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!
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.
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…
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).
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!
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.
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!
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.
See ya later!
Do you have an advice on how early I should go if I plan to run across the bridge?
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.
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!
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.
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.
I RAN THAT WITH you!!! SO FUN, awesome memories!
That looks awesome!! Sounds like a great run.
That’s so cool; I didn’t realize they allowed pedestrian traffic. What a beautiful run that must be!
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!
Yes! Bookmarking this for when I make it to SF this summer.
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!
I would love to run across the Golden Gate bridge one day!
What?!?! No pic of the Ghiradelli you inhaled? 😛
What a lovely part of the world to be running in. You lucky thing!
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 🙂
Love SF! I was there in the summer, and it was oddly really chilly. Was it cold??
What a cool run!
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 🙂
I wish I could go run the Golden Gate Bridge. Some days I hate being on the east coast 🙁
Fun! I was just in SF and was going to run the bridge, but ran out of time, next time!
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!
Ahh that looks so awesome! I really want to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but running across seems thrilling!
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.
On my running bucket list! Thanks for the tips 🙂
All runs should end with Ghiradelli. Genius idea.
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.
I was there for work once. My cousin recently moved there and I have a friend who lives there.
It is a great city.
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!
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!?
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. 🙂
When I went to San Fran a few years ago, my family and I walked across it. The views were GORGEOUS!