SFO → Silicon Valley (Palo Alto)
Skip the 101. Eight-minute hop to Palo Alto.
The Stanford and Sand Hill corridor is a perpetually congested commute and a top venture-backed business-travel destination. An eight-minute eVTOL transfer is one of the most lucrative early-eVTOL routes in the world.
8 min
eVTOL at launch
$140–$200
est. launch fare
28 km
straight-line distance
35–80 min
by car today
Route map
Every way to make the SFO → Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) transfer
Side-by-side time and price comparison across helicopter, car, train, and eVTOL air taxi (both at launch and at scale).
Reference fares are static and accurate as of April 2026. Live operator pricing may vary — confirm with the operator at time of booking.
Helicopter (today)
9 min
$245–$345
Existing scheduled or charter helicopter
Car / Taxi
35–80 min
$70–$110
eVTOL — at launch
8 min
$140–$200
Year 1 commercial pricing
eVTOL — at scale
8 min
$75–$110
Years 3-5, mature route
Who flies SFO → Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) today?
Helicopter operators currently serving the San Francisco airport corridor:
- BLADE Bay Area
- San Francisco Helicopters
Likely eVTOL operators at launch
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto)?+
By car the SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) transfer takes 35–80 min. By eVTOL air taxi (at launch) it will take 8 min. By helicopter today the same trip is roughly 9 min.
How much does an eVTOL flight from SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) cost?+
At commercial launch eVTOL pricing for the SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) route is expected to be $140–$200. Once routes scale (3-5 years post-launch) the per-seat price drops to roughly $75–$110.
Are there helicopter operators flying SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) today?+
Yes — current helicopter operators serving the San Francisco airport corridor include BLADE Bay Area, San Francisco Helicopters. Charter rates run roughly $245–$345.
When will eVTOL air-taxi service from SFO launch?+
Initial commercial eVTOL service is expected at SFO between late 2026 and 2028, depending on operator certification and vertiport infrastructure. Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Vertical Aerospace have all announced North America launch markets.
Is the SFO to Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) eVTOL transfer cheaper than a helicopter?+
Yes. eVTOL pricing at launch ($140–$200) is roughly 30–50% lower than the helicopter rate ($245–$345) for the same route. At scale, the price drops further to about $75–$110.