I have a flight tomorrow from SFO-RNO at 11:30am and then back tomorrow night. Where's the best/easiest place to park at SFO (I usually fly out of OAK). Would short-term parking be terribly expensive for 12 or 13 hours?

TIA

Whoops... Got part of my own question answered: http://www.airwise.com/airports/us/SFO/SFOpark.html

But would still take suggestions from any seasoned SFO parkers.

Generally, I'd advise against parking there at all, given the price, but it sounds like you need to, or you wouldn't have asked.

Long-term parking is cheaper, but it's a fairly long bus ride. Maybe once the SkyTrain is up and running, it will be better. Meantime, SFO has few decent alternatives, especially for the amount of time you'll be there.

I think you hit the maximum per day by then (I believe that makes it ~$35 in the short-term lot).

Greg

Short term parking is the most convenient. If you park on level 5, you can usually park right next to the elevator to the terminal. For less than 24 hours, it will cost $25.00 (despite the web site posted rate of $22). I would avoid the airport long term parking--infrequent buses and the same cost as the private parking lots. If you are coming from the south, you can use Anza Park and Fly. About $12/day and they have pretty good bus service (my travel agent provides coupons for a $9/day rate). From the north, there are several alternatives such as Park and Fly--all at about $12/day. Although I have never used them because I usually come from the south, SkyPark seems to have the most frequent buses: They give a discount to AAA members and they have some deluxe services such as washing your car.

Mikel's right on the cost of the short-term lot - I forgot that I'm always abusing the system and parking there for more than 24 hours, when the cost pops to $35 per day from $25.

Thanks Mikel!

Greg

This is so true! I often arrive home pretty late at night and it seems to take forever for a long term bus to pull around. In the meantime it seems like dozens of rental car buses and private long term parking buses pass me by. I've pretty much switched to never parking in the long term lot. I typically park in short term parking for anything less than 4 days and in a private lot for anything longer.

On the rare occaisions that I give myself enough time, I take the Caltrain from the city, though I usually take a cab or supershuttle back home.

As an aside, in the short term garage, I always park on level one, there's a sign that makes it look like only cabs can go down the ramp which I think confuses enough people that there seems to always be a space right by the F (United) entrance. It makes a quick getaway when you come back.

Heya cblaisd,

I park mine at either Park N Fly (at $12.25/day, tax included) or PCA Parking at about the same. Most often, PCA has coupons for $9.50/day +tax, which is one of the bestest deal. There're also $8/day parking but a bit further away from the terminal.

These two are one of the closest "Remote" parking facility to SFO and it's just a 5 min bus ride away. Their shuttles seem to be a bit more frequent as well and you may page them through the white courtesy phone if you arrive at wee hours or when you've been standing there for more than 15 minutes. (you do have to flag the buses though, they don't usually stop automatically for you)

The PCA coupons can be obtained from any CTOs in the Bay Area. SkyPark is another one that often has coupons.

I would avoid the Long Term Parking as they tend to be more expensive...and you don't get frequent parker points (with Park N Fly and PCA, you get a stamp for each day you park there and since there're Park N Fly and PCA in OAK, you can use it in either city) Details from your parking attendant.

And as for Short Term parking for 12-13 hours? Fuggedaboutit. It's expensive.

Hope this helps and hope I'm not too late here.

Thx
Jamester

[This message has been edited by Jamester (edited 12-20-2000).]

I have coupons for the Park, Shuttle, and Fly lot for $8/day. If you want some, just send me an email.

Thanks for all the replies.
Ended up using PCA. Utterly easy to get too from 101 southbound. Bus right away to the terminal. Arrived back tonight and waited no more than 3 or 4 minutes before a PCA van came by. And if you don't have paper coupons handy, this website will give you one. http://www.parkingcompany.com/sanfran/coupons.html

Thanks again, all

For future reference: www.travelcouponsonline.com has links to parking coupons at most major airports.

[This message has been edited by travelcoupons (edited 12-21-2000).]

Great site, travelcoupons, thank you.

The link may not work for some of you, so here's the correct one:
http://www.travelcouponsonline.com/

Thx
Jamester