California Land Safari AM/PM Tours

Are you planning to go into San Francisco on your own?  Here’s a little advice for taking Bart, using the Cable Cars & Street Cars, plus Parking your car.

If you have planned to take the Cable Car as part of your transportation while in San Francisco, The cost is $5.00 per person one way. Children under the of age 4 can ride free. You can purchase tickets and one-day cable car passes directly from the conductors on cable cars. One day passes are $13.00.  The conductors can make change for up to $20.  There are (3) cable car routes in operation.  At Powell & Market streets, there is a cable car turntable which serves as the beginning stop for two lines. This location also has a Bart Station. This is a very busy location with a wait that can reach 2 hours when it’s the tourist season. 

The Powell - Mason line runs from here, over Nob Hill and down to Taylor & Bay Street which is two blocks from the Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell - Hyde line also begins at the Powell & Market turntable and runs over Nob and Russian hills before ending at Aquatic Park on Hyde Street. Both of these lines end near the Fisherman's Wharf, but at different areas. The California Street line runs East to West from the Financial District, past Chinatown, over Nob Hill and stops at Van Ness Avenue. If you use the Cable Car to return to Powell & Market streets at Union Square, The Taylor & Bay Street Cable Car line is not as busy as the Hyde & Beach Street line at Aquatic Park. The wait can still be over an hour. Cable Cars depart every 8 to 12 minutes depending on city events or if all Cable cars are operational. Sometimes the cable that pulls the Cable Car will fail and the back up plan is to use buses.

There is a alternative to the Cable Cars.  The city also operates Street Cars which cost $1.50 per person.  The route runs from the Castro District, thru the Financial District down Market Street, past Powell Street near Union Square and on to the Pier 39 Fisherman’s Wharf area. If you don’t want to waste time waiting in line, these restored vintage trains are comfortable and warm.  

Parking in San Francisco is very difficult and expensive. If you are staying at a hotel, most will charge extra for parking. As much as $50.00 a day. Before renting a car for your trip, you should consider investing your $50 a day in taxicabs. If you drive your car into the city, save yourself some aggravation and use the parking lots and garages. If you rent a car, be sure to get the damage insurance. Squeezing into parking spots can be difficult for even the experienced drivers. We’ve seen many scratches and scrapes, broken mirrors and dented bumpers. If you are a pro at parallel parking, others may not be.

Parking Garage rates vary on the weekday and weekends. Sometimes because of the city events, lots are full by mid day. Parking rates range from $3.00 every 20 minutes to as high as $3.75 every 20 minutes.  Metered parking is as easy to find as winning the lottery. Parking at the parking meters cost $0.25 for each 5 minutes, with a 1 to 2 hour maximum time.  The Wharf area is one hour.  

Neighborhood parking is (2) hours without parking meters. Citation Officers work (7) days a week and they make their rounds regularly. Ticket Citations is the 3rd largest income for San Francisco. If you let your meter expire or park in a restricted zone, the minimum ticket fee is $40.00.  If you park on a hill with a minimum of a 6% grade, you must curb your wheels. Failure to do so is a $35.00 ticket.  When you do find a parking spot, read the meter for maximum time before you put your money in.  Look up and down the block for street signs restrictions.  Any sign within 100 feet pertains to your block.  Do not park in the YELLOW PAINTED ZONES. You can get ticketed & towed. Weekdays after 11:00 a.m cars are allowed to park up to 30 minutes but you must read the restrictions.  Do not park in WHITE PAINTED ZONES or TOUR BUS ZONES. Tickets are $80.00 to $100.00  Most of all, don’t park in the RED ZONES. That’s $250.00 & a tow. If your vehicle gets towed on Friday or on the weekend, it will cost you as much as $400.00 plus impound fees.

If you are planning to take a Ferry Ride into the city.  Here are the local ferry operators & city terminals.

VALLEJO - Baylink Ferry - $13.00 one way to Pier 1 S.F. Ferry Building

ALAMEDA / OAKLAND Ferry - $6.25 one way to Pier 1 S.F. Ferry Building

LARKSPUR - GoldenGate Ferry - $8.25 one way to Pier 1 S.F. Ferry Building

SAUSALITO - GoldenGate Ferry - $8.25 one way to Pier 1 S.F. Ferry Building

(BAY CROSSING TIMES ARE 25 TO 45 MINUTES)