Golden Gate Bridge

What you need to know

Walking the bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long and takes about 35 minutes to walk one way. The east sidewalk (facing the city and bay) is the pedestrian side and is open daily from 5am to 9pm (closing 6:30pm November through March). The west sidewalk faces the Pacific and is reserved for cyclists, with limited weekend and holiday pedestrian hours.

Walking the full span and back is about 3.4 miles round trip. Many people walk to the first tower and turn around, which cuts the distance roughly in half.

When to go

Mid-morning after 10am usually clears the marine layer that sits on the bridge in early summer mornings (June through August). Late afternoon and sunset on clear days draw bigger crowds. November through March tends to have clearer skies and fewer tourists.

Getting there without a car

The 28-19th Avenue Muni bus runs to the bridge’s south parking lot and visitor area. The 30-Stockton requires a transfer to the 28. Golden Gate Transit buses cross the bridge regularly from Marin. Biking across is common: rental shops in the Fisherman’s Wharf area offer one-way rentals (ride to Sausalito, ferry back).

If driving, the south lot fills on weekends. The Battery East lot nearby handles overflow.

Two adjacent walks

Fort Point, directly underneath the south end of the bridge, is a Civil War-era fort. It looks straight up at the bridge from below. Admission is free. The Batteries to Bluffs trail on the west side of the Presidio has views of the bridge from above and below.