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Oakland Bay Bridge facing SF. - San Francisco
Oakland Bay Bridge facing SF.
by cjg1
By Car tips and advice posted by real travelers and San Francisco locals.
• 74 Photos
• 60 Reviews

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By Car: Driving Around
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  • machomikemd
  • Updated By machomikemd on October 18, 2007
  • San Francisco Page by machomikemd
  • Not fun to Drive in San Francisco! - San Francisco
    Not fun to Drive in San
    Francisco!
    by machomikemd, 4 more photos
    A city of one-way streets, near-vertical hills and kamikaze bike messengers, San Francisco puts visiting drivers to the test. There is little or no free parking. Parking can cost more than $30, even more if you move your car. For the most part, public transportation is your best bet. How ever, if you still insist on a car, here are some driving tips!

    If you plan to take any day trips, visit the beach, Napa Valley or Monterey, then access to an automobile will be a virtual necessity. The highways are fairly easy to navigate although they can become congested, especially during commute hours.

    The bay area is ringed by highways 101, 880 and 80. The Bay, San Mateo and Dunbarton bridges cross the bay between the peninsula and the East Bay. Marin county is linked by the Golden Gate bridge to San Francisco and by the Richmond bridge to the East Bay.

    Highway 101 runs through San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, north to Oregon and south to Los Angeles. It is typically crowded and often slow. Highways 101 and 280 both take you to San Jose.

    Highway 280 runs south from San Francisco parallel to Highway 101 and is much less crowded. It that wasn't enough reason to take highway 280, it is worth the drive just for the scenery. It was voted the nation's most beautiful freeway after all.

    Highway 80 exits the city eastbound to the Bay bridge and deposits you in Oakland. Continue east and highway 80 leads to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

    Highway 880 runs parallel to highway 101 on the eastern side of the bay.

    I still would not recommend driving in the city. The confusing array of one way and two way streets, steep hills and narrow lanes all conspire to make driving an unpleasant experience at best. Parking is in short supply and expensive. There is little or no free parking!

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    By Car: San Francisco Taxis!
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  • machomikemd
  • Updated By machomikemd on October 7, 2007
  • San Francisco Page by machomikemd
  • A Typical SF Taxi - San Francisco
    A Typical SF Taxi
    by machomikemd, 4 more photos
    As in New York and other cities, San Francisco taxis signal their availability by the lighted sign on top of the cab. When the sign is illuminated, the taxi is available.

    Like in other Cities in the World, San Francisco also has a fair share of fake or "Bandit" taxis and to spot them, here are the ff guide: The words "San Francisco Taxi Cab" appear on the side and rear of cab, A small metal license plate is on the dashboard and A driver’s ID visible from the backseat.Popular tourist areas like Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square have a greater concentration of cabs than do outlying areas of the city. If you can’t hail a cab on the street, try the nearest major hotel for a taxi queue.

    Popular tourist areas like Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square have a greater concentration of cabs than do outlying areas of the city. If you can’t hail a cab on the street, try the nearest major hotel for a taxi queue. For less populated areas, Phone a Taxi! make a call to one of the dispatch numbers listed below.

    Taxi Cab Companies:
    Arrow Cab Company
    (415) 648-3181

    DeSoto Cab Company
    (415) 970-1300

    Luxor Cab Company
    (415) 282-4141

    Metro Cab Company
    (415) 920-0700

    Yellow Cab
    (415) 333-3333

    Veterans Cab Company
    Main: 415-648-4119

    Taxi Fares

    First 1/5th of a mile: $3.10
    Each additional 1/5th of a mile or fraction thereof: $0.45
    Each minute of waiting or traffic delay: $0.45
    Airport surcharge: $2.00
    Passengers pay for bridge tolls.
    For distances 15 miles or farther outside the city limits, taxis will charge 150 percent! of the metered rate.

    Tipping: Tip 15 to 20 percent of the total fare.

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  • Website: www.infotaxi.org/city
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    By Car: Highway Driving in S.F.
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  • Karnubawax
  • Updated By Karnubawax on December 22, 2004
  • San Francisco Page by Karnubawax
  • GGB toll plaza - San Francisco
    GGB toll plaza
    by Karnubawax
    S.F. can be a hard city to negotiate by car, especially if you're not used to big city driving. Unlike most cities, San Francisco has a major shortage of turnpikes and throughfares... you can thank the 1989 earthquake for that. Most of the old double-decker freeways were torn down and really nothing has been built to replace them. Even if you're just passing through, driving through SF requires using city streets.

    Here's a few freeway driving tips...

    1) Hwy 101 & 280 are the two major north/south roads going to and from downtown. 280 is ALWAYS faster than 101. Hwy 101 is especially bad right where it goes onto the Bay Bridge (Hospital Curve); this area is congested at all hours of the day. Definitely try to avoid the city streets around 2nd and Mission during the afternoon rush hour - it is usually gridlock.

    The fastest way through the city from north to south is to take Hwy 1 along 19th Ave. This bypasses the more densely populated areas of the city.

    2) Hwy 380 connects hwy 280 with the airport, allowing you to bypass 101. Most of the time, this is the quickest and easiest option.

    3) Hwy 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) is very beautiful, but is usually only 2 lanes, is very twisty, and can be very slow. However, the drive down the coast from SF to Monterey is breathtaking, and, if you have a car, you should definitely do it. The drive north through Marin County is equally gorgeous, but even more twisty.

    4) Going around SF can be done by driving through the East Bay, but often these roads will be jammed up as well - especially during rush hour. If you REALLY want to avoid the traffic of the Bay Area, you'll have to go all the way over to Interstate 5.

    5) Watch out for "Fastrak Only" lanes at the bridge tollbooths.

    Listen to KCBS 740 AM or KGO 810 AM for traffic reports - usually every 10 minutes.

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    By Car: Bay Bridge
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  • karenincalifornia
  • By karenincalifornia on February 12, 2004
  • San Francisco Page by karenincalifornia
  • Bay Bridge, San Francisco - San Francisco
    Bay Bridge, San Francisco
    by karenincalifornia
    If you are coming from or going to the East Bay and you aren't taking B.A.R.T, most likely, you will be going over the Bay Bridge. This bridge connects San Francisco to Emeryville, Berkeley and Oakland. The city in the distance is Oakland.

    Better come and take a picture - quick! When all the internal squabbling stops, this bridge will be torn down and replaced with one intended to withstand a major earthquake. The new bridge has a very modern design and of course the very opinionated San Franciscans are all weighing in. Either you love the new design or hate it.

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    By Car: Parking
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  • rmdw
  • By rmdw on December 22, 2004
  • San Francisco Page by rmdw
  • Parking in SF - Ughhh!!! - San Francisco
    Parking in SF - Ughhh!!!
    by rmdw
    Finding parking in San Francisco is like herding cats - difficult at best and impossible much of the time!

    But I was able to find weekend parking in the NE corner of the city for just $5 per day (several open lots). But leaving your car in one of these places overnight probably isn't such a great idea.

    The best overall deal I found was an indoor lot near Sutter & Leavenworth. It's run by some great guys and costs just $15/day; more for in&out privileges.

    Other options:

    HEARST PARKING CENTER
    45 3rd Street (Right behind hotel)
    (415) 989-4000
    $19.00 (24 hours)

    PARAMOUNT GARAGE
    680 Mission St.@Third
    (415) 348-9784
    $19.00 (Starts after 2 ½ hours--
    Good until 6am the next morning)
    Early Bird Special: $15.00 (Arriving @ 8am)
    $16.00 (Arriving before 9:30 am)

    ELLIS-O’FARRELL GARAGE
    123 O’Farrell @ Powell
    (415) 986-4800
    $2.00 per hour
    $10.00 (5 hours)
    $13.00 (6 hours)
    $28.00 (24 hours)

    SUTTER / STOCKTON STREET GARAGE
    Sutter/ Stockton Streets
    (415) 982-7275
    $2.00 (every 2 hours)
    $10.00 (5 hours)
    $13.00 (6 hours)
    $31.00 (24 hours)

    FIFTH & MISSION YERBA BUENA GARAGE
    833 Mission/Fifth
    (415) 982-8522
    $2.00 (1 hour—increases by $2.00 every hour)
    $20.00 (24 hours)

    UNION SQUARE GARAGE
    333 Post/Geary
    (415) 397-0631
    $1.00 (½ hour)
    $1.00 each ½ hour after (Increase amount may vary)
    $28.00 (24 hours)

    SF Airport - $8-10/day

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    By Car: To Car or not to Car
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  • Callavetta
  • By Callavetta on July 3, 2005
  • San Francisco Page by Callavetta
  • If you want to see this, you need a car - San Francisco
    If you want to see this,
    you need a car
    by Callavetta
    One of the most frequently asked questions by potential visitors to San Francisco is "shall I rent a car?"

    A car can be a major headache in the City; or it can be a complete boon. For anyone not used to driving in a city, navigating the streets of SF can be a major challenge. Double parked trucks alone can drive a person to drink. Parking can be horrendously expensive and hard to find. Or it can be free and plentiful, depending on where you go.

    For a thorough visit to SF, a car can be very helpful. The 49 mile drive is an excellent way to see what the City has to offer, and you must have a car to navigate the route. If you want the pleasure of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge (and paying $5.00 to come back) you must have a car. For the unbeatable views on the Marin Headlands, you must drive to get there (or be one heck of a cyclist).

    Visitors who decide to bring a car into the city, will want to choose accommodations outside of the Financial District, Union Square area, Fisherman's Wharf area. There are hotels along Lombard St. that provide free parking to their guests. Otherwise, should you choose to stay in a hotel downtown, prepare to pay hefty parking fees.

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    By Car: Driving into SF from Silicon Valley
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  • SLLiew
  • By SLLiew on August 28, 2006
  • San Francisco Page by SLLiew
  • By Car - San Francisco
    by SLLiew
    If you are in a business trip to one of the many companies in the Silicon Valley of Santa Clara, San Jose, Milpitas, etc, you would probably drive into San Francisco during the weekends or at nights during the weekdays.

    There are several routes.
    1) Highway 101 is the fastest, goes along the west side of the San Francisco Bay and will pass by the SFO Airport.

    2) More hinterland Freeway 208, between the bay and Pacific Ocean, rolling hills and vistas along the way.

    3) Scenic, winding and longer Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean.

    4) Freeway 880 along the east side of the bay and crossing Bay Bridge into San Francisco. Can stopover at Treasurer island for a panoramic view of San Francisco.

    If you are travelling for some time here, suggest trying all above routes to see more of the Bay Area.

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    By Car: Rush Hour(s)
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  • Karnubawax
  • By Karnubawax on December 22, 2004
  • San Francisco Page by Karnubawax
  • As is the case with most megalopolises (megalopoli?), what is referred to as "rush hour" lasts much longer. In addition, since Oakland and San Jose are both major employment hubs, there is no real "reverse commute" - traffic tends to be bad in all directions at once. Still, the conventional commute (to the city in the AM and from the city in the PM) is the heaviest.

    The afternoon rush hour starts at about 3 PM and gets progressively heavier. It starts to die down about 6 or 6:30. Friday is, of course, the worst - it starts earlier and lasts longer. If you're going to pick a day to avoid driving, make it Friday.

    Weekend evenings going into the City from the Bay Bridge can be very heavy at times.

    For some reason, the morning commute is much more typical than the evening. Going against the grain in the AM is usually pretty smooth sailing - though in the afternoon, it isn't. Go figure.

    I'm not suggesting that you skip seeing what you came to see just to avoid the traffic. Just remember that the Bay Area is the 4th largest urban area in the USA - with nearly 7 million people - most of whom go to and get off work at about the same time!

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    By Car: It's worth car-pooling in the Bay Area...
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  • Orbital_
  • By Orbital_ on May 16, 2004
  • San Francisco Page by Orbital_
  • Driving in to the city from the Bay Bridge - San Francisco
    Driving in to the city from
    the Bay Bridge
    by Orbital_
    If you're driving in & around the area (you brave soul) with more than one person in the car you can use the 'carpool' lanes on some freeways and bridges which are marked with a diamond. They operate during certain hours and a carpool is defined in some areas as two people sharing, three in others. Do check the signs as times and requirements do vary between areas. Don't hang about in a lane solo unless you can afford a fine of around $200. On the Bay Bridge, and some others, carpools don't have to pay the tolls which saves you money and is also immensely satisfying breezing past the other choked lanes of traffic.

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  • Website: www.sfgate.com
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    By Car: Gridlines, steep and crooked streets
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  • SLLiew
  • By SLLiew on August 28, 2006
  • San Francisco Page by SLLiew
  • It is easier to drive in downtown San Francisco because of the grid lines. But most of the streets are one-way and the many street uses names and not sequential numbers. So you need a street map to navigate.

    It can be scary if you are not use to manual stick or know how which auto mode as the road goes up and down like roller coaster and you have to stop at a steep angle at a traffic light or feel the road is going down a valley.

    But do not miss Lombard Street, "the crooked road" at Russian Hill. We all took turns going down this short crooked stretch. There are houses with garages and many tourists, so be careful.

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