Golden Gate Ferry
| Company type | Public transit agency |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | August 15, 1970 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco Bay area, Northern California, United States |
| Products | Commuter ferry services |
| Owner | Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District |
| Website | www |
Golden Gate Ferry is a commuter ferry service managed by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District operating within the San Francisco Bay area, part of the Bay Area in Northern California, United States. It offers scheduled routes to the Ferry Building in San Francisco from several locations in Marin County including Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Angel Island. Additionally, there are special routes from Larkspur to both Oracle Park and Chase Center. The ferry’s operations are mainly supported through passenger ticket sales and toll revenues collected from the Golden Gate Bridge. In , Golden Gate Ferry reported a total ridership of , with weekday averages around .
Golden Gate Ferry functions independently and is distinct from San Francisco Bay Ferry, which serves other counties across the Bay Area.
History
The inaugural Golden Gate Ferry route between San Francisco and Sausalito commenced on August 15, 1970, utilizing the M.S. Golden Gate. Service was extended to include Larkspur in 1976 and later to Pacific Bell Park (currently Oracle Park) in 2000. On March 6, 2017, Tiburon service was introduced, taking over operations formerly managed by the Blue & Gold Fleet and other private companies since 1962. Service to Chase Center began in 2019 via a temporary terminal at Pier 48½; plans for a permanent Mission Bay terminal located at 16th Street were scheduled for completion in 2021. Angel Island service was incorporated into the network in December 2021.
Routes
Golden Gate Ferry maintains regular passenger operations along four primary corridors:
- Larkspur Landing – San Francisco Ferry Building
- Sausalito Ferry Terminal – San Francisco Ferry Building
- Tiburon Ferry Terminal – San Francisco Ferry Building
- Angel Island – San Francisco Ferry Building
Limited runs operate between Larkspur and both Oracle Park and Chase Center coinciding with home games for the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors, respectively, with additional services provided during special events.
Fares and transfers
Ticket prices for Golden Gate Ferry differ depending on the route traveled, passenger category, and payment method.[1] As of August 2024:
| Route | Fare Categories | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult One-Way | Adult with Clipper Card | Youth / Senior / Disabled / Medicare | |
| Larkspur - Ferry Building | $14.00 | $9.00 | $7.00 |
| Sausalito - Ferry Building | $14.00 | $8.00 | $7.00 |
| Tiburon - Ferry Building | $14.00 | $8.00 | $7.00 |
| Angel Island - Ferry Building | $15.50 | $9.50 | $8.00 |
| Larkspur - Chase Center | $15.00 | ||
| Larkspur - Oracle Park | $15.50 | ||
Passengers using Clipper cards benefit from transfer discounts when connecting to or from services offered by Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit, Muni, and SMART.
Fleet
The Golden Gate Ferry operates a fleet composed of four catamaran vessels alongside three monohull ships, all designed to accommodate passengers using wheelchairs. The catamarans can transport up to 30 bicycles each, while the monohulls have a capacity for as many as 150 bicycles. Every vessel is equipped with restroom facilities and offers onboard refreshments, including a fully stocked bar.
The monohull vessels—M.S. Marin, M.S. San Francisco, and M.S. Sonoma—each have a passenger capacity ranging from 630 to 750. Constructed between 1976 and 1977 by Philip F. Spaulding & Associates in San Diego, these ships underwent a propulsion system conversion from gas turbine water jets to diesel propellers during the 1980s, followed by engine enhancements completed in 2001–02. Additionally, the Marin received a comprehensive refurbishment in 2006–07.
Among the catamarans are the M.V. Del Norte, which accommodates 400 passengers, along with the M.V. Golden Gate, M.V. Mendocino, and M.V. Napa, each capable of carrying 450 passengers. The Del Norte (launched in 1998) and Mendocino (introduced in 2001) were specifically constructed to provide faster and more frequent service, whereas the Napa and Golden Gate, both acquired from Washington State Ferries in 2009, contributed to an increase in overall capacity.
In late 2018, Golden Gate Ferry secured a lease for the MV Millennium at a cost of $2.5 million to ensure uninterrupted operations during extensive maintenance periods on the Marin and Sonoma. The Millennium remained in service until 2020 before returning to Rhode Island.
The decommissioned M.S. Golden Gate (built in 2004) completed over 42,000 round trips on the Sausalito–San Francisco route, transporting approximately 21 million passengers and covering nearly .
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