Golden Gate Bridge

The total Golden Gate Bridge length makes it a true wonder of engineering. The Golden Gate Bridge measures 8,981 ft in total length, which equates to 1.7 miles (or 2.7 kilometers).

At its tallest point, the bridge is 746 feet (228 meters) high. The bridge roadway is suspended 220 feet (67 meters) above the waters below.

The Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County. It spans the Golden Gate Strait, a narrow channel of water that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The bridge connects to San Francisco at the bridge’s south end in the Presidio, where most visitor services are located.

The Golden Gate Bridge connects the San Francisco Peninsula to the Marin Headlands.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge. When completed in 1937 it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.

Before you get started, it’s a good idea to know how long the Golden Gate Bridge walk is from end to end. The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long, so it takes about 35 minutes on average to walk its entire length. Keep in mind that if you want to walk the full length of the bridge and then walk back to your starting point, that’s a distance of 3.5 miles and roughly 70 minutes of walking.

Bicycling is permitted across the bridge. View the Golden Gate Bridge District’s website to learn about the hours the east and west sidewalks are open to cyclists. Note that there are no bike rentals at the bridge. You can rent a bicycle in the Presidio at one of the Bay Wheels bike share stations or at Sports Basement at Crissy Field.

Construction began January 5, 1933, and ended on April 19, 1937. The bridge opened May 27, 1937.

The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was carried out by multiple prime contractors and subcontractors. Due to incomplete employment records, the names of many of the workers who built this iconic landmark remain unknown. To learn more about the people who built the Golden Gate Bridge, you can visit the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center or stop by the plaque on the south face of the south bridge tower that acknowledges the officers, past officers, directors, past directors, engineering staff, and contractors involved in the construction of the bridge.

The engineering design of the bridge was a collaboration between Joseph Strauss, Charles Ellis, and Leon Moisseiff. The architectural designer was Irving Morrow.

First, huge concrete piers were constructed in the bay at each end of the bridge. Then the towers were built, and the cables drawn between them. Finally, sections of roadway were lifted into position and connected to the Marin and San Francisco approach roads.

The bridge project cost more than $35 million at the time it was built ($523 million in 2019 dollars).

If you’re looking for Golden Gate Bridge views, here are some vistas to choose from.  

• For close-up views that show the full bridge span: Torpedo Wharf
• For a unique view from underneath the bridge: Fort Point National Historic Site 
• For a breathtaking sunset view: Baker Beach
• For a cozy indoor view: Round House Café
• For a view from the east side: Battery East Vista
• For a view from the west side: Golden Gate Overlook and the Pacific Overlook