Is there usually a WAIT to take a San Fran cable car ride????

I just read on one site that you sometimes wait 2 hours??!

Can anyone verify?

Thank you!

When I was on vacation to San Francisco, we had to wait almost 30 minutes to get on the cable car. It seems like each route goes by maybe every 10-15 minutes, where we were standing anyway, and there were a bunch of people waiting before us and the car filled up the first couple of times. And, we weren't even there during a busy holiday time or in summer, in fact, it was shortly after 9/11 when tourism was way lower than it is now.

It's going to take a REALLY long time if you're waiting at SFO. That's the airport, and the cable cars don't run there.

Two hours? Possible, I guess, if you're at Fisherman's Wharf on a busy pleasant weekend evening. In which case you go find a bus.

Generally, there's little waiting involved. And if you catching it in town (not at the turnarounds,) you'll probably have no problem catching the first one through.

Sorry that I can't remember specifics. Your hotel should be able to help you with this suggestion. When we were there, the line at Fisherman's Wharf was LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGG! We took a bus to the other end of the line and rode the cable car back to the wharf area.

Try to go early in the day. We saw long lines from about 11:00 on, but usually saw no lines before that.

It really depends when you are there. On a weekend during the summer, it can take a really long time to get on a Cable Car. On the otherhand, during the weekday the wait is a lot shorter. Last August we had family visiting from back east so we took them to SF. We went on a weekday and walked onto the Cable Car, no waiting.

I went in March and only had to wait 5-10 minutes. I guess it really depends on when you are going to be there.

Laura-
We were there over the 4th. We would catch the cable cars in front of our hotel in Union Square and usually waited about 10 minutes. We never took the cable car back to the hotel though b/c the line was WAY too long down at the Wharf. That's probably where the wait could be 2 hours. We usually took a cab back.

Laura,
It really depends on the time of day and which line you are taking.
2 hours IS a possibility on a summer weekend at the Powell/Market or Fisherman's Wharf turnaround points - the lines can be pretty bad.
The California street line is more of a "commuter" cable car, since its route is shorter and doesn't go down to the Wharf. It just climbs the hills between the Embarcadero and Van Ness Ave. You still get some good views ( I love it at night, when the TransAm Pyramid seems to float in the mist) and I've noticed that it does not seem as crowded.
As an alternative way to get to the Fisherman's Wharf area, try the F-line streetcars that go down Market. These are vintage street cars from several U.S. and European cities - the ones from Milan are especially cute. They run frequently and are used by locals for transit as well as tourist sight-seeing. As a matter of fact, in about 15 minutes I'm going to hop on one to take me up to Macy's from my office at Beale and Market!

Remember that there are actually 3 cable car lines---two that run up Powell from near Market to Mason and Hyde and then a 3rd one from Market on California to Van Ness. This last one is rarely crowded and stops at Powell so you can transfer to the other two. I also think the lines would be down at Fishermans Wharf on the Powell/Mason line. If you just want to ride on a cable car, I would suggest the California line over to Van Ness and back. Otherwise, plan on taking MUNI buses which are easy when the lines for the Cable cars get long.

I have never had a wait when picking up the cable car at the end of the California Ave line next to the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero hotel.

I went FIRST thing in the morning and the wait was not long at all. Anything after that--especially in the afternoon--you can expect to grow old waiting in line.

The line along California street is usually not crowded except maybe peak times when locals use it to go to work. It runs from California @ Van Ness down to Embarcadero. The other way too

It's the Powell/Market to Fisherman's which is always crowded.

There are alternatives, are you planning on going somewhere on a cable car?

Wow! Thanks for all of the feedback!
Faina... No, I was not planning on going to any specific place by CC, just my 1st time in SFO and wanted to take one ride. Actually I will only be there 1 day and so the ride will have to be in the afternoon (Friday) ... I will try to plan it so I don't have to begin near the wharf.

Thanks!