Presidio San Francisco is a 1,500-acre national park at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an army base for 220 years. Now it has forests, beaches, hiking trails, old gun batteries, and a famous golf course. Entry is free. Parking is mostly free. You can spend a full day here without spending a dollar unless you eat at the Presidio San Francisco restaurants or play the Presidio golf course in San Francisco. It is safer and cleaner than most city parks. Locals call it "the jewel of the northwest corner."
What Is the Presidio in San Francisco Exactly?
Here is the short version. What is the Presidio in San Francisco? It is a park that used to be a fort. Spanish soldiers built it in 1776. That is the same year America declared independence. Crazy, right? Then the U.S. Army took over in 1846. They stayed until 1994.
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The army left everything behind.
When the Army left, they did not clean out their closets. You can still see old hospital buildings. Old apartments. Old stables. The park turned all that stuff into something useful. Now tech workers live in those old homes. Restaurants moved into old mess halls. It is like a ghost town that woke up.
Native History Most Tourists Miss
Before any soldiers came, the Ohlone people lived here for 5,000 years. You will not see big signs about this. You have to look for small ones. There is a shell mound near Crissy Field. My friend who works for the park says the Ohlone still do ceremonies here sometimes. Respect that when you visit Presidio San Francisco.
How to Get There Without Losing Your Mind
San Francisco driving is hard. Parking is worse. But Presidio, San Francisco, is different. It has space. Lots of space.
Driving from Highway 101
Take the Presidio exit off Highway 101. Do not take the Golden Gate Bridge exit unless you want to pay $9 to come back. The Presidio exit drops you right on Mason Street. From there, follow signs to the visitor center. Easy.
The Free Shuttle Nobody Knows About
There is a bus called PresidiGo. It is free. It runs every 20 minutes. One route goes from the Embarcadero BART station all the way to the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. Another route circles the whole park. Locals use it. Tourists walk past the bus stop. Do not be that tourist.
Walking from Presidio Heights San Francisco
If you stay in Presidio Heights, San Francisco, you are lucky. Presidio Heights, San Francisco, is a quiet neighborhood with big mansions. From Jackson Street and Maple Street, you just walk west. Five minutes later, you are inside the park. Many people who live in Presidio Heights, San Francisco, do this every morning with their coffee.
The Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco—Yes, You Can Play Here
I am not a good golfer. I lose balls. I slice everything. But I still love the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. Why? Because it is beautiful. And it is public. Anyone can play.
What Makes This Golf Course Special
Most public courses are flat and boring. Not this one. The Presidio golf course in San Francisco goes up and down hills. Huge cypress trees line every fairway. You will see deer. You might see a coyote. The fog rolls in and out. It feels like golf in a fairy forest.
Green Fees and Tee Times (Real Prices)
A weekday round costs about 85 for San Francisco residents. Nonresidents pay around 85 for San Francisco residents. Nonresidents pay around 125. Weekends are more. Twilight rates (after 3 PM) are cheaper. Book online two weeks ahead. Weekend spots fill up fast. If you do not play golf, you can still eat at the clubhouse. The Macintosh Room serves breakfast and lunch. Their sourdough French toast is famous.
Expert quote: "I have played 200 courses across California. The Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco has the best views of any urban course. Period." — David Chen, Amateur Golf Blogger
Presidio San Francisco Restaurants – Real Food, Not Tourist Traps
Park food usually sucks. Soggy hot dogs. Old pizza. Not here. The Presidio San Francisco restaurants are run by real chefs.
Sessions for Lunch or Dinner
Sessions is inside a red brick building that used to be an army barracks. They serve wood-fired oysters and grass-fed burgers. Their outdoor patio has heat lamps. Even in July fog, you stay warm. A burger and fries costs $22. Worth it.
Colibri Mexican Bistro
"Colibri" means "hummingbird" in Spanish. This place makes mole poblano that takes three days to cook. I asked the owner once. He said his grandma's recipe came from Puebla. The tacos al pastor are also good. Lunch for two costs about $50 with drinks.
The Underrated Sports Basement Cafe
Do not laugh. The Sports Basement is a huge discount store. They sell tents and running shoes. But in the back, they have a cafe with beer on tap. You can buy 6 craft beers and 9 breakfast burritos. Then sit outside on their picnic tables. This is where park employees eat. That tells you everything.
Dinner Just Outside in Presidio Heights San Francisco
After the park closes (the gates stay open, but restaurants inside shut by 9 PM), walk to Presidio Heights, San Francisco. On Sacramento Street, try Spruce. It is expensive. A steak costs $60. But their burger bar in the front room is cheaper. Or go to Kisa for Mediterranean small plates. Their lamb kebabs are incredible.
Best Hiking Trails – From Easy to Hard
You do not need to be a athlete. My 70-year-old mom walked the Batteries to Bluffs Trail last year. She loved it.
Easy Walk – Crissy Field Promenade
Flat. Paved. One mile. You walk right next to the bay. The Golden Gate Bridge is directly in front of you. Kitesurfers fly by. Dogs run off leash (before 9 AM). Perfect for strollers and wheelchairs.
Medium Hike – Batteries to Bluffs
This is the famous one. 1.7 miles. Some stairs. You walk along the cliffs. You pass three old gun batteries. The views of the bridge change every 50 feet. Do this at sunset. Bring a jacket. The wind gets cold fast.
Hard Hike – Ecology Trail to Rob Hill Campground
2.5 miles. Steep hills. You climb up through a dark forest of eucalyptus trees. The ground is soft with fallen leaves. At the top is Rob Hill Campground. It is the only campground inside San Francisco. You can book a site for $30 a night. Wake up to fog and birds. Amazing.
Hidden Spots Tourists Never Find
Everyone goes to the main overlook. Here is where locals go.
Battery Godfrey at Dusk
Battery Godfrey is a concrete fort from 1895. You have to walk off the main path. There are no railings. But when you stand inside the old gun room, the Golden Gate Bridge frames the entire opening. It looks like a painting. Bring a flashlight. The walk back is dark.
The Abandoned Bowling Alley
Behind the visitor center is a boarded-up building. That is the old Army bowling alley. You cannot go inside. But you can peek through the cracks. The pins are still standing. It has been untouched since 1994. Creepy and cool.
Presidio Pet Cemetery Location
Go behind the old veterinary hospital on Liggett Avenue. You will see tiny headstones. "Buddy 1972-1984." "Mittens 1965-1978." One grave says, "Jocko – A Good Monkey." I am not kidding. A monkey. It is weird and sweet. Most guidebooks skip this. Do not skip it.
Expert opinion: "I have lived in San Francisco for 15 years. The pet cemetery is the most honest place in the park. Those soldiers loved their animals. You feel that." — Elena Martinez, Presidio Walking Tour Guide
Is Presidio San Francisco free?
Free: Entry, parking at most lots, all trails, visitor center, ranger talks, bathrooms, and water fill stations.
Not free: Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco (85–85–125), Presidio San Francisco restaurants (15–15–60 per person), campground (30/night), some tours (30/night), and some tours ($10–$20).
Here is a money-saving trick. Park at the Sports Basement lot (free). Walk to Battery East (free). Bring a sandwich from home (free). You just had a great day for zero dollars.
What to Wear – No Joke, the Weather Lies
San Francisco has one weather rule. Summer is cold. Winter is mild. Fog happens anytime.
The Three-Layer System
Wear a t-shirt, then a hoodie, then a windbreaker jacket. When the sun comes out, take off the jacket. When the fog rolls in (it will), put it back on. Do not wear shorts. Even in August. Even if it looks sunny. The wind off the ocean is freezing.
Shoes Matter More Than You Think
I saw a girl hiking Batteries to Bluffs in flip-flops last month. She cried. Her feet hurt. Wear closed-toe hiking shoes or running shoes. The Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco requires soft spikes if you play. But for hiking, any grippy shoe works.
Best Times to Visit (Season by Season)
Summer (June–August): Foggy. Cold. Crowded. But the fog looks dramatic in photos. Go early (7 AM) to avoid crowds.
Fall (September–October): Best weather. Sunny and 70 degrees. The Presidio San Francisco restaurants open their patios. Book golf tee times two weeks ahead.
Winter (November–February): Rainy but empty. You will have trails to yourself. The grass turns bright green. The Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco offers cheaper rates.
Spring (March–May): Wildflowers everywhere. Yellow, purple, and orange. Baby birds hatch at Crissy Field. Bring binoculars.
FAQs From Real Visitors
Q1: Is the Presidio safe at night?
A: Mostly yes. Main roads have lights. But trails are dark. Stay on Mason Street or Lincoln Boulevard after sunset. Do not walk Batteries to Bluffs at night. No railings. Steep cliffs. Not worth the risk.
Q2: Can you fish at the Presidio?
A: Yes, at Crissy Field and Torpedo Wharf. You need a California fishing license. You can catch surf perch and striped bass. No fishing from the bridge itself.
Q3: How long does the Presidio golf course in San Francisco take to play?
A: About 4 hours for 18 holes. 2 hours for 9 holes. Weekends are slower. Book an early tee time if you want to finish before the fog rolls in.
Q4: Are the Presidio San Francisco restaurants expensive?
A: Sessions are 20–20–40 per person. Colibri is 25–25–50. Sports Basement Cafe is 10–10–15. So no, not crazy for San Francisco. A hamburger at a normal diner in the city costs $18 anyway.
Q5: What is the weirdest thing in the Presidio?
A: The Presidio pet cemetery with the monkey grave. Or the abandoned bowling alley. Or the old Army prison near the golf course. Take your pick.
Final Thoughts: Go See It This Week
I have taken everyone I know to Presidio, San Francisco. My mom. My grumpy uncle. My friend who hates walking. Every single one loved it. It is not a museum. It is not a theme park. It is just a giant, wild, weird, beautiful piece of land that used to belong to soldiers. Now it belongs to you.
Do not just drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and honk. Stop. Park. Walk. Find the monkey grave. Eat a taco at Colibri. Hit a terrible slice into the trees at the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. You will remember that day for years.
