How to get to Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
Pacific Tradewinds has the best location in the heart of San Francisco. Just step outside our door and you’re close to Chinatown, North Beach (Little Italy) and the California Street Cable Cars. In fact, you can frequently hear the familiar San Francisco sound of the cable car bell from the hostel. This section contains detailed directions on how to get to us by plane, train, bus or automobile. If there is a form of transportation we've forgotten, let us know!
Bear in mind that the airport is located 14 miles south of San Francisco, so once your flight arrives you'll still have the last little leg of your journey to complete. The San Francisco Airport is modern and easy to navigate, so you shouldn't have any problems getting where you need to be. It's served by a variety of forms of public transportation so it's up to you (and your budget!) how you'd like to get to the city - and to us! The easiest way is to take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) subway directly from the airport.
You can also hire a shared door to door shuttle service, or take the SamTrans bus. Please note that the SamTrans bus is the cheapest way to get to our hostel from the airport. Click on the links to your left to find further details about all the options available to you, and for directions to us once you get to San Francisco.
For your reference we have also scanned all the Ground Transportation Information provided by San Francisco International Airport.
The quickest way to get to us from the airport is to take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) directly from the airport. BART is a rapid transit system which connects San Francisco with the rest of the Bay Area, and a ticket from SFO to us will cost $9.65. Follow signs for BART. You may have to take an Airtrain to BART depending on which terminal you land in. Get on the BART train heading towards Antioch, Pittsburgh/Baypoint, Richmond, or Fremont, and get off at Montgomery Street Station in San Francisco. Once you come out of the subway, walk on Montgomery Street in the opposite direction of the one-way traffic. Walk 6 blocks to Sacramento Street and turn left. Look for the Henry Hunan Restaurant sign. Our blue security gate is just under that sign. Buzz the intercom, state your name, and we will buzz you up! We will be happy to assist you with luggage if you need help. It will take you around 35 minutes to get from SFO to the hostel on BART. BART runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. [ image here - view from Montg St]
A shared shuttle is a good option if you'd like something a little more direct than public transport but don't want to pay for a taxi (which will cost around $40-60). You can catch a shuttle from the upper level of the airport, outside any of the 4 terminals on the outer island. Vans run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; just tell the driver you want to go to 680 Sacramento Street. Costs vary from $15-25 (sometimes you can negotiate), and the trip takes about 30 minutes. We can also book a shuttle for you if you're heading for the airport when you check out - just ask at the front desk. Return shuttles booked with us are $15, one way.
There are a couple of buses you can take from the airport to get here – the SamTrans #292 or #397 will cost $2.25, and the KX express bus will cost $4.50 (no baggage allowed - but not all drivers enforce this rule). Catch the KX express from arrivals at the baggage claim level outside terminal 2, at the road way center island or at the curb adjacent to courtyard #4, terminal 3. At the international terminal, Sam Trans buses are located at courtyard A on level 1 and curbside adjacent to courtyard G. Get off the bus at Third and Mission Street. You can either take bus #15 ($3.00) or walk north (the same direction as traffic) on Third Street past Market Street, then continue north on Kearny Street to Sacramento Street. Turn right and we're on the left - look for the blue security gate. The trip should take about an hour, and buses run 6am-1am daily. As you can see, the BART is the more time-efficient option!
If you are coming to San Francisco, don't forget to check arrival options at the Oakland International Airport. In some ways, it's easier to get to San Francisco from the Oakland Airport than from the San Francisco Airport.
From Oakland International Airport, go to the Oakland Airport BART station located just across from the Terminal 1 baggage claim area and a short walk from Terminal 2. Take an 8 minute ride on the 'people mover' train to the Coliseum BART station. You can then take the Fremont to Daly City line towards Daly City. After 5 stops, get off at Montgomery Street. As you walk up to station level with Peet's Coffee & Tea straight ahead of you, take the exit to street level on your left. At the top of the stairs to the street, you'll need to turn right onto Montgomery Street which is right behind you (look for the big Wells Fargo). Walk north and turn left on Sacramento Street, and we're on the right at 680. The trip takes about 50 minutes and costs $10.95. BART runs from 5am to midnight.
The Amtrak train station is in Emeryville, which is located across the bay from San Francisco. Fortunately, when you buy an Amtrak ticket to San Francisco an Amtrak Thruway Bus will meet you at the train station to take you across the Bay Bridge and the rest of the way to San Francisco. Depending on which bus you are on, there are a couple of stations to choose from when you arrive in San Francisco. Most guests get off the Amtrak Thruway Bus at the San Francisco Ferry Terminal.
Amtrak Thruway Bus - credit: wikipedia
The Ferry Building is the building with the clock tower that's located near the Bay Bridge. (You frequently see this building in movies about San Francisco). If you choose to get off the bus here here's what you want to do to get to the hostel. Go outside and look across the street toward the tall buildings. Find the building that looks the tallest from that vantage point. That’s Embarcadero Building #4. Buildings #1, 2 and 3 look similar. Aim your walk to get to the left side of Embarcadero Building #4. Walk across the Embarcadero waterfront road to Justin Herman Plaza. There is a narrow promenade with eating places to the left of the Embarcadero Building. Sacramento Street starts just after the promenade. Walk on Sacramento Street six blocks until you get to building number 680 on the right. On some Amtrak Thruway Bus services, you can also get off a stop earlier, at California and Drumm. This will make your walk to the hostel slightly shorter. Walk West along California (follow the cable car tracks) until you get to Montgomery Street (5 blocks), then turn right and walk North on Montgomery Street for one block and turn left onto Sacramento Street. We're on the right hand side, at 680. Look for our blue security gate.
The main Greyhound terminal is at 200 Folsom St, not far from the hostel. Head south-west on Folsom and turn right onto Beale Street. Follow Beale all the way up until you hit Pine, when Beale turns into Davis St. If you follow Davis up, you'll turn left onto Sacramento after a couple of blocks. We're four blocks along, on the right hand side - you'll see our blue security gate.
If you have a lot of luggage or just feel too tired to walk, you can catch the bus. Head up Folsom and turn right onto Main Street. A couple of blocks up, at Main and Howard, you can catch the 41. Get off at Sansome and Sacramento. We're two blocks up Sacramento, building number 680.
Walking from the CalTrain station takes about 30 minutes, if you are up for it. To do this, exit the CalTrain station and turn left to Townsend Street and then turn right. Walk one block East to 3rd Street and turn left. Continue walking on 3rd Street. At Market Street, the street you are walking on will change to Kearny Street. Continue walking on Kearny Street 6 blocks to Sacramento Street. Turn right on Sacramento Street. Our building is on the left. Look carefully for building number 680.
If you would like to take public transportation from the CalTrain station, exit the CalTrain station and turned left to Townsend Street and then turn right (as above). Walk one block East to 3rd Street. Cross over 3rd Street to get to the bus stop. Take bus number 30. The bus will travel along 3rd street in the same way you would walk. However, at Sutter Street it will turn left and then right again on Stockton Street. (If you want, you can get off at Sutter and Kearny and continue walking on Kearny Street to Sacramento Street. Turn right on Sacramento Street. Our building is on the left. Look carefully for building number 680. Otherwise, continue on the bus to Stockton and Sacramento Street and then walk downhill on Sacramento Street to 680 Sacramento Street on the Left.
We'd recommend leaving your car behind, as it's very difficult to park here in the city. However, if you're really set on coming by car, you'll find the directions here. And if you need help parking, we can direct you to some parking garages nearby - though most of these will cost you!
On 80 West After crossing Bay Bridge, exit at Fremont Street. Continue on Fremont North of Market Street. At Market, Fremont turns into Front St. Continue a few blocks. Turn left on Sacramento Street. Continue a few more blocks, crossing Montgomery to 680 Sacramento Street.
Coming from Interstate 101 Cross the Golden Gate Bridge (Toll $5). Stay on 101 South until you see sign for Marina Blvd. Exit at Marina Blvd and continue for several miles until you see Safeway. Store Road curves to right and then intersects with Bay St. Turn left on Bay Street and continue until Columbus Ave. Turn right on Columbus, which turns into Montgomery at the Transamerica Pyramid. Turn right on Sacramento Street.
On 101 or 280 Take Exit 280 at 101 North. Continue on 101 North until it branches into 101 North and 80 East - take 80 East. Exit at Fourth Street. Continue on Bryant until Third Street. Turn left on Third Street. At Market Street, Third Street turns into Kearny. Turn right on Clay, then right on Montgomery, and finally, right on Sacramento St.
Welcome to San Francisco....small, compact and surrounded by water on three sides. As a result, it's not an easy place to have a car. San Francisco traffic statistics estimate that there are about 750,000 vehicles registered in San Francisco and it has only 550,000 legal parking places. As a result, it's VERY difficult for a tourist to find parking in San Francisco. Looking for a hostel with parking in San Francisco. Good luck. In fact, in most neighborhoods you will need a sticker to park more than about 2 hours. Your best bet is to not have a car in San Francisco. It's expensive and frustrating to find parking and many tourists get towed each day. Don't say we didn't warn you. If you insist on bringing your car to the city, we have provided the following information.
There are two parking garages each one block away. One is Portsmouth Garage, across from the Hilton and under the park (Kearny & Clay St). One is St. Mary’s garage, one block south (Kearny & California). Both are around $28/24 hours, but can vary in price. No in/out privileges.
Generally free 7pm-7am w/ street cleaning restrictions. Weekends free; opposite side metered Sat 7am-6pm
Our side: Times free excluding street cleaning Mon/Wed/Fri 2am-6am (no parking)
Mon. 7pm-7am; Tues. 7pm-2am; Wed. 7pm-7am; Thurs. 7pm-2am; Fri. 7pm- Mon. 2am
Opposite Side: Times free excluding street cleaning Tues/Thurs 2am-6am (no parking) Mon. 7pm-2am; Tues. 7pm-7am; Wed. 7pm-2am; Thurs. 7pm-7am; Fri. 7pm-7am; Sat. 6pm- Mon 7am
San Francisco residents have stickers on their cars that indicate that they are a resident of the neighborhood and therefore are allowed to park there. All other cars can only park for a maximum of 2 hours (usually).
However, there are a handful of streets that do not have this resident restriction. We call these secret parking in San Francisco. These streets do have street cleaning restrictions, so be sure to move your car by the posted time. Two general areas we know of:
Laurel Heights From the front of the building, drive to the corner and turn Right on Kearny Street, then Right on Clay Street and then Right on Montgomery Street. Go three blocks and turn right on Pine Street. Four blocks after you pass Divisadero Street, the road will curve left and turn into Masonic Street. This is the start of the secret spots. You can either continue left on to Masonic and look for spots in that area, or make an immediate right turn onto Euclid Street and look around there. You can look for parking on Euclid and the following streets that intersect with Euclid Street: Masonic Street, Lupine Street, Wood Street (access from Lupine), Collins Street, Heather Street. Anza is also a good street; take Masonic south of Geary and turn right. From there you can take the #1 bus at California & Presidio St straight back to the hostel (off at Clay & Kearny).
Haight Ashbury There are a few ways to get to this area depending on where you are coming from. The same Masonic Ave. described above will continue south straight to this parking area. You can look look for parking all over both along the Panhandle, north and south of Haight St. (Haight St. itself is almost all metered), and along Buena Vista Park. From there you can take numerous busses back to the hostel. All will run along market and stop at Kearny St (next to the Montgomery Bart station). Options include the #6, 71, N (catch on Haight St) or the 21 (Hayes St).
Reminders to not get ticketed or towed (just guidelines; you are responsible for all laws & rules):
Read all posted signs, meters, and curb paintings. Move your car by the street sweeping times posted.
Meters run every day but Sunday in the areas listed above.
‘Curb your wheels’ when on a hill (on a 2-way street: facing downhill, turn them to the right; uphill, to the left.)
If parking in between driveways, make sure there is at least 6in (15cm) of space in front/behind your car.
Be 18 in (45cm) or less from the curb. Do not cover any part of a crosswalk.
Legally the longest a car can sit in one spot is 72 hours. This is rarely enforced, but now you know.
LAUREL HEIGHTS PARKING
HAIGHT ASHBURY PARKING
