as an alternative to parking at the airport
• How Groupon airport parking coupons can help you save a lot of cash
• Top advantages of choosing two one-way car rentals rather than parking at the airport

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