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Run Eat Repeat

How to Run Across the Golden Gate Bridge

California· Travel

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6 Apr

How to run across the Golden Gate Bridge – updated with new pictures and extra tips. If you’re in San Francisco and want to walk across the bridge or run to it / across it – save this post for information. It’s easy and free – but nice to have a virtual running buddy with ya!

How to run across Golden Gate bridge

I arrived in San Francisco after midnight. My flight was delayed and the shuttle ride took a while. So, I went straight to bed after researching today’s run.

flying to san francisco

Last night I googled “How to run across the golden gate bridge” and found a familiar website at #5 – Run Eat Repeat!

I ran across the Golden Gate a few years ago when I was in town for the Foodbuzz food blogger Festival. Hello RER…  fancy seeing you here! After that adventure I made some notes on how we got to the start of the bridge because another blogger tried to run there too and took a path that was closed. That’s a bummer if you’re traveling and only have one day to check it out. Hopefully these steps will help…

How to run across Golden Gate Bridge

After checking out my old post I confirmed my notes with the front desk (they didn’t really help since they told me the driving directions to the bridge) and set off on foot.

Running Across the Golden Gate bridge is easy, but I got lost the first time I tried it so I wanted to make sure I knew where I was going.

Reminder: The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long – one way. So just doing the bridge is over 3 miles. If you also run to the bridge, then across it… you’re going to rack up a lot of miles. Make sure you look up how many miles it is from your starting point to the bridge and back. This could be an amazing long run – if you have the time and training. I’ve done it from various points in San Francisco and it’s been anywhere from 7 miles to over 11 miles.

Running Across the Golden Gate Bridge

1. From area hotels – head to Fisherman’s wharf or take a taxi to Crissy Field. Basically down to the water and toward the bridge / wharf…

2. Run on the sidewalk near the bay towards the bridge… after a few miles you’ll come to Fort Mason and a steep hill. Keep going on that path up and over the hill, then it curves to the right again on a bike/pedestrian path toward the bridge.

3. There are two ways at this point, I chose to stay near the water because it’s gorgeous and peaceful.

After a while you will see a sign on your left like the one below (or you can keep going straight which doesn’t go to the bridge – this is how I got lost the first time).

how to run across the golden gate bridge

how to run across the Golden Gate Bridge

4. Go up the stairs and it will lead you to a winding path that takes you to the bridge. There is the famous look out point here too. Best photo op in San Francisco!

can you run across the golden gate bridge

5. Finally you made it to the bridge!

The Golden Gate is 1.7 miles across one way. Since it was early there weren’t too many runners, but I have heard it gets pretty packed during the day.

IMAG0995 (451x800)

There is a good view of San Francisco from the other side… even though I can’t prove it. It was super foggy on this day! I’ve walked across a bridge on a clear day and it’s gorgeous!

IMAG0984 (800x451)

I did about 11 miles but stopped a lot on the way back for pictures.

Later my victory lap will be an epic sundae from Ghiradelli Square… yeah buddy.

ghirardelli square

See ya later!

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    31 Comments

    Previous Post: « Friday Favorites Running Blog
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Trang says

      2015-07-30 at 9:51 am

      Do you have an advice on how early I should go if I plan to run across the bridge?

      Reply
      • runeatrepeat says

        2015-07-30 at 12:55 pm

        The bridge is pretty much always open to run across (I think) but the traffic can get heavy. The pedestrian sidewalk is gated off from the cars, it’s just super noisy and a little scarier with a lot of traffic.

        Reply
    2. Scott says

      2013-09-08 at 12:31 pm

      An important note: runners & walkers should stay on the east-side walkway (the SF side, not the Pacific side). Bikers use the west side, and will holler at you if you miss the signs, like I did the first time. Have fun!

      Reply
    3. Chris DuCasse says

      2013-08-09 at 5:36 pm

      Ran across the Golden Gate Bridge earlier this month and I have to say its been the highlight of my short running career. It was such a blast.

      Reply
    4. Kate says

      2013-04-12 at 9:29 am

      I love this kind of post. Always looking for an adventurous run while traveling. I’m the content curator at Fit Framed, the companion site to Healthy Aperture, and I’d be honored if you’d submit this post to the site. We’re a blogger-submitted, curated photo gallery with a focus on fitness. Check it out.

      Reply
    5. bobbi says

      2013-04-07 at 10:01 pm

      I RAN THAT WITH you!!! SO FUN, awesome memories!

      Reply
    6. Karen@tradingheels says

      2013-04-07 at 7:02 pm

      That looks awesome!! Sounds like a great run.

      Reply
    7. Debbie @ Deb Runs... says

      2013-04-07 at 6:03 pm

      That’s so cool; I didn’t realize they allowed pedestrian traffic. What a beautiful run that must be!

      Reply
    8. Lindsay @FitandAwesome says

      2013-04-07 at 2:10 pm

      I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge a couple years ago for the San Francisco Half Marathon (part 1). It was really windy and cold and the bridge has a pretty decent incline! I liked being able to run across the bridge when one of the lanes was closed for runners and I was surrounded by lots of other people. Definitely a good option for those who may not want to run it by themselves. But it should definitely be something that’s on a runner’s bucket list. Highly recommend!

      Reply
    9. Megan says

      2013-04-07 at 2:05 pm

      Yes! Bookmarking this for when I make it to SF this summer.

      Reply
    10. Jen Shaw says

      2013-04-07 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks! I’ll be running the Presidio 10 Miler on April 21st and we go across the bridge! I love, love SF! I went to Univ of San Francisco and miss that city ALL the time. Hope you had a great trip!

      Reply
    11. Mary says

      2013-04-07 at 2:03 am

      I would love to run across the Golden Gate bridge one day!

      Reply
    12. Sue says

      2013-04-06 at 10:29 pm

      What?!?! No pic of the Ghiradelli you inhaled? 😛

      Reply
    13. Belinda says

      2013-04-06 at 9:59 pm

      What a lovely part of the world to be running in. You lucky thing!

      Reply
    14. Katie says

      2013-04-06 at 7:17 pm

      oh man! I visited SF/Berkeley a couple weeks ago (I’m not from CA), and I really wanted to run across the golden gate bridge but ended up missing the exit to the lookout area. Before I knew it, I was on the north side of the bridge, lost, so I just kept driving till I eventually found a sweet hiking trail through the hills. Parked my rental car on the side of the road and prayed I didn’t get ticketed/towed. So instead of a GG Bridge run, I took a hike somewhere near Sausalito and found some gorgeous views of the bridge and the water. Wish you’d posted this a couple weeks earlier though, because it was exactly what I needed on my trip 🙂

      Reply
    15. Avery @ Southern Belle Living Well says

      2013-04-06 at 5:25 pm

      Love SF! I was there in the summer, and it was oddly really chilly. Was it cold??

      Reply
    16. Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More says

      2013-04-06 at 5:11 pm

      What a cool run!

      Reply
    17. michelle kim says

      2013-04-06 at 4:38 pm

      Even though I live in SF now, I still have not run across the GG Bridge yet! This is a great guide and I will surely run it before the semester ends! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    18. Lindsey @ Run Freckles Run says

      2013-04-06 at 4:28 pm

      I wish I could go run the Golden Gate Bridge. Some days I hate being on the east coast 🙁

      Reply
    19. emily:2:design:cents says

      2013-04-06 at 4:07 pm

      Fun! I was just in SF and was going to run the bridge, but ran out of time, next time!

      Reply
    20. Sarah says

      2013-04-06 at 3:25 pm

      Lucky! Running the GG Bridge is on my bucket list. Living in Ohio limits the number of times I get there 🙁 Good luck on your race!

      Reply
    21. Katie says

      2013-04-06 at 2:59 pm

      Ahh that looks so awesome! I really want to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but running across seems thrilling!

      Reply
    22. Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona says

      2013-04-06 at 2:24 pm

      I spent a couple days in San Francisco a few years ago. One of our must sees was the Golden Gate Bridge. Even though there were lots of people it was still beautiful, not to mention the views! We were lucky enough to be there on a day that wasn’t foggy.

      Reply
    23. Kim says

      2013-04-06 at 1:51 pm

      On my running bucket list! Thanks for the tips 🙂

      Reply
    24. Karen @ Runner Girl Eats says

      2013-04-06 at 1:21 pm

      All runs should end with Ghiradelli. Genius idea.

      Reply
    25. Christa @ Edible Balance says

      2013-04-06 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you for the tips! I’ll be there for a week the first week of May, staying on the Sausalito side so it’ll be much easier to get to the bridge… can’t wait to run actoss it 🙂 I’m also looking forward to running the Marin Headlands too! I would LOVE to live there.

      Reply
    26. Losing Lindy says

      2013-04-06 at 12:54 pm

      I was there for work once. My cousin recently moved there and I have a friend who lives there.

      It is a great city.

      Reply
    27. Christine @ BookishlyB says

      2013-04-06 at 12:43 pm

      I ran across the Golden Gate a few years ago when I did the SF half. It was a BITCH of a race (those hills! the cold!) but the bridge was absolutely the best part. Good luck!

      Reply
    28. Maggie says

      2013-04-06 at 12:38 pm

      I was in San Francisco last week! It was so much fun! I didn’t walk/run across but I did go on a boat cruise underneath. Also, Ghiradelli = best reward for all those hills right!?

      Reply
    29. Chelsea says

      2013-04-06 at 12:25 pm

      When my family and I vacayed to San Francisco when I was 14, I remember falling in love with that city and it’s energy! To this day, its one of my favorite places in the U.S.! Loved seeing your pics – the bridge looked just as grey/foggy the day we decided to walk it. 🙂

      Reply
    30. Miranda @ Miranda Runs says

      2013-04-06 at 11:49 am

      When I went to San Fran a few years ago, my family and I walked across it. The views were GORGEOUS!

      Reply

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