Dolores Park

What you need to know

Dolores Park covers 16 acres in the Mission District, bounded by 18th, 20th, Dolores, and Church streets. The land was a Jewish cemetery before the city bought it in 1903 and turned it into a park in 1905. After the 1906 earthquake, the park served as a refugee camp for displaced San Franciscans. The most recent major renovation finished in 2016.

The park slopes south from 18th Street down to 20th, with views of downtown, the Bay Bridge, and (on clear days) the East Bay hills. On sunny weekends the park draws between 7,000 and 10,000 people. The southwest corner is locally called Hipster Hill. The north end near the playground is where families settle.

What’s There

People come to spread out a blanket, hang out, and eat food from the nearby Mission spots. The Bi-Rite Creamery line snakes down 18th Street on weekends, and vendors sell tamales, beer, and edibles on the grass (technically not permitted, broadly tolerated).

The Muni J-Church line runs along the western edge and has since 1917.

Visiting

Address: Dolores Street between 18th and 20th Streets, Mission District

Hours: Open 6 AM to 10 PM daily

Cost: Free

Best time: Weekend afternoons when the sun hits the hill. Weekday mornings are quiet and almost empty.

What to know: The renovated south-side restrooms are open. The park gets cold once the fog rolls in, so bring a layer even on warm days. Street parking is nearly impossible on weekends.

Getting There

J-Church Muni to 18th Street stop (drops you at the park’s edge). 16th Street BART is a 10-minute walk east. The 33-Ashbury/18th bus runs along 18th Street. The Valencia Street bike lane connects directly.