12 Things to Know Before Biking Golden Gate Bridge

12 Things to Know Before Biking Golden Gate Bridge

Biking across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge should be on everyone’s bucket list! It is a great activity the whole family can enjoy. We biked from Fisherman’s Wharf, through Crissy Field, Fort Mason, across the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sausalito, a quaint town in Marin. On this trip there were a few things we wish we knew before coming, so we wanted to share them with you to help you have a stress free journey!

1. Full Day Bike Rental
When biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll want to rent bikes for the full day. There are plenty of bike rental shops all around San Francisco and pricing range from about $30 USD - $40 USD per bike per day (standard bike option). We decided to rent bikes from Blazing Saddles and booked online to save an extra 20%

2. Bring Snacks + Water
For those of you who know me, you know I literally bring snacks with me everywhere I go. You will get hungry and thirsty at some point during this 8 mile bike ride and having snacks and water to energize you is a MUST.

3. Dress in layers
San Francisco weather is unpredictable, so dress in layers that you can easily put on or take off.

4. Hills
SF boasts some of the steepest hills in the world, and on this ride you will have to bike up three steep hills. But don’t fret, you can easily hop off and walk your bike up the hill.

5. Electric bike
If biking 8.0 miles doesn’t sound like fun, you can opt for an electric bike that will help you pedal when you get tired or help you up those steep hills.

6. Bring a backpack
The bikes you rent will probably comes with a little pouch to put your things in, but when you lock your bike up to and go grab a bite to eat you’ll want to keep your valuables safely with you.

7. Use your bell
Your bikes will probably come equipped with a bell. Use it. Especially when you are on the bridge itself. If gets crowded and a little ring is a nice way to tell someone you are behind them.

8. Bathrooms
If you are like me, I need to use the restroom quite frequently because I have a small bladder. On this ride, don’t fret because there are plenty of stops that have restrooms. One at Crissy Field, one at the info center before you get on the bridge and some in Sausalito too.

9. Take in the views
Relax and take your time.

10. Have lunch in Sausalito or Mill Valley
Mill Valley and Sausalito have great shops and restaurants. We ate at Napa Valley Burger Company in Sausalito and loved it! It feels so good to replenish after the bike ride!

11. Bike Parking
There are three designated bike parking areas in Sausalito. You must park your bike in these spots. The very first parking area you will see is by the ferry station. They charge $3.00 to park your bike, so we decided to bike a bit further down to the free areas. The aren’t as close, but still walking distance from the shops and restaurants and I like to save money where I can.

12. Ferry Tickets
Make sure you purchase your ferry tickets before jumping on the ferry. Our bike rental company had the ferry tickets printed out for us already, but if you didn’t get some, there is a ticket counter by the ferry line. They will not let you on the ferry without a ticket.

Those are all the tips we have for biking across the GG Bridge. We hope you get to have the opportunity to experience this iconic structure in a unique and fun way! Enjoy your ride and STAY CURIOUS!