Golden Gate Park: San Francisco's Urban Oasis

Getting There

• Public Transport

  From downtown San Francisco, several Muni lines provide direct access to Golden Gate Park. The 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid buses make numerous stops along the north side of the park. The N Judah Muni Metro line travels south of the park, stopping along Irving and Judah streets in the Sunset neighborhood. A single ride on Muni costs $3.00, or $2.50 with a Clipper card or the MuniMobile app. A day pass, valid for unlimited rides on Muni buses, trains, and historic streetcars (excluding cable cars), is available for $5.70 via the MuniMobile app.

• Walking

  From the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, the eastern entrance to Golden Gate Park is easily accessible on foot. Simply walk west along Haight Street until you reach Stanyan Street, which marks the park's boundary. From there, you can enter the park and explore its many attractions. Walking from this area to the California Academy of Sciences will take approximately 30 minutes.

• Taxi/Ride-Share

  Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available throughout San Francisco. A taxi ride from downtown San Francisco to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park typically costs between $17 and $21 and takes about 9 minutes. Keep an eye out for taxi apps like Flywheel, Curb, and Arro. Note that using a ride-sharing service may have dynamic pricing.

• Car

  Limited free parking is available throughout Golden Gate Park, but it can be challenging to find. A paid parking garage is located near the Music Concourse, with entrances at 10th Avenue and Fulton Street and on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Parking here costs $2.50 per hour, and $3 per hour on weekends. Be aware that JFK Drive is car-free on the eastern side of the park. Recent proposals may eliminate free parking on roads in Golden Gate Park and begin charging $3 an hour.