Located in what is often cited as United States’ best city for quality of life, San Francisco State’s campus is situated in a quiet and foggy corner of the southwestern edge of San Francisco, just a mile shy of the Pacific Ocean. From the wide-open and hilly fields of Golden Gate Park to the sweeping beaches off the Golden Gate Bridge, you will have near endless access to some of the best recreational activities in Northern California while exploring one of the most iconic cities in the world.
While California is known for the hot sun and beautiful beaches, San Francisco is a unique and sometimes complicated place for weather. Here are some tips to keep in mind when living in and adapting to San Francisco’s climate:
San Francisco rarely gets colder than 55 degrees or warmer than 65 degrees.
The Bay Area is geographically complicated and provides the city with diverse microclimates. This means that you can travel from one neighborhood to the next and experience dramatically different temperatures (as much as 10 degrees) or weather conditions.
The Fog
Because the San Francisco peninsula is surrounded by cold water and the Bay Area is next to California’s hot Central Valley, the result is the infamous fog that pulls inland onto the city. The fog typically shows up offshore around 3 p.m. during the summer, then passes through the Golden Gate, across the Bay, and cools the air quickly.
Wear Layers
Because of the dramatic variations of weather throughout a single day, it is essential to bring layers of clothes with you. A light jacket, long sleeve shirts and a cozy hoody can be a best friend when the weather shifts.
If you need some more sunshine, a quick weekend trip north to the Russian River or East to the Central Valley can give you access to much hotter temperatures and fantastic recreation activities.
One Card/Gator Pass
Unlimited rides on SF Muni trains and buses, excluding cable cars and other transit agencies such as SamTrans, AC Transit, etc.
50 percent discount on all BART rides to and from the Daly City BART station.
To protect your balance and replace your Gator Pass if lost, register your card at clippercard.com.
Public Transportation Options to SF State
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit )
Take BART to the Daly City BART station and use the SF State shuttle or use the free roundtrip transfer on Muni route 28 or route 57. BART riders are eligible for two free rides on the Muni route 28 and route 57 when transferring from the Daly City BART station and paying using Clipper.
Daly City BART Express Shuttles
SF State runs a free shuttle service to campus from the Daly City BART station to 19th and Holloway Avenue during the Fall and Spring semesters only.
- Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–10:30 p.m., last pick-up at 10 p.m.
- Friday 7 a.m.–7:15 p.m., last pick-up at 6:50 p.m.
- The shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
Muni
The campus is served by the following Muni bus and streetcar lines:
- M-Oceanview: The streetcar to downtown San Francisco and Balboa Park Station.
- 18-46th Avenue: Zoo, Sunset and Richmond Districts, Palace of the Legion of Honor
- 28-19th Avenue: To Daly City BART station, Sunset and Richmond Districts, Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Mason. (28R- Express line: Monday–Friday.)
- 29-Sunset: To Ingleside, Excelsior and Bayview districts.
- 57-Parkmerced: To West Portal Station.
Several monthly pass options are also available. For more information go to sfmta.com
Zipcar
Zipcars are available on campus, located in the Lot 20 garage on the street level accessed by State Drive and at University Park North, on Winston Drive. Students can join at a discounted rate. For more information go to zipcar.com/sfsu.
RideMatch
The SF State 511 RideMatch service is an interactive, on-demand system that allows students to find carpools or bicycle partners based on where they live. Participants can specify whether they wish to find only other SF State affiliates or extend their search to a broader pool.
Carpool Apps
511’s Bay Area Carpool Program partners with ride-match apps to help you find carpool partners instantly. Learn how you can save time and money while reducing the strain on the roads and the environment.
Owning a Car in San Francisco
Because of the diversity of transportation options available to students throughout the Bay Area, we recommend students not bring their cars. While this is a personal preference, in many cases students end up not using their vehicle enough to justify the costs of a parking permit. You might be thinking, “But I will want to drive home on the weekends.” Whether you live in driving distance or in Southern California, there still are plenty of options to consider before bringing your car.