**IMPORTANT NOTE: Route and parking directions have changed in response to work on the Doyle Drive/Presidio Parkway construction project. See below for details.**

**Buses traveling to the Exploratorium must use the approved routes outlined below. Please note that there are may be differences between the route information for yellow school buses and tour buses. Please take a moment to make sure you have the correct set of directions.**

Directions to the Exploratorium for Yellow School Buses

Download a pdf of these yellow school bus directions.

Click here for detailed arrival and departure information for FIELD TRIPS arriving by yellow school bus. These instructions are for educational institutions participating in the Exploratorium Field Trip Program, which operates weekday mornings between October and June.

Click here for detailed arrival and departure information for GROUPS arriving by yellow school bus. These instructions are for groups who are not participating in the Exploratorium Field Trip Program. The Group Program operates year round, on weekday afternoons and weekends.

From the South:

If you are traveling from the south (most likely via 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Avenue), follow the signs for the Highway 101 Detour. Then:
1. Right on Geary Boulevard
2. Left on Van Ness Boulevard
3. Left on Lombard Street
4. Right on Lyon Street
5. Left on Palace Drive (at the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
6. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

From the East:

If you are traveling from the east (from the Bay Bridge), make your way onto Van Ness Avenue, heading north. Then:
1. Left on Lombard Street
2. Right on Lyon Street
3. Left on Palace Drive (at the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
4. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

From the North:

If you are traveling from the north (over the Golden Gate Bridge), stay to the LEFT and follow Doyle Drive to the Marina exit. Then:
1. Continue straight on Marina Boulevard, passing the Lyon Street entrance to the Exploratorium
2. Right on Baker Street (the first right after the stoplight at Marina Boulevard/Lyon Street)
3. Right on Bay Street
4. Proceed straight onto Palace Drive (past the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
5. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

Directions to the Exploratorium for Charter/Tour Buses

Download a pdf of these charter/tour bus directions.

Click here for detailed arrival and departure information for FIELD TRIPS arriving by charter/tour bus. These instructions are for educational institutions participating in the Exploratorium Field Trip Program, which operates weekday mornings between October and June.

Click here for detailed arrival and departure information for GROUPS arriving by charter/tour bus. These instructions are for groups who are not participating in the Exploratorium Field Trip Program. The Group Program operates year round, on weekday afternoons and weekends.

From the South:

If you are traveling from the south (most likely via 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Avenue), follow the signs for the Highway 101 Detour. Then:
1. Right on Geary Boulevard
2. Left on Van Ness Boulevard
3. Left on Lombard Street
4. Lombard Street becomes Richardson Avenue as the street veers right just beyond Broderick Street.
5. Right on Lyon Street
6. Left on Palace Drive (at the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
7. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

From the East:

If you are traveling from the east (from the Bay Bridge) make your way onto Van Ness heading north. Then:
1. Left on Lombard Street
2. Lombard Street becomes Richardson Avenue as the street veers right just beyond Broderick Street
3. Right on Lyon Street
4. Left on Palace Drive (at the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
5. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

From the North:

If you are traveling from the north (over the Golden Gate Bridge), follow Doyle Drive to the Lombard/Downtown exit (you will be bearing right). DO NOT TAKE THE MARINA EXIT: Tour buses are prohibited from traveling on most neighborhood streets. You will be on Richardson Avenue, which turns into Lombard. Continue on Lombard. Then:
1. Right on Steiner Street
2. Right on Greenwich Street
3. Right on Pierce Street
4. Left on Lombard, heading back toward the Golden Gate Bridge
5. Right on Lyon Street
6. Left on Palace Drive (at the intersection of Lyon and Bay Streets)
7. Continue down Palace Drive. You will be greeted by an Exploratorium staff member and directed into the staging area to offload your group alongside the Palace of Fine Arts. Once all passengers have left the bus, the driver will be given parking instructions.

School Field Trips