Where is Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California?

Written by | Updated On: December 03, 2025, 14:30 ET

Golden Gate Park is located in San Francisco, California, USA. It lies between the Richmond and Sunset districts, situated in the western part of San Francisco city, and is famous for its gardens, museums, and wide green spaces.

Golden Gate Park Location Map, San Francisco, California

Top Attractions Inside Golden Gate Park

  • de Young Museum – Art museum showcasing American, contemporary, and international works.
  • California Academy of Sciences – Interactive science museum with aquarium, planetarium, and natural history exhibits.
  • Japanese Tea Garden – Beautiful landscaped garden featuring koi ponds, bridges, and traditional architecture.
  • Conservatory of Flowers – Historic greenhouse with exotic plants and botanical displays.
  • Stow Lake & Boathouse – Scenic lake with paddle boats, walking trails, and waterfalls.
  • Bison Paddock – Small herd of American bison in a grassy enclosure.
  • Botanical Gardens – Extensive plant collections showcasing native and exotic species.

Golden Gate Park Facts

Official NameGolden Gate Park
LocationSan Francisco, California, USA
Latitude & Longitude (approx.)37.7691° N, 122.4802° W
Total Area1,017 acres (≈ 411 hectares)
Established / OpenedPark creation began 1870; officially opened April 4, 1870
Designed By / Early SuperintendentsSurveyor‑engineer William Hammond Hall (first superintendent) and horticulturist/park superintendent John McLaren; design influenced by Frederick Law Olmsted & pastoral / picturesque landscaping principles
Managed BySan Francisco Recreation & Parks Department (City of San Francisco)
Region / GeographyWestern San Francisco — between Richmond & Sunset districts, stretching east‑west from Stanyan Street to the Great Highway, bounded north by Fulton St. and south by Lincoln Way / The Great Highway
Park Dimensions (approx.)About 3–3.5 miles (≈ 5–5.6 km) long (east–west) and ~0.5 mile (≈ 0.8 km) wide (north–south)
Landscape & FeaturesForested areas, meadows, lakes/ponds, gardens, lawns, open spaces; includes roughly 680 forested acres, ~130 acres of meadows, and ~33 acres of water (lakes/ponds) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Famous For / Main AttractionsCultural & botanical sites (de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco Botanical Garden), historic windmills, open meadows, lakes/ponds, picnic & leisure spaces, sports/recreation fields & courts, walking & cycling paths, concerts & public events
Typical Activities & RecreationWalking, jogging, cycling, picnicking, gardening & botanical exploration, museum & cultural visits, concerts/festivals, boating (on ponds), sports, casual recreation, relaxing & nature‑escape within the city
Visitation / Popularity~24 million visitors annually (making it one of the most visited urban parks in the U.S.) :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Historic / Cultural StatusListed on the National Register of Historic Places (designated 2004) as a historic district for its landscape architecture significance :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Time ZonePacific Time (PT) — UTC−8 Standard / UTC−7 Daylight Saving
Official Websitehttps://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park/

Distances from Golden Gate Park to Nearby Landmarks

  • de Young Museum – 0.5 km (0.3 mi)
  • California Academy of Sciences – 0.7 km (0.4 mi)
  • Conservatory of Flowers – 1.2 km (0.7 mi)
  • Japanese Tea Garden – 0.8 km (0.5 mi)
  • San Francisco Botanical Garden – 0.6 km (0.4 mi)
  • Stow Lake – 1.0 km (0.6 mi)
  • Shakespeare Garden – 0.9 km (0.6 mi)
  • Music Concourse – 0.5 km (0.3 mi)
  • Ocean Beach – 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
  • Haight-Ashbury District – 2.8 km (1.7 mi)
  • Alamo Square Park – 4.5 km (2.8 mi)
  • Palace of Fine Arts – 7.5 km (4.7 mi)
  • Golden Gate Bridge – 8 km (5 mi)
  • Fisherman’s Wharf – 8.5 km (5.3 mi)
  • Union Square – 7 km (4.3 mi)
  • San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) – 6.5 km (4 mi)
  • Cable Car Turnaround (Powell & Market) – 6.8 km (4.2 mi)
  • AT&T Park (Chase Center) – 8 km (5 mi)
  • Crissy Field – 8 km (5 mi)
  • Presidio of San Francisco – 7.5 km (4.7 mi)