This article is part of I Love San Francisco, a feature series of essays that highlight what makes San Francisco iconic and irreplaceable.
Golden Gate Park is basically San Francisco’s backyard — except this backyard has windmills, roller discos, and no annoying neighbors. I love that you can bike from end to end without dodging Teslas and delivery robots.
With so much ground to cover, choosing the right route makes all the difference. I’ve spent countless rides figuring out the best ways to see it all without missing a beat. So hop on your bike and let’s ride — I’ll show you the best paths to take.
I’ve road-tested plenty of routes, but two always deliver. JFK Way and the Overlook Way both stretch across the park at seven miles round trip, offering an effortless coast west to the ocean and a gentle but steady climb back east. It’s just the right balance — easy enough to enjoy, challenging enough to feel like a ride.
Start your ride
Enter the park at Stanyan and Haight Street and head right toward JFK Drive. If you need a little help getting going, grab coffee and a pastry at the nearby Flywheel Coffee Kiosk.
Once you cross Kezar Drive, take a deep breath and let the city noise fade away — you’re officially on the JFK Promenade, a glorious 1.5-mile car-free stretch that’s been blissfully vehicle-free since 2020. This is where Golden Gate Park lets loose: giant art installations, funky road murals, outdoor musical instruments, and a rotating lineup of lawn games. No wonder San Franciscans voted in 2022 to keep this road permanently closed to cars — it’s too much fun to give back.
Cruising along the promenade, you will pass gardens, meadows, a waterfall, and other noteworthy sites. The Conservatory of Flowers, dating to 1878, is an architectural statement and the oldest working conservatory in North America.
It houses rare flora from around the world. Skatin’ Place — near JFK Drive and 6th Avenue — is an open-air roller disco that skaters have flocked to since the late 1970s.
A small detour into the Music Concourse will bring you to the California Academy of Sciences or the de Young Museum. From May to October, you’ll find The Whale’s Tail, an outdoor bar with live music, food trucks, and comfortable seating. Take notes, Central Park.
Transverse Drive marks the end of the JFK Promenade — and the start of a choice. Want maximum sightseeing? Keep rolling onto JFK Drive. Yes, you’ll have to share the road with cars, but it’s worth it for the lineup of attractions: tranquil lakes, tiny model yachts, the park’s resident bison (yes, actual bison), and finally, the grand Dutch Windmill, standing guard at the edge of the Pacific. If you time it right, the tulip garden will be in full bloom, and you’ll feel like you accidentally biked into a postcard.
Prefer a quieter, more scenic ride?
Veer left onto Transverse Drive, then take a right onto Overlook Drive. The city disappears behind you as you cruise past redwood groves, cherry blossoms, and rolling heather fields. Eventually, Middle Drive feeds into Martin Luther King Drive, where the scent of salt in the air signals your approach to Ocean Beach. Either way, you’ve just experienced the best bike ride in San Francisco.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll end up on the park’s western edge near the Park Chalet. Built in 1925, the Chalet houses 1930s frescoes depicting life and leisure in SF and a kid- and dog-friendly restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
Call it exercise, call it sightseeing, call it procrastination — whatever gets you on your bike, Golden Gate Park is the place to be. Whether you’re in it for the exercise, the scenery, or the escape, this is SF biking at its finest.
Laura Stein is a San Francisco-based writer.
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