San Francisco (SFO) Terminal Map & Navigation Guide
Everything you need to navigate San Francisco: the official terminal map link, what airlines fly from each concourse, how to move between terminals, and gate-finding tips that save you backtracking. Verify your specific gate on your boarding pass — assignments change.
Where can I find the official San Francisco terminal map?
The SFO airport authority publishes the most up-to-date map on its official website. Use the link below before you travel so you know the terminal layout and gate locations before you clear security.
Official map
San Francisco official terminal map — airport authority website
San Francisco interactive map — searchable by gate, airline, or amenity
Maps are updated when terminals are renovated or new concourses open. Terminal 5 at LAX, for example, has been closed since October 2025 for reconstruction — always confirm your terminal from your boarding pass rather than relying on a saved map.
What is in each San Francisco terminal?
Here is what each terminal or concourse at SFO handles — which airlines fly from it, the gate range, and key amenities to know before you go.
Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (T1)
Boarding Area B only, Gates B1–B27 (26 gates, 6 capable of international processing). Fully renovated and reopened April 2023 — world's first airport terminal named after an LGBTQ+ civil-rights leader. Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Porter Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, WestJet. Lounges: Alaska Lounge, Admirals Club. Connects airside to T2 to the south.
Terminal 2 (T2)
Two concourses: Boarding Area C (Gates C2–C11) and Boarding Area D (Gates D1–D12, D14–D18). Airlines: Air Canada, Breeze Airways. Widely regarded as one of the best-designed terminals in the US. AirTrain station temporarily renamed 'Terminals 2 and 3' as of Nov 2025 while T3's own station is closed for renovation. Connects airside to T1 (north) and T3 (south).
Terminal 3 (T3)
Two concourses: Boarding Area E (Gates E1–E13) and Boarding Area F (Gates F1–F22) — 36 gates total. United Airlines domestic hub; two United Club lounges. Currently under a major $2.9 billion T3 West Modernization project through approximately 2027. Own AirTrain station closed November 4, 2025; passengers use the T2 AirTrain station instead. Connects airside to T2 (north) and International Terminal G (south).
International Terminal Building (ITB) — Boarding Areas A and G
Boarding Area A (Gates A1–A15, southern side): Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air France, Air India, Air Premia, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Copa Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, French Bee, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, ITA Airways, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Starlux, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Zipair. Boarding Area G (Gates G1–G14, northern side): Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Fiji Airways, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, United Airlines (international flights). ITB is the largest terminal; A and G are on opposite ends — airside walk between them requires transiting T1+T2+T3 (~20–25 min). Fastest A-to-G connection is to exit security and take the free AirTrain.
View International Terminal Building (ITB) — Boarding Areas A and G map
How do I get between terminals at San Francisco?
Free AirTrain automated people mover runs every 4 minutes, 24/7. Red Line runs clockwise stopping at all terminals, terminal garages, BART station, and Grand Hyatt. Blue Line runs counterclockwise, also serving the Rental Car Center and Long-Term Parking. Full loop takes approximately 9–10 minutes. Since June 17, 2024, SFO also completed a full ring of post-security airside connectors: passengers can walk T1 — T2 — T3 — ITB-G — ITB-A — T1 without exiting the sterile area or re-clearing security. Note: T3's own AirTrain station is closed (as of November 4, 2025, through approximately 2027) for the T3 West renovation; the T2 station now serves both T2 and T3.
Timing tip
Always allow 15–30 minutes for any inter-terminal transfer at SFO — wait times for people-movers, buses, or security re-screening add up faster than the physical distance suggests. Build the buffer into your Leave-By time, not your gate arrival time.
How do I find my gate at San Francisco?
Use the airside walkways for quick terminal-to-terminal connections without re-clearing security — all terminals have been linked post-security since June 2024. The one exception: to move between International Terminal Boarding Area A and Boarding Area G without a 20–25 minute walk through three domestic terminals, exit security and take the free AirTrain (every 4 min) for a roughly 5-minute ride instead.
A few habits that prevent last-minute sprints:
- Open your airline app two hours before departure. Gate assignments update in the app before they appear on printed boarding passes and sometimes before terminal displays are updated.
- Check departure screens immediately after clearing security. Every terminal at SFO has overhead departure boards near the checkpoint exit — confirming your gate here costs 30 seconds and can save a long detour.
- Note which security checkpoint serves your concourse. At multi-concourse airports, entering through the wrong checkpoint can mean exiting security and re-queuing, which adds 20 minutes or more.
- International arrivals follow the customs signs first. If you are connecting from an international arrival, clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before looking for your domestic connection gate — the process is one-way.
What is the easiest way to navigate San Francisco?
Experienced travellers at SFO use a short checklist every time:
- Review the map before leaving home. Open the San Francisco interactive map on your phone while you are still home so the terminal layout is familiar.
- Know your terminal before you arrive. At airports with multiple separate buildings (JFK, LAX, DTW, MSP) confirm your terminal from your boarding pass — rideshare and taxi drivers need the correct terminal to drop you at the right curb.
- Use automated people-movers instead of walking. At large airports with trains (ATL Plane Train, DFW Skylink, DEN AGTS) a single train ride replaces 20–30 minutes of walking. Look for signs to the train immediately after clearing security.
- Follow colour-coded signage. Most airports (TPA Blue/Red, SEA North/South Satellite, PHX T3/T4) use colour or number coding from curbside through gates — picking the right colour zone at check-in means you do not cross the terminal twice.
- Check the live TSA wait before you leave. Knowing the current security wait at SFO lets you time your departure so you arrive at the gate relaxed, not sprinting.
Common questions about San Francisco maps
Where can I find the official SFO terminal map?
The official San Francisco terminal map is on the airport authority website at https://www.flysfo.com/maps — an interactive version is also at https://www.ifly.com/airports/san-francisco-international-airport/terminal-map. Maps are updated when new gates or concourses open; always verify your specific gate on your boarding pass.
How do I get between terminals at SFO?
Free AirTrain automated people mover runs every 4 minutes, 24/7. Red Line runs clockwise stopping at all terminals, terminal garages, BART station, and Grand Hyatt. Blue Line runs counterclockwise, also serving the Rental Car Center and Long-Term Parking. Full loop takes approximately 9–10 minutes. Since June 17, 2024, SFO also completed a full ring of post-security airside connectors: passengers can walk T1 — T2 — T3 — ITB-G — ITB-A — T1 without exiting the sterile area or re-clearing security. Note: T3's own AirTrain station is closed (as of November 4, 2025, through approximately 2027) for the T3 West renovation; the T2 station now serves both T2 and T3.
How do I find my gate at SFO?
Use the airside walkways for quick terminal-to-terminal connections without re-clearing security — all terminals have been linked post-security since June 2024. The one exception: to move between International Terminal Boarding Area A and Boarding Area G without a 20–25 minute walk through three domestic terminals, exit security and take the free AirTrain (every 4 min) for a roughly 5-minute ride instead. Your boarding pass shows the exact gate. Open your airline app about two hours before departure — gate assignments sometimes change after check-in closes. Look for departure boards throughout the terminal for real-time gate information.
What is the easiest way to navigate SFO?
Use the official interactive map at https://www.ifly.com/airports/san-francisco-international-airport/terminal-map before you arrive to familiarise yourself with the layout. Use the airside walkways for quick terminal-to-terminal connections without re-clearing security — all terminals have been linked post-security since June 2024. The one exception: to move between International Terminal Boarding Area A and Boarding Area G without a 20–25 minute walk through three domestic terminals, exit security and take the free AirTrain (every 4 min) for a roughly 5-minute ride instead.
What is in each SFO terminal?
Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (T1): Boarding Area B only, Gates B1–B27 (26 gates, 6 capable of international processing). Fully renovated and reopened April 2023 — world's first airport terminal named after an LGBTQ+ civil-rights leader. Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Porter Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, WestJet. Lounges: Alaska Lounge, Admirals Club. Connects airside to T2 to the south. Terminal 2 (T2): Two concourses: Boarding Area C (Gates C2–C11) and Boarding Area D (Gates D1–D12, D14–D18). Airlines: Air Canada, Breeze Airways. Widely regarded as one of the best-designed terminals in the US. AirTrain station temporarily renamed 'Terminals 2 and 3' as of Nov 2025 while T3's own station is closed for renovation. Connects airside to T1 (north) and T3 (south). Terminal 3 (T3): Two concourses: Boarding Area E (Gates E1–E13) and Boarding Area F (Gates F1–F22) — 36 gates total. United Airlines domestic hub; two United Club lounges. Currently under a major $2.9 billion T3 West Modernization project through approximately 2027. Own AirTrain station closed November 4, 2025; passengers use the T2 AirTrain station instead. Connects airside to T2 (north) and International Terminal G (south). International Terminal Building (ITB) — Boarding Areas A and G: Boarding Area A (Gates A1–A15, southern side): Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air France, Air India, Air Premia, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Copa Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, French Bee, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, ITA Airways, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Starlux, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Zipair. Boarding Area G (Gates G1–G14, northern side): Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Fiji Airways, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, United Airlines (international flights). ITB is the largest terminal; A and G are on opposite ends — airside walk between them requires transiting T1+T2+T3 (~20–25 min). Fastest A-to-G connection is to exit security and take the free AirTrain.
Leave-By calculator
Know exactly when to leave for SFO
The TSA Wait Times Leave-By calculator folds the live SFO security wait, your drive time, and terminal navigation into one exact time to leave home — so you reach your gate without guessing.
See also: Live SFO TSA wait times · SFO terminals guide · SFO security tips