Start at Stanyan Street
Rent a bike near the Haight Street entrance or pick up a Bay Wheels bike, then enter the park at Stanyan Street and Kezar Drive. Ride west on JFK Promenade past the Conservatory of Flowers, the Rose Garden and Lloyd Lake with the Portals of the Past. This section is car-free.
Through the middle of the park
At Transverse Drive the promenade ends and JFK Drive continues west with car traffic and a bike lane (for an all car-free alternative, follow the signed route via Middle Drive and Overlook Drive). Detour left to circle Blue Heron Lake if you like. Continue past the Polo Field and Lindley Meadow to Spreckels Lake, where model boats sail on weekends.
The bison, the windmill and the beach
West of Spreckels Lake, stop at the bison paddock. Continue past the Chain of Lakes and the golf course to the Great Highway, where the Dutch Windmill and tulip garden stand to your right and the Beach Chalet to your left. Lock up and walk onto Ocean Beach.
Ride back or ride on
Ride back the same way, or return on the car-free western end of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive past the Murphy Windmill, then Middle Drive, for variety. You can also ride south on the car-free Sunset Dunes path along the ocean, subject to the November 2026 vote. The return is gently uphill and often into the wind, so allow extra time.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it to bike through Golden Gate Park to the ocean?
About 3.5 miles each way from Stanyan Street to Ocean Beach.
