# San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK)

> Oakland, US · 11 km (7 mi) south of downtown Oakland

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/oak
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/oak.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: OAK
- **ICAO**: KOAK
- **Timezone**: America/Los_Angeles
- **Runways**: 4
- **Terminals**: 2
- **Passengers**: 10.2M/yr
- **Hub for**: Southwest Airlines
- **Official site**: https://www.iflyoak.com

## Overview

## Welcome

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the Bay Area's secret weapon against flight delays and sprawling chaos often found at SFO. Located just 11 km south of downtown Oakland, OAK is praised for its efficiency: travelers commonly report walking from curb to gate in under 15 minutes, a feat bolstered by smooth security lines and seamless terminal connections. This reputation makes it a favorite for West Coast frequent flyers who prize on-time performance and accessibility over the endless wait times at larger airports.

## At a glance

Handling 10.2 million passengers annually, OAK consists of two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and features four runways. It serves as a hub for Southwest Airlines, showcasing its capacity for robust domestic travel. Thanks to its strategic layout, travelers can transition between terminals without having to pass through security again, a rare convenience usually leading to stress-free connections.

## Terminals & layout

**Terminal 1** hosts 17 gates and services Allegiant Air, along with other domestic and international airlines. You’ll find an array of dining and shopping options here, including Silver Dragon and Hegenburger's for those looking for a bite. **Terminal 2** primarily caters to Southwest Airlines and offers eateries like Pyramid Ale Taproom and Subway. Notably, these terminals connect post-security, allowing passengers to traverse them without additional checks.

## Getting to and from the city

OAK's proximity to public transit options makes it an excellent choice for quick city access. The Oakland Airport Connector (an automated people-mover) links OAK with BART's Coliseum Station in about 8 minutes. From there, trips to downtown Oakland take approximately 10 minutes, while journeys to San Francisco run about 25–30 minutes based on BART's timetable. Typical ride share options include Lyft and Uber, with trips to the city center taking around 10 to 15 minutes.

## Traveller essentials

Parking can be found in multiple tiers, from Premier Parking at $40 per day to Economy Parking at $18. Given the competitive nature of parking prices, locals frequently recommend checking off-airport vendors like Park 'N Fly for better deals, especially during events or holidays. If you need ground transportation, there are a plethora of taxi services available to whisk you to your destination.

### Connectivity

Wi-Fi at OAK is available across terminals but is limited with throttling after 45 minutes. Travelers planning to stream or work extensively online might consider using their mobile hotspots to avoid disruptions.

## Dining & shopping highlights

Caffeine aficionados will appreciate Peet's Coffee outposts in both terminals, a beloved spot for Bay Area locals. Those preferring a more leisurely dining experience can enjoy small dishes and wine flights at Vino Volo in Terminal 2. The duty-free store near Gate 1 offers an unexpectedly diverse selection of bourbons and tequilas, favorably reviewed by frequent international travelers.

## Lounges

The **Escape Lounge** in Terminal 1 is highly regarded, especially for Amex cardholders who can access curated, locally inspired dishes and a quiet atmosphere at no extra charge. Regular entry fees start at $45 if pre-booked, a savvy option as walk-up charges increase to $60. Lounge offerings are usually well above standard airport fare, with made-to-order meals that appeal to discerning palates.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** Use Terminal 2's security line early morning for a quicker clearance if it reports shorter waits; post-security, walk to your preferred terminal.

- **Time:** Arrive 75–90 minutes before your flight if you have no checked bags and a mobile boarding pass. Expect security clearance within 10–15 minutes most of the day.

- **Money:** For budget parking, avoid the Economy lot if you find better deals online; check local airport parking vendors like Park 'N Fly.

- **Quiet:** The Escape Lounge in Terminal 1 offers a tranquil environment with superb food for Amex Platinum cardholders.

- **Avoid:** Expect lines and crowds in Terminal 2 during peak times; consider grabbing food from Terminal 1 before heading to your T2 gate.

- **Local:** Visit the waterfront and nearby Bay Trail roads for plane spotting and serene views of the runway and bay.

## Terminals (2)

- **Terminal 1** — 17 gates · Allegiant Air, Multiple other domestic and international airlines
- **Terminal 2** — Southwest Airlines

## Dining (56)

- **360 Gourmet Burritos** — Terminal 2 · Mexican · $
- **Andalé** — Terminal 2 · Mexican · $$
- **Andalé Mexican Restaurant** — Terminal 2 · Mexican · $$
- **Andale Mexican Kitchen & Bar** — 1
- **Asiana** — 1
- **Auntie Anne's** — 2
- **Auntie Anne’s Pretzels (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · snacks · $
- **Bar 510** — Terminal 2 · bar · $$
- **Bay View Bar** — Terminal 2 · bar · $$
- **Burger King** — 2
- **Burger King (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · fast food · $
- **Calavera** — Terminal 2 · Mexican · Casual · $$
- **California Pizza Kitchen (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · pizza · $$
- **Cancún** — Terminal 1 · Mexican · $$
- **Cancún Sabor Mexicano** — Terminal 1 · Mexican · Casual · $$
- **East Bay Cafe** — Terminal 2 · casual · $$
- **Escape Lounge (food and bar service)** — Terminal 1 · Lounge buffet · Mixed cuisine
- **Farley’s Café** — Terminal 2 · Café · Sandwiches & coffee · $
- **Fenton’s Ice Cream (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · dessert · $$
- **Firewood Café (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · casual · $$
- **Firewood Cafe** — Terminal 2 · casual · $$
- **Freal Smoothies Kiosk** — 2
- **Freshens** — Terminal 2 · smoothies · $
- **Gordon Biersch (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · bar · $$
- **Hegenburger's** — 1
- **Jack London Market** — Terminal 2 · casual · $$
- **Jamba** — 2
- **Jamba Juice (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · smoothies · $
- **Jet Box** — Terminal 2 · grab-and-go · $
- **Max’s and OAK Pizza** — Terminal 2 · pizza · $$
- **Max’s Eatz (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · casual · $$
- **OAK Clubhouse** — Terminal 1 · American · Casual bar & grill · $$
- **OAK Taproom** — 2
- **Oakland Draft House** — Terminal 2 · Pub · Craft beer & bar food · $$
- **Oakland Draft House (duplicate listing)** — Terminal 2 · bar · $$
- **Oaklandish Coffee Collective** — Terminal 1 · Coffee · Grab-and-go · $
- **Oaklandish Coffee Kiosk** — 2
- **Peet's Coffee** — 1
- **Peet's Coffee** — 2
- **Peet’s Coffee and Teas** — Terminal 2 · coffee · $
- **Peet’s Coffee & Tea** — Terminal 1 · Coffee · Grab-and-go · $
- **Proudly Brewed by Peet’s** — Terminal 2 · coffee · $
- **Pyramid Ale Taproom** — 2
- **Rockridge Bar** — Terminal 2 · bar · $$
- **Silver Dragon** — 1
- **Southie** — Terminal 2 · Sandwiches & salads · Casual · $$
- **Starbucks** — 1
- **Starbucks (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · coffee · $
- **Subway** — 2
- **Subway Grab & Go** — 1
- **Subway (Level 1)** — Terminal 2 · fast food · $
- **Tasha's Cookies** — 2
- **Tay Ho** — Terminal 2 · Vietnamese · Casual · $$
- **The Fan Restaurant** — 1
- **Vino Volo** — 2
- **Yoshinoya** — 1

## Lounges (3)

- **Escape Lounge** — 1 · All passengers · from $45 pre-book; $60 walk-up
- **Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner** — 1 · Terminal 1, pay-in and Amex Platinum/Centurion · from $45 pre-book; $60 walk-up (for non-complimentary access)
- **Escape Lounge (via Terminal 2 connector)** — Terminal 2 · Pay at door, Pre-book online, American Express Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve on eligible Delta flights, Priority Pass (pre-book) · From $45 online; walk-up $60

## Shops (36)

- **Benefit Cosmetics Automated Kiosk** — Terminal 2 · automated kiosk
- **Best Buy Express** — Terminal 2 · automated kiosk
- **Book Passage** — 2
- **Brooks Brothers** — 2
- **Duty Free Americas** — 1
- **Duty Free (International Departures)** — Terminal 1 · Duty-free
- **Hudson News** — 1
- **Hudson News** — 2
- **Hudson’s Duty Free** — Terminal 1 · Duty free
- **In Motion** — Terminal 2 · electronics
- **InMotion Entertainment** — 2
- **Lake Merritt Essentials** — Terminal 1 · Travel essentials / convenience
- **Lids** — 2
- **Little Main St. @ OAK** — Terminal 1 · Local market / gifts
- **Made in California** — 1
- **Newsstand (generic terminal listing)** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **OAK Essentials** — Terminal 2 · convenience
- **OAK Essentials (duplicate listing)** — Terminal 2 · convenience
- **Oakland Draft House Retail** — Terminal 2 · beer & merchandise
- **Oakland Marketplace** — Terminal 2 · convenience
- **Oakland Marketplace (newsagent)** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **Oakland News** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **Oakland Newsstand (generic listing)** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **Oakland Sports Scene** — Terminal 2 · sports apparel
- **Oakland Tribune News** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **Oaklandish** — 2
- **See's Candies** — 2
- **SF Chronicle News** — 1
- **SF Chronicle News** — 2
- **SouvenNEAR Automated Kiosk** — Terminal 2 · automated kiosk
- **Sunglass Hut** — 2
- **Sunglass Icon** — Terminal 2 · accessories
- **Tech accessories kiosk** — Terminal 2 · Electronics & accessories
- **Tech on the Go** — 1
- **The News Exchange** — Terminal 2 · newsstand
- **XpresSpa** — 2

## Parking (14)

- **Airpark Oakland** — Off-airport
- **Daily Parking** — Long stay · $26 per day/day, $4 per 30 minutes/hr · 5-8 minute walk to either terminal.
- **Daily Parking Garage** — Garage · $24/day, $5/hr · Adjacent to terminals
- **Economy Parking** — Long stay · $18 per day/day, $3 per 30 minutes/hr · Free shuttle service to terminals.
- **Economy Parking Lot** — Surface lot · $18/day · About 0.5 mi from terminals
- **FastTrack Airport Parking** — Off-airport
- **Hourly Lot (Park & Call / Short-Term)** — Surface lot · $6/hr · In front of terminals
- **Hourly Parking** — Short stay · $36 per day/day, $4 per 30 minutes/hr · Second closest lot to the terminals.
- **Park & Call** — Short stay · Free 30-minute waiting area.
- **Park & Call Lot** — Surface lot · A few minutes from terminals
- **Park 'N Fly Oakland** — Off-airport
- **Park N Travel Oakland** — Off-airport
- **Premier Parking** — Short stay · $40 per day/day, $5 per 30 minutes/hr · Closest & most convenient, located directly in front of the terminals.
- **Valet Parking** — Valet

## Ground transport (28)

- **AC Transit Line 73** — Local bus · Roughly 15–25 min OAK–Coliseum depending on traffic (in‑vehicle segment) · $2.50 local fare (standard AC Transit adult fare range) · Daytime roughly every 15–20 min; reduced frequency late evenings
- **AC Transit Line 805** — Night bus · Variable; roughly 20–30 min for the airport–Coliseum/downtown segment depending on intermediate stops · $2.50 local night fare (same as standard AC Transit adult fare) · Owl service roughly every 30–60 min overnight
- **AC Transit Route 21** — Bus · Around 25–35 minutes to Fruitvale BART · $2.50–$3 per ride · Every 30–60 min
  Serves the airport and connects to Fruitvale BART Station and Alameda.
- **AC Transit Route 73** — Bus · About 20–30 minutes to Coliseum BART and Eastmont Transit Center · $2.50–$3 per ride · Every 15–30 min
  Local bus that stops at both airport terminals and runs to Coliseum BART and neighborhoods along Hegenberger Road.
- **BART Coliseum Station** — Metro rail · Coliseum to downtown Oakland ~10 min; to downtown San Francisco roughly 25–30 min (by BART timetable) · Typical combined headways toward Oakland/SF on weekdays roughly every 5–10 min; 15–20 min late evenings and Sundays
- **BART via Oakland Airport Connector to Coliseum Station** — Train · Approximately 8 minutes to Coliseum Station · $6–7 one way from airport to Coliseum · Every 5–20 min depending on time of day
  Take the driverless Oakland Airport Connector (people mover) from the terminal to Coliseum, then transfer to BART trains for Oakland, San Francisco, and other Bay Area destinations.
- **Bay Wheels Bike Share at Coliseum** — Bike share · Bike times vary; Coliseum to nearby neighborhoods typically 10–20 min depending on distance · $3–5 for casual single rides depending on duration (per Bay Wheels pricing examples) · On‑demand, subject to bike and dock availability
- **Capital Corridor Amtrak via Coliseum Station** — Intercity rail · Sacramento–Oakland Coliseum roughly 2 hours; Oakland Coliseum–OAK another ~8 min on the Airport Connector (plus transfer time) · $10–30 typical one‑way ranges depending on distance and booking (per Capitol Corridor fare examples) · Capitol Corridor generally every 1–2 hours during the day at Coliseum
- **Delta Cab** — Taxi
- **DOLCO Yellow Cab** — Taxi
- **Gion’s Cab** — Taxi
- **Hotel courtesy shuttles** — Shuttle · 10–20 minutes to nearby airport hotels · Free for hotel guests · Typically every 20–30 min
  Many nearby hotels along Hegenberger Road and in Alameda operate complimentary shuttles that pick up at the airport curb.
- **Lucky Cab** — Taxi
- **Luxor Cab Co.** — Taxi
- **Lyft** — Rideshare · 10-15 min · >10 min
- **Marin Airporter Oakland Stop** — Coach bus · Marin–SF corridor roughly 45–75 min by bus depending on traffic, plus BART/OAK Connector time to reach OAK · $20–30 typical one‑way range from Marin to the Bay Area (per Marin Airporter fare examples) · Buses typically every 30–60 min on core routes, with more limited service early/late
- **Megabus Oakland Coliseum Station** — Intercity coach · Intercity times vary widely by route; transfer at Coliseum to OAK is ~8 min on the Airport Connector plus connection time · $1–30 typical Megabus promotional to standard one‑way range (per Megabus fare examples) · Low frequency; typically a handful of departures per day on routes serving Oakland (when operating)
- **Oakland Airport Connector** — People mover · About 8 min between OAK and Coliseum · Every ~6 min most of the day; reduced (around 10–20 min) late at night
- **Oakland Cab** — Taxi · >10 min · >10 min
- **On-airport Economy Parking shuttle** — Shuttle · 5–10 minutes from Economy Lot to terminals · Included with parking fee · Every 10–15 min
  Shuttle buses circulate between the Economy Parking Lot and both terminals throughout the day.
- **Queen Shiba Cab** — Taxi
- **Raj Cab Co.** — Taxi
- **Regent Cab** — Taxi
- **Taxi stand at OAK** — Taxi · 20–30 minutes to downtown Oakland; 35–45 minutes to downtown San Francisco · $25–40 to downtown Oakland; $55–75 to downtown San Francisco · On demand
  Taxis queue outside each terminal on the arrivals level with no advance booking required.
- **Traveller’s Cab** — Taxi · >10 min · >10 min
- **Uber** — Rideshare · not more predictable · >10 min
- **Uber / Lyft pickup at OAK** — Rideshare · 20–30 minutes to downtown Oakland; 35–50 minutes to downtown San Francisco depending on traffic · $20–35 to downtown Oakland; $40–70 to downtown San Francisco · On demand via app
  Rideshare pickup zones are located on the upper or designated curbside areas; follow airport signage after requesting a ride in the app.
- **Wingz** — Rideshare · >9 hours · >10 min

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: Use Terminal 2's security line early morning for a quicker clearance if it reports shorter waits; post-security, walk to your preferred terminal.
- _Time_: Arrive 75–90 minutes before your flight if you have no checked bags and a mobile boarding pass. Expect security clearance within 10–15 minutes most of the day.
- _Money_: For budget parking, avoid the Economy lot if you find better deals online; check local airport parking vendors like Park 'N Fly.
- _Quiet_: The Escape Lounge in Terminal 1 offers a tranquil environment with superb food for Amex Platinum cardholders.
- _Avoid_: Expect lines and crowds in Terminal 2 during peak times; consider grabbing food from Terminal 1 before heading to your T2 gate.
- _Local_: Visit the waterfront and nearby Bay Trail roads for plane spotting and serene views of the runway and bay.