Getting Here

Public Transit

Some transit services have been temporarily suspended or the hours and/or frequency of operations have changed. Please check with the transportation providers’ websites for current information.

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 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 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.

From the Sacramento Area

• Take the Capitol Corridor train to Richmond. Transfer to BART toward San Francisco, and get off at the Embarcadero station, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Exploratorium.
• Take the Capitol Corridor train with bus connection to San Francisco. Disembark the train in Emeryville, and take the connecting bus to the Financial District/Hyatt stop, at the corner of California and Drumm streets, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Exploratorium.
• Take the Capitol Corridor train to Oakland's Jack London Square. Take a 10-minute walk through Jack London Square to the San Francisco Bay Ferry. Ride the ferry across the Bay to the Ferry Building, a 10-minute walk from the Exploratorium.

Parking

There are numerous parking garages and lots near our Pier 15 campus. The museum partners with SP+ to offer a discount using the code 4302100 at these lots: Exploratorium Pier 15 Parking Lot and Pier 19½ Parking Lot.

Please Note:
Lots are not owned or operated by the Exploratorium. All parking is subject to availability. Please check hours of operation and rates directly with the lots.

You can purchase discounted parking at both lots in one of two ways:

1. Give the discount code 4302100 to the parking attendant.
2. Pay at a ticket kiosk in the parking lot. Enter the discount code 4302100 at the kiosk.

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

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.

Thank You
The Exploratorium is grateful to SP+ for offering special parking discounts to museum guests.

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