Best Viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge
Planning a trip to San Francisco and looking for that insta-worthy shot of the Golden Gate Bridge? Check out these viewpoints for some beautiful and unique places for your Golden Gate Bridge photography.
1. Langdon Court / Battery Godfrey
This viewpoint gives you a unique framing of the Golden Gate Bridge and is a beautiful place to visit around sunset. Just be warned that like many other areas, the Langdon Court parking lot is prone to car break-ins so make sure to leave nothing in the car or take an Uber/taxi to get here nstead.
2. Marshall’s Beach
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, the next viewpoint I would recommend is Marshall’s Beach. Near Langdon Court you will find the Batteries to Bluff Trail. Take the path on the left to go down to Marshall Beach. It is a long and sometimes steep walk down with many stairs so it may not be suitable for everyone, but if you can make it down the view is absolutely worth it. Oftentimes this beach is fairly quiet because of the effort it takes to get down there so it can be a great place to enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge without crowds and take photos from a unique perspective. Marshall’s Beach is a a clothing-optional beach but nearby Baker Beach also has a beautiful view of the bridge and may be a more accessible and family friendly alternative.
3. Vista Point
This viewpoint is one of the easiest to find on this list, and a great option for a quick photo stop on a roadtrip around the Bay Area as it’s just off the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge and has facilities such as a bathroom and water fountains. This is also a great place to stop if you’re on a family road-trip as the the viewpoint is easily accessible from the car and does not require much walking compared to the other locations on this list. However, during peak summer months this parking lot may close to avoid building up of traffic along the bridge so make sure to check that it’s open before driving over.
4. Battery Spencer
Battery Spencer is hands down one of my favorite viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge and probably one of the most iconic. If you’re staying in San Francisco, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County and then onto Conzelman Road. This viewpoint has spectacular panoramic views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the glittering blue waters of the San Francisco Bay. Due to its elevation, views from Battery Spencer can can obstructed by fog so make sure you go on a clear day to guarantee that you’ll be able to see the bridge.
5. Drive or Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge
What better way to get a close up view of the Golden Gate Bridge than driving or walking across it? Take your rental car or an Uber and drive across to a view point in Marin County or even if you don’t have plans to stop, go ahead and drive across just for the experience! If you don’t want to drive, you can also take public transit to the bridge and walk across. Keep in mind that’s not going to be a quick stroll though as the bridge is 1.7 miles long so the walk is estimated to take about 35 minutes each way.
6. Bonus
We didn’t have time to go here on our trip but a few other places you can also visit for views of the Golden Gate Bridge are Alcatraz Island, Lands End, and Crissy Field.
I hope this list helped you plan your next trip to San Francisco. Did I miss any of your favorite Gold Gate Bridge viewpoints? Leave a comment below and let me know!
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