San Francisco Gateway
The Big Sur & San Francisco zone starts at San Francisco Airport (SFO), at the top of the zone map. This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how the roads reach the zone, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
San Francisco (SFO) is the northern airport for the Big Sur & San Francisco zone, and the one closest to San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. The zone page names SFO and San Jose (SJC) as the two airports that serve the whole corridor, with Monterey (MRY) a smaller, pricier option closest to Monterey and Carmel (reported). Oakland (OAK) also feeds the corridor via the Santa Cruz airport shuttles (reported).
The zone page has no separate entry section for this gateway. Entry rules depend on your passport, so check the official source before you book.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Half Moon Bay: Highway 92 is the only road connecting Half Moon Bay to the SFO and San Mateo side of the peninsula, and it is a two-lane bottleneck (reported on the zone page).
- Santa Cruz: airport shuttles run between SFO, SJC and OAK and Santa Cruz, including ABC Airporter (reported on the zone page).
- Rental car: the practical way along Highway 1; ask about roof racks and board space.
The Airports on This Corridor
- San Francisco (SFO): the northern gateway, closest to San Francisco and Half Moon Bay (this page).
- San Jose (SJC): the southern gateway, closer to Santa Cruz. See the San Jose Gateway page.
- Monterey (MRY): a smaller, pricier option that puts you closest to Monterey and Carmel (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, including the current state of Highway 1 through Big Sur, see the Big Sur & San Francisco Getting There section.
Stays
San Francisco
- Green Tortoise HostelSan Francisco Hostel with a top rating from over 1,700 reviews. About 3 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,700 reviews. Google Maps listing
- HI San Francisco Downtown HostelSan Francisco Hostel with a high rating from over 1,700 reviews. About 2 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 1,800 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bposhtels San FranciscoSan Francisco Boutique hostel with a high rating. About 1 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 91 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel AbriSan Francisco Independent hotel with over 1,000 reviews. About 2 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4 from about 1,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
Hotels at the airport are mostly chains or motels, so we left them out. Everything on this list is a bus or rideshare away from SFO.
Half Moon Bay
- Half Moon Bay InnHalf Moon Bay Inn with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 1 km from Half Moon Bay in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 210 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Nantucket Whale InnHalf Moon Bay Inn with a top rating. About 1 km from Half Moon Bay in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 83 reviews. Google Maps listing
- BytheSea InnHalf Moon Bay Inn with a top rating. About 1 km from Half Moon Bay in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 15 reviews. Google Maps listing
Half Moon Bay stays are also covered on the zone page.
Where to Eat
San Francisco Seafood
- Sotto MareSan Francisco Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 5,000 reviews. About 3 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 5,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Scoma's RestaurantSan Francisco Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 7,000 reviews. About 4 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 7,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hog Island Oyster Co.San Francisco Oyster bar with a top rating from over 4,000 reviews. About 3 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 4,200 reviews. Google Maps listing
Bakeries
- Tartine BakerySan Francisco Bakery with a high rating from about 6,000 reviews. About 2 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 6,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Arsicault BakerySan Francisco Bakery with a top rating from over 1,200 reviews. About 1 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- LoquatSan Francisco Bakery with a top rating. About 1 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 420 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Airport Shuttles and Drivers
- Travel SFOSan Francisco Private airport driver with a top rating. About 5 km from San Francisco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 51 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sky 1 Executive TransportationSan Francisco Private airport driver with a top rating. About 2 km from San Francisco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from 42 reviews. Google Maps listing
The zone page found no shuttle or transit product that links all four hubs (reported). For Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel, most visitors drive Highway 1 themselves.
Car Rental & Campervans
- Drive SallySan Francisco Independent car rental with a top rating from over 200 reviews. About 15 km from San Francisco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 240 reviews. Google Maps listing
- San Francisco Cruze Auto RentalsSan Francisco Independent car rental with a top rating. About 18 km from San Francisco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 73 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Moterra CampervansSan Francisco Campervan rental with a top rating from over 250 reviews. About 5 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 250 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Wildwood Camper VansSan Francisco Campervan rental with a high rating. About 14 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 37 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out. A car is the practical way along Highway 1; ask about roof racks and board space.
Board & Luggage Storage
Every luggage-storage listing we found around SFO belongs to a network, which we leave out. Ask your hotel first.
Surf Shops
- Mollusk Surf ShopSan Francisco Surf shop with a high rating. About 8 km from central San Francisco in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from 86 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Nor Cal Surf ShopPacifica Surf shop with a high rating from over 300 reviews. About 12 km from San Francisco Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 330 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sonlight SurfshopHalf Moon Bay Surf shop with a top rating from over 180 reviews. About 16 km from Half Moon Bay in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 180 reviews. Google Maps listing
- HMB Board ShopHalf Moon Bay Surf shop with a high rating. About 4 km from Half Moon Bay in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from 73 reviews. Google Maps listing
Getting Out to the Zones
Big Sur & San Francisco: see Getting There. There is no single shuttle linking all four hubs, so most visitors drive Highway 1.
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for Big Sur and San Francisco?
San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC) serve the whole corridor. Monterey (MRY) is a smaller, pricier option closest to Monterey and Carmel (reported on the zone page).
Is there one shuttle to all four hubs?
No. The zone page found no single shuttle or transit product linking all four hubs, so most visitors drive Highway 1 (reported).
How do I get from SFO to Half Moon Bay?
Highway 92 is the only road between the SFO and San Mateo side and Half Moon Bay, and it is a two-lane bottleneck (reported on the zone page).
Can I get from the airport to Santa Cruz without a car?
Shared and private airport shuttles run from SFO, SJC and OAK to Santa Cruz, including ABC Airporter (reported on the zone page).
Disclosure & How This Page Works.
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Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.