Outside Lands 2025: From Parking and Road Closures to Will Call, Food and Bag Rules

One of San Francisco’s biggest music festivals, Outside Lands, is coming to Golden Gate Park next weekend with a 2025 lineup that includes Tyler, The Creator; Hozier; Doja Cat; Vampire Weekend and Doechii.

But if you nabbed tickets to the three-day festival that starts Friday, Aug. 8 and lasts through Sunday, Aug. 10, you might have questions about parking, public transit, the bag policy and more. After all, Outside Lands is a huge, sprawling event that takes over a large part of Golden Gate Park and impacts a lot of the surrounding areas of the Richmond and Sunset districts in San Francisco.

So keep reading for our guide to this year’s Outside Lands festival with everything you need to know, from what to bring to Outside Lands, the weather in Golden Gate Park, how to buy tickets and how will call works, maps of the festival, road closures and more.

Jump straight to:

• Can I still buy tickets for Outside Lands?
• Where is the Outside Lands will call or box office to pick up my wristband?
• Can I bring my own food to Outside Lands?
• Where can I find parking for Outside Lands?
• What are the Outside Lands road closures, and where can I get dropped off?
• Can I take off my wristband or leave Outside Lands to reenter?
• What’s the best way to get to Golden Gate Park using public transit?
• What are the bag rules at Outside Lands?

Can I still get tickets for Outside Lands 2025?

As of publication, single-day tickets and three-day tickets are still available for Outside Lands.

In previous years, tickets have frequently sold out a few days before the festival.

What’s the Outside Lands 2025 schedule, and when does the festival start?

The Outside Lands’ gates open at 11 a.m., and the music lineup begins at 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11. Music ends at 10 p.m.

Take a look at the Outside Lands lineup and full schedule for each day to see when each act is playing.

(In this reporter’s opinion, there are some especially tricky conflicts this year. For example, on Saturday, Tyler, The Creator and Vampire Weekend play at the same time. Truly a struggle for those who were pretentious in middle school.)

Where is the will call to pick up my wristband for Outside Lands?

Your wristband is your ticket, and most people get their wristband in the mail.

But if you bought your tickets after July 28, you’ll have to pick up your wristband at will call in Golden Gate Park during the week of the festival or when you first arrive at Outside Lands.

The box offices date, locations and times are:

• Saturday, August 2: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium — Larkin Hall from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, August 3: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium — Larkin Hall from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 6: Golden Gate Park — Marx Meadow from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, August 7: Golden Gate Park — Marx Meadow from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday, August 8: Golden Gate Park — Marx Meadow from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, August 9: Golden Gate Park — Marx Meadow from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, August 10: Golden Gate Park — Marx Meadow from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What if you purchased your Outside Lands tickets before July 28 but haven’t received your wristbands yet? Festival organizers say if you didn’t receive a tracking number by the week of Outside Lands, you should submit a request with Front Gate Tickets as soon as possible.

Getting to Outside Lands by car: Where are the road closures?

Outside Lands organizers (and KQED reporters) recommend ticket holders don’t drive to the festival — and when you read our information about road closures and the parking situation, you may understand why.

Road closures for Outside Lands

The most updated information can be found on Outside Lands’ 311 page.

These are the entrances closed on the north side of Golden Gate Park, according to the park’s official website:

• Transverse Drive at Crossover Drive
• JFK Drive at Transverse Drive
• 30th Avenue
• 36th Avenue
• 43rd Avenue (Chain of Lakes)
• 47th Avenue
• The Great Hwy at JFK Drive

These are the entrances closed on the south side of the park:

• Martin Luther King Jr Drive at Crossover Drive
• 25th Avenue
• Sunset Boulevard @ Irving Street
• 41st Avenue (Chain of Lakes)
• Martin Luther King Jr Drive at Lincoln Avenue

Here’s a map of the road closures near the park…

…and detours for bikes and cars:

If you have any questions about road closures or restrictions, you can call 415-965-8001 or email community@sfoutsidelands.com or community@anotherplanetent.com.

Where can I get picked up or dropped off at Outside Lands?

If you’re looking for a good pickup or drop-off point — either for yourself or because you’re someone else’s ride — Outside Lands recommends “several blocks north or south of the park” — particularly advising that you try Geary Boulevard or Balboa Street to the north or Irving Street to the south.

Advice for using rideshares and taxis

If you use rideshare apps like Lyft or Uber, the official Outside Lands pickup and drop-off locations are Balboa & 30th Avenue or Irving Street between 25th and 27th avenues.

Be aware that these apps will impose dynamic pricing for an event like Outside Lands, which will make even a short ride much more expensive than usual.

If you are using a taxi to get to or from Outside Lands any time from Friday at 9 a.m. to Monday at 2 a.m., there are taxi stands:

• Fulton Street between 24th and 25th avenues
• Fulton Street between 28th and 29th avenues
• Irving Street between 26th and 27th avenues
• Larkin Street between Hayes and Grove streets (Taxi Shuttle service to festival)

Are there no-go areas for pickup and drop-off for Outside Lands?

According to SFMTA, these areas are strictly forbidden to pick someone up or drop someone off:

• Lincoln Way, between 25th and 41st avenues.
• Fulton, between 26th and 37th avenues.
• 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th and 37th avenues, between Fulton and Cabrillo.
• All streets in Golden Gate Park, including Crossover from Friday at 11 a.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m:

Where can I find parking for Outside Lands?

Let’s get this out of the way: There is no “official” general parking for Outside Lands. (Jump straight to more information on accessible parking below.)

Remember, if you’re choosing to try to park near Outside Lands, break-ins are common in San Francisco — so leave nothing visible in your vehicle, and if at all possible, leave your trunk exposed to show it’s empty. Never leave any electronics like laptops in your vehicle, even if you think they’re hidden. Read our full guide to reducing your chances of suffering a car break-in in San Francisco (and if you’re unlucky enough to have your car broken into, our guide to how to claim the costs of window repair and stolen items from your insurance.)

• Tell us: What else would you like to read a guide about?

Can I pay to use a resident’s parking spot?

Some schools near Golden Gate Park sell their parking during Outside Lands to fundraise money, such as Argonne Elementary School (which does not take reservations.)

Residents around Golden Gate Park may also sell their parking spaces to festival visitors. You can find these on Reddit, Facebook or even by trolling through the Sunset District in person and seeing who has signed up. If you choose to go this route to find parking, stay extra vigilant for scams, and make sure you’re always sending money to the right person.

What about blocking a driveway, even if it’s mine?

According to the SFMTA, the San Francisco Transportation Code allows residents to park in the street and block their own driveway “provided the driveway does not serve more than two tenants.”  Vehicles may also never be parked on the sidewalk.

During Outside Lands, the SFMTA will enforce blocked driveways “on a complaint basis only,” SFMTA says. Of course, that’s not giving you free rein to block a person’s driveway — they’ll almost certainly make that complaint and have you towed if they don’t recognize your car.

If you live near Golden Gate Park, you can check Outside Lands’ Neighborhood 311 advisory page for local residents for any updates.

How to get to Outside Lands using public transit

Getting to Outside Lands using SF Muni

SF Muni has a useful map of your options for transportation routes to Outside Lands (PNG), and the agency has its own guide on getting to Golden Gate Park on Muni.

Muni will provide extra service on the N Judah and 5R Fulton Rapid. However, remember: The extra service on 5R will not serve the entire route.

Each night of the festival, there will be a Muni 5X Fulton Express service from Golden Gate Park to Civic Center BART Station.

Bookmark the SFMTA website for a comprehensive list of extra stops provided by Muni for the weekend of Outside Lands.

Other public transit advisories, as noted on SFMTA’s website:

• The 7 Haight/Noriega, 28 19th Avenue, 29 Sunset and 44 O’Shaughnessy serve areas of Golden Gate Park and may be subject to crowds.
• The 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid routes, which are four blocks north of the Fulton/30th entrance to Golden Gate Park, may also be considered as alternative options to and from the event.

Remember: after performances end, lines for these buses get long fast, so the sooner you arrive to try for a seat, the better.

You can plan your Muni trip on 511.org and check Muni’s arrival information on Next Bus.

Using the official Outside Lands shuttle

You can hop a ride on the Outside Lands’ shuttle.

One shuttle is from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (near the Civic Center BART station) and the other is from the Cow Palace in Daly City (which offers free parking.)

These “coach-style buses” are pre-paid and cost from $33 to $50 for a one-day pass (with a service fee.)

The service will begin running each day at 11 a.m. and run “continuously all day with limited coverage” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the last shuttle to the festival leaving at 8 p.m.

As for getting back, return shuttles run until one hour after the music ends each night, festival organizers say.

Outside Lands officials strongly recommend taking BART to Civic Center to pick up the official shuttle, but if you do drive, paid parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Garage adjacent to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for a fee (entrance at McAllister Street between Polk Street and Larkin Street.)

Getting to Outside Lands on BART

The nearest BART station to Golden Gate Park is Civic Center. From there, you can travel onward to Outside Lands using SF Muni or use the official paid Outside Lands shuttle, which departs from the nearby Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

BART service will run until “around midnight” on all three days, the Outside Lands official guidance says.

Parking at BART stations with BART-run parking lots is free after 3 p.m. on Friday and free all day on Saturday and Sunday (except for the Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations, which still charge on weekends).

You can use the BART Trip Planner to hash out the details.

Getting to Outside Lands by bike

You can park your bikes at the festival, with parking available at the eastern and southern parts of the festival site. See a map of bike route closures and detours for Outside Lands.

Bay Wheels, run by rideshare app Lyft, is available at the festival on JFK Drive, just east of Transverse Drive, to park your bike or get a bike home. Use this website to find Bay Wheels near you.

Make a plan for getting home each night (and know your last transit option)

Music ends at 10 p.m. on all days.

Phil Ginsburg, general manager of San Francisco Parks and Recreation, told KQED in 2023 that exit routes are “very well marked and the strategies for both entering and leaving the festival are pretty well established at this point and we’ll have tons of security and there’s a lot of lightning in the area to keep people safe as they exit the festival.”

Use BART’s Trip Planner and SFMTA’s Trip Planner to check what time the last service of the day is.

If you’re hoping to get a rideshare like Uber or Lyft home from Outside Lands, remember those recommended pickup locations around Golden Gate Park — and that dynamic surge pricing for these services will almost certainly mean that ordering an Uber or Lyft home will be pretty pricey. (If you’re determined, you may wish to consider pre-organizing a crew to share the ride and split the cost.)

Can I take off my wristband or leave Outside Lands to reenter?

No, keep your wristband on your wrist if you’re attending multiple days of Outside Lands. (It’s waterproof, so you can shower with it.)

Ticketholders all get a wristband — and festival organizers want you to “treat it like cash.” In other words, the festival won’t replace your wristband if it gets lost or stolen. Do not cut it or twist your wristband because it can fray, and the festival will not replace it in those cases, either.

Same-day reentry is not allowed. But if you have to leave the festival, festival organizers ask that you speak with a supervising staff member at an exit before leaving to work out the details.

What to know about accessibility at Outside Lands

There is a designated ADA Entrance at 36th Avenue & JFK. This is where the Access Center is, and you can request a golf cart inside or get a collar for your service animal. Accessible pickup and drop-off is at 36th and Fulton. If you are taking a rideshare, let your driver know to tell the parking staff that you need access to the ADA parking, which is also at the 36th and Fulton entrance.

There is limited ADA parking available, and it is first come, first served. You can access this parking by entering 36th Avenue and Fulton and talking to the gate agents. It is worth noting that some of the ADA parking is on roads with uneven terrain, with a walk to the ADA gate. Notify the parking staff so they can request a shuttle for you to the gate.

There is a lot of demand for shuttles, so Outside Lands is limiting “capacity to our disabled patrons plus one companion. Because of the ‘limited number’ of shuttles, Outside Lands organizers advise disabled festival goers to “please expect a wait, and plan your requests accordingly.”

Outside Lands provides elevated platforms at the following stages: Sutro, Twin Peaks and Lands End stages. There are “banquet style” folding chairs available at all of the platforms.

ADA restrooms are next to all of the accessible viewing platforms. Restrooms at Outside Lands also have accessible options at the ends.

Festival organizers recommend that you email access@sfoutsidelands.com ahead of time with any accessibility questions or requests.

Do I need to bring a jacket to Outside Lands?

Yes, it’s August. But it’s Golden Gate Park. Sorry, you still need to bring a jacket!

You can keep an eye on the National Weather Service’s forecast for San Francisco as the festival draws closer. Golden Gate Park is near the ocean, and it gets cold even when other parts of San Francisco are toasty. Forgetting layers for a day in the park is a classic mistake to make.

Also, another outfit suggestion from experienced KQED reporters: Comfortable shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.

You can also consider buying earplugs that allow for sounds to get through for around $30, to protect your hearing.

What can I bring to Outside Lands?

Some items you can bring to Outside Lands 

• Clear backpacks and bags.
• Non-clear small bags, fanny packs and purses up to 6” x 8” x 3”.
• Empty dedicated hydration packs with a capacity under 2.5L/150 inches and just one pocket (standard-size backpacks with hydration bladders will not be allowed into the festival).

Ticketholders are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and refill it at one of the water stations around the festival.

You can reserve a locker on the festival grounds in advance, but be sure to do so as soon as possible, as these reservations can sell out quickly.

Some items you can’t bring to Outside Lands

• Glow-sticks, laser pointers (however glow bracelets and necklaces are allowed).
• Weapons, fireworks (including pocket knives).
• Alcohol.
• Pets (apart from service dogs).
• Glass or cans.
• Video or audio recording equipment (including drones, GoPros and selfie sticks).
• Professional still camera equipment with “a detachable lens longer than 2 inches, tripods, big zooms or commercial use rigs.”
• Skateboards, scooters or bikes.
• Strollers, wagons or carts.
• Hammocks, umbrellas, picnic baskets, coolers, liquids (excluding personal-sized hand sanitizers).
• Chairs with legs or tents.
• Picnic blankets.

See the full list of items allowed or prohibited at Outside Lands.

Can I bring my own food into Outside Lands, and what food is available there?

The Outside Lands FAQ and venue information states that bringing your own alcohol into the festival is prohibited, but does not explicitly ban bringing your own food. Just remember: the Outside Lands bag policy prohibits common kinds of non-clear backpacks and coolers.

You can see the Outside Lands food vendor list ahead of time, with vegan options marked. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are served as well.

Or, as KQED Arts reported back in 2014, another option apparently favored by some locals is to “bury bottles of liquor in Golden Gate Park a week before the festival and dig it up later after you’ve slid past security.”

Any other useful Outside Lands tips I should know?

If you are looking for shortcuts to other stages (like a tunnel between Polo Field and Sutro Stage) or emergency exits, save the festival’s official map to your Camera Roll (JPG):

Here are some other insider tips from KQED reporters:

• If you are trying to see someone on the Polo Field, get there early. It gets very crowded quickly.
• There have been bleachers and ADA platforms in Hellman Hollow, near the Twin Peaks stage.
• Sometimes artists hang out at the food trucks, talking to fans (and, if you are lucky, performing a quick song.)
• There is a sober tent available at Outside Lands for those who feel like they need someone to talk to among the partying. It is near the food trucks.
• You can get married at Outside Lands.

What should I do in a crowd?

SFMTA usually expects around 75,000 people each day of the festival — and crowds can be overwhelming for some. With past tragic incidents at other festivals and Outside Lands fans even asking for better exits to prevent crowd crushes, it does not hurt to be cautious and prepared. Read NPR’s full guide on what to do if you find yourself caught in a crowd crush.

According to Mehdi Moussaïd, a research scientist in Berlin who studies crowd behavior, rely on your instincts and senses if you feel like the crowd is getting too dense. If you get stuck in a crush, move with the crowd and put your arms out in front of your chest and hold them there.

“In this position, you would have some space, just a little bit, to push for half a centimeter or just 1 centimeter — enough for you to keep breathing,” Moussaïd told NPR in 2022. “It’s not going to be comfortable. You’re going to be feeling really bad, but at least you’ll survive.”

I can’t afford tickets — are there other related performances I can enjoy?

Yes, Outside Lands has several after-parties around San Francisco for which you can get tickets from Thursday through Sunday. (Be sure to snag them quick, because some are already sold out!)

KQED’s Gabe Meline, Nastia Voynovskaya and Carly Severn contributed to this story.