Millbrae
Category:Has custom banner Millbrae is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is south of San Bruno and north of Burlingame. It is very close to San Francisco International Airport and is an important Bay Area transit hub because it has the southernmost BART station on the Peninsula and is served by Caltrain.
Get in
The large 1 Millbrae Transit CenterCategory:Has map markers is near the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue. It is served by BART, Caltrain, and SamTrans.
This is the terminating BART station for trains going south from San Francisco on the Red Line (or Yellow Line after 9:00 pm), so it is a common transfer point for people connecting between BART and Caltrain. BART trains to or from Millbrae go by way of San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA) just north of the Millbrae Station.
You can catch a Caltrain at Millbrae for points further south on the peninsula (a few travel down to Gilroy). Caltrains going north from Millbrae all terminate in San Francisco at 4th and King Streets. If your destination in San Francisco or your point of departure from San Francisco is anywhere near the 4th & King Caltrain station (near the South Beach area of SOMA), you will probably want to take the Caltrain rather than BART, especially if you are going to Oracle Park or Chase Arena. The Caltrain trip between San Francisco and Millbrae is 18 minutes (express), 20 minutes (limited), or 22 minutes (local). BART takes 38 minutes to San Francisco's Montgomery Station, and Caltrain is a far more pleasant ride. However, Caltrain takes more planning; it runs less frequently with more limited hours than BART and leaves you at 4th and King, somewhere outside the downtown area.
Get around
The San Mateo Transit District, samTrans, provides bus service around Millbrae and beyond.
See
- 1 Bayfront ParkCategory:Has map markers, 1-99 Old Bayshore Hwy. A park by the bay with good views of the planes taking off and landing at SFO. A nice place to relax for a few minutes, especially if you're biking through or staying at one of the hotels nearby.
- 2 Millbrae Train MuseumCategory:Has map markers, California Drive and Murchison Drive (near the transit center), ☏ +1 650 333-1136. Saturdays 10AM–2PM.
Do
If you're looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for a Caltrain connection, the Spur Trail is probably your best bet. Most other activities are either a little too far from the transit center or have very limited hours.
- 1 Millbrae Art & Wine FestivalCategory:Has map markers, Broadway Avenue between Victoria and Meadow Glen. Labor Day weekend. Big, popular street festival with food, crafts, music, and entertainment. Held annually since 1970.
- 2 Spur TrailCategory:Has map markers. A paved walking trail with fields, trees, and some areas for sports. It's split into two sections.
- 3 Spur Trail (Northern Section)Category:Has map markers. The northern segment of the trail has a north-south orientation. The trail begins on Richmond Drive on the northwest corner of Taylor Middle School. It goes uphill slightly as it heads southeast into a grove of oak and eucalyptus trees. From then on, the linear trail goes into an open field and runs just to the west of the middle school. Heading into another patch of eucalyptus trees, the trail crosses two streets as it skirts the southwest corner of the middle school. South of the middle school, the twisty trail ascends and descends through some grassly woodlands until it ends on Hillcrest Drive.
- 4 Spur Trail (Southern Section)Category:Has map markers, along Milbrae Ave (a few blocks west of the transit center). Located about half a mile (800 m) south of the northern segment, the southern part of the Spur trail has an east-west orientation. It begins on South Ashton Drive close to where Millbrae Creek dives underground. The trail heads east through a grove filled with different types of trees, ranging from oak and Monterey Pine to the west to mostly eucalyptus to the east. The trail roughly parallels Millbrae Creek for a tiny distance where the creek re-emerges from the ground but then disappears underground under the path. As the trail twists and turns through the Spur property parkland, it parallels Millbrae Avenue and skirts the northern friges of Mills High School's running track/football and baseball fields. The trail turns by a skatepark and several tennis courts before terminating on the corner of Millbrae and Magnolia Drive about two blocks away from the transit center.
- 5 Crystal Springs Regional TrailCategory:Has map markers (Sawyer Camp Trail, San Andreas Trail). A trail to the west of Millbrae for walking and biking. The northern part is called the San Andreas segment, the middle part is called the Sawyer Camp segment, and further south is the Crystal Springs segment. Map.
Buy
- 1 Farmers' MarketCategory:Has map markers, Broadway between La Cruz Ave and Victoria Ave. Saturdays 8AM–1PM.
- There are plenty of stores on Broadway Street.
Eat
- 1 Millbrae Pancake HouseCategory:Has map markers, 1301 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 650 589-2080, millbraepancake@gmail.com. 7AM-2PM. Great American food and wonderful brunch.
- 2 Peter's CafeCategory:Has map markers, 10 El Camino Real (Right next to the transit center). M 6AM-9:30PM, T-Su 6AM-11PM. Classic-style diner with a small bar.
- 3 El Super BurritoCategory:Has map markers, 780 El Camino Real. Nachos and of course burritos.
- 4 Ipoh GardenCategory:Has map markers, 100 El Camino Real. Ok Malaysian cuisine. Good if you're not sure what you should be expecting. Not great if you've ever been to Malaysia.
- 5 wonderfulCategory:Has map markers (270 Broadway). Lunch: 11:30am-2:30pm. Dinner: 5pm-9:30pm. Closed Tuesday.. An absolutely mindblowing Hunan restaurant. $20+ per person..
- 6 Hubei RestaurantCategory:Has map markers. Lunch: 11am-3pm. Dinner: 5pm-9pm. Excellent Hubei style food. The Wuhan hot dry noodles are a stand out. $20-30 per person..
Drink
Sleep
- 1 El Rancho InnCategory:Has map markers, 1100 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 650 588-8500, fax: +1 650 871-7150, reservations@elranchoinn.com.
- 2 The MillwoodCategory:Has map markers, 1375 El Camino Real, ☏ +1-650-583-3935, toll-free: +1-800-345-1375, info@millwoodinn.com.
- 3 The Dylan Hotel at SFOCategory:Has map markers, 110 South El Camino Real, ☏ +1 650 697-7373. A family-owned boutique hotel that was remodeled in 2014. Amenities include 24-hour airport shuttle and free parking.
- 4 The Westin San Francisco AirportCategory:Has map markers, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, ☏ +1 650 692-3500.
- 5 Aloft San Francisco AirportCategory:Has map markers, 401 E Millbrae Ave, ☏ +1 650 443-5500.
Go next
- Pacifica — 280 North to 1 South. About 20 to 30 minutes away.
- San Francisco — 101 North or 280 North. About 10 to 25 minutes away.
| Routes through Millbrae |
| San Francisco ← San Bruno ← | N  S |
→ Hillsborough → San Jose |
| San Francisco ← South San Francisco ← | N  S |
→ Burlingame → San Jose |
| San Francisco ← SFO ← | N  S |
→ END |
| San Francisco ← San Bruno ← | N  S |
→ Burlingame → San Jose |