San Francisco Driving Tips: How to Get Around San Francisco

Last updated on April 13th, 2025 at 12:40 pm

One of the most common questions I get asked about planning a San Francisco itinerary is whether or not to rent a car. While San Francisco’s public transportation isn’t terrible, it’s not exactly conducive to exploring outside of the downtown area without wasting a lot of time getting there. In this post, I’ll share with you the best driving tips for San Francisco, the pros and cons to renting a car, and other ways to get around the city without a car.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure. 

The Best San Francisco Driving Tips

Navigating San Francisco’s Hills

Did you know that San Francisco is one of the hilliest cities in the US. I grew up learning how to drive on the hills and still find them intimidating! They’re like a roller coaster but with pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars! 

Getting Uphill

The steep hills are a trip to drive, but if you’re not used to them, it can be scary to find yourself teetering on the edge of one! It’s better to go faster than slower uphill and when you come to the top at an intersection try to get your front tires on the crest of the hill as much as possible (without going into the intersection).

Many of these intersections use stop signs so if you’re waiting behind other cars, be sure to give the car in front of you space just in case they roll back a little bit before going forward.

If you have a stick shift, you may roll backwards a bit. I’ve never driven a stick, but I’ve been told second gear and use of the parking brake while balancing the clutch and gas are the way to avoid this.

Parking on Hills

You’ve got to be wondering how to park on the San Francisco hills. There are a couple of important things to note when doing this.

Many steep hills allow for parallel parking which requires you to curb your tires.

What does that mean? 

If you’re parked facing uphill, turn your front tires away from the curb. If you’re parked facing downhill, turn your front tires towards the curb. Uphill = Away. Downhill = Toward.

Even if you don’t think it’s a big hill, do this anyway. 

Curbing tires is required, and if parking enforcement sees it’s not done, they will ticket you.

Other streets, the really steep ones, allow for perpendicular parking. This will be clearly designated, so be sure to check signs and parking line marks on the street.

Always engage your parking brake!

Yield to Pedestrians and Cyclists

Watch for Cyclists

Many locals avoid driving in San Francisco, opting for cycling instead. Plus with the advent of Lyft bikes and Lime scooters there are an increasing number “people” on the streets. 

Cyclists are supposed to obey the rules of the road as well, but many times, they don’t. 

Make sure to check your blind spots before switching lanes and turning!

Yield to Pedestrians

San Franciscans love to walk. And if you’re navigating near Chinatown, North Beach, or near Golden Gate Park, there are likely to be throngs of locals and tourists crossing the street. 

They get the right of way, even if they’re in the wrong!

Watch for Public Transportation

Careful around Cable Cars and Muni

Cable Cars are a fun way to get around downtown and you should definitely ride them if you haven’t yet.

But as a driver, it’s important to know that the Cable Cars allow riders to disembark in the middle of the intersection. If you see this happening, take caution as riders may be unaware when making their way to the sidewalk. 

Muni also has times of day, usually rush hour, when they get their own lane. Do your best to not get stuck behind a Muni bus and avoid a ticket by not sharing its lane.

Mind One Way & Slow Streets

One Way Streets

San Francisco has tons of one way streets, especially downtown and in neighborhoods like the Mission and North Beach. Double check signs before turning!

Slow Streets

After the pandemic many neighborhoods turned streets into slow streets. These slow streets are supposed to be car free (except for those who live on the street and need to park there). If you do need to drive down this street or try to find parking on one of them, just be mindful of the slow street signs, pedestrians walking in the street, and take it, well, slow.

Be Mindful of Rush Hour and Events

Driving during Rush Hour

Weekdays from 7:00am-9:00am and 4:00pm-7:00pm can be a nightmare. The Bay Bridge and highways leading to it get especially clogged. As does 19th Ave in the Sunset as it’s one of the main routes from the Peninsula into the western part of the city. If at all possible, avoid driving during this time. If you can’t consider an alternate route.

Avoid Driving Near Events

There are events taking place all the time in San Francisco and they can be hard to avoid. But some that are more obvious including Giants or Warriors games. When possible don’t drive near the stadiums on game days or concerts (if you’re not going). If you’re attending I recommend splurging on a parking pass or simply take public transportation to get there and back. 

Neighborhoods also have street festivals, especially in the summer months. If you’re attending one (you should, they’re fun) be prepared to park blocks away and walk. Alternatively, take public transportation. 

Parking in San Francisco: What You Need to Know

Ah parking in San Francisco – the phrase alone is enough to send a chill down the spine of even the most seasoned city drivers. But don’t worry, I’ll break down everything you need to know so you can spend less time circling the block and more time exploring the city with confidence. All while (hopefully) avoiding a dreaded parking ticket!

Street Parking

Street parking in San Francisco can be a wild adventure. Some neighborhoods offer metered parking, others have strict time limits, some have both. Plus with street cleaning on certain days of the week and confusing parking signs – it’s enough to stop you from driving anywhere in the city!

Metered Parking

Parking meters typically operate Monday-Saturday 9:00am – 6:00 pm with rates ranging from $2 to $7 per hour depending on the neighborhood. Many meters accept credit cards and are synced with apps like PayByPhone and ParkMobile. I recommend using these apps to help you pay or extend time remotely. 

Time Limit Parking

Instead of meters, some streets (usually more residential areas) have time limits on parking (unless you have a permit). This can be anywhere from 2 hours to two weeks. Make sure you check the posted sign to see what your time limit is. You will need to move your car once your time is up to avoid a ticket. 

I lived in the Outer Richmond area and LOVED that there was no parking time limit or permit required! Downtown and more centrally located neighborhoods are a different story.

Street Cleaning

Street cleaning tickets are the bane of my existence. I’ve gotten so many of them and watched it happen too. Parking enforcement leads the charge of the street cleaning vehicles and any car that is parked where it shouldn’t be will get a ticket. 

If you see a mostly empty side of a street and think you’re getting lucky with ample parking – think again. Look for signs to confirm that it’s not a street cleaning day. The signs could be hidden by trees!

Tow Zones

Make sure that your car is not encroaching on red curbs, bus stops, driveways, and crosswalks. 

For more information about how to park legally in San Francisco, check out this post! 

Parking Garages

If you don’t want the hassle of trying to find street parking and don’t mind paying a little bit more a parking garage is a solid option. Some popular and centrally located garages include:

Union Square Garage: This is below the center of Union Square. I park here all the time if I’m in the area

North Beach Garage: I love this parking garage in between Chinatown and North Beach. Each parking spot has a fortune written on it. The view from the very top level is also spectacular.

Music Concourse Garage: Street parking is usually manageable in Golden Gate Park, but if you don’t want to deal with it the Music Concourse Garage is a solid option. It’s underground near the California Academy of Sciences and other fun things to do in Golden Gate Park.

Pier 39 Garage: If you’re checking out the fun things to do at Fisherman’s Wharf or Pier 39, then park at the Pier 39 garage. You can also park there and walk into North Beach as well. 

Hotel Parking

Many hotels offer parking but this can be pretty pricey. Nightly rates range from $50 to $80 and sometimes don’t allow for in and out privileges. Call your hotel to gather this information. It may not be worth it to bring or rent a car if you can’t park it nearby safely and relatively inexpensively.

Parking Safety Tips

Avoid Break-Ins: Smash and grabs, the local term for car break-ins, are becoming increasingly common even in non-tourist areas and take only 10 seconds! While they may not be able to be totally avoided, take anything with you you’d be devastated to lose (or even just really annoyed about losing).

Give Others Room to Park: If you’re parking in a spot where two cars could fit, then allow space for a second car. Don’t hog it! This infuriates locals.

The Best Streets to Drive in San Francisco

With the right attitude driving can be really fun in San Francisco! If you’re up for a scenic San Francisco drive, here are some routes to consider.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge is likely on your San Francisco bucket list and it is so much fun to drive across (as long as you’re not sitting in traffic). Avoid rush hour traffic jams to make this as enjoyable as possible. There is no toll heading North (out of the city), but you will pay a toll returning.

California Street

Drive California street east from Nob Hill toward the Financial District for an epic view of the Bay Bridge between the skyscrapers of the Financial District. This is also a cable car route and a great place for photos in San Francisco!

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks is a fun winding road that leads to one of the best panoramic views of the city. It’s a great spot for sunset! 

Lombard Street

Drive down the crookedest street in the world! Yes it’s touristy – yes I’ve done it a handful of times. I recommend going at sunrise for fewer crowds. Go slow and remember people actually live in the homes that line it!

The Embarcadero

Driving the Embarcadero on a sunny day is one of my favorite things. It’s a flat and smooth, palm lined drive along the waterfront. It extends from Oracle Park all the way to Pier 39, passing the Bay Bridge and Ferry Building along the way. 

Lincoln Blvd (Presidio)

Lincoln Boulevard is a beautiful cliffside road that winds through the trees of the Presidio and offers great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. I like to drive it from Baker Beach into the Presidio to the tunnel tops. Along the way you can park at Baker Beach and hike the Batteries to Bluffs Trail!

Filbert Street

Filbert Street is incredibly steep. If you’re feeling confident and your vehicle is not a low clearance vehicle, it can be fun to drive. Just be careful!!

Should You Rent a Car in San Francisco?

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about driving in San Francisco, let’s tackle whether or not you should rent a car. This decision depends on your travel itinerary, budget, and length of stay.

Yes – Rent a Car in San Francisco

I recommend renting a car if your San Francisco itinerary includes exploring beyond downtown San Francisco. If you want to go wine tasting in Napa Valley, explore Yosemite National Park, or take the scenic drive down the California Coast on the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles, then yes you’ll definitely need a car.

However, I don’t believe it’s necessary to rent a car for your entire trip. If you’re planning to spend a few days exploring this beautiful city and then heading out on a West Coast road trip, then rent a car once you’re ready to leave. 

Even if you want to do a day trip to Muir Woods, you can easily rent a car for the day and avoid the parking issues we already discussed!

Where to Rent a Car in San Francisco

While there are a number of rental car companies located in the San Francisco International Airport, it’s actually quite easy to get into the city from San Francisco via BART. So if you don’t require the rental car for a few days and plan to have it parked in parking lots until you use it, it’s a good idea to save yourself some money and rent the car from a shop in the city.

I recommend checking out Kyte. It’s a new car rental company that delivers the car to you, so you don’t need to pick it up or drop it off anywhere! Another alternative is Zipcar which allows you to rent a car hourly or daily. 

For more traditional rental car companies like Enterprise, check rates and availability here.

No – Don’t a Rent a Car in San Francisco

If you’re not planning on a greater San Francisco road trip and have a tight budget, your best bet is to forgo a rental car and use public transit. 

How to Get around San Francisco without a Car

There are a number of ways to get around San Francisco without a car. If you’re planning to use public transportation I recommend getting the Clipper Card or a 1, 3, or 7 day visitor passport which is good for use on Cable Cars, street cars, and Muni. 

Public Transportation

BART

BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and is basically San Francisco’s version of a subway. There are a number of lines from the peninsula and airport into downtown and across the bay to Oakland. 

BART is a great way to get into the city from the San Francisco airport.

Cable Car

If it’s your first trip to San Francisco, you need to ride the cable cars. 

They’re an effective, and fun, way to get from Union Square to North Beach, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, and Polk Street. 

Plus, even as a local, I find them genuinely fun to ride.

I’ve written a detailed post about how to ride the Cable Cars which includes all of the routes, pricing, and other tips!

Muni

Muni is San Francisco’s bus and metro system that operates everything from Cable Cars to trolleys to buses. Muni can get you most places in the city, including out to the beach! 

To plan your route, there are many smartphone apps that include bus stops, timetables, and allow you to purchase your ticket. I personally use Muni Mobile and while clunky, it works pretty well.

To help you plan, here’s the Muni metro route map and a great guide on how to use Muni. 

Ferry

If you want to take a day trip to Sausalito or Angel Island, there are ferry options that depart from the Ferry Building (a popular spot to visit in San Francisco). If you do purchase the Clipper Card you can use it on the Ferry.

Check out the Golden Gate Ferry website for all timetables and more information. 

RideShare

Uber and Lyft are present in San Francisco and great options for getting around without a car. While not as cheap as public transportation, it is an effective way to get from point a to point b.

Scooters and Bikes

Throughout the city there are scooters and bikes to rent via their respective apps. Just make sure you’re following traffic rules when riding! A fun thing to do in San Francisco is ride a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge! You’ll be able to see a lot of the city doing this!

Walking

It’s incredibly easy to walk around San Francisco. One neighborhood blends into the next, especially downtown. You can easily walk from Union Square to Chinatown into North Beach and back down the Embarcadero. 

If you’re up for some hill climbs, this is a really great way to see the city. Then when your legs are done, you can use one of these other transportation methods to get you back to your hotel!

Final Thoughts on Driving in San Francisco

Most importantly, give yourself plenty of time driving around San Francisco. While it can be frustrating at times to drive around, find parking, navigate hills and not hit cyclists, it’s a great city to explore. We also tend to not honk our horns here (this isn’t New York) so unless someone is about to cause a car accident or really hasn’t noticed the light turned green, take a breath and avoid the horn!

Like this post? Save for later!