We arrive back in San Francisco on a Wednesday night. We leave on Friday morning. The question is, do we return the hire car when we get back on Wed and use public transport for the day in S/F, or do we keep the car and return it when we leave ? Impacts would be, how difficult is it to get parking in S/F, what does parking cost, are there good hotels near the airport and also near transport so we can get to S/F easily and quickly ?
Thanks in advance.

I would ditch the car. SF has great public transportation, and it would be expensive to park (problably $20 or more at most hotels) and a pain to use/park a car in the city anyway.

On the airport, the BART goes to the airport from the city, and it's not that long of a ride, so I can't imagine you'd want to stay out by the airport. There are lots of BART stops, therefore lots of hotels near BART stops. It is very easy to use the train.

Karen

I agree - ditch the car, stay in SF proper, and take public transportation. Parking in SF is expensive and sometimes hard to come by. Public transportation is very good. And SF is better seen on foot anyway.

I've lived in SF or very close by for 30 years now. I use a car when getting around in the City, but I usually go to places that are less frequented by first time tourists. I also know where to park in the City, and more importantly, where NOT to park. If I'm going downtown on a weekday, I'll park next a Muni Metro stop in an area that does not have 3 hrs "sticker" parking, and then take the metro downtown. If I'm going to Union St/Fillmore St, I'll find a place to park close to that area.

Whether you have a car or not depends on what you plan to do. If you want to take some great scenic drives (Twin Peaks, Palace of the Legion of Honor area, Fort Point, Great Highway, GG Park, China Beach, etc), then a car would be useful. If you want to wander around North Beach, Downtown, Financial District, Russian Hill, Chinatown, then a car would be useless.

Many hotels in the Lombard St motel area have free parking. Downtown hotels charge in the $20 to $40 range - I think (obviously, I've never had a need to do this)

Don't stay near the airport - I live close by. You will spend too much time & $ commuting, and believe me - it's not nearly as exciting to hang around the airport hotels, as it is to enjoy dinner/breakfast in the City, and everything else the City has to offer.

If you stay near Union Sq, you can get to the airport in 20 mins by Taxi. If you retain your car & stay on Lombard St, I would budget 1 1/4 hrs to get to the airport area, return the car, & take a shuttle to the terminals.

Stu Dudley

I live in New York City and love public transportation, but in San Francisco you need a rental car.

Contrary to what others have posted, I find SF's public transportation options to be mediocre, with long waits and much confusion.

Depending on the location of your hotel, parking can be very expensive or free (if you park on the street).

Do not stay near the airport.

Finally, you need a rental car if for no other reason than to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and up the Marin Headlands for the most amazing view of the city, ocean & bays.

Enjoy!

Yes, do not stay near the airport. The airport hotels also charge a parking fee, so you will save nothing by staying near the airport.

I'd suggest getting a hotel through Priceline. The amount you save through Priceline will more than cover your parking fee. If you haven't bid on Priceline before, I'd also suggest that you come back here for more hints and suggestions. I've learnt to use Priceline through the Fodor forums.

There's a lot to see in SF using public transportation. There's also a lot to see with a car. It all depends on whether you've been here before; if not, then ditch the car and just do the major sights using public transportation and taxis. You'll not waste time trying to park the car. On the other hand, if you have been here before and have some places that you want to go to by car, then keep the car.

BART offers fast and easy transportation to the airport. Many hotels also have free shuttles.

Welcome and enjoy San Francisco!

If I lived in New York, I might think that San Francisco's public transport system wasn't great. Sure it doesn't compare, but whose does? I don't live in New York and I think it's fantastic. I usually stay in Cow Hollow where I get a bus within a block of my hotel within 12 minutes at most -- that will take me direct to the main spots of the whole city. I've never waited more than a few minutes to transfer to another line if I wanted to go somewhere further off the beaten path. On the other hand, we've often also had a car there as we are driving on part of a longer trip. It seems that everytime we take the car out and go somewhere in the city, by the time we've searched for parking, paid for it, and gotten stuck in a traffic jam (once blocked by fire engines in front and traffic behind so we sat for nearly half an hour), we always wonder why we drove?

I can't believe that in only one full day there you will want to go anywhere that you can't get to by public transportation just as easily.

It's your choice, nutty, but considered yourself warned.

Personally, I wouldn't spend more than 24 hours in SF without a car.

I live in San Francisco and also lived in NY. Yes, the public transportation system in SF pales in comparison to NY's. However, public transportation is still the easiest way to get around in SF if you are a tourist, IMO. There's nothing worse than driving around a city you don't know and then having to look endlessly for a place to dump your car.

I would go to the Muni Website www.sfmuni.com and print out a bus map and you will be fine. It's very straightforward once you figure out what bus you are supposed to be taking.

This is my standard response to this question: Do you need a car? No. Is it nice to have one? Yes because it can be more convenient to get places.

Just for reference isn't the person suggesting he'd never visit SF without a car also the one that tells tourists they shouldn't go to Times Square in New York, to avoid midtown restaurants as they are ripoffs, and to stay away from The Gates in Central Park? If your plans in SF are to avoid all the usual tourist places and spend your time in "neighborhoods" then by all means you DO need a car.

Regarding New York, I advise people not to stay in Times Square -- but every tourist should see it.

I tell tourists that, in general, Manhattan's midtown restaurants are overpriced, overhyped tourist traps geared towards people "of a certain age." That is a fact. You don't have to like it.

And by all means, tourists should take a moment to see the embarrassing atrocity that is the gates -- it's like a train wreck or a building fire, only "vomit orange."

Back to the topic -- I visit often and just returned from 5 nights in San Francisco, where I utilized public transportation when convenient, which seems to be about 33% of the time. Apparently nutty will be in SF for about 36 hours. Depending on hotel location, they might be okay without a car. Like I said, it's their choice, but they've been warned.

Nutty Family,

I live and work in SF. I have a car. I probably drive it 2 or 3 times a week max.

Based on your questions and the length of your stay, I don't recommend a car. Don't stay by the airport. BART is easy and cheap; I always use it to get to the airport unless I can finagle someone into giving me a ride.

By the way, the fun way to experience to Golden Gate Bridge is by walking across.

If I'm somewhere late at night and MUNI (our transit system) seems inconvenient, I take a taxi.

Enjoy your visit. I hope you have great weather when you're here.

Since you will be in SF for just one day, ditch the car as soon as you get in. You don't need it in the city and you won't have the time to drive elsewhere, such as Napa or Muir Woods.

Think Michael explained it well. For the short time you will be in SF you will NOT need a car IMO.

SF is a great city to walk in. And as Patrick and others have said, the public transportation is OK. But again with your short visit walking is a great way to "see" SF.

And have had out of state or out of the country friends that have taken BART to SFO and they have all been pleased with that option.

Do have a wonderful visit, whatever you decide to do.

We spent five nights in San Francisco. The first 4 nights we used a cab from the airport to Nob Hill. The balance of the time we traveled by cable car, buses and walked. The last day, we rented a car to drive to Muir Woods, Golden Gate Park, and then off to Newport Beach. IMO, you do not need a car in San Francisco

WOW, didn't mean to create such a storm. Thanks for the manhy and great replies. Varied opinions always make thinsg easier dont they.

As my wife, who is a nervous passanger anyway, has now said she is not keen on being a passanger in a big strange, to us at least, town, I think we will ditch the car. Saves a bit and using local transport enhances the experience I feel.