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Getting to Golden Gate Park by Car. Golden Gate Park is accessible by a wide range of transportation options, including by car. There is currently a car-free route through the park, but much of the park remains accessible by automobile.
The free Golden Gate Park Shuttle provides park patrons a way to visit some of the park’s most popular destinations, while connecting to transit, parking, and getting people between different destinations accessibly.
- Things to Do in Golden Gate Park: Top 5 Attractions
- Other Places to Visit in Golden Gate Park
- Events to Enjoy at Golden Gate Park
- Getting to Golden Gate Park
- How to Get Around Golden Gate Park
- Where to Eat in Or Near Golden Gate Park
- Tips For Visiting Golden Gate Park
- Explore More Around San Francisco!
Conservatory of Flowers
Plant lovers will definitely want to tour the beautiful Conservatory of Flowers. Not only are the collections impressive, the building is a much-photographed National Historic Landmark. The Victorian conservatory, with its pristine white facade, has a fascinating history. It is the oldest wood-and-glass public conservatory in North America. The glass used in the conservatory was donated by the estate of James Lick, an early California real estate tycoon, who planned to build two conservatorie...
California Academy of Sciences
You don’t have to be a science geek to love the California Academy of Sciences: hands-on and approachable exhibits span many different areas of science, from gemology to astronomy and natural history, so there’s something for everyone here. And the roof the building is super cool: rolling hills and fields cover most of the roof, providing habitat and food for wildlife! At the 90-foot dome that houses the Osher Rainforest, step into a lush environment populated by tropical plants and a variety...
Japanese Tea Garden
One of our favorite SF Bay Area gardens to visit, the Japanese Tea Garden is a serene place to stroll. The Japanese Tea Garden is one the three main botanical spaces in Golden Gate Park, and was originally created as the Japanese Village for California Midwinter International Expo of 1894. After the fair ended, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese landscape architect, took on the creation of a permanent Japanese style garden at the site, making it a personal passion project into which he invested tons...
Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill
Stow Lake is a man-made lake in Golden Gate Park that offers an escape into nature for both visitors and residents. Kids and adults like will love this lovely water feature. Rent a boat at the Stow Lake Boathouse and get out onto the water! Rowboats and pedal boats that seat from one to six are available. It’s a great way to spend an hour on a nice afternoon. If you pedal the full loop around the island, it will take you just under an hour. Look for wildlife and birds at and around Stow Lake:...
The Dutch and Murphy Windmills
There are two 75-foot-tall real windmills in the very western part of Golden Gate Park! Modeled after windmills in the Netherlands, they once pumped water for the park and surrounding areas. Now they serve as historic landmarks that you’ll want to admire and photograph! The Dutch Windmill, also called the North Windmill, was completed in 1903, and can be found next to the Beach Chalet. The Murphy, or South Windmill, was completed in 1908. Electric pumps made the windmills functionally redunda...
Spreckels Lake
In the northern portion of Golden Gate Park, Spreckels Lake is a man-made reservoir that offers many recreational opportunities. Take a walk along the shore of the lake, or ride a bike around it. The lake’s setting, amidst mature Monterey cypress and other trees, makes it a nice place to relax for a bit. If you enjoy birding, bring your binoculars! The lake attracts birds of many kinds, including gulls, mallards, cormorants, egrets, and herons, as well as land birds such as swallows. You may...
On top of all the attractions to visit in Golden Gate Park, you can also enjoy events here through the year, from music concerts to races and holiday events. Individual museums and gardens also host events. In August each year, the 3-day Outside Lands Music & Arts Festivalis hugely popular, not just for the music, but also for the food and wine. Th...
Golden Gate Park is located at the western end of the city, and there are a few different ways to get there.
Walk
Many of the main attractions in Golden Gate Park are within walking distance of one another. Here’s a map to orient yourself: If your planned itinerary for the park is mainly made up of the Big Five: the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden, most visitors can walk to these places. Of course, you have to remember that you’ll also be walking insidethese attractions! To get to other parts...
Segway Tour
To get an excellent overview of the park, especially if you have limited time,join this highly-rated Segway tour! The 2.5-hour tour is led by a local guide and will take you past the major attractions in the park, such as the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum, and the California Academy of Sciences. You’ll learn about the history of the park, and also take in some hidden gems along the way. Book this Segway tour now!
Free Park Shuttle
The free Golden Gate Park shuttle runs every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and every 20-25 minutes from noon until 6 p.m. on weekdays. The shuttle runs from the eastern end of the park to Transverse Drive, about the middle of the park. It will take you to all of the most popular attractions in the park.
Inside Golden Gate Park
There’s a cafe at the de Young Museum that offers decent choices and good quality. You don’t need to pay the museum admission to eat at the cafe. The Cal Academy of Sciences has a cafe and a restaurant. We’ve eaten at both places and thought the food was excellent. You do have to pay the admission fee to eat here. The Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant is another excellent option inside the park. Enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean as you eat! The Tea House at the Japanese Tea Garden offers tea...
Near Golden Gate Park
South of Golden Gate Park, you’ll find lots of great eateries, especially in the Inner Sunset area. Try Ebisu for Japanese: the sushi is excellent! Arizmendi Bakery has breads, pizza slices, and baked goods. Manna serves classic (and tasty!) Korean food. From Indian to Hawaiian to Vietnamese, you’ll find almost every cuisine represented here!
Allow plenty of time!
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is large, with many visit-worthy attractions, so you’ll want to leave plenty of room in your San Francisco itinerary to enjoy the park. We suggest one full day if you can swing it. One day in Golden Gate Park will allow you to get an overview of the many spaces in the park, visit two or three of the main attractions, go for a boat ride at Boat Lake, and perhaps attend a musical performance in the park.
Visit on a week day if your itinerary allows
Both residents of the city and visitors enjoy spending time in the gardens, green spaces, and museums in Golden Gate Park. While it’s a large park, major attractions can get congested at the weekends and on nice weather days in the summer. If it’s your first visit, plan on a weekday if possible: you’ll have a more relaxed time as you wander the park and tour the museums.
Dress in layers
San Francisco is known for its foggy cool climate, no matter the time of year. While you may get lucky and have a warm and fog-free Indian summer kind of day when you visit Golden Gate Park, always dress in layers. You’ll want to stay comfortable as you stroll the many outdoor spaces and gardens in the park.
Just north of San Francisco, you can walk among old-growth redwood forests in the gorgeous Muir Woods National Monument. Our comprehensive guide has information on the best hikes, parking reservations, shuttle, and more. You will find numerous beautiful gardens in and around San Francisco. In this article, we’ve described the best Bay Area gardens ...
Millions of visitors each year experience Golden Gate Park's miles of green lawns, bridle paths, lakes, and 7,000 kinds of plants right in the heart of San Francisco. Enjoy varied attractions from top museums to exquisite gardens and extraordinary events.
Apr 27, 2022 · The car-free route runs from Stanyan Street at the east end of the park to Ocean Beach and the Great Highway at the west end. The east end of the route includes portions of JFK Drive and Conservatory Drive; the west end of the route includes Overlook Drive, Middle Drive and portions of MLK Drive. View the ADA Parking Map.
How do I travel from Union Square to Golden Gate Park without a car? The best way to get from Union Square to Golden Gate Park without a car is to line 5 bus which takes 42 min and costs $3. More details
