San Francisco, CA

Muni runs the city's buses, the Muni Metro light-rail lines (J Church, K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, N Judah and T Third), the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar and the three cable car lines (Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California). An adult ride costs $2.85 by Clipper or a contactless credit or debit card tap, or $3.00 in cash, and includes transfers for 120 minutes; riders 18 and under ride regular Muni free. A cable car ride is $9.00. Visitor Passports give unlimited rides on Muni buses, Metro, streetcars and cable cars for $15 (1 day), $35 (3 days) or $47 (7 days), but are not valid on BART or for trips to or from SFO. From January 4, 2027 the Visitor Passports end, the adult single ride becomes $3.00 however you pay, and a cable car ride rises to $12. Muni Owl buses run every half hour between midnight and 5:00 AM, including the N Owl to Ocean Beach. For the west side, the 38R Geary Rapid and the 1 California link downtown with the Richmond District, and the N Judah serves the Sunset. BART connects downtown (Embarcadero, Montgomery St, Powell St and Civic Center) with the Mission, SFO and the East Bay, running Monday–Friday 5:00 AM–midnight, Saturday 6:00 AM–midnight and Sunday 8:00 AM–midnight; fares are distance-based, paid by Clipper or a contactless card tapped in and out. Caltrain runs south from the 4th & King and 22nd Street stations, with fares from $4.00 to $15.25 by zones crossed. Clipper can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

At SFO, Uber and Lyft pick up on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage for Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and on the Departures level centre island, zones 12–17, at the International Terminal. Waymo rides at SFO are available to select users during the airport pilot program; pickup is at the Rental Car Center Level 1 curbside, reached by the AirTrain Blue Line.

McDonnell Road, reached from all terminals by the AirTrain Blue Line, which runs 24 hours. Avis, Budget and Hertz are open 24 hours; Alamo, Enterprise and National 6:00 AM–12:30 AM; Sixt 6:00 AM–1:00 AM; Dollar and Thrifty 6:30 AM–11:00 PM. A car is more trouble than help inside the city: parking is scarce and expensive downtown, and you must curb your wheels on any slope of 3% grade or more, obey posted street-cleaning times and move the car at least every 72 hours. Never leave anything visible inside. The Golden Gate Bridge is tolled southbound only, into the city, with no toll booths; since July 1, 2026 the toll is $10.25 with FasTrak, $10.50 by licence-plate account or one-time payment, or $11.25 by invoice. The Bay Bridge is tolled westbound at $8.50 through December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, the two-axle toll is $9.00 with FasTrak, $9.25 by licence-plate account or $10.00 by invoice. Ask your rental company how it handles tolls before you drive.