Directions and Parking

Public Transit

Within San Francisco

• Muni’s F Market streetcar stops in front of the Exploratorium at Embarcadero and Green Street.
• Muni’s E Embarcadero streetcar also stops in front of the Exploratorium (please note that it runs from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends only).
• Muni bus lines 2, 6, 14, 21, 31, and metro rail lines J, K, L, M, T, N stop within walking distance. Bus lines 1, 10, 12, 41, and 38 also stop in the vicinity.
• Embarcadero BART, Muni stations, and ferry terminals at the Ferry Building are all a 10- to 15-minute walk away.

From the East Bay

• The Embarcadero BART station is a 10- to 15-minute walk away.
• Numerous AC Transit lines terminate at the Transbay Temporary Terminal, a 20-minute walk away.
• The San Francisco Bay Ferry departs from Alameda Main Street, Harbor Bay, and Jack London Square in Oakland and arrives at the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk away.
• Tideline is a Port of San Francisco water transportation service offering loops, cruises, and private charters around the Bay.   

From the North Bay

• Golden Gate Transit bus lines 10, 70, 80, 101, and 101x terminate at the Transbay Temporary Terminal, a 20-minute walk away.
• Golden Gate Ferry offers ferry service from Larkspur and Sausalito and arrives at the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk away.
• Blue and Gold Fleet offers ferry service from Tiburon and Sausalito and arrives at the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk away.
• The San Francisco Bay Ferry provides service from Vallejo and arrives at the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk away.
• Tideline is a Port of San Francisco water transportation service offering loops, cruises, and private charters around the Bay.   

From the Peninsula and South Bay

• All BART lines stop at the Embarcadero Station, a 10- to 15-minute walk north along the Embarcadero to Pier 15.
• Take Caltrain to the San Francisco station at Fourth and King streets, then transfer to Muni Metro Lines N or T. Exit at Embarcadero station, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Exploratorium.
• SamTrans route 292 (weekday and weekend)  to the Temporary Transbay Terminal, a 20-minute walk away.
• The San Francisco Bay Ferry departs from the South San Francisco/Oyster Point ferry terminal (Wednesdays and Fridays only) and arrives at the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk away.

Parking

We’ve enhanced our parking resources! Now, you can:

• get validated rates from select nearby garages during certain hours

• save 20% off prepaid parking (limited time only)

• explore additional parking options nearby

Discounted, Validated* Parking

​* To get discounted rates, you must have your parking ticket validated by the Exploratorium at the Information Desk with proof of same-day ticket purchase. If you're a member, you can validate your ticket by showing a current membership card at the Information Desk.

Prepaid Parking: enjoy 20% off for a limited time

Save the trouble of looking for parking and purchase prepaid, reserved parking at nearby parking lots through Parking Panda, our online parking reservation partner.

Other Nearby Parking

Please Note: 
Lots are not owned or operated by the Exploratorium. All parking is subject to availability.

Metered Parking
Metered parking is available along the Embarcadero and on side streets.

Donors receive special parking privileges.

Loading Zone

There is a white-curbed loading zone on the Embarcadero just south of the museum where you can drop people off or pick them up.

Biking

There are ample public bike racks on site as well as Public Bike Work Stations for a quick fix on the South apron of Pier 15 and in front of Pier 17.

San Francisco Bike Map (pdf)