Flights to San Mateo
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
San Mateo is served by 5 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, whose 11,870-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK, 20 km), Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC, 41 km), San Carlos Airport (SQL, 9 km), Buchanan Field (CCR, 53 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco International Airport | SFO | 8 km (5 mi) | 11,870 ft | 13 ft |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport | OAK | 20 km (12 mi) | 10,520 ft | 9 ft |
| Mineta San Jose International Airport | SJC | 41 km (25 mi) | 11,000 ft | 62 ft |
| San Carlos Airport (regional) | SQL | 9 km (6 mi) | 2,621 ft | 5 ft |
| Buchanan Field (regional) | CCR | 53 km (33 mi) | 5,001 ft | 26 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 11,870 ft, SFO can take the largest long-haul aircraft, so direct intercontinental flights are physically possible here. The airport sits at 13 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to San Mateo
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Routes to and from San Mateo
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo to Los Angeles | United States | 536 km (333 mi) | about 1 h 26 min |
| San Mateo to Tijuana | Mexico | 742 km (461 mi) | about 1 h 42 min |
| San Mateo to Phoenix | United States | 1,034 km (642 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| San Mateo to San Diego | United States | 714 km (444 mi) | about 1 h 40 min |
| San Mateo to Mexicali | Mexico | 831 km (517 mi) | about 1 h 49 min |
| San Mateo to Hermosillo | Mexico | 1,413 km (878 mi) | about 2 h 34 min |
| San Mateo to Seattle | United States | 1,117 km (694 mi) | about 2 h 11 min |
| San Mateo to Vancouver | Canada | 1,301 km (808 mi) | about 2 h 25 min |
| San Mateo to Portland | United States | 886 km (550 mi) | about 1 h 53 min |
| San Mateo to Las Vegas | United States | 658 km (409 mi) | about 1 h 36 min |
| San Mateo to Surrey | Canada | 1,284 km (798 mi) | about 2 h 24 min |
| San Mateo to Albuquerque | United States | 1,429 km (888 mi) | about 2 h 35 min |
| San Mateo to Tucson | United States | 1,196 km (743 mi) | about 2 h 17 min |
| San Mateo to Fresno | United States | 244 km (151 mi) | about 1 h 4 min |
| San Mateo to Long Beach | United States | 564 km (350 mi) | about 1 h 28 min |
| San Mateo to Mesa | United States | 1,056 km (656 mi) | about 2 h 6 min |
| San Mateo to Ensenada | Mexico | 821 km (510 mi) | about 1 h 48 min |
| San Mateo to Bakersfield | United States | 383 km (238 mi) | about 1 h 14 min |
| San Mateo to Anaheim | United States | 575 km (357 mi) | about 1 h 29 min |
| San Mateo to Riverside | United States | 599 km (372 mi) | about 1 h 31 min |
| San Mateo to Santa Ana | United States | 585 km (363 mi) | about 1 h 30 min |
| San Mateo to Victoria | Canada | 1,212 km (753 mi) | about 2 h 18 min |
| San Mateo to Shanghai | China | 9,902 km (6,153 mi) | about 13 h 27 min |
| San Mateo to Chongqing | China | 10,984 km (6,825 mi) | about 14 h 50 min |
| San Mateo to Chengdu | China | 11,027 km (6,852 mi) | about 14 h 53 min |
| San Mateo to Beijing | China | 9,527 km (5,920 mi) | about 12 h 58 min |
| San Mateo to Istanbul | Turkey | 10,802 km (6,712 mi) | about 14 h 36 min |
| San Mateo to Tianjin | China | 9,543 km (5,930 mi) | about 12 h 59 min |
| San Mateo to Wuhan | China | 10,426 km (6,478 mi) | about 14 h 7 min |
| San Mateo to Lahore | Pakistan | 12,137 km (7,541 mi) | about 16 h 19 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for San Mateo?
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the closest large airport at 8 km (5 mi). The others, OAK, SJC, SQL, CCR, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is SFO from San Mateo city centre?
8 km (5 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to San Mateo on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.