The view northeast from the de Young’s free Hamon Observation Tower. Photo: Joe Mabel · Source · CC BY 4.0
Golden Gate Park is free and open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight. Admission is charged only at the museums, the three garden attractions, the carousel and boat rentals, and each has free hours or days.
Updated · Independent visitor guide
Hours and admission at a glance
Place
Hours
Typical admission
Free entry
Golden Gate Park
5 a.m.–midnight daily
Free
Always
Japanese Tea Garden
Daily from 9 a.m.; last entry 5:30 p.m. (Mar–Oct), 4:30 p.m. (Nov–Feb)
About $12–$16 non-resident adults
Mon/Wed/Fri 9–10 a.m.; SF residents always
Conservatory of Flowers
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; closed Wednesdays
Non-resident fee
First Tuesday; SF residents, ages 4 and under, military and veterans
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Daily from 7:30 a.m.; last entry 4–6 p.m. by season
About $15–$17 non-resident adults
Daily 7:30–9 a.m.; second Tuesday; SF residents always
de Young Museum
Tue–Sun 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
About $20 adults; special exhibitions extra
Saturdays for Bay Area residents; tower always
California Academy of Sciences
Mon–Sat 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
About $40–$45 adults
Neighborhood free weekends for SF residents
Carousel
Varies by season and weather
About $2.50 adults, $1 ages 6–12
Under 6 with a paying adult
Blue Heron Boathouse rentals
Roughly mid-morning to late afternoon, weather permitting
About $25–$45 per hour
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Is Golden Gate Park free?
Yes. There is no entry fee for the park, its lakes, meadows, trails, playgrounds or most of its gardens. The Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers and Botanical Garden charge non-residents but are free for San Francisco residents with ID. The de Young and California Academy of Sciences charge admission, while the de Young’s observation tower is free.
Park hours
Like other San Francisco parks, Golden Gate Park is open from 5 a.m. to midnight. Overnight, you may still travel through the park on its roads and sidewalks without stopping. Individual attractions keep their own, shorter hours.
Attraction hours and tickets
The table below lists each attraction’s hours and typical prices. The Conservatory is closed on Wednesdays and the de Young on Mondays; the Academy of Sciences opens daily. Prices change by season and exhibition, so confirm on the official sites linked below.
Ways to save
Visit the Japanese Tea Garden between 9 and 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, the Botanical Garden before 9 a.m., and the Conservatory on the first Tuesday of the month. Bay Area residents get into the de Young free on Saturdays. CityPASS includes the Academy with other San Francisco attractions. See all our free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
Is Golden Gate Park free?
Yes. There is no fee to enter the park. Some attractions inside charge admission.
What time does Golden Gate Park close?
The park closes at midnight and reopens at 5 a.m. You may still pass through on roads and sidewalks overnight.
Which Golden Gate Park attractions are free for San Francisco residents?
The Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers and San Francisco Botanical Garden are free for residents with ID.
