Complete Guide to San Francisco Cable Cars
Written/Edited by: Northern Latitudes Editorial Team
Updated: 7/24/2026
There are probably few vehicles around the world sparking as much interest as the cable cars of San Francisco. The vehicles have been around for over a 100 years and have become icons of San Francisco since their establishment. If you’re reading this, you might be interested in Cable Cars. Or you might be lost. But hopefully, you’re there because you have some interest in cable cars. This guide is there specifically to help you with the cable cars of San Francisco. As we wrote it, we tried to include all the information that we thought would be useful, or that we would have liked to know before we rode the cable cars.
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A Brief History of Cable Cars
Cable cars as we know them first arrived in the late 1800s when an engineer saw the horse-powered streetcar of the city. This engineer, whose name is Andrew Hallidie invented and introduced a replacement to the animals. His system involved motorless vehicles pulled by cables.
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Cable cars in the 1960s.
San Francisco Cable Cars in early 1900s.
This first cable car proved to be a great success, and other lines were opened, eventually reaching a peak of 23 lines between 1873 and 1890. After that, the introduction of new technologies like buses, and major damage caused by the 1906 earthquake triggered a decline in the cable car, even being threatened to be completely removed in the mid 1900s.
However, a group of citizens advocated to keep the cable cars in the city. This proved to be successful, and since then, the cable cars of San Francisco have experienced several rebuilds and upgrades, becoming icons of the city.
How to ride a cable car?
Riding a cable car is fairly simple. You may board at the ending/starting point of the lines, or at one of the designated stops along the routes. Let’s breakdown the two options with more details:
Option 1: Car Turntables
A cable car cannot turn on its own. That’s why it uses a “turntable” to help with that. The turntable of the cable car generally corresponds to their termini. Boarding there is often the best way to enjoy the full route, and best way to get a comfortable seat in the vehicle.
The boarding process is simple. Visitors go at the turn and wait in line in the designated queue. Once the vehicle is there and ready, employees will open the access to the car which will be empty. The boarding works on a first come first served basis. So if you want to get a spot outside, you better be upfront. Inside the car, you will wait for the boarding process to be done, and the driver will come scan your ticket. After this, enjoy the ride!
Option 2: Designated Stops
Boarding a cable car at the stops usually goes faster, but has some negative sides too.
The stops are often indicated by a white and brown sign along the road. When the car arrives, let passengers leave the vehicle and wait in line to get in. Find, get your ticket scanned and find your seat. And that’s it, you’re ready to go!
California Street Line | Picture by Johan Van Geijl
How does a cable car ride typically go?
Cable cars operate like most public transportation. Passengers board, pay their fare and find a seat. Keep in mind that cable cars are not designed to be comfortable. Seats inside the vehicle are made of wood, and the vehicles are often crowded.
Cable car rides are generally not smooth. There are frequent bumps and things can get even more interesting when the vehicle begins to climb one of San Francisco's steep hills. It doesn’t make the experience any less fun, but beware.
When you get close to a stop, the driver will announce it. Some people like to track their location via GPS as well.
How much does riding a cable car cost?
To pay for your cable car fare, you can either get a virtual pass/ticket or physical ticket (must be bought in advance). You may pay in cash when boarding, but this requires you to have the exact change.
Single Ride Ticket
Single ride tickets can be bought at various locations across town or using Clipper/MuniMobile. Paper tickets may be purchased at in-person locations or online (only if you buy at least 5 tickets). Turntables generally feature kiosks where you can buy physical tickets.
Single Ride Tickets (Regular):
Adult - $9.00
Youth (4 and under) - Free
A single ride tickets doesn’t include transfer.
Visitor Passports:
The visitor passports can be bought online or in one of the sale locations. Visitor passports allow passengers to travel on other Muni vehicles in San Francisco. It is often the best option for those visiting San Francisco without a car.
Visitor Passports:
1Day - $15
3Days - $35
7Days - $47
More fare for those with special circumstances are available. You may find those here.
San Francisco Cable Car Routes
There are three main cable car lines.
Powell - Hyde
Beach & Hyde
Begin
Powell & Market
End
The Powell and Hyde cable car line is the most scenic, and our favorite. It begins at the bottom of Hyde St, not too far from the Fisherman’s Wharf. At the turntable, you might be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge afar.
From there, the cable car quickly starts to climb a steep hill, progressively revealing a beautiful view of the Island of Alcatraz. After two stops, it reaches Lombard Street and resumes its climb — stopping along the way — until it attains Washington st and turns. It turns again on Powell St, passing near Chinatown. At this point, Powell & Hyde and Powell & Mason join to form a single line going to Market St. From there, the car keeps going down until it ultimately reaches Union Square.
Sights along the way Include:
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Lombard Street
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Cable Car Museum
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Chinatown
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Union Square
Powell - Mason
Taylor & Bay
Begin
Powell & Market
End
Powell & Mason begins within the streets of the city and climbs up until it eventually reaches Powell St. During that part, you may be able to see Alcatraz in the back. The line reaches Powell St to become the single line that goes to Market St.
Sights along the way:
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Fisherman’s Wharf
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North Beach
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Nob Hill
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Chinatown
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Cable Car Museum
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Union Square
California Street
California & Van Ness
California & Davis
Begin
End
The California Street line is a little bit different than its two sisters. It is the oldest one, and goes mostly through the downtown area of San Francisco. It goes through the financial district, crosses with the two other lines at Powell St and eventually ends near the Ferry Building.
Sights along the way;
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Chinatown
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Nob Hill
Check our map of cable car routes in San Francisco. You can download it, or find it on our Pinterest.
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
To celebrate and teach about the legacy of cable cars, the San Francisco Cable Car Museum was opened in 1974.
The museum is located within a powerhouse of the cable car system, allowing visitors to see the engine pulling the cable cars in real time. It also includes exhibits on the history of the system, the mechanism behind it, and displays of several vintage cable cars. And of course, a gift shop is available for those desiring to buy souvenirs.
The Cable Car Museum building seen from across the street.
Donations are encouraged, but the museum is completely free of access. It is located along the California Street line. Use of public transportation is highly encouraged as parking in Nob Hill is limited.
The engines pulling the cable cars seen from the observation deck.
Cable Cars Hours of Operation
Cable cars all operate on a daily basis. Hours vary per line.
Powell - Hyde
7AM - 11PM
Powell - Mason
7AM - 11PM
California Street
7AM - 9PM
We highly recommend riding early in the day or late at night to avoid crowds.
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