Baker Beach San Francisco: What Every Parent Needs to Know Before Going With Kids
Baker Beach San Francisco:
What You Need to Know Before Going with Your Kids
San Francisco’s Baker Beach is a spectacular place to spend time with the entire family. It boasts of gorgeous views of the San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and Golden Gate Bridge.
Here’s all you need to know about this local favorite before taking your family for a memorable beach day in the city by the Bay.
Disclosure: This page may use affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases at no additional cost to you.
Thanks so much for all your support.
Family Beach Day by San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
The mild temperatures and often overcast weather of San Francisco don’t really convince many people that this city is great for family beach days.
And while the cooler climate around San Francisco’s coastlines are aren’t like the beaches in tropical locations like Hawaii or Mexico, San Francisco is still a great place to go if you’re looking for a place to spend some time by the water.
Baker Beach is a small beach frequented by may locals because it’s in an absolutely beautiful location, with up-close views of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. It also offers plenty of space for kids to play, and is close to tons of hiking trails within the Presidio of San Francisco.
It’s an ideal spot for any outdoor-loving family. and this article is your go-to guide to Baker Beach.
Down below we’ll answer all the questions you might have about this beach so that you and your family will be fully prepared for an unforgettable, San Francisco beach day!
Then, at the end, we’ll explore more great beach locations in San Francisco that you and your kids will surely enjoy together.
What is
Baker Beach?
Baker Beach is a great, family-friendly beach that most San Francisco locals flock to on rare hot days in the city.
It’s only about a mile long, but it is one of the best beaches in the city because of it’s spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and the Marin Headlands.
On any given day at Baker Beach, you are likely to find outdoor-loving San Franciscans jogging along the shoreline, walking their dogs, or simply sitting on the sand enjoying the fresh air and ocean views.
Where is
Baker Beach?
San Francisco’s Baker Beach is located inside the city’s Presidio, which is on the northwestern side of the city. This beach also lies on the shoreline where the Pacific Ocean meets the San Francisco Bay, so that means the views are stunning.
While Baker Beach is only about a 1 mile long, it also offers great views of the rugged San Francisco cliffs, the Marin Headlands, and the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
This area also has great hiking trails, biking trails, and picnic areas, which makes Baker Beach a huge favorite among locals and visitors alike.
What's the weather like at Baker Beach?
The entire city of San Francisco typically has mild weather year-round with the temperatures usually in the 50s-60s.
Because of the city’s microclimates, and because of the sea breeze, the temperature at Baker Beach is usually slightly cooler than it would be in other areas of the city that are closer inland.
Since the weather in San Francisco rarely ever gets above the 80s, it isn’t very common to see people wearing swim suits at Baker Beach. In fact, city locals usually layer up their clothing when spending some time here.
However, in October, which historically, is San Francisco’s hottest month, the temperatures at Baker Beach have been known to reach the 80s and 90s. There have even been rare days when the weather hit the 100s!
Can I swim at
Baker Beach?
Although you might see some people swimming and wading at Baker Beach, it is NOT advised.
Here’s a few reasons why:
- The large waves are rough and can be dangerous for swimmers.
- The ocean’s rip currents and undertows can pull swimmers offshore suddenly and without warning.
- The water temperature at Baker Beach is extremely cold. Even on rare hottest of days, the water temperature sits at around at 48 degrees.
- There are no lifeguards at all at this beach!
What activities can I do at Baker Beach?
Even though swimming and wading aren’t advisable activities to do at San Francisco’s Baker Beach, there are still plenty of other really great things to do with kids!
Here are some beach activities your kids would truly enjoy:
- building sand castles
- flying kits
- collecting seashells and interesting rocks
- picnicking
- admire the sea birds
- watch the fisherman that sometime fish here.
- frisbee
- volley ball
- strolling along the shoreline
- hiking
What other things are there to do around Baker Beach?
It is really easy to spend an entire day in the San Francisco Presidio, which is where Baker Beach is located.
Here are some other kid-friendly things to do once your family has had their fill of the beach.
- Hike around the Presidio: There are several scenic and historical hiking trails inside the Presidio, so you can be sure to find one that suits your family’s interests and experience levels.
- Play at the Presidio Tunnel Tops: This area of the Presidio is a great, open recreational space that has picnic tables, grassy areas, food trucks, a playground, and beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay.
- Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum: If your family enjoys Disney, this would be a great place to visit. This museum is full if interactive exhibits about the history of the Disney family, including the birth of Mickey Mouse and the construction of Disneyland.
Is there parking at Baker Beach?
Yes there is parking at Baker Beach.
There is a good amount of free parking options at Baker Beach. There is plenty of street parking at the top of the hill from the beach. There are also free lots much closer to the beach.
The larger, north parking lot will give you great access to both the beach and picnic areas. To get to this lot, as you enter the Baker Beach area take an immediate right and follow the path to the very end.
The south lot is a bit smaller and has fewer parking spots, but still have good access the beach. To find this lot, just continue straight as you enter the Baker Beach area.
One thing to note before going, though, is that on rare, hot, and sunny days in San Francisco, many Bay Area locals flock to Baker Beach to take advantage of the great weather and amazing views.
If you find yourself planning a family day at Baker Beach during a heat wave, be sure you arrive early since the lots will surely fill up quickly.
Are there restaurants near Baker Beach?
Sadly, there are no restaurants or cafes within walking distance of Baker Beach.
However, here are a few great areas near Baker Beach that you can easily get to by car and that can offer your family a variety of great places to eat.
- Presidio Tunnel Tops: As mentioned earlier, this area of the San Francisco Presidio invites local food trucks and food carts to set up shop at Tunnel Tops. These pop-up restaurants serve up a variety of foods including tacos, tikka masala, bao, pupusas, crab sandwiches, and ice cream.
- Chestnut Street: This strip of restaurants and shops is a bustling part of the city’s Marina District. With plenty cafes, restaurants, and dessert shops, it’s a great place for yummy, sit-down meals with the family.
San Francisco Beach Day Packing List
Before we wrap up this guide to Baker Beach, it is important to pack the right things in order to have the best time possible with your family. Here is a simple, but helpful packing list to help you and your family prepare for a great San Francisco beach day.
- Layers of clothing so you can adjust to the weather
- beach towel or picnic blanket
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- sun hat or cap
- kite
- comfortable shoes in case you decide to take a hike
- bluetooth speaker
- bag to put your trash in
- container for collected sea shells
- sand toys
- drinks and snacks
- beach chairs
In Conclusion
Baker Beach is a great place for some good family fun.
San Francisco’s Baker Beach is a popular place for many San Francisco Bay Area families looking to to spend some quality, beach time time together.
Even though the cold, rough water at Baker Beach isn’t safe for safe swimming or wading, there are so many wonderful beach activities to partake in when at the local favorite.
It’s in an amazing location with picturesque views and it offers tons of space for other beach activities like sandcastle building, kite flying, picnicking, sports, seashell collecting, and relaxing.
With all of this, you can be certain that the entire family will be entertained for a really long time.
So pack up your beach bag, keep this guide handy, and have a truly memorable family day out at the San Francisco beach thats famous for being right next to the grand Golden Gate Bridge.
Related Posts
More beach fun in San Francisco
