SF stay

Question

Planning to visit SF for 4 days in late may for a convocation in berkely. Will be with my 2 older daughters. I'd like to rent a car for the whole trip. What is the best place to stay - i'll stay anywhere in SF, near airport, oakland or berkeley since i will have a car.

Plan is to visit to the touristry stuff for a couple of days(fishermans, golden gate etc), university one day, may be alcatraz muir woods..

What hotel would be better with free parking? i have some great deals in fisherman's but with parking its almost another $70+ a day which i dont want to pay.

Answer

For a 4-day trip to San Francisco with a car, your hotel choice should balance convenience to both tourist attractions and your Berkeley convocation, as well as minimize parking costs.

Staying in central San Francisco near Fisherman’s Wharf offers great access to major sights like Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and the waterfront. However, as you noted, parking can be expensive ($70+/day), which adds significantly to your budget.

Alternative options that might save money and still be reasonably convenient:

Berkeley area: Staying near UC Berkeley allows easy access to the convocation. Hotels in Berkeley tend to have free or cheaper parking. From here, driving to SF for sightseeing is straightforward via I-80 or Bay Bridge, although parking in SF will still be a factor.
Oakland area: Hotels near Oakland Airport or downtown Oakland often include free parking and are about a 20–30 minute drive to Berkeley. You can also take the BART from Oakland into downtown SF, which avoids expensive SF parking.
South San Francisco / Daly City: These areas are close to the airport and have hotels with free parking. From here, you can drive into SF for sightseeing or take BART for easier access to downtown, Golden Gate, and Alcatraz tours.

Tips for sightseeing and parking:

For SF tourist spots, look for hotels outside the immediate city center with free parking, then drive in for the day and use paid lots or street parking as needed.
If you plan on visiting Fisherman’s Wharf, consider public parking garages for short-term stays, rather than paying daily hotel parking fees.
Muir Woods and Alcatraz: these require reservations in advance; Alcatraz tours depart from Pier 33, so plan parking accordingly.
University day: If you stay in Berkeley, you can easily walk or use campus shuttles, minimizing stress with parking.

Recommended strategy:

Stay in Berkeley or Oakland for free or low-cost parking.
Drive to San Francisco for 1–2 days of sightseeing, using city garages or timed street parking.
Keep hotel near Berkeley for easy access to convocation and possibly one day of local sightseeing.

This approach allows you to enjoy the city without spending an extra $70/day on parking at a central SF hotel, while keeping your options flexible for both tourist activities and the university visit.

SF stay

More San Francisco Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions