Gail_Europe

Hello,

We are staying at a hotel on Lombard Street while visiting San Francisco. We will have a car but have heard that there is a lot of traffic on Lombard Street and in San Francisco in general. Is the traffic really that bad? We will arrive on a Sunday evening (driving in from L.A. ending the first part of our trip), and will have full days on Monday – Friday, then leaving for airport on Saturday. Ideally we would like to drive if traffic will not consume our day and if parking is readily available in the city/ not too expensive. Or, is it better to use public transportation through San Francisco’s ‘MUNI’ transit system? Our thoughts are that if using MUNI, we would prefer using the rail/ subway/ metro option instead of the bus, since the bus will face the same traffic as we would in a car. However, their website seems to indicate that we would still need to use the bus for parts of our route. Any thoughts or tips (can we just walk to most places?) Areas we want to visit are: Golden Gate Bridge/ Marina Bay/ Union Square/ Pier 39/ and possibly Fisherman’s Wharf. Thank you in advance for any help and suggestions!

thursdaysd

I did fine in SF without a car. Have you considered parking costs? Do you know about this site:

https://sanfrancisco.hopstop.com/

Also google maps has both current (at least claimed current) driving conditions and public transport options.

Marija

Unless you are planning on doing day trips outside of San Francisco, I say return the car on arrival. It's not a very big city and it's easy to get around with the 7 day transportation pass. We took a combo of cable cars, busses and an occasional taxi. You could probably just take taxis for the cost of car rental and parking.

dbdurand

Many cities have a website that will tell you how to get from place to place by public transportation. Here's San Francisco's

http://www.sfmta.com/

StuDudley

We drive in SF quite a bit. We lived there for 7 years, and have lived near SFO for the past 33 years with once or twice a week drives into The City, when we are not on vacation elsewhere.

Generally speaking, north of Market St. driving & parking for people who are not familiar with SF is somewhat difficult east of Van Ness, and easier west of Van Ness. South of Market the same east/west holds, but the dividing line is Dolores instead of (South) Van Ness (look at a map).

Traffic on Lombard is heavy during commute hours. However, there is little reason you will need to drive on Lombard during commute hrs - except to go across the Golden Gate Bridge. Use the much more interesting Union St to go east or west. Going south from Lombard, use Gough (one-way for a good part of the distance). Returning to Lombard from the south area of the City, use Franklin (one-way most of the distance).

I suggest that you use public transportation to the places you want to visit east of Van Ness, and car for west of Van Ness. You can walk or drive to Crissy field, and walk to Union St and Chestnut St (active streets - lots of shops/cafes, restaurants, etc). If your hotel is within a few blocks of Van Ness, you can walk to the Wharf (which is not one of my favorite places), and walk to Polk St (shops/restaurants). Hyde is "walkable" from close to Van Ness - but there is a huge uphill on the way.

Stu Dudley

janisj

If you aren't familiar w/ SF, to add some 'names' to stu's excellent advice:

For Golden Gate Park, the beach, Marin County . . . drive.

For Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf (unless you are towards the eastern part of Lombard St), the Embarcadero, Market Street and other central/eastern SF sites . . . take public transport.

For the Presidio, Marina Green, etc . . . walk (though that depends on exactly where you will be on Lombard Street)

Why you want to stay out of the car isn't just the traffic, it is the pedestrian crowds and primarily the VERY expensive parking rates.

StuDudley

There is a LOT of stuff in San Francisco that is best accessed by car from Lombard St:

- Golden Gate Park including the De Young & Academy of Science
- Golden Gate Bridge lookouts, including across the Bridge in the GGNRA (best views in the Bay Area, IMO).
- Alamo Square Victorians - including Postcard Row
- Pacific Heights Victorians
- Presidio Heights Victorians
- Sutro Baths & Cliff House at Lands End
- Zoo
- Palace of the Legion of Honor
- Loads of restaurants "way out" on Geary & Clement
- Views of Golden Gate & GG Bridge along El Camino Del Mar & Lincoln Blvd
- Coastal trail starting at Sea Cliff & ending at Sutro Baths.
- Presidio - including Disney Museum
- Noe Valley
- The Castro
- Japantown
- Sacramento St shops/restaurants west of Divisadero.
- Baker Beach
- Fort Funston
- Many WWII batteries between GG Bridge and Sea Cliff.
- Upper Haight & Lower Haight (although parking is difficult)
- Views from Twin Peaks (fabulous)

and there are dozens others.

Stu Dudley

thursdaysd

But how many of those HAVE to be done by car? I certainly visited a number of them (including the Golden Gate bridge and Cliff House) by public transport, starting in Japantown.

NewbE

Really great advice, especially from Stu and janisj.

We used to drive in SF all the time because we lived nearby. We never found the driving particularly difficult, but as janisj said, the traffic can be annoying and parking rates are high--always have been. If you prefer driving and don't mind paying for the parking, go for it.

StuDudley

I rarely pay for parking for the places I mentioned. There are parking meters along Union St, Chestnut St, Sacramento St, Geary, 24th St. Haight, etc - but a block or two north or south & there are no meters. You may have to drive around a bit to find parking places and some/most have restricted "sticker" parking limits and street cleaning days when you can't park on one side of the street.

When we lived in the Noe Valley I took the J-Chruch streetcar downtown to work. But that was the only place I took public transportation to - including Union Sq, North Beach, SOMA, & the Embarcadero. We almost always park in parking garages in Union Sq & North beach - but it is usually around $10 or so for our "visit". Gail probably chose a Lombard St Hotel for the free parking - so there won't be any overnight costs.

A "perfect day" in the Bay Area starting from Lombard St would be a drive south on Fillmore towards Jackson St. Park the car "free" somewhere north of Jackson (in front of the church?) & browse the Fillmore St Shopping area - perhaps a coffee at Tullys or Starbucks. Then continue south on Fillmore to Hayes St. Turn right and pass by Alamo Sq & park somewhere "free" next to the park on Hayes. Get out of the car & view the famous "postcard row" of Victorian houses a few steps into the park from Hayes & Pierce. Continue west on Hayes, and at Divisadero turn left(south) and drive to Haight and turn right (west). Admire the lovely Victorian Houses (including the Spencer House at 1080 Haight). Then drive through the Haight Ashbury area. Turn right from Haight (just past Whole Foods) onto Stanyan St. Pass Oak St and you'll have to do a little cloverleaf to get into Golden Gate Park (can't turn left from Stanyan into the park). Drive through the park (veering to the right onto Kennedy Dr) & admire the Conservatory of Flowers (huge glass conservatory), the De Young, past the rose garden on the right, Buffalo field, then turn left on Lake street and circle Stow Lake. Keep making right turns at every intersection until you get back to where you entered Stow Lake from Kennedy Drive. Continue along Kennedy drive to Ocean Beach.

At Ocean Beach, turn right (north) and drive to the Cliff House. Park (free, I think), and visit the Cliff House (lunch?), and Sutro Baths. Get back in the car & follow the road as it curves right & becomes Geary Ave. At 34th st turn left (north) and proceed into Lincoln Park to the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Follow the road as it passes the Legion & curves right onto El Camino Del Mar. Get the cameras out. Great photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate. Keep on this road (a AAA map would be handy), and it will pass through Sea Cliff and you'll pass by where the very late Robin Williams lived. Keep going & you'll end up on Lincoln Blvd with more fantastic views of the bridge. Eventually, you'll pass under the GG bridge. Immediately after passing under the bridge, turn left (north) & get on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Drive over the Bridge, and take the first exit past the lookout - it will be Alexander Ave. At the first stop off the exit, turn left, go under the bridge, and start heading back to San Francisco. But before getting on 101, turn right onto Cozelman Ave into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) & keep going up & up & up for the best views in the Bay Area. Do this last on this driving itinerary - the views are best in the last afternoon. In the morning - the sun will be in your face.

There are scads of WWII batteries you can explore on Cozelman - all with knockout views. At the "top" of the drive, Cozelman becomes a one-way street. Go down this street for some fantastic ocean views and into a very interesting area most visitors never get to. Just follow your nose - try to get to the Marin Headlands Visitor Center (free parking) and visit. Then find your way to the Marine Mammal center with the wonderful beach there. Now find your way back to San Francisco and perhaps drive through Sausalito on the way there.

I would not want to do this itinerary in one day using public transportation.

Stu Dudley

Dayenu

Are you staying on Lombard in a motel that offers free parking? That area is nowhere close to any rail or metro. The website "511 transit" will help you with planning.

If you have one of those hand-held computers, can you bookmark the 511 page? In this case, you are fine, just plug in the next destination. Get the tourists' pass on MUNI.

SAB

OK my 2 cents on driving in SF. I live and work in SF and drive every day. The only time and place that driving is a real nightmare is evening rush hour (starting around 3:30) and the approaches to the Bay Bridge. Then all the streets leading to the Bridge are gridlocked. THe other nightmare can be the bumper to bumper traffic that can occur sometimes on the freeways, especially 101. Otherwise other than looking for parking in popular neighborhoods, driving on the streets of SF is fine if you are used to city driving. And that is the key, being used to city driving.

As Stu has noted there are lots of interesting places to go in and around SF that are just easier to visit with a car. However, if you are going to limit yourself the usual tourist attractions such as the Wharf, Alcatraz, Chinatown, North Beach, there is no point in having a car.

aprillilacs

I live in the city and mostly take public transportation--my car often sits on the street for a week at a time (used mostly to shop at Trader Joe's). You can get anywhere you want to go using Muni. And it provides some insight into city life here--there is ALWAYS something interesting happening on Muni.

However, as a visitor, if you are comfortable with city driving, ascending and descending hills, and searching for street parking (and then parallel parking) or paying for pricey lots at the places you want to visit, driving is fine too. I wouldn't NOT drive because of the traffic on Lombard.

Stu outlines a wonderful route through the city using a car, but I wouldn't want to do that in one day--it includes many places that you'll want to get out, walk around, and explore. More like 3 days for that route, I would say.

Anyway, with 5 days in the city, you'll have plenty of time to visit more than just the standard tourist attractions. Whether you are walking, driving, or using public transit, two great resources are SF City Guides, www.sfcityguides.org, for guided 1-2 hour walking trips (more than 50 available; free but donations accepted), and the book "Stairway Walks in San Francisco" for fascinating self-guided walks. Both are highly recommended!

StuDudley

>>Stu outlines a wonderful route through the city using a car, but I wouldn't want to do that in one day--it includes many places that you'll want to get out, walk around, and explore. More like 3 days for that route, I would say.

Gail_Europe

Thank you very much everyone for the tips and suggestions, very much appreciated! We have free parking at the hotel and already booked the car as we're doing other cities in California as well as Napa Valley during the San Francisco week so will need the car sometimes, but will definitely keep these points in mind when determining if to drive/ walk/ use public transportation. Thanks also for the extra tips on places to see - we'll try to add some of them to the itinerary!

Michael

Generally I would follow the advice concerning the use of a car east of Van Ness. However, if going into town (near Union Square), parking at the Sutter/Stockton street garage is cheap--$1 per hour after 6 p.m.

janisj

>>cheap--$1 per hour after 6 p.m.

Michael

Which is only applicable IF one is visiting after 6PM. During the day between 9AM and 6 PM the rates are $3 and $4 per hour (time of day specific), and all day s $36.


Correct, but I was thinking of the OP maybe taking in a theater show and a meal in a near-by restaurant for an evening. I should have been clearer.

sf7307

Which is only applicable IF one is visiting after 6PM. During the day between 9AM and 6 PM the rates are $3 and $4 per hour (time of day specific), and all day s $36.

Just to clarify, assuming it's the same as the Bartlett St. garage in the Mission, you only get the $1.00 per hour rate if you ARRIVE after 6 -- if you park at 5 and stay until after 6, you pay the full rate for the whole time.

nelsonian

We stayed in a Lombard St hotel and used public transportation all the time. We walked a block to Walnut St I think it was and caught the bus. I have a trip report I will see if I can find the link.