Ride the car-free JFK Promenade
About 1.5 miles of John F. Kennedy Drive, from Kezar Drive near Stanyan Street west to Transverse Drive, has been closed to private cars since the pandemic and was made permanent in 2022; voters upheld it that November. It is shared by cyclists, skaters, walkers and the free shuttle. Painted murals, benches and a public piano sometimes appear along the way, and it passes the Conservatory, Rose Garden and Lloyd Lake.
Classic routes through the park
San Francisco Recreation and Park signs a car-free route the whole length of the park: JFK Promenade and Conservatory Drive in the east, then Middle Drive, Overlook Drive and the western end of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the Great Highway. For the classic sights, ride JFK Promenade to Transverse Drive and continue on JFK Drive, which has cars and a bike lane, past Spreckels Lake and the bison to the Dutch Windmill and Ocean Beach: about 3.5 miles each way. Add a lap of Blue Heron Lake, or ride south along Sunset Dunes on the former Great Highway. Our bike itinerary has turn-by-turn directions.
Bike rentals and bike share
Rental shops cluster near the Haight Street entrance and on Fulton Street, and several rent e-bikes, tandems and kids’ bikes by the hour or day. Bay Wheels bike share has docks around the park’s edges, including e-bikes. Prices and hours change, so compare a few options in our directory before you go.
Rules and courtesy
West of Transverse Drive, JFK Drive carries cars, and so do parts of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Transverse Drive, Crossover Drive and Chain of Lakes Drive. Ride at a relaxed pace on the promenade, signal before passing walkers, and slow down near the playground and the museum crossings. Lock your bike to a rack whenever you leave it; bike theft is common in San Francisco.
Frequently asked questions
Is JFK Drive closed to cars?
Yes, about 1.5 miles of JFK Drive between Kezar Drive and Transverse Drive is the permanently car-free JFK Promenade. West of Transverse Drive, JFK Drive has car traffic, but a signed car-free route continues to the ocean via Middle Drive, Overlook Drive and the western end of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
How long does it take to bike Golden Gate Park?
About 30 to 45 minutes each way from Stanyan Street to Ocean Beach at an easy pace, plus stops.
