1. Baggage claim → AirTrain (Blue Line)
You are at baggage claim
2. Rental Car Center → Avis
You are at the Rental Car Center (counter hall)
Steps
AirTrain: From the terminals, use SFO’s free AirTrain and board the
Blue Line to the Rental Car Center (780 N. McDonnell Road).
The Red Line serves other airport stops—confirm you are on the Blue Line for rental cars.
Exact corridors and elevator banks differ by terminal; follow overhead Rental Car /
AirTrain signs.
- Baggage claim: Look for the nearest elevators or escalators. You must head up to Level 3 to reach the bridges leading to the AirTrain.
- Up to the AirTrain level: Use elevators or escalators as signed to reach the AirTrain level (the first map labels this step as Elevator to Level 3).
- AirTrain platform: Continue following signs to the AirTrain station, then board the Blue Line toward the Rental Car Center.
- Arrive at the RCC: Get off at the Rental Car Center stop. Enter the rental counter building; you want the main counter hall on Level 4 (see label on the second map).
- Avis counter: Once you’ve entered the RCC counter hall, head right. On Level 4, the Avis counter is in the Avis / Budget / Sixt row along the wall (see the highlighted counter on the second map).
- Elevator to Level 3 (pickup): After you get your keys, take the elevators near the counter area down to Level 3 for Avis vehicle pickup.
- Avis pickup: On Level 3, enter the garage and follow signs to the Avis pickup area.
Video
About this page
This guide follows the route from baggage claim at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the AirTrain, the Blue Line ride to the Rental Car Center, and inside the center to the Avis counter on Level 4 and Avis vehicle pickup on Level 3, matching the two maps above. The embedded video is the same walk in real time.