Search Flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

Approximate Travel Distance
Approximate Flight Duration
Popular Airlines
Popular Airport
9.883 Km
12 hour 20 min
Shanghai Pudong Intl. Airport

Transportation to San Francisco Airport from the City Center

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2019

Transportation to Shanghai City Center from Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao Intl. Airport

Shanghai is the most populated city in China, which is the most populated country in the world. With a population of about 20 million, Shanghai is home to the world’s busiest cargo port, which attracts millions of industrialists, businessmen, and investors to the city every year. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is located 13 km from the city center, in the Changning district, and handled about 40 million passengers in 2014. The airport is the city’s main domestic airport, serving few international flights to nearby areas.  

Rail

The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is located right next to Terminal 2 at the airport. The station features 2 major lines that run through it, connecting the city with the airport in a very convenient way. Passengers who want to get to the city center from the airport by train need to take Line 2 or Line 10, which take about 19 to 22 minutes to get to the city center.

Airport Bus

Due to its close proximity to the city center accessing Hongqiao Airport by road is very convenient, except during rush hour. To get to the city center from the airport you can use bus line 941 during the day. Bus line 941 provides transportation to the central train station. If you land at night you have to use night bus 316 to get to the city center.

Taxi

The airport is located 13 km from People’s Square in the city center. Therefore most passengers prefer to take a taxi from the airport to the city. The total time can vary depending on the traffic but on average it takes about 30 minutes to get to the city center. Taxis are located by exit number 4 at Terminal 2.  

Rental Car

The fact that the airport is located in such close proximity to the city center and many other areas makes renting a car an attractive alternative. The rental car offices are located in Terminal 2. To get to the city from the airport go south on Hongyu Road and connect to the G50 Expressway, which goes east. This will connect you to the Yan’an Road, which goes directly to the People’s Square, passing by Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Times Square.

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2019

Shanghai Pudong Intl. Airport

Located 30 km from the city center, Pudong International Airport is the city’s main international airport. The airport is located in the Pudong district and is an important international hub for Air China.

Rail

Shanghai is an important city in terms of tourism and trade and it features an advanced rail network that continues to evolve. The rail system is an important transportation alternative, providing access to the People’s Square, which is located in the city center, the train station, and the World Trade Center.

You can get to the city center by taking the Maglev train from the airport to Longyang Station. From here transfer to metro line 2, which will take you to the city center. During certain times of the year metro line 2 will extend all the way to the airport, making direct access between the city center and the airport a possibility. Using the rail system you can get to the city center in about an hour and a half.

Bus

Buses aren’t a very popular method of transportation to the city center when you take the changing traffic conditions into consideration. However, buses are a viable transportation alternative if you’re traveling to coastal towns and the surrounding areas. Buses to the city center from the airport can take up to 2 hours. The S1 Yingbin bus is the most commonly used; the bus has a total of 4 stops before reaching the main train station.

Taxi

Taxis are not the most preferred method of transportation due to the heavy traffic conditions in the city. English is not widely spoken in the city so we recommend that you have the name of your destination written down in Chinese handy. Taxis take about 40 minutes to get to the city center; this can vary depending on the traffic.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another alternative to get to the city center from the airport. There are various rental car companies located in the arrivals terminal at the airport. To get to the city center from the airport take Huaxia expressway to the North-South expressway. This will take you over the Huangpu River to People’s Square, and over Wusong River to the main train station.

Last Updated: 18 Apr 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wingie offer the cheapest San Francisco-Shanghai flights?

When you search for San Francisco-Shanghai flights, Wingie directly gathers and compares instant data from all airlines. You can see all San Francisco-Shanghai flights together for the date you are looking for and choose the most suitable flight.

Which airports can I use for San Francisco-Shanghai flights?

For San Francisco-Shanghai flights, you can use Embarkader Airport, San Francisco Intl. Airport as departure airport, and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl. Airport, Shanghai Pudong Intl. Airport for arrival.

How many kilometers is the flight distance from San Francisco-Shanghai and how long does the flight take?

The flight distance between San Francisco-Shanghai is 9882 kilometers in total. The flight between the two cities takes 12 hour 20 minutes.

Which day is the most convenient for San Francisco-Shanghai flights?

When the average prices are examined, the most suitable day for San Francisco-Shanghai flights is Sunday.

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