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

The south end of the Bridge offers many photo opportunities and restrooms for visitors.

  • From San Francisco to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge
    •  Golden Gate Transit:
      • To/from downtown Financial District: GGT Routes 10, 70, 80 and 101 operate on Folsom, Mission, 7th, McAllister, Van Ness and Lombard streets when traveling north to the Bridge.
      • To/from Union Square: From Mission & 5th Streets (a short walk from Union Square), in front of the old Mint Building, any GGT bus, including Routes 70, 70, 80 and 101, operates to the Bridge.
      • To/from Civic Center: From the corner of Polk & McAllister across from City Hall, any GGT bus, including Routes 70, 70, 80 and 101, operates to the Bridge.
    • San Francisco Muni:
      • To/from downtown Financial District: Take Muni Routes 20/45/22/28.
      • To/from Union Square: Take Muni Route 38 from the corner of Geary and Powell Streets and transfer to Muni Route 28 at Geary Blvd and Park Presidio Blvd heading toward the Marina. Disembark at the Bridge south side visitor plaza. To return to Union Square, take Muni Route 28 from the same bus stop you alighted at the bridge and transfer to Muni Route 38 at Geary Blvd and Park Presidio Blvd at the bus stop across the street from where you first got off.
      • To/from 19th Avenue, including Golden Gate Park: Take Muni Route 28 to the south end of the Bridge.
      • To/from Pier 39/Fisherman's Wharf: Take Muni Routes 10/28
  • From Marin County to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit: GGT Routes 2, 4, 8, 10, 18, 24, 27, 38, 44, 54, 56, 58, 70, 80, 92, 97, and 101 serve the south end of the Bridge at the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop. To return to Marin County, please use any of these same routes, depending on time of day or point of destination.
  • From Sonoma County to/from the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge:
    • Golden Gate Transit: GGT Routes 72, 74, 76, 80, and 101 serve the south end of the Bridge at the southbound Toll Plaza bus stop. To return to Sonoma County, please use any of these same routes, depending on time of day or point of destination.

 

ACCESSING THE NORTH END OF THE BRIDGE

  • From San Francisco to/from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge
    •  Golden Gate Transit:
      • To/from downtown Financial District: At the GGT stop at Mission & 1st Streets (now in front of Walgreens), take GGT Route 10 and remain onboard to the very first stop at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge at the Alexander Avenue exit, adjacent to a pedestrian walkway which leads back to Bridge sidewalks. When the bus is on the Bridge, be sure to use the bus stop request signal to indicate to the driver that you want to get off as soon as the bus gets to the north end of the Bridge. Visitors can then walk back over the Golden Gate Bridge heading south towards San Francisco. To return to Mission & 1st Streets from the south end of the Bridge, take GGT Routes 10, 70, 80 or 101 from the bus stop on the west side of the Toll Plaza adjacent to the Administration Building.

         

  • From Marin/Sonoma Counties to/from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge
    • Golden Gate Transit: 
      • From Sonoma County and northern Marin, visitors can ride GGT Route 80 or 101, transfer to GGT Route 17, 22, 70 or 71 at the San Rafael Transit Center, and transfer again to GGT Route 10 in Marin City. From central Marin, visitors can ride GGT Route 17, 22, 70, or 71 from the San Rafael Transit Center and transfer to GGT Route 10 in Marin City. From southern Marin, visitors can ride GGT Route 10 from Marin City.

      Once on Route 10, customers need to disembark the bus at the last stop in Marin County along Alexander Avenue at Bunker Road. From there, customers will need to continue walking up the hill, cross the street, and follow the pathway along Highway 101 to Vista Point on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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 cafĂ©, 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.