Presidio Visitor Center
This is your starting point for national park adventures.
Located on the Main Post next to Presidio Transit Center and Presidio Tunnel Tops, Presidio Visitor Center offers interactive exhibits, maps, and quality gifts, gear, and mementos. Oh, and restrooms are nearby!
Come plan your day with a park ranger, then hop on a trail or the free Presidio GO Shuttle to begin your adventure.
Daily Park Overview at the Visitor Center
Explore the Presidio and all there is to do in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Stop by the Presidio Visitor Center daily at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., or 3 p.m. for an informative overview of park resources and recreational possibilities.
Park Ranger Campfire Talks
Gather around the campfire and join National Park Service rangers for free talks at Presidio Tunnel Tops’ Campfire Circle near the Presidio Visitor daily at 4 p.m. Learn about the park and its history with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop.
Getting to the Presidio Visitor Center
210 Lincoln Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94129
Why We Love the Presidio Visitor Center
Presidio Visitor Center is welcoming to all. With maps in English, Spanish, and Chinese, and friendly staff to answer questions, it’s a great place to learn about this beautiful national park site.
Accessibility at Presidio Visitor Center
Parking for those with mobility limitations is across Lincoln Boulevard. There is ramp access to the Visitor Center. Exhibits in the Visitor Center and at Presidio Plaza (northeast of the Visitor Center) allow full access to guests in wheelchairs. For guests with vision limitations, there’s an audio tour of the Visitor Center as well as Braille and large print brochures.
Insider Tip
If you got caught off guard by the fog, you can pick up a sweatshirt as well as other supplies for exploring the park, like reusable water bottles and snack bars. And this is a great place to buy gifts for the park lovers in your life, from books to toys to handmade jewelry. Members of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy get a discount.
Gateway to the Presidio
Presidio Visitor Center is nestled between Presidio Transit Center and the Main Parade Lawn, overlooking Presidio Tunnel Tops and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Start Here
Presidio Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A large 3D model of the Presidio, surrounded by interactive touch screens, reveals the “must see” destinations, while the wall-sized digital display offers videos and weather updates. Back room exhibits describe the Presidio’s four major areas. A huge interactive digital table invites you to make connections among the people, places, and events that have shaped the Presidio.
Ask a Ranger
Friendly rangers, staff, and volunteers offer insider tips, whether you’re looking for the best hikes in San Francisco or the quickest path to Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line.
Forget Something?
The curated selection of supplies, souvenirs, and snacks can help fill in the gaps and make up for any packing snafus. You can feel good about your purchase – with all proceeds going back to the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Presidio Visitor Center is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The restrooms are located right next door inside Presidio Transit Center.
The center sells packaged snacks only. If you want a meal, try the Presidio Pop Up food trucks and carts nearby.
Nature Notes
It’s our goal to make sure people can enjoy the Presidio’s natural beauty for generations to come. We work to protect native plants and animals while reducing our impact on the environment.
Presidio Time Machine
The south gallery in Presidio Visitor Center features video screens that show what sites in the Presidio looked like before and after habitat restoration. You can also experience this “time machine” virtually online.
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Experience the Presidio
The Presidio is San Francisco’s national park site, with endless trails, fun events, and unforgettable vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.
