Heads Up: 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge Will Close (Temporarily) Saturday for a Lot of Fireworks

The city’s yearly fireworks show for the Fourth usually takes place at Fisherman’s Wharf, meaning some drivers and pedestrians may be taken by surprise by the traffic notices and closures around the bridge that day.

So whether you’re a resident trying to get home or a visitor to the city just hoping to see the Golden Gate Bridge on July 4, keep reading on what to expect around the area during the sure-to-be crowded festivities.

Due to the July 4 holiday and the World Cup game in Santa Clara on Wednesday, you should also expect a heightened law enforcement presence and more security measures.

The San Francisco Police Department and California Highway Patrol will be fully staffed that weekend, according to city officials during a Monday press conference.

“We are coordinated, and we are confident that we will provide a safe, welcoming experience for our residents and our visitors,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.

You can also check out KQED’s guide to fireworks shows across the Bay Area, as well as other Independence Day events and installations.

• Jump to: Where’s the best place to watch the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks?

Golden Gate Bridge and other road closures to cars

On Saturday, July 4, the Golden Gate Bridge will be fully closed to cars “from shortly before” the 9:30 p.m. scheduled fireworks display start time until “shortly after” the end of the fireworks show, according to the city. 

“Closure duration may change based on operational needs,” the city’s website reads, and you should “expect delays before the bridge reopens.” According to Caltrans, however, the Golden Gate Bridge is “scheduled to be closed” between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Highway 101 will also be temporarily closed on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge starting at 8 p.m.:

In San Francisco, northbound 101 will be closed:

• At the Lincoln Boulevard off-ramp (through the Presidio)
• At the on- and off-ramps at Girard Street
• At the 101/State Route 1 interchange off-ramp and the SR-1 off-ramp at Lake Street

In Marin County, southbound 101 will be closed from the Spencer Avenue off-ramp, just before the Robin Williams Tunnel. See Caltrans’ maps of the 101 closures on July 4.

You can periodically check the SFMTA website for any more updates on street closures. You can also view the SFMTA’s maps on street and road closures.

Golden Gate Bridge authorities are encouraging motorists “to use alternate Bay Area crossings the evening of July 4,” namely the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (I-80) to the east.

According to the Golden Gate Bridge’s webpage, northbound travelers can take I-80 East across the East Bay, and then merge onto I-580 West toward Richmond/San Rafael and cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (with tolls) to reconnect with U.S. Highway 101 in Marin County.

Southbound travelers can take I-580 East across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll-free, merge onto I-80 West across the Bay Bridge (with tolls), and enter San Francisco.

According to SFMTA, there will also be road closures in the city on:

• Jefferson Street, between Hyde Street and the Embarcadero from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. (Embarcadero traffic will be routed onto Beach Street.)
• Streets in the Fisherman’s Wharf and Marina neighborhoods from around 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. These will only be for local access, as “only residents, guests and deliveries will be permitted to access streets north of Bay, Alhambra and Francisco streets as well as Chestnut Street between Fillmore Street and Van Ness Avenue after 8 p.m,” according to an SFMTA news release.

Golden Gate Bridge closures to pedestrians and bicyclists

There will also be closures for pedestrians and bicyclists on the bridge, who are usually able to walk across the bridge well into the evening, and cycle across it 24/7.

On Friday, July 3, at 5 a.m., there will be a partial closure of the east sidewalk (the side facing San Francisco) in the central portion between the two bridge towers. This closure will last until Sunday, 5 a.m.

The west sidewalk is slated to remain open during regular hours on July 3 and July 4 from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

However, around the time of the Saturday fireworks show from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., both the east and west sidewalks will be completely closed to bicyclists and pedestrians. At 10 p.m., the west sidewalk will open, but only for bicyclists.

Pedestrian access will be back to normal on Sunday, reopening at 5 a.m.

Parking near the Golden Gate Bridge on July 4

Parking lots at the south end of the bridge will also be closed for most of the day on Saturday, July 4, from 11 a.m. to the end of the fireworks shows.

If you are driving into the area to see the fireworks on the bridge, the city warns that “driving into the Presidio is strongly discouraged — parking lots fill early, close when full, and special event parking fees will be in effect.”

You may have some luck finding a parking space on a third-party parking website, SpotHero. If you do go this (also difficult route), be sure not to keep anything visible inside your vehicle.

Your transit options to the Golden Gate Bridge on July 4

Muni’s 28 19th Avenue route is the major way to get to the Golden Gate Bridge area to see the city’s July 4 fireworks. There will be extra services for this bus route on Saturday, as well as the 49 Van Ness/Mission, S Shuttle Market Street and T Third routes.

Other extra services for July 4 include:

• Extra light rail services in the Market Street and Central subways in the afternoon
• Three S Shuttle trains in the Market Street Subway between West Portal and Embarcadero stations, approximately every 20 minutes starting at 4 p.m. until midnight
• Three additional T Third Street trains between Chinatown – Rose Pak Station and Bayshore Boulevard & Sunnydale Avenue starting at 3 p.m. until midnight.

There will also be extra shuttles provided from 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m, according to SFMTA.

One will run from Powell Street Station at Cyril Magnin and Market Street along the 38 Geary route to Van Ness Avenue and along the 49 Van Ness/Mission route to Marina Middle School at Chestnut and Fillmore.

The other shuttle will run from Embarcadero Station along the F Market line to North Point and Kearny streets.

The city is also setting up “transit hubs” near the fireworks – places where shuttles and buses will drop off and pick up people – and are located at Marina Middle School, Van Ness/Bay and Pier 39.

Be sure to follow SFMTA’s website for any impacts to other Muni routes.

Where can I watch the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks?

According to the city, the best viewing locations for the July 4 display will be Crissy Field, Marina Green, Pier 39 and the Northern Embarcadero.

Officials recommend avoiding the Ferry Building and Embarcadero waterfront, since there will be no view of the fireworks there, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks will also be limited at Ocean Beach.

See our full guide to fireworks shows across the Bay Area, as well as other Independence Day parades, parties and exhibits across the region.

KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this report.