Ride A Bike Across The Golden Gate Bridge: A Free Self-Guided Tour

As a teen I once heard someone mention cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge. I didn't know that was a thing you could do until that very moment and I felt an instant resolve to do it someday. 

It was a magnificent experience partly because I really like bikes and partly because I enjoy being in places that make me feel small. 

Riding on this massive bridge reminded me how insignificant my personal struggles are compared to the monumental problems humankind has collectively overcome, and I find that comforting. 

Cycling across the bridge is an iconic San Francisco experience. It's so popular that several bike rental companies offer guided tours around town and across the bridge. 

The prices can get fairly steep and besides, I like to explore in my own way, on my own time. 

I've joined group tours before, and I don't like the feeling of being on a school field trip and the need to stay with the group.

So, I created my own Self-guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour. And I'm happy to share my itinerary for free! 

This kind of thing takes a lot of preparation, but I took care of that for you. Below is everything you will need to know before your trip to SF as well as the full tour itinerary near the end of this post. 

Each location listed is linked to Google Maps. 

Also, I've created a Google Maps list with every stop along the tour for your convenience.  

As always, let me know if you have any questions in the comment section at the end of this post!

Related Post: 

How To Plan A Cheap San Francisco Trip And Still Have Fun

WHERE TO RENT A BIKE 

Renting a bike to cross the Golden Gate Bridge is super popular which means bike rental prices are high. And there are no bikes for rent at the bridge itself. 

I searched tons of bike rental companies from Fisherman's Wharf to Golden Gate Park and the prices hardly differ. The best you can expect is about $36, but only if you book ahead of time online. Otherwise, you're looking at $45 for a full day rental. 

It takes at least 40 minutes to cycle from Fisherman's Wharf across the bridge without any stops. You can rent for 2 hours and try this but you won't have much time to take in the views along the way. The cheapest 2 hour rental is $20 before taxes and fees, and the best 4 hour rental I could find was $38 through Groupon. 

You can make the same trip in 24 minutes from Sports Basement Presido and back with plenty of time to spare. Unfortunately they only rent for the day with no 2 or 4 hour options. The plus side is, they don't tack on extra fees. So, the price you see when you book is what you pay. 

We went with Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals because they are slightly cheaper than companies at Fisherman's Wharf and their location was a 3 minute walk from our motel. 

Be aware that e-bikes will cost you $90 or more. An e-bike will help you get up the famously steep hills of SF but if you're like me, the price may not be worth it for you. 

We rented city-hybrid bicycles from Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals because it was a short walk from our motel. And it cost us $36.66 after tax plus $14.75 for a one-way ferry ticket from Sausalito. That brought us to a total of $51.41, for an all day rental from 9 AM to 6 PM. 

The best quality for price bike rental I could find is at Sports Basement Presidio for $35 with no extra fees. But if you want to ride into Sausalito, you'll have to buy a ferry ticket separately. 

If you want to cross the bridge and come right back, go with Sports Basement Presidio. It's closest to the bridge with the best price for an all day rental.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE

Actual travel time, including waiting for the ferry and the ferry ride itself, will only take about 2 hours and 15 minutes give or take depending on your fitness level. 

But the total time will be based on how much time you want to spend at each stop. 

Give yourself a good 5-6 hour window to complete the itinerary and you'll have plenty of time to explore and rest between cycling. 

And if you're familiar with riding a bike and navigating an unfamiliar town, you can definitely see everything well within the nine hour rental time. 

If you're worried about it though, you can pay for 24 hours and pick up your bikes the evening before. Then you can head out first thing in the morning. 

That's not to say you have to rush through this whole itinerary. 

Consider choosing your top three stops along the route and take your time with those. If you get around to everything else too, awesome. And if not, that means you got to fully enjoy those places you wanted to see most. 

WHEN TO GO

Thanks to the interesting microclimate of the Bay Area, the seasons in San Francisco are not what many people expect in California. 

Summer between June and August is the foggiest time of year and it's often rainy in the winter. Still you might visit SF in May and be faced with cold rain and then, in January of the next year it might be sunny and 55° F/13° C.

You're best bet on weather in SF is September through October. It's the time of year when you will most likely have clear skies and temperatures around 70° F/21° C. 

Spring is the next best time with mild temperatures and less likelihood of rain. 

As for which day you should take your self-guided bike tour: 

Ride on the weekend or a weekday after 3pm when the west side of the bridge is only open to cyclists, so you won't have to navigate around pedestrians. 

Check the official Golden Gate Bridge website for current sidewalk open/closure times as well as safety precautions. 

WHAT TO WEAR

Regardless of the time of year, you will want to take a jacket with you. 

Sure, you'll get warm, maybe even hot from cycling up hills, especially if it's a sunny day. But you will 100% want a jacket while riding across the bridge. It is crazy windy and cold. And awesome. 

We went on a clear day in early May. I wore leggings under loose jeans, and a thick Lululemon jacket. I figured if I got too hot, I could always take layers off and put them in a pack, which I did do with my jacket. 

You might not need warm layers, but you wouldn't want to go without if it is cold. You can never be sure of the weather in San Francisco. 

And without further ado, may I present...

YOUR SELF-GUIDED  BIKE TOUR

If you do rent from a company by Fisherman's Wharf, simply start with Ghiradelli and Lombard Street (steps 16 and 17). Skip steps 18, 19, and 1. Then follow the rest of the itinerary from step 2. 

1. Pick up your bikes at 9 AM at Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals. 

2. From there, it's a flat ride over to the Palace of Fine Arts: 6 minutes (1.0 mi) Find a spot to lock up your bike and take a leisurely walk around the grounds. The rotunda is a lot bigger than I expected and very beautiful. I think it would be the coolest place to attend a concert or party!

3. Cycle through Crissy Field toward Fort Point: 11 minutes (2.2 mi) You'll take Marine Drive to get there. There's a restroom on the left as you approach the fort. Lock up your bike out front and hike up to the roof for a unique view of the bridge from below. Take a free tour if you feel so inclined. 

4. Now head to the Golden Gate Welcome Center: 8 minutes (0.9 mi) Ride back the way you came along Marine Drive which turns into Long Ave. Turn right at Lincoln Boulevard and ride this steep hill to the top. Turn right onto the paved trail for both cyclists and pedestrians. Here you will find the welcome center and another public restroom if you need it. 

5. Cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge: 15 minutes (2.7 mi) to H. Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point. Here's the moment you've been waiting for! Ride under the bridge then turn left. The path will lead you in a loop to the west side walkway on the bridge itself. 

6. The ride across will be windy, and loud thanks to traffic. Be mindful of other cyclists as you take a moment to marvel at the immensity of the bridge. We stopped to admire the 500 ft towers and look over the railing at the ocean 220 ft below. It's just so cool. 

7. Battery Spencer: 12 minutes (1.0 mi) After a brief stop at the rest area, head up the short hill and turn left onto Alexander Ave, and then make a right at Conzelmen Rd. The viewpoint is basically a photo op and you might have to wait your turn, but you'll get a great view of the bridge. Don't forget to pose with your bike! 

8. Head back down Alexander Avenue into Sausalito: 11 minutes (2.4 mi) The hill going down is steep, and you'll be sharing the road with cars and pedestrians, so ride with caution. 

9. Because so many tourists cycle into Sausalito, there aren't free bike stands anywhere. You'll have to pay $5/hr to lock up your bike in a designated area east of Viña del Mar Park. Since we brought sandwiches in our saddle bags and didn't need to go to a restaurant for lunch, we didn't want to pay the fee. So, instead of locking up our bikes, we took turns keeping an eye on them and going to buy ice cream. 

10. Get yourself a cold treat at Lappert's Ice Cream. The rainbow sorbet is phenomenal. 

11. For lunch, share a pizza at Venice Pizzeria and Delicatessen or go to Fish & Chips - Sausalito. There's not much else to do but shop but it's a lovely town. 

12. You can find a restroom right next to the Sausalito Center For The Arts. And the ferry dock is just west of Viña del Mar Park. 

13. Get to the ferry before 3 PM if you want a gauranteed spot. In the busy summer months, there are tons of cyclists wanting to board at once. That leaves those who got in line late waiting for the next ferry. 

14. There are two different ferries: Golden Gate Ferry and Blue & Gold Fleet. And the tickets to each are interchangeable. Hop on whichever ferry comes first and they will accept your ticket. Then relax as you take in the scenic views of the bay. And make sure you buy your ferry ticket before your bike tour!

15. The ferry will take you to Fisherman's Wharf: (30 minutes). The wharf is a loud and overcrowded tourist trap so just move on. And you will have to walk your bike through the crowds.

16. Stop at Ghiradelli Chocolate Experience for a free chocolate sample: 3 minutes (0.6 mi) It might be tough to find a place to lock up your bike. Unless you want to get an ice cream sundae, you probably won't be spending much time here. 

17. Take a brief detour to the bottom of Lombard Street: 6 minutes (0.5 mi) And walk your bike up one of the world's crookedest roads. It's a steep hill but it will only take a few minutes to go up. 

18. Return your bike to Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals: 10 minutes (1.2 mi) 

19. Walk around the corner for dinner at Nick's Crispy Tacos. You can get 3 street tacos for just $7!

This little adventure was so much fun that I would like to go again someday. Maybe I can take my whole family with me when my kids are older. 

Obviously I've only crossed the bridge the one time, but I imagine cycling it is the more fun than walking or going by car. It was awesome because I could glide across the bridge but still stop and gape at the immensity of it. 

I hope you found this post helpful! If you use my itinerary, come back and let me know how you liked it!