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Interior of the Presidio Visitor Center, with people viewing a large Presidio model. Photo by Matthew Millman.

Presidio Visitor Center

This is your starting point for national park adventures.

Region

Main Post Region

Type

Retail & Services, Museum

Interests

History, Nature & Sustainability, Kids & Family

Top Amenities

Accessible Parking, Paid Parking, Bike Parking, Muni Bus-accessible, Shuttle-accessible

Open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Presidio Visitor Center is your starting point for exploring this incredible national park site.

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.  

Group of visitors listening to the daily park overview in the Visitor Center

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.  

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Getting to the Presidio Visitor Center

210 Lincoln Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94129

Map of the Presidio

By Public Transit

Muni Route: 43

Stop: Presidio Transit Center

By Presidio GO Shuttle

Route: Downtown & South Hills

Stop: Presidio Transit Center

Parking

Paid Presidio parking is available in a large lot just across Lincoln Boulevard on Anza Avenue.

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. 

A young boy looking at exhibits at Presidio Visitor Center.

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.

Presidio Visitor Center exterior, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

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.

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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.

Two women looking at a large map of the Presidio. Photo by Charity Vargas.

Park Itineraries

Need help planning your day at the Presidio? We’ve put together some itinerary ideas for things to see and do in the park. Whether you’re planning to spend a few hours or an entire day, there’s something for everyone at the Presidio.