Why go
- City in California, United States.
History
San Mateo is the most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the San Francisco Peninsula. It is part of the San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan region, and is located about 20 miles (32 km) south of San Francisco. San Mateo borders Burlingame to the north, Hillsborough to the west, San Francisco Bay and Foster City to the east and Belmont to the south. The population was 105,661 at the 2020 census. Some of the biggest economic drivers for the city include technology, health care and education.
Airports
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 6.1 mi to the centre
San Francisco, CA 94128 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 42 airlines (United Airlines, Virgin America, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 104 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, New York, Seoul… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 42 airlines, 104 direct destinations
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A319, A320, 737-900, CRJ, EM2…) · 88 routes: Albuquerque*, Arcata CA*, Atlanta, Auckland*, Austin, Bakersfield*, Baltimore, Beijing, Boise*, Boston, Burbank*, Calgary*, Cancun, Chicago, Chico*, Cleveland, Colorado Springs*, Crescent City*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Edmonton*, Eugene*, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Fresno*, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kahului, Kansas City*, Klamath Falls*, Kona, Las Vegas, Lihue, London, Los Angeles, Medford*, Mexico City … +48 more
- Virgin America VX (A320, A319) · 19 routes: Austin, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Diego, San Jose Del Cabo, Seattle, Washington, Washington
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, 734, 737-900, 747-400, 757-300, 757…) · 17 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Honolulu, London*, Los Angeles*, Mexico City, Minneapolis, New York, Palm Springs*, Paris*, Salt Lake City, Seattle*, Seoul*, Shanghai, Taipei*
- American Airlines AA (737, 737-800, A321, 767-300, A320, 747-400…) · 15 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Hong Kong*, London*, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Springs*, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland*, Puerto Vallarta*, Seattle*, Tokyo
- US Airways US (737-800, A320, A321, 767-300, 777-300ER, 757…) · 14 routes: Auckland*, Beijing*, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Salvador, Seoul, Taipei
- Alaska Airlines AS (734, 737-800, 767-300, 737-900, 757, 737-800…) · 10 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Los Angeles*, Miami*, New York*, Palm Springs, Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose Del Cabo, Seattle
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800) · 9 routes: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Phoenix, San Diego, Santa Ana
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800, 734, 737, 737-900, 767-300, 73J) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Del Bajio, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Morelia, Puerto Vallarta*, San Jose Del Cabo*
- Air New Zealand NZ (737-800, 747-400, 777, A319, A320, 777-200) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Auckland, Frankfurt*, Guadalajara*, London*, Mexico City*, Sydney*
- Air Canada AC (A319, A320, CRJ-700, Embraer 190, CRJ) · 6 routes: Calgary*, Edmonton*, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, 777-300ER) · 6 routes: Austin, Boston, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, New York
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-700) · 5 routes: Atlanta, Chicago*, Denver*, Milwaukee*, Norfolk*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (734, 747, 757-300, 757, 767-300) · 4 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Honolulu*, Seattle*
- Air France AF (A380, 737-900, 757-300, 757, 767-300) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Honolulu*, Paris
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A340-600, A380, 747-400, 777) · 3 routes: Frankfurt, London*, Munich
- Air China CA (747-400, 777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai*
- Air India Limited AI (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Hong Kong*, Seoul*
- Alitalia AZ (A380, 767-300) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- All Nippon Airways NH (777, 787-8, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Osaka*, Tokyo
- China Airlines CI (737-900, 747-400, 757) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Taipei
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (A320, A330-200) · 2 routes: Honolulu, Las Vegas*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, Seoul
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (737-900, 747-400, 757, 767-300) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- WestJet WS (737-700) · 2 routes: Calgary, Vancouver
- Aer Lingus EI (A330-200) · 1 route: Dublin
- Asiana Airlines OZ (777-200LR) · 1 route: Seoul
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A319, A320) · 1 route: San Salvador
- British Airways BA (747-400) · 1 route: London
- Cathay Pacific CX (747-400, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- EVA Air BR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Taipei
- Finnair AY (747-400) · 1 route: London
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400) · 1 route: London*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (787-8) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Korean Air KE (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Philippine Airlines PR (747-400) · 1 route: Manila
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A340-300) · 1 route: Copenhagen
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Minneapolis
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A340-300) · 1 route: Zurich
- Transaero Airlines UN (747-400) · 1 route: London*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) 24 mi to the centre
San Jose, CA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 15 airlines (Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, AirTran Airways…) · direct flights to 29 destinations incl. Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Denver, Kahului, Phoenix… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves San Francisco (39 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 15 airlines, 29 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-300, 73C, 737-800, 737-800) · 12 routes: Austin, Burbank, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Santa Ana, Seattle
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800, 734, Dash 8-400, 737-900, CRJ, 737-700…) · 11 routes: Boise*, Guadalajara, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Lihue, Los Angeles*, Portland, Reno*, San Jose Del Cabo, Seattle
- American Airlines AA (737, A319, A320, 737-800, M83, CRJ…) · 11 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Guadalajara*, Honolulu*, Kahului*, Kona*, Lihue*, Los Angeles*, Phoenix, Portland*, Seattle*
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 73C) · 4 routes: Denver*, Las Vegas*, Los Angeles*, San Diego*
- Delta Air Lines DL (737-800, A320, CRJ-900, CRJ-700) · 4 routes: Atlanta, Los Angeles*, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City
- United Airlines UA (A319, 737-800, A320, 737-900, 757-200, 787-8…) · 4 routes: Denver, Houston, Los Angeles*, Tokyo*
- US Airways US (A319, A320, 737-800, M83, CRJ-700) · 4 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix
- AeroMéxico AM (734, 737-800) · 2 routes: Guadalajara*, San Jose Del Cabo*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320) · 2 routes: Boston, New York
- All Nippon Airways NH (787-8) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (767-300) · 1 route: Kahului
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737-800) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A320) · 1 route: Los Angeles*
- Virgin America VX (A320) · 1 route: Los Angeles
- Volaris Y4 (A320) · 1 route: Guadalajara
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) 12 mi to the centre
Oakland, CA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 12 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines…) · direct flights to 34 destinations incl. Honolulu, Kahului, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 12 airlines, 34 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 18 routes: Albuquerque, Austin, Boise, Burbank, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Santa Ana, Seattle, Spokane
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-800, 73C) · 7 routes: Chicago*, Columbus*, Denver, Las Vegas*, Los Angeles*, Oklahoma City*, Santa Ana*
- American Airlines AA (737, A319, CRJ-900, Dash 8-400) · 7 routes: Honolulu*, Kahului*, Kona*, Lihue*, Phoenix, Portland*, Seattle*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800, 734, Dash 8-400, 737-700) · 6 routes: Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Lihue, Portland*, Seattle
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80, A319) · 4 routes: Bellingham, Eugene, Mesa, Provo
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas
- Delta Air Lines DL (A319, A320, CRJ-700) · 2 routes: Los Angeles*, Salt Lake City
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (767-300) · 2 routes: Honolulu, Kahului
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320) · 2 routes: Long Beach, New York
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (787-8) · 1 route: Stockholm*
- US Airways US (A319) · 1 route: Phoenix
- Volaris Y4 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Guadalajara
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
San Carlos Airport (SQL) 4 mi to the centre
San Carlos, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Palo Alto Airport (PAO) 12 mi to the centre
Palo Alto, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) 17 mi to the centre
Mountain View, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Getting there by ferry
South San Francisco Oyster Point Terminal
Ferry terminal · 8.6 mi from the centre · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Alameda Main Street - South San Francisco
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Oakland Jack London Square - South San Francisco
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: South San Francisco => Alameda => Oakland
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: Oakland => Alameda => South San Francisco
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: Alameda => Oakland => South San Francisco
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: South San Francisco => Oakland => Alameda
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for San Mateo, California — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 12 mi (nearest: South San Francisco Oyster Point Terminal, 8.6 mi); routes include Alameda Main Street - South San Francisco, Oakland Jack London Square - South San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Ferry: South San Francisco => Alameda => Oakland.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for San Mateo, California. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Oakland, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · San Francisco, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Coach / shuttle operator
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Jet card, management · Managed fleet across US bases · Locally based jet card and aircraft management with private terminals in ~20 US cities.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.