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San Carlos Airport (SQL/KSQL) is a county-owned general aviation reliever airport on the San Francisco Peninsula, about 20 miles south of downtown San Francisco. Opened in the late 1940s, it sits just east of US 101 near the Bay and is home to the Hiller Aviation Museum. The field has a single 2,600-foot runway and primarily serves private, business, and flight-training aircraft.
💡 Local Tip
Frequent visitors often use the on-field Hiller Aviation Museum and its parking area for easy plane-spotting, and mornings are typically busiest with flight training and transient departures.
🚖 Getting There
The airport is just east of US 101 near the Holly Street and Redwood Shores exits, with rideshare, taxi, and SamTrans bus service available. Caltrain stations in San Carlos and Redwood City are a short taxi or rideshare ride away, and on-site parking is available. Cyclists can use nearby Bay Trail connections, though the airport itself is not directly on the trail.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does San Carlos Airport have scheduled airline service?
A: No. SQL is a general aviation airport with no commercial airline flights; it mainly handles private, business, and flight-training aircraft.
Q: What runway does San Carlos Airport use?
A: The airport has one runway, 12/30, measuring 2,600 feet by 75 feet, which is best suited to light aircraft.
Q: Is there anything to see at the airport?
A: Yes, the Hiller Aviation Museum is located on the field and features historic aircraft, exhibits, and educational programs.
Q: How far is San Carlos Airport from San Francisco?
A: It is roughly 20 miles south of downtown San Francisco, usually a 25-40 minute drive depending on traffic.
AI-generated content · Generated Sep 29, 2026 · deepseek-v4.1-flash