Navigating Oakland Airport won’t be easy without someone to guide you, especially if you are at the airport for the first time. To make this easy for you, we have created this Oakland Airport guide, where you can find everything you need to know about the airport. Read this guide and avoid wandering around the airport.
About Oakland Airport
Oakland Airport, officially known as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, is an international airport owned and operated by the Port of Oakland. OAK Airport offers domestic flights to cities in the U.S. and international flights to El Salvador, Mexico, and Portugal. It covers 2,600 acres of land and is also Southwest Airlines’ operating base.
OAK Airport History
Early Years
- In April 1927, after the announcement of the Dole Air Race for a flight from California to Hawaii, 680 acres of land was purchased for the airport.
- In 1943, the U.S. Armed Forces transformed the airport into an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific islands.
- Oakland became a major hub for overhaul and maintenance operations in the country when the Aircraft Engine and Maintenance Company (AEMCO) serviced thousands of aircraft.
- In 1962, the airport’s first Jet Age terminal (now Terminal 1) was opened.
- In 1988, FedEx Express opened an air cargo base at the Airport.
- After the Vietnam War, the airport built a $16.3 million second terminal, the Lionel J. Wilson Terminal 2.
2000 to 2024
- Further expansions to Terminal 2 happened in the early 2000s.
- In 2009, out of the 40 busiest North American airports, OAK Airport had the highest on-time arrival percentage.
- In 2013, a $30 million upgrade happened to the FedEx Express’s hub facility at OAK.
- November 22, 2014, marked the opening of the long-proposed extension of the BART system to the OAK Airport.
- The airport’s name was changed from Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in 2024.
Proposed developments
- The passenger count, which was 13.38 million passengers in 2019, is expected to reach 20 million by 2028.
- The Port of Oakland is planning to build a third terminal to handle this expected growth.
- Terminals 1 and 2 are planned to be condensed into a single terminal, and this consolidated terminal will be connected to the new terminal using a connector.
- There are plans to make modifications to cargo facilities, roadways, parking, and other support facilities.
Where Is OAK Airport?
OAK Airport is located 7 miles south of Downtown Oakland. The exact location is 1 Airport Dr, Oakland, CA 94621.
Oakland Airport Map
Go through the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport map to easily navigate the airport.
OAK Airport Parking
Before flying from OAK Airport, it is important that you park your car safely. For your safe parking, you can choose to park at either the onsite or offsite parking lots. Onsite lots offer parking closest to OAK Airport but at very high parking rates. Offsite Oakland Airport parking spaces are just a few miles away from OAK and are available at the most affordable rates if you park through Global Airport Parking.
Ground Transportation at OAK Airport
Rideshare
Lyft, Uber, and Wingz operate at the OAK International Airport.
Pick-up location: 3rd Curb at Sections 3C2-3C9
Car Rentals
Operating Hours: 24/7, every 10 minutes or less
Pick-up location: 3rd Curb – Terminal 1 at 3A; Terminal 2 at 3D
There are multiple rental car providers at OAK Airport.
Public Transportation
BART Trains at OAK
Suppose you want to go to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and other Bay Area destinations. In that case, you can catch the BART trains, which connect San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport with these destinations.
Coliseum BART station has a connecting service to all BART destinations. To reach the station, you need to take a quick 8-minute train ride from OAK.
Operating Hours
Weekdays: 5 am – 11 pm, every 6 minutes; 11 pm – Midnight, every 20 minutes
Saturdays: 6 am – 11 pm, every 6 minutes; 11 pm – Midnight, every 20 minutes
Sundays: 8 am – 11 pm, every 6 minutes; 11 pm – Midnight, every 20 minutes
Amtrak
Various Amtrak services are:
The Capitols
From San Jose to Sacramento
Operating Hours: 12 times daily; Mon-Fri and on weekends/holidays
The Coast Starlight
From Los Angeles to Seattle
Operating Hours: Daily
The California Zephyr
From Oakland to Chicago, including Reno
Operating Hours: Daily
AC Transit
To get to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station, you can catch line 73, which connects OAK International Airport with the BART station. Other AC transit options are:
- Line 21 – Between Oakland Fruitvale and Alameda
- Line 805 – Connects OAK with the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station and downtown Oakland. It operates every hour between 12:35 am and 4:30 am.
How to Reach OAK Airport
From Oakland to OAK Airport
- Get on I-980 W and head northwest on 14th St toward Broadway.
- You should then turn left onto Brush St.
- You should then turn slightly left onto the ramp to I-880 S/San Jose.
- Merge onto I-980 W and onto I-880 S.
- You should then take exit 35 for 98th Avenue.
- You should then turn right onto 98th Ave.
- Continue onto Bessie Coleman Dr and the airport.
- For Terminal 1 passenger pick-up and drop-off, you should use the right lanes.
- For Terminal 2 passenger pick-up and drop-off, use the left lanes.
OAK Airport Hotels
Those who are looking for a place to stay for a day or more near the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport can choose one of the hotels mentioned below:
Holiday Inn Express and Suites OAK Airport
Address: 66 Airport Access Rd, Oakland, CA 94603
Distance from the airport: 0.6 miles
Garden Inn and Suites Oakland Airport
Address: 10 Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621
Distance from the airport: 0.8 miles
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport
Address: 195 Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621
Distance from the airport: 0.8 miles
Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport
Address: 350 Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621
Distance from the airport: 1 mile
Extended Stay America Oakland Airport
Address: 1260 S Loop Rd, Alameda, CA 94502
Distance from the airport: 1.1 miles
Hampton Inn and Suites Oakland Airport Alameda
Address: 1700 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Alameda, CA 94502
Distance from the airport: 1.4 miles
Home2 Suites by Hilton Alameda Oakland Airport
Address: 1660 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Alameda, CA 94502
Distance from the airport: 1.4 miles
Radisson Hotel Oakland Airport
Address: 8400 Edes Ave, Oakland, CA 94621
Distance from the airport: 1.9 miles
Coral Reef Inn & Suites OAK Airport
Address: 400 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501
Distance from the airport: 3.7 miles
Bay Breeze Inn OAK Airport
Address: 4919 Coliseum Wy, Oakland, CA 94601
Distance from the airport: 4.1 miles
You can reserve your space now and park at one of the nearby hotels!
Oakland Airport Lounges
Escape Lounge
Location: Terminal 1, across from Gate 9, between Gates 8 and 8A.
Oakland Airport Food and Dining
Here are the different food options at OAK International Airport:
At Terminal 1
- Cancún Sabor Mexicano
- Oaklandish Coffee Collective
- OAK Clubhouse
- Escape Lounge
- Peet’s Coffee
- Vino Volo
At Terminal 2
- Farley’s Café
- Tay Ho
- Vino Volo
- Oakland Draft House
- Subway
- Peet’s Coffee
- Calavera
- Southie
Oakland Airport Shops and Stores
If you want to do some shopping while inside the OAK International Airport, here are some shops at the airport:
At Terminal 1
- OAK Tribune
- See’s Candies
- Uptown News
At Terminal 2
- OAK Essentials
- In Motion
- See’s Candies
- Newsstand
Oakland Airport Amenities
Here are some of the amenities available at OAK Airport which are useful to the airport travelers:
- Accessibility Services
- Airport Information Desks
- AMEX Escape Lounge
- Currency Exchange
- Free Wi-Fi
- Lost & Found
- Mamava Lactation Suites
- Pet Relief Areas
Check-in Time at Oakland Airport
You should reach the airport at least two hours before your check-in time for domestic flights and three hours before check-in for international flights. By arriving early, you will have enough time for the security screening process.
Security at Oakland Airport
For proper security at OAK Airport, the airport has CLEAR, TSA, and TSA PreCheck.
TSA Wait Time
The average TSA wait time at OAK is 6 minutes, and it can vary.
CLEAR
At Terminal 2
CLEAR Enrollment
Operating Hours: 4:15 am – 8:00 pm
CLEAR Lane for both standard security & TSA PreCheck®- eligible travelers
Operating Hours: 4:15 am – 8:00 pm
Popular Attractions Near Oakland Airport
Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
Distance from the airport: 0.7 miles
Oakland Aviation Museum
Distance from the airport: 1.2 miles
Drake’s Brewing Company
Distance from the airport: 2.4 miles
Oakland Coliseum
Distance from the airport: 3.5 miles
Marina Park
Distance from the airport: 3.5 miles
Oakland Zoo
Distance from the airport: 3.8 miles
Crown Memorial State Beach
Distance from the airport: 5.1 miles
Oakland Museum of California
Distance from the airport: 7.6 miles
Lake Merritt
Distance from the airport: 7.9 miles
Uptown
Distance from the airport: 9.1 miles
OAK Airport FAQs
Is OAK a big airport?
Yes, OAK is a big airport that covers over 2600 acres of land. It is one of the largest airports in California and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Does BART go straight to Oakland Airport?
Yes, BART trains connect OAK Airport with downtown San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and other Bay Area destinations.
When did United stop flying to Oakland?
United Airlines stopped operations at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in 2012.
How many terminals does OAK Airport have?
OAK Airport has two terminals – Terminals 1 and 2.
Is it better to fly into SFO or OAK?
Both flying into SFO or OAK are good options and won't make much difference. You can reach the middle of San Francisco at almost the same time, provided there are no delays in getting public transit from the airport.
Can you walk between terminals at Oakland Airport?
Yes, you can walk between the terminals at OAK.
Is taking BART cheaper than driving?
Yes, BART is cheaper than driving as you won't have to pay for gas and parking.
