Getting to the Golden Gate Bridge

Take Public Transit  |  Bicycle  |  Tour Buses  |  Driving Directions  |  Parking

Public Transit Options

Taking public transit to the Golden Gate Bridge is the best way to get to the Bridge because parking is extremely limited and construction projects occurring at or near the Bridge.

ACCESSING THE SOUTH END OF THE BRIDGE

At the south east end of the Golden Gate Bridge, you can experience a series of all new visitor experiences: a new Bridge Pavilion with all new merchandise, personally guided tours, the Bridge Café, restrooms and a number of incredible photography/viewing points.

  • From San Francisco to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit:
      • To/from downtown: Board any GGT bus (Routes 10, 70, 80 & 101) at Main & Folsom streets (across from the Temporary Transbay Terminal) or along Mission Street (north side of the street, GGT stops only). All buses stop at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop.
      • To/from Union Square: Board any GGT bus (Routes 10, 70, 80 & 101) at Mission & 5th streets, in front of the old Mint Building. Mission & 5th is a short walk south of Union Square. All buses stop at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop.
      • To/from Civic Center: Board any GGT bus (Routes 10, 70, 80, 92, 93 & 101) at 7th & Market streets or across the street from City Hall at McAllister & Polk streets. All buses stop at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop.
      • To/from Fisherman’s Wharf: During weekday afternoon peak periods only, board any GGT bus (Routes 2, 4, 8, 18, 24, 27, 38, 44, 54, 56, 58, 72, 74 & 76) along North Point Street (north side of the street, GGT stops only). All buses stop at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop. At other times of day, board GGT buses (Routes 10, 70, 80 or 101) at Van Ness & Union.
    • San Francisco Muni:
      • To/from downtown: Board Routes 38 or 38L at Fremont & Market streets, and transfer to Route 28 at Geary & Park Presidio boulevards.
      • To/from Union Square: Board Route 30 at Sutter & Stockton streets, and transfer to Route 28 at Chestnut & Laguna streets. To return to Union Square, be sure to take Route 28 towards Fort Mason, not Daly City BART. On Sundays and holidays, Route 76 boards at Sutter & Stockton streets and operates directly to the Golden Gate Bridge.
      • To/from Golden Gate Park: Board Route 28 at 19th Avenue & Lincoln Way. To return to Golden Gate Park, be sure to take Route 28 destined for Daly City BART, not Fort Mason.
      • To/from Fisherman's Wharf: Board Route 30 at North Point & Hyde streets, and transfer to Route 28 at Chestnut & Laguna streets. To return to Fisherman’s Wharf, be sure to take Route 28 towards Fort Mason, not Daly City BART.
    • PresidiGo Shuttle:
  • From Marin County to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit: Routes 2, 4, 8, 10, 18, 24, 27, 38, 44, 54, 56, 58, 70, 80, 92, 97 & 101 serve the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop. To return to Marin County, board any of these same routes at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop.
  • From Sonoma County to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit: Routes 72, 74, 76, 80 & 101 serve the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop. To return to Sonoma County, board any of these same routes at the northbound Toll Plaza bus stop.
     

ACCESSING THE NORTH END OF THE BRIDGE

The north end of the Bridge (also called the Vista Point) offers many photo opportunities and has restrooms for visitors.

  • From San Francisco to/from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge:

    • Golden Gate Transit:
      • To/from downtown or Union Square: Board Route 10 at Main & Folsom streets (across from the Temporary Transbay Terminal) or along Mission Street (north side of the street, GGT stops only). Remain on board until the very first stop after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. A walkway leads from the bus stop back south to the Vista Point. When the bus is on the Bridge, be sure to request the next stop by pressing the overhead button or yellow strip next to the window. After walking back across the Bridge, visitors can return to Mission Street by boarding Routes 10, 70, 80, or 101 at the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop, which is adjacent to the Administration Building.
      • To/from Civic Center: Board Routes 10 or 92 at 7th & Market streets or across the street from City Hall at McAllister & Polk streets. Remain on board until the very first stop after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. A walkway leads from the bus stop back south to the Vista Point. When the bus is on the Bridge, be sure to request the next stop by pressing the overhead button or yellow strip next to the window. After walking back across the Bridge, visitors can return to the Civic Center by boarding Routes 10, 70, 80, 92, or 101 at the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop, which is adjacent to the Administration Building.
    • San Francisco Muni:
      • To/from Union Square: On Sundays and holidays only, Route 76 boards at Sutter & Stockton streets and operates across the Golden Gate Bridge. Remain on board until the very first stop after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. A walkway leads from the bus stop back south to the Vista Point. After walking back across the Bridge, visitors can board Route 76 back to Union Square at the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop, which is adjacent to the Administration Building.
  • From Marin County to/from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit: Take Routes 10 or 92 to the last stop in Marin County, which is at Alexander Avenue & Danes Drive. (From northern and central Marin, first take Routes 17, 19, 22, 36, 70, 71, or 80 to Marin City, and then transfer to Routes 10 or 92 there.) From the Alexander Avenue bus stop, visitors must continue walking up the hill, cross the street, and follow the pathway along Highway 101 to the Vista Point.
  • From Sonoma County to/from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit:
      • Option 1: Take Route 80 to Marin City, and transfer to Route 10. Get off at the last stop in Marin County, which is at Alexander Avenue & Danes Drive. From the bus stop, visitors must continue walking up the hill, cross the street, and follow the pathway along Highway 101 to the Vista Point.
      • Option 2: Take Route 101 to San Rafael Transit Center and transfer to Routes 36, 70, 71, or 80. Ride to Marin City and transfer to Routes 10 or 92. Get off at the last stop in Marin County, which is at Alexander Avenue & Danes Drive. From the bus stop, visitors must continue walking up the hill, cross the street, and follow the pathway along Highway 101 to the Vista Point.
 

TRIP PLANNING ASSISTANCE

  • Trip Planning Assistance: Golden Gate Transit trip planning assistance is available Mondays through Fridays, 7 am to 7 pm, by calling 511 and saying "Golden Gate Transit," then "operator," or by visiting http://transit.511.org.

SF Muni trip planning assistance is available by calling 311 or visiting www.sfmta.com.

 

Bicycle to the Bridge

Bicycling to the Golden Gate Bridge from anywhere in San Francisco or from the North Bay is fun! There are many bicycle rental companies throughout the city with convenient pick up and drop off locations.

A good start is a visit to our Bikes and Pedestrians page for important information about Bridge sidewalk access and bicycle safety!

Next, visit these websites to help plan your bike trip to the Golden Gate Bridge: 511.org, Bay Area Bicycle Coalition, San Francisco Bike Coalition, and Marin County Bike Coalition.

 

Tour Buses

Taking a tour bus is one of the best ways to experience the Bridge. Most tour companies offer convenient pick up and drop off locations throughout the city. A few even let you hop on and hop off so you can design your own itinerary!

The City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau websites all offer useful information for visitors.

 

Directions

NOTE: We strongly recommend using the other means of visiting the Bridge as described on this page. Parking is extremely limited at both the southeast and northeast visitor areas of the Bridge, and ongoing construction projects in the area may temporarily close roads leading to the Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge is located on U.S. Highway 101 and provides a vital link between the City of San Francisco and the counties to the north. Since the Golden Gate Bridge does not have a physical address, you can use this link to help find your way to us: Yahoo Driving Map - Golden Gate Bridge. Or you can print these PDF directions.

The Golden Gate Bridge maybe viewed from several vista points, each with parking areas and restrooms, located on the northeast and southeast sides. The parking areas include spaces for persons with disabilities. Parking is extremely limited in these lots.

 

Parking

NOTE: We strongly recommend using the other means of visiting the Bridge as described on this page. Parking is extremely limited at both the southeast and northeast visitor areas of the Bridge, and ongoing construction projects in the area may temporarily close roads leading to the Bridge.

Access to Southeast Side Visitor Parking Lot

This parking area has a range of visitor services, including a café, gift center, gardens and an array of scenic vistas.  Parking is metered ($0.25 per 15 minutes) with 81 spaces, 3 of which are designated for visitors with disabilities that have disabled placards. There are 5 spaces for tour buses. On weekends and holidays ONLY, additional parking is available in a nearby satellite lot on the southwest side at a rate of $5 per day.

  • Traveling south from Marin County: Follow US Highway 101 south across the Golden Gate Bridge. Have exact change ready to pay the appropriate toll, collected southbound only. Proceed through the far right toll lane #1, and make an immediate right exiting US Highway 101 just past the Toll Plaza onto Merchant Road.  Make an immediate right onto a roadway that goes down a short hill and into an underpass which leads directly into the southeast side visitor parking lot.
  • Traveling north from San Francisco: Take a right at the last San Francisco exit off US Highway 101 just before the Toll Plaza. The exit ramp sign reads, "Golden Gate National Recreation Area View Area."  Proceed to the stop sign and turn left into the southeast side visitor parking lot.

Access to Northeast Side Parking Lot

Free parking (with a four hour limit) and restrooms are the only amenities at this location.

  • Traveling south from Marin County:  To access the parking lot on the northeast side of the Bridge, you must cross the Bridge, pay the toll and double back across the span. Follow US Highway 101 south across the Golden Gate Bridge. Have exact change ready to pay the appropriate toll, collected southbound only. Proceed through the far right toll lane #1, and make an immediate right exiting US Highway 101 just past the Toll Plaza onto Merchant Road. Make an immediate right onto a roadway that goes down a short hill and into an underpass which leads directly into the southeast side visitor parking lot. Drive through the visitor lot to the first stop sign and make a right to head to the on-ramp to the Bridge. Cross the Bridge and take the first exit called "Vista Point" and turn right into the parking lot.

 

  • Traveling north from San Francisco:  Follow US Highway 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the first exit called "Vista Point" and turn right into the parking lot.