Transportation Guide
How to Take Trips from San Francisco's Ferry Building

By Julia Middlebrook

Whether you are making a trip to the Ferry Building or on another adventure elsewhere, the transportation routes from this location are endless.

Not only is the Ferry Building home to world-class restaurants like Hog Island Oyster Co. and Gotts Roadside, year round shops and bakeries and a thrice-weekly farmers market, but it also serves as a ferry port. Since 1898, the Ferry Building has been connecting San Francisco to the East and North Bay for commuters and tourists alike. Whether you are looking to leave the city for a half-day trip or more, there are frequent daily ferries to get you to your destination.

Ferry Rides

Golden Gate Ferry

Spend the day the other side of the Golden Gate and explore Marin County! From sunny waterfront restaurants to world-class shopping and hiking trails under the redwoods, Marin is the perfect place for a day trip outside of the city. From the Ferry Building, the Golden Gate Ferry can take you north to Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon. You can catch the ferry at Gates B and C. Each of these ferries runs every day of the week and frequently throughout the day. Make sure to show up 20-30 minutes in advance. Once you are on the ferry, the ride lasts around 30 minutes. Bikes are welcome!

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San Francisco Bay Ferry

Skip the Bay Bridge traffic and take the ferry to the East Bay! Whether you want to check out the amazing arts and culture of Oakland, or take a ride down one of Alameda’s amazing bike paths, the route is an easy one. Catch the San Francisco Bay Ferry from Gate 1 to Vallejo, Richmond, Alameda SeaPlane, Harbor Bay, or Oakland and Alameda. The Alameda Seaplane ferries and the Harbor Bay ferries only operate on weekdays, but the rest operate seven days a week. Transit time is around 25 minutes for Oakland and 45 minutes for Main St. Alameda.

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Ballpark Short Hop

From the Ferry Building, the Ballpark Short Hop takes you directly to Oracle Park. This service operates during weekend day games for the San Francisco Giants. After the game, the Short Hop leaves the park 20 minutes and 60 minutes after the last out, and will pick up and drop off at Gate 2. Reservations are required, so make sure to check the website for timing. All rides are free!

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Clipper cards work for all of these rides, and can be downloaded and re-loaded via the mobile app.

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Other Transit

Muni/BART/Central Subway

From the Ferry Building, if you walk along Market Street and land between Drumm Street and Beale Street, you will find the entrance to the underground Embarcadero Muni and BART station. From here, you can take BART to the East or South Bay, or throughout the city. You can also access all Muni lines, which can take you to the underground Powell Street Station (just two stops away) where you can transfer to the Central Subway line.

F Line Street Car

On the historic F Line Street Car, the ride is the experience! The street car picks up right in front of the Ferry Building, and runs six miles in both directions between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Castro District. Whether you want to stop along the way or ride until the end of the line, the F Line is a classic San Francisco bucket list item. It picks up every 10-12 minutes, and regular Muni fares apply.

Julia Middlebrook

Julia Middlebrook is a rising senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, pursuing a degree in Communication and Business. She joins the San Francisco Travel marketing team this summer after having previously worked in the public policy division. Born and raised in San Francisco and having done just about everything there is to do in it, Julia is passionate about spreading her love for the city and will always consider it the best place in the world.