The last BART train departs just prior to midnight.

Probably what Puter says: take a cab so as to wake in the City.

Except, may I ask how long you’re staying and maybe how long you’ll have traveled? I suppose for me, if I’d traveled some distance and planned to be in San Francisco something like four or more nights – a decent enough stay, maybe I’d grab a nearby bed at the airport and consider my San Francisco visit beginning the next day.

Probably save money.

It will take nearly the same amount of time to get to a nearby airport hotel as to get to a downtown SF hotel. For the airport hotel, you wait for a shuttle, then take a 10 minute drive. For downtown, grab a taxi and you'll be there in 20 minutes. Even though I loves my sleep after a long flight, even I'd take the extra few minutes to be right in SF immediately. But then, the ride into town would probably wake me right up -- the lights, seeing cable cars or Union Square or wherever... I'd know I was HERE!

<<It will take nearly the same amount of time to get to a nearby airport hotel as to get to a downtown SF hotel. For the airport hotel, you wait for a shuttle, then take a 10 minute drive. For downtown, grab a taxi and you'll be there in 20 minutes>>

I completely agree. In fact, at that time of night you might wait longer than 10 minutes for an airport hotel shuttle. But at midnight the cab ride into the city will be very quick.

Besides, you stay at the airport you have to get up in the morning, try to repack your toilettries, etc and then schlep back to the airport if you want to catch BART or, if you opt for a cab, you'll be in rush hour traffic.

OTOH if you get into SF the night before you can wake up, call room service for breakfast and loll about before hitting the town about 10AM.

Thank you for the responses.we would be traveling for about 7 hours to SFO and are planning to stay for three nights.