Guide to Biking the Golden Gate Bridge
As a traveler to San Francisco, biking the Golden Gate Bridge seemed like an ultimate adventure. Something that I had more questions than answers, the first one being if it’s even possible. After biking the Golden Gate Bridge myself, I assure you that biking this bridge is possible and an absolute must when visiting this city.
Naturally, I had many questions when visiting as a tourist, I didn’t know if biking rentals were available and if bikes were allowed on the bridge. It turns out that biking the Golden Gate Bridge is a very popular thing to do, even for people not used to biking.
My experience was great and I’d recommend anyone visiting the city to bike this bridge as you get incredible views. You can see downtown San Francisco on one side and Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the other. Below is everything you need to confidently bike across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Where to Rent a Bike
This post is not sponsored or affiliated in any way but rather goes off my experience biking the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bay Wheels is popular all around San Francisco and has rental spots right at the Golden Gate Bridge. I decided to choose Blazing Saddles as they provide a helmet and lock, essential for a full-day trip.
Three miles southeast of the Golden Gate Bridge is where you’ll find Fisherman’s Wharf, the heart of San Francisco tourism with Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39. Here is where you’ll find four Blazing Saddles locations. My hotel, The LINE SF, was two miles south in Union Square but several hotels are located just blocks away.
Once at Blazing Saddles, you have many options as far as bikes. I decided to rent the Deluxe Comfort Bike and E-Blazer Electric Bike, costing $32 and $70 for the full day. This isn’t cheap by any means, especially as the better bikes can border $100. There are cheaper rentals, but they might compromise on other aspects of your trip.
How Long Does it Take to Bike Over The Golden Gate Bridge?
Getting from Blazing Saddles to the Golden Gate Bridge was easy, as a three-mile protected bike path connected the two. Be ready for two relatively steep inclines on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge, this is where an electric bike comes in handy.
The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long, taking me right around 20 minutes to bike. This time can change depending on how fast you bike and how many photos you take. The bridge is quite flat, meaning I took the same amount of time both ways. If you want to soak up the Golden Gate views for longer, there are several viewing areas on the bridge so that you’re not causing traffic.
How long does it take to bike across Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito?
The 8-mile journey from San Francisco to Sausalito usually takes tourists 1.5 to 2 hours. This trip can turn into a day trip as there are several stops along the way and can easily be conquered in under an hour by experienced cyclists.
The length is nothing too crazy and was easy for a semi-regular cyclist like me. If you’re worried about how difficult this journey will be, continue reading!
Is biking the Golden Gate Bridge Hard?
If you know anything about San Francisco hills, you know that they’re not fun to bike on. For San Francisco, the route isn’t too challenging, and can easily be done by a beginner. The Golden Gate Bridge itself is flat but getting to and from the bridge has some hills. If you’re worried about the difficulty or just want an easy ride, an electric bike is the way to go.
If you’re worried about bike infrastructure, just know that this route is extremely popular and features a separate bike path to and on the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s not as pleasant on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, as you’ll read below.
Can you bike Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito?
You can absolutely bike to Sausalito. Biking to Sausalito is an incredibly popular route as you coast downhill enjoying fantastic bay views. This coastal town is certainly worth visiting and can be a great stopping point.
The ferry also connects here making for a great way to get back to San Francisco. You can drop off your Blazing Saddles bike for $25 at Sausalito or take the bike on the ferry for no extra charge. I recommend this for beginners as biking back to the Golden Gate Bridge is quite unideal, as you’ll see below.
Although the bike ride between Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito is enjoyable, the lack of bike infrastructure is something rarely mentioned. After being on a separated bike path to Vista Point, you get thrown onto the side of a 35 mph speed limit road to Sausalito. Going isn’t too bad as the route is downhill and quite popular, but coming back is a different story.
Going uphill on the side of the road with cars easily exceeding 50 mph isn’t pleasant. To add to this, the shoulder is barely a few feet, placing you close to high-speed vehicles. Many plants had fallen onto the shoulder, forcing me to either swerve onto the road or kill my momentum.
For a road this popular, I find it ridiculous that nothing has been done to improve the infrastructure. Alexander Avenue as they call it has had plans to add bike lanes in the works since 2008, but nothing has since been done even 15 years later. This road has been regarded as dangerous and improvements will hopefully be made to make this mile-long stretch safer in the future.
Biking Onwards to Tiburon
Once past Sausalito, a fantastic multi-use trail opens up called the Mill Valley Sausalito Path. You’ll be able to see incredible mountain and bay views and even catch some houseboats. Sadly, the path only covers 3 of the 9 miles from Sausalito to Tiburon.
The next 3.5 miles are via roads, but nothing as bad as Alexander Avenue. You’ll have sidewalks for much of the way or unprotected bike lanes, not perfect but not horrible either.
The last 2.5 miles are on the Tiburon Linear Park Trail, another beautiful separated path with continuous bay views. Once at Tiburon, you can enjoy lunch at Sam’s Anchor Cafe and take the ferry directly to the Embarcadero.
Are eBikes allowed on The Golden Gate Bridge?
All classes of eBikes are allowed on the Golden Gate Bridge, though cyclists must adhere to a 15 mph bicycle speed limit which drops to 5 mph around towers. Many of the trails around the Golden Gate Bridge only allow Class 1 and Class 2 eBikes as per California state law. If you’re confused about what this means, don’t worry! All rentable eBikes around the Golden Gate Bridge have either Class 1 or 2, meaning that they can be ridden anywhere a normal bike can.
Which side of the Golden Gate Bridge Should I Bike On?
This is a question I wish I had known earlier, as the side you bike on changes by the time and day. On weekends and weekdays after 3 pm, cyclists use a dedicated cycle track on the west side of the bridge. Before 3 pm on weekdays, cyclists must share the east side with pedestrians. There are points on both sides of the bridge where cyclists can cross as needed. If you’re unsure which side you need to be on, observe where other cyclists are going.
Is it free to bike across Golden Gate Bridge?
Biking the Golden Gate Bridge is always free, and encouraged. Driving the bridge costs around $8, making biking a cheaper and more enjoyable option. Although biking is free, there may be some costs associated with renting a bike, so do the math and see which option is better for you.
Best Time of Year to Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
I visited in late March and found it beautiful. The whole city was green, which can only be found at this time of year. San Francisco’s mild climate and year-round tourism means your experience will be the same no matter when you go.
With that being said, September to October is widely known as the best time to visit as the weather is warmest, around low 70°F, and the crowds and rain are the lowest. When visiting in late March, you’ll find weather in the low 60s and a good amount of rain. The trade is that all the hills will be green in March and not in October.
Where to Stop Along The Golden Gate Bridge Bike Route?
This bike route seriously has so much to see, a 2-hour bike ride could easily turn into a full day. From Fisherman’s Wharf all the way to Sausalito, there are great views at every turn and spots waiting to be explored. Let’s talk about some below.
Ghirardelli Square
The famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is based in San Francisco and has made an entire chocolate complex at the center of Fisherman’s Wharf. All of Ghirardelli’s chocolates used to be made here, but the complex now stands as an entertainment hub, featuring shops, restaurants, and a hotel. What people visit here for is the Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience, where you can enjoy a variety of milkshakes, sundaes, and chocolates.
Fort Point National Historic Site
Fort Point National Historic Site is at the absolute start of the Golden Gate Bridge and managed to make the cover photo of this blog post. This fort was built during the California Gold Rush and was utilized during the Civil War and WW2.
Admission inside is free and is fascinating to see. You’ll get great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the top and can learn about past San Francisco.
Vista Point
You’ll get some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from here. Located north of the bridge, this is a great stopping point after crossing the 1.7-mile-long structure. If you need to cross from one side of the bridge to another, this is where you’ll do that. Also, if you’re not confident enough to ride Alexander Avenue, then this is a great turning place.
Sausalito Boardwalk
Once at Sausalito, this boardwalk is hard to miss. The Sausalito Boardwalk stands at the center of the town and is a popular tourist spot for its bay views and small-town vibe. You’ll find many small shops and restaurants here, and it makes for an incredible stopping point to hang out. Though my favorite place to eat at Sausalito is below.
Fish.
Fish. is a casual seafood spot just north of the Sausalito boardwalk. It’s repeatedly topped lists as the best place to eat in Sausalito and I couldn’t agree more. They have some of the best seafood I’ve ever eaten, from crab to salmon and of course fish.
You can enjoy outdoor views with the marina right outside, plus picture-perfect weather. When I went, there was a line out the door, a sign of a good restaurant. I wouldn’t visit this spot if you’re vegetarian like I am for part of the year. But if seafood is your kind of food, it is worth giving this place a try.
Tips When Biking The Golden Gate Bridge
Before hopping on a bike and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, there are a few things you have to consider. I’ll list all of them down below plus some more Golden Gate biking tips so that your bike ride is as enjoyable as possible.
Choose the Right Bike
This step can either make or break your trip as choosing the wrong bike can be such a hassle. Getting a high-performance road bike as a beginner isn’t the best idea as it’s not needed and can waste money. With that, getting a mountain bike when you’re only biking on the roads is also a bad idea for obvious reasons.
Another important aspect of your trip is if you want an electric bike or not. E-bikes are typically more expensive but could make your experience far more enjoyable. The choice is finally up to you, but it’s good to know that electric bikes are an option.
Allocate a Full Day
Although the bike ride to Sausalito can be done in 2 to 3 hours, I’d advise keeping a full day free for this trip. With a full day, you can make some stops along your way and even bike further to Tiburon. You won’t be under the pressure of time, providing an overall better experience. For me, biking was most of the day but I did have some time to explore the Embarcadero after. Allocating a full day will just make your ride that much better.
Wear a Helmet
I can’t stress this enough, especially if you’re an infrequent rider. Riding without a helmet means unnecessary risk and decreased peace of mind. If you’re riding past the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll be unprotected from cars. So no matter how confident of a rider you are, a helmet should be considered essential.
Wear Layers
San Francisco has year-round moderate weather, meaning that a light jacket is always good to bring. In late March, the weather was in the 50s and 60s, meaning that a jacket was needed in the mornings and evenings.
Plan Ahead
If you’ve read this blog post, then that means you’ve planned ahead! Everything you need to know about biking the Golden Gate Bridge is contained in this blog post, leaving no unexpected surprises. If you have any more lingering questions, read some more tips or feel free to contact me.
My Overall Experience
Biking the Golden Gate Bridge was a phenomenal experience, something I hope everyone visiting San Francisco can experience. This blog post should have provided everything you need to know, and answer all your potential questions.
