Limited Parking! Please read and prepare to arrive early!
Beginning January 18, 2011, the Doyle Drive/Presidio Parkway construction project will affect several streets near the Palace of Fine Arts and make the Theatre’s regular parking lot unavailable. Below are new recommended driving routes and information on free nearby parking, as well as suggestions for alternate travel arrangements.
Please arrive at 12:00pm and 4:00pm. We encourage you to arrive early and walk around the grounds. Enjoy the lake and 1915 rotunda, pack a picnic or eat at a near by restaurant before the show. Due to the theater’s union crew, the show will need to start on time, and we would hate for anyone to miss the start of the show.
Please note that both additional parking lots (Crissy Field and St. Francis Yacht Club) are a 10 minute walk away from the theater, and also tend to fill up (and the St. Francis Yacht Club parking lot is only available for evening performances). Due to the construction project, one of our staff members tested the route and spent 1.5 hours looking for parking unsuccessfully. Therefore, we HIGHLY recommend taking public transit, parking in the nearest parking garage and then taking a taxi, or having a friend drop you off and pick you up. Here are some options:
If Driving:
From the North Bay to Theatre Parking: Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and follow signs indicating Downtown San Francisco. Do not take the Lombard Street exit on the right. Instead, stay to the left and take the Marina exit; you’ll see the sign overhead. While you might be tempted to take a right at the first stop light (Lyon Street) and pull directly into the Palace of Fine Arts, pass the Lyon Street entrance and proceed straight on Marina Boulevard. Then: 1. Right on Divisadero Street 2. Right on Jefferson Street 3. Right on Broderick Street 4. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 5. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio or retry the directions from above.
From the East Bay to Theatre Parking: Cross the Bay Bridge. Follow the signs to the 9th Street exit. Stay in the right-hand lane. Go one block and turn right onto 9th Street. Stay in the left-hand lane. Immediately after Market Street, veer left onto Hayes Street. Then: 1. Right on Van Ness Avenue (look for signs to the Golden Gate Bridge) 2. Left on Lombard Street; once on Lombard, get into the right-hand lane 3. Right on Divisadero Street 4. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 5. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
From the South Bay or Peninsula to Theatre Parking: From Highway 101 Take Highway 101 North to the Market Street/Van Ness exit. Take Van Ness to Lombard (look for signs to the Golden Gate Bridge). Turn left onto Lombard. Once on Lombard, get into the right-hand lane. Then: 1. Right on Divisadero Street 2. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 3. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
From Interstate 280
Follow 19th Avenue through Golden Gate Park; 19th Avenue becomes Park Presidio Boulevard on the other side of the Park. Follow signs for the Highway 101 Detour. Then: 1. Right on Geary Boulevard 2. Left on Van Ness Avenue, move into left lanes 3. Left on Lombard Street, get into the right-hand lane 4. Right on Divisadero Street 5. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 6. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
If Taking Public Transportation:
BART/Muni buses: Take BART and get off at Montgomery Street Station, walk one half-block up Market Street to Third Street and catch the #30 Stockton SF Muni Bus on the corner which will drop you within two blocks of the Palace of Fine Arts OR if you don’t mind walking a little longer, get off at 16th Street Station and then catch the #22 Fillmore SF Muni Bus to the Marina and walk over to the Palace of Fine Arts (about 6 blocks). For more information, you can call Muni at 415-673-6864 or check the SFMTA trip planner
Golden Gate Transit Buses: Most downtown-bound Golden Gate Transit buses stop near the Exploratorium. Ask your driver for directions or call Golden Gate Transit Information at 415-455-2000. With the construction project, it’s best to ask the bus driver to recommend the best stop.
Reserving a Parking Space in a Commercial Parking Garage and Taking Taxi to Theater: Commercial parking garages are available approximately 1.5 miles away from the Palace of Fine Arts. Ace Parking is available at 1776 Sacramento St and 500 Beach Street. Prior reservations can be made at http://www.parkwhiz.com/san-francisco/palace-of-fine-arts-parking/
Beginning January 18, 2011, the Doyle Drive/Presidio Parkway construction project will affect several streets near the Palace of Fine Arts and make the Theatre’s regular parking lot unavailable. Below are new recommended driving routes and information on free nearby parking, as well as suggestions for alternate travel arrangements.
Please arrive at 12:00pm and 4:00pm. We encourage you to arrive early and walk around the grounds. Enjoy the lake and 1915 rotunda, pack a picnic or eat at a near by restaurant before the show. Due to the theater’s union crew, the show will need to start on time, and we would hate for anyone to miss the start of the show.
Please note that both additional parking lots (Crissy Field and St. Francis Yacht Club) are a 10 minute walk away from the theater, and also tend to fill up (and the St. Francis Yacht Club parking lot is only available for evening performances). Due to the construction project, one of our staff members tested the route and spent 1.5 hours looking for parking unsuccessfully. Therefore, we HIGHLY recommend taking public transit, parking in the nearest parking garage and then taking a taxi, or having a friend drop you off and pick you up. Here are some options:
If Driving:
From the North Bay to Theatre Parking: Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and follow signs indicating Downtown San Francisco. Do not take the Lombard Street exit on the right. Instead, stay to the left and take the Marina exit; you’ll see the sign overhead. While you might be tempted to take a right at the first stop light (Lyon Street) and pull directly into the Palace of Fine Arts, pass the Lyon Street entrance and proceed straight on Marina Boulevard. Then: 1. Right on Divisadero Street 2. Right on Jefferson Street 3. Right on Broderick Street 4. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 5. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio or retry the directions from above.
From the East Bay to Theatre Parking: Cross the Bay Bridge. Follow the signs to the 9th Street exit. Stay in the right-hand lane. Go one block and turn right onto 9th Street. Stay in the left-hand lane. Immediately after Market Street, veer left onto Hayes Street. Then: 1. Right on Van Ness Avenue (look for signs to the Golden Gate Bridge) 2. Left on Lombard Street; once on Lombard, get into the right-hand lane 3. Right on Divisadero Street 4. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 5. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
From the South Bay or Peninsula to Theatre Parking: From Highway 101 Take Highway 101 North to the Market Street/Van Ness exit. Take Van Ness to Lombard (look for signs to the Golden Gate Bridge). Turn left onto Lombard. Once on Lombard, get into the right-hand lane. Then: 1. Right on Divisadero Street 2. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 3. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
From Interstate 280
Follow 19th Avenue through Golden Gate Park; 19th Avenue becomes Park Presidio Boulevard on the other side of the Park. Follow signs for the Highway 101 Detour. Then: 1. Right on Geary Boulevard 2. Left on Van Ness Avenue, move into left lanes 3. Left on Lombard Street, get into the right-hand lane 4. Right on Divisadero Street 5. Left on Marina Boulevard, then immediately move into the right lane 6. Turn right on Yacht Road and follow signs for Palace of Fine Arts / Exploratorium parking (lot is next to the St. Francis Yacht Club). If you pass the lot, you’ll see signs on the right for additional parking at Crissy Field.
NOTE: Avoid bearing left after the parking lot; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
If Taking Public Transportation:
BART/Muni buses: Take BART and get off at Montgomery Street Station, walk one half-block up Market Street to Third Street and catch the #30 Stockton SF Muni Bus on the corner which will drop you within two blocks of the Palace of Fine Arts OR if you don’t mind walking a little longer, get off at 16th Street Station and then catch the #22 Fillmore SF Muni Bus to the Marina and walk over to the Palace of Fine Arts (about 6 blocks). For more information, you can call Muni at 415-673-6864 or check the SFMTA trip planner
Golden Gate Transit Buses: Most downtown-bound Golden Gate Transit buses stop near the Exploratorium. Ask your driver for directions or call Golden Gate Transit Information at 415-455-2000. With the construction project, it’s best to ask the bus driver to recommend the best stop.
Reserving a Parking Space in a Commercial Parking Garage and Taking Taxi to Theater: Commercial parking garages are available approximately 1.5 miles away from the Palace of Fine Arts. Ace Parking is available at 1776 Sacramento St and 500 Beach Street. Prior reservations can be made at http://www.parkwhiz.com/san-francisco/palace-of-fine-arts-parking/
