San José Mineta International Airport: A guide

Quick insights

• The San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) has two terminals and one International Arrivals building.
• There are five parking lots and two cell phone lots at the airport.
• There are TSA PreCheck^® lanes and Global Entry kiosks at SJC.

San José is the capital of Silicon Valley, home to global tech giants and a large concentration of engineering, computer and microprocessor companies. Located about an hour from San Francisco, San José is one of the largest cities in California.

And while San Francisco International Airport may serve more passengers annually than SJC, SJC still sees millions of passengers annually. SJC is also an official U.S. Customs and Border Protection international port of entry.

Read on to learn more about how to navigate to and around SJC.

Navigating to and from SJC

Located only 3 miles northwest of downtown San José, SJC serves both the city of San José and Santa Clara Valley region in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The airport is near the intersection of U.S. Route 101, Interstate 880 and State Route 87.

There are many ways to get to and from the airport, including:

• Bus service: SJC provides a free shuttle bus to the nearby Santa Clara Caltrain station, which provides direct rail service through Silicon Valley and into San Francisco.
• Rideshare: There are designated rideshare areas for pick up and drop off. Rideshare drivers can drop off passengers at the departures curbside of both terminals. Pick up is at the curbside Stop 1 in Terminal A and stops 8 and 9 in Terminal B.
• Taxis: Taxis are available at the airport for on-demand service at Stop 2 in Terminal A and Stop 1 in Terminal B.
• Rental cars: The rental car center is located directly across from Terminal B within walking distance. There is an airport shuttle bus that takes passengers from Terminal A and International Arrivals to the rental car center.  

Parking at SJC

SJC offers five parking lots with varying rates and amenities. Parking is available on a first come, first served basis and can be reserved in advance on the SJC website. The website also displays how full the lots are at any given time. There are shuttle buses that can take passengers to and from both terminals to Daily Lot 4 and Economy Lot 1.

The airport has two cell phone lots located less than a 5-minute drive from both terminals.

There are maps for parking and cell phone waiting lots on the SJC website.

SJC map

The SJC website features airport maps for both Terminal A and Terminal B to help passengers locate security checkpoints, restrooms, curbside check-in, shops, restaurants and more. In addition, travelers can check their flight status on the SJC website.  

SJC terminals

There are two terminals at the airport—Terminal A and Terminal B— which are connected airside. All international passengers need to go through Customs and Border Protection, which is on the south side of the International Arrivals building, located just past the Terminal A ticketing lobbies.

Security at SJC

SJC has one security checkpoint in each terminal. Travelers have access to concessions and retail options in both terminals once they are through the security check points.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends that passengers arrive at the airport 2 hours prior to their scheduled departure time for domestic flights and 3 hours prior for international flights.

Getting through airport security faster

Security screening wait times can vary, but there are Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs)—namely TSA PreCheck and Global Entry— designed to help expedite the security and passport screening processes.

TSA offers designated security lanes at SJC. There are TSA PreCheck lanes in both terminals and Global Entry kiosks in the International Arrivals building.

Of note, some credit cards offer reimbursement for TTP application fees when the cardmember uses their eligible card to pay the fee.

Things to do at SJC

There are many dining and shopping options for passengers at SJC which range from local favorites to national chains. In addition, the airport provides a mix of art and entertainment that may appeal to travelers of all ages:

• Therapy animals: SJC was the first airport to offer therapy dogs in the terminals, starting shortly after 9/11 to help calm passengers before flying. These furry airport ambassadors are subject to availability.
• Play space: The Zoom Zone is a 600 square foot educational and interactive play area for young children which was designed and built by the Children’s Discovery Museum of San José. It is located in Terminal B between Gates 24 and 25.
• Free books: The San José Public Library provides free books at its Pop-Up Library. Passengers do not need a library card to check out a book. Passengers can scan a QR code, create an account and download up to four books.
• Public art: Discover public artworks that were curated to reflect the spirit of the region’s role as a global center of technology and innovation. Art installations were conceived as part of a unified program of Art+Technology and are on display throughout SJC.

In summary

SJC can serve as a traveler's gateway to the heart of Silicon Valley or a starting point to a Northern California adventure. If you’re flying through SJC, there are two terminals and one International Arrivals building. Airport guidance recommends travelers arrive at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of their scheduled departure time for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.

There are five parking lots—travelers can reserve spots in advance—and two cell phone lots less than a 5-minute drive from the terminal. For those taking a rideshare service, there are designated drop off and pick up zones in each terminal.