How to Get to the Golden Gate Bridge
From downtown San Francisco, the bridge is 15–20 minutes by car or 30–40 minutes by Muni bus 28. The free PresidiGo shuttle stops near the bridge on weekends. From SFO airport, take BART + Muni (70 min) or rideshare ($40–60). Cycling from Fisherman's Wharf via the waterfront is a scenic 30–40 minute ride.
By Car
From Downtown SF
Head north on US-101 via Lombard Street or Van Ness Avenue. Follow signs to the Golden Gate Bridge / Presidio Parkway. Exit at the Welcome Plaza (south side). The drive takes 15–20 minutes without traffic. Parking at the Welcome Plaza costs ~$5/hour.
From SFO Airport
Take US-101 North through San Francisco to the bridge (30–45 min depending on traffic). Rideshare from SFO is $40–60. Rental car users: note the bridge toll is southbound only ($8.75 FasTrak, $9.75 Pay-by-Plate) — you'll pay on the return trip into the city.
From the North (Marin)
Take US-101 South. Exit at Vista Point (free parking, just before the bridge) or Alexander Avenue (for Battery Spencer and Marin Headlands viewpoints). Crossing the bridge northbound is free — you only pay the toll heading south into SF.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Drop-off at the Welcome Plaza or Crissy Field parking area. From downtown: $15–25. From Fisherman's Wharf: $10–15. From SFO: $40–60. Avoids parking hassles entirely. Getting a pickup afterward can take 5–10 minutes as signal is weak near the bridge.
See our Parking Guide for all lot locations, prices, and tips. See Toll Info for current bridge toll rates.
By Public Transit
Muni Bus 28
The most direct bus to the bridge. Runs from 19th Avenue through the Sunset District to the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza. Stops near the Welcome Plaza.
Golden Gate Transit
Buses 130 and 150 cross the bridge between San Francisco and Marin County. Useful for walking one way and busing back, or reaching viewpoints on the north side.
PresidiGo Shuttle (Free)
Free shuttle running through the Presidio with a stop near the bridge. Connects to Muni and BART at the Presidio Transit Center. Wheelchair accessible.
From SFO via BART
Take BART from SFO to Civic Center station (30 min, ~$10). Transfer to Muni bus 28 northbound to the bridge (30 min, $2.50). Total transit time: ~70 minutes. No direct route exists from SFO to the bridge.
By Bike & Ferry
Cycling to the Bridge
The most scenic route starts at Fisherman's Wharf and follows the waterfront path west through the Marina District, past the Palace of Fine Arts and along Crissy Field. The flat 3-mile ride takes 20–30 minutes. The only hill is the short climb from Crissy Field up to the bridge access point. Bike rental shops are clustered near Fisherman's Wharf ($30–50/half day).
Full biking guide →Ferry + Walk
Take the Golden Gate Ferry from the SF Ferry Building to Sausalito ($14.75, 30 min). From Sausalito, walk or bus up to the bridge's north end (2 miles uphill on Alexander Avenue). This approach lets you walk across the bridge southbound with the San Francisco skyline ahead of you — the more photogenic direction. Return by bus or walk from the Welcome Plaza.
Quick Reference: Travel Times to the Bridge
| From | By Car | By Transit | By Bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown SF (Union Square) | 15–20 min | 30–40 min (Muni 28) | 40–50 min |
| Fisherman's Wharf | 10–15 min | 25–30 min (Muni 28) | 20–30 min |
| SFO Airport | 30–45 min | 70 min (BART + Muni) | N/A |
| Oakland / East Bay | 25–40 min (via Bay Bridge) | 50–70 min (BART + Muni) | N/A |
| Sausalito | 5–10 min | 15 min (GGT bus) | 20–30 min (uphill) |
| San Jose | 60–80 min | 90+ min (Caltrain + Muni) | N/A |