Top Plane Spotting Sites Near San Francisco Intl’ Airport (SFO)

Bayfront Park

This is quite an easy one to get to and probably also one of the more well-known places to come here to do plane spotting. There are a few parking spots available right next to the park itself and the parking lot of the Marriott hotel. You can park here for up to two hours for free and it’s public parking for people to access the Bay Trail. The parking lot is full most of the time. You can either test your patience to get a spot or you just take one of the side streets and find a spot there.

This spot gives you great views of planes landing on 28L and 28R. Perfect to catch the Airbus A380, because they all roll in on these runways.

Holiday Inn Express San Francisco-Airport South

This is an easy location to get to. It’s located right behind the Holiday Inn Express. Their parking lot extends all the way to the bay front. The hotel has normally no issue with you being there, but it’s best to go inside and let them know. It gives you similar views as the location at Bayfront Park. I also like to stay at this hotel in one of their bay view rooms.

SkyTerrace Observation Deck

In the beginning of 2020 SFO opened another observation deck. It is atop Terminal 2 and is accessible to passengers and guests of the airport. It is located pre-security. There is a small security check right in front of the space but nothing major, just a metal detector and a quick look in your bag. 

It is a great location for spotting, however the thick glass can make it hard to get good pictures, especially you can’t clean the outside of the window. It’s also fairly thick and you still can get reflection even when using a lens hood.

International Terminal Concourse G Observation Deck

The airport just recently opened a new observation deck for passengers. To get to the observation deck you must get past security in either Terminal 3 or International Terminal Concourse G. Passengers from other Terminals can visit the observation deck too but have to re-clear security to get back to their Terminal. From the outdoor terrace passengers have a great view of the big planes. Read more here.

San Bruno Ave

There is a small green between San Bruno Avenue and the 101 northbound off-ramp. This brings you directly below the planes taking off on runway 28L and 28R. Giving you more or less only the chance of a head-on view or view of the underside of the plane. Still a suitable location. There is no close-by parking. Head west on San Bruno Ave and park somewhere in the neighborhood. From there walk to the location.

Cell Phone Waiting Lot

This spot is good for a quick in and out. Views are similar as the once from San Bruno Ave with the exception that you get an angled view of the planes taking off on 28L and 28R. You can directly drive there and park. You shouldn’t stick around too long but if you know what you want to spot, this is a suitable location. It’s quite easy to get to. Just follow the signs to Cell Phone Waiting Lot.

SFO Rental Car Center

I discovered that spot by accident when they gave me a rental car which was parked in the farthermost stall from the rental counter. The roof levels here give you a good view of 28L and 28R. I would recommend you to only use the spotting locations (1) Level 3 and (2) Level 4. The location at (3) is swarmed with staff and they might see you as a distraction or even a security issue. You know you are around the airport. Everything is suspicious here, even if it’s not.

San Francisco Bay Trail near SamTrans Yard

There are a few public parking spots on the little island. The parking lot is right next to a homeless shelter, but I never had any problems with them. Most of them are very friendly. Parking is free here and probably most people don’t even know about that spot. From here you get a unique view of the planes when they fly over the United Airlines service hangars. You can take the Bay Trail around this little island to get splendid views of the bay itself.

To get there exit Highway 101 at N. Access Rd and go east. After you get off the bridge take the second street to your left after you passed the parking garage.

Coyote Point Yacht Club

This spot gives you an unobstructed view of the planes coming in from the south over the San Mateo Bridge and heading towards SFO. From here you get to see all the traffic landing on 28L and 28R. These two runways get used by big planes like the A380. The Yacht Harbor can work as a great background for the photos of the planes. A big zoom lens is also required here to get frame-filling shots of a plane.

There is paid parking at the Yacht Club, or you can use the Bay Trail and walk there. A convenient location would be Harbor View Park on Monte Diablo Ave. There is plenty of free street parking there.

Millbrae BART Station

Atop of the parking garage of the Millbrae BART station is another good spot. Parking here is free on weekends and during the week after 3 p.m. However, if you try to get here early on a weekday, before 3 p.m., you basically have to park without paying. The problem is, you can only pay for parking by buying a train ticket and entering your stall number. Since there are no gates, you should be fine as long as you don’t abandon your vehicle and keep your eyes on it.

You get some views of the planes taking off on runway 1L and 1R as well as of the terminal areas (see the red lines in the image). A good zoom lens is almost a must here.

Long Term Parking Garage

The top of the parking garage gives you a similar view as from the spot at the San Bruno Ave. However, you are more elevated here and a little off-center to the flight path. Here you can get photos of the sides of the planes, as well as they depart on 28L and 28R. With a good zoom lens, you can also zoom into the airport itself and get photos of the tarmac traffic. The stair case gives you some protection from the rain.