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San Francisco 4th of July Fireworks 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: July 22, 2024
The biggest draw to San Francisco on Fourth of July is the fireworks display over the SF Bay. On a clear night, I think this is one of the most amazing displays in the Bay Area.
The city sets off the fireworks from two locations in front of Fisherman's Wharf. One is on a barge at the end of Municipal Pier, and the other is on a barge just north of Pier 39.
The set-up is perfect for a large crowd. It allows onlookers to see the displays from several great spots around San Francisco (and a few across the SF Bay).
It also allows several cruises to depart, so plenty of people can see the display from close up.
4th of July Fireworks in San Francisco over the waterfront as the fog starts to come in for the nightThis event draws tens of thousands of people every year.
Because it's such an fantastic display, I am one of those tens of thousands every year. I love watching the annual San Francisco 4th of July fireworks along the bay. I live so close that I walk down to the waterfront.
As you can see from my picture above, the display starts when it gets dark.
The San Francisco 4th of July fireworks display usually starts around 9:30 p.m. and lasts for about 20 minutes with a beautiful finale.
Even though it's crowded, I do recommend this event. It's such an amazing experience that you will not soon forget!
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Best Places to Watch the 4th of July Fireworks in San Francisco
Blue and gold fireworks over the San Francisco Bay for the Fourth of July near the Municipal Pier in Fisherman's WharfAs I mentioned above, they set off the fireworks in two places. This means you can see them from several places around the city. Here is a map showing the rough location of the displays.
These are some of the best places to see the show.
Aquatic Park
I took this around 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July in San Francisco at Aquatic Park. You can see people are already getting set for the fireworks display, which starts at around 9:30 p.m.
I took this shortly before the fireworks show at around 9 p.m. This is in Aquatic Park and shows you a small slice of the number of people that come down to see the San Francisco 4th of July Fireworks show in Fisherman's Wharf.Some of the spots in Aquatic Park are saved for VIPs, but there are still plenty of other places to watch the fireworks display.
You can hang out in the large park lay out your blankets, pull out your picnic, enjoy some music, and wait patiently for the show. You can also grab a seat along the steps near the waterfront or the section in the picture above.
If you want a place to sit, I recommend getting here no later than mid-afternoon to grab a good spot. I usually arrive about 30 minutes before the display, and while there is no place to sit and it's crowded, I can usually find a spot to stand with a clear view of the San Francisco fireworks display.
The thing I like about showing up early is that there are plenty of activities going on all day in Fisherman's Wharf. If you are with a group, some of you can walk around, grab food, and enjoy other festivities while you wait for the fireworks.
Pier 39 Decks
The decks on Pier 39 are packed with spectators. However, they can always squeeze in one more person.
There is no room to sit on the decks, but it's a great spot to see the show.
If you arrive early enough, I recommend heading to the second floor to watch the 4th of July Fireworks in San Francisco.
Pier 39 Restaurants
If you call in early, you might be lucky enough to get a spot at one of the Pier 39 restaurants with a view of the fireworks.
Cannery
You will find some options in the Cannery to see the show. Head to the courtyard here if other places are a bit too crowded.
Coit Tower
You will get great views of the show from the top of the hill in the Coit Tower parking lot.
I recommend walking up here as parking is sparse, and the bus doesn't run this late at night.
Hills Near the Golden Gate Bridge
Just up the hill from Crissy Field and Fort Point, you will find some great places to watch the fireworks.
Find a spot with unobstructed views of the bay, and you are set.
No matter where you go in this area, you will find a lot of people, so you can always ask for advice if a certain area is too full already.
Golden Gate Bridge: Every year, people ask about watching the fireworks from the Golden Gate Bridge. During the summer, the bridge walkways close at 9 p.m., right before the fireworks start, so I recommend finding a different location to watch the show.
Sausalito
You can also get a good view of the fireworks from Sausalito.
This is a good option for those coming from or staying in the North Bay. The one thing with this location is on a foggy night, you might not be able to see the San Francisco 4th of July fireworks that well.
It's also VERY crowded here, but you won't have to fight the Golden Gate Bridge traffic to get home.
Cruises for SF July 4th Fireworks
If budget is not a concern, the best option is to head out on a cruise.
These San Francisco Fourth of July fireworks cruises are popular. Some offer light appetizers (free or paid), a pay-per-drink bar, and other factors that make the wait much more comfortable.
Many cruises are a couple of hours long, so you have plenty of time to hang out with friends and family before the event. They all return around the same time, about 30 minutes after the show's end.
You can pick them up in either in San Francisco or in Tiburon in Marin. Most of them run out of SF, but the location you take it from does affect how close you get to the display.
Fireworks Cruise with Blue & Gold Fleet
- 3 cruises, all leave from Fisherman's Wharf
- Cruises leave at 8:15, 8:20 pm and 8:30 pm
- Cruise at 8:30 pm is family-friendly/alcohol free
- You must arrive at least 30 minutes in advance to begin boarding for all cruises
- $109 per adult, $79 for Youth (5 - 11) , $99 for Juniors (12 - 17)
- Find tickets
Fireworks Cruise with Red & White Fleet
- 1 Cruise, leaves from Pier 43 1/2
- Beer, wine and other drinks on sale on the boat
- Leaves at 7:45 pm, boarding starts 30 minutes in advance
- Tickets are $129 for adults and it includes two drink tickets, youth (5 - 20) is $79, kids 4 and under free
- Visit their site to book your tickets
What to Do Before the San Francisco Fireworks
Here are some fun activities for you that run on the morning and afternoon of the Fourth of July.
SF Bay Cruise
All day long, SF Bay Cruises leave from Fisherman's Wharf for a fun 60-minute ride around the bay.
These narrated cruises allow you to see some of SF's top attractions from the water and learn more about them.
The best part is that this cruise rides under the Golden Gate Bridge - twice!
>> Find tickets for these cruises
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Explore San Francisco on the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour.
During your trip, you can hop on and off at any attractions and districts along the way.
Top stops include the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Alamo Square, and Lombard Street.
You can select from the 1 day or 2 day ticket.
>> Find tickets for all options
More Fun Activities Around SF on the Fourth of July
Are you looking for more options for Fourth of July and the weekend? Click here for a full round up of events this 4th of July weekend in San Francisco!
Getting to the SF 4th of July Fireworks Display
This is what the shuttles look like. They will have their destination in lights, and there will be a line-up of them at each location. I think there were about six of them behind this one. They are free and only have a few designated stops.Some streets around Fisherman's Wharf close the morning of the Fourth of July Fireworks and stay closed until early the following day.
Keep this in mind when selecting the best transit option.
SF Public Transit
Due to the crowds, I think this is the best way to get to the fireworks display. You can take the F Streetcar to the heart of Fisherman's Wharf. The F is run by a bus line along the Embarcadero, but is a good option to get to the waterfront.
You can also take the 8, 19, 30, or the 49.
You can also take the Hyde/Powell or Mason/Powell Cable Cars from Union Square. Both will drop you close to the action. They run these lines via bus starting at 2 p.m., but it's a great route to get between Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf.
To help you get to the waterfront before the fireworks, Muni will offer extra shuttle services between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Market Street Fireworks Shuttle: There will be a shuttle route that boards on the islands on Market Street between 5th and Steuart and at the Ferry Building. It will drop you off in Fisherman's Wharf.
- Caltrain: They will also offer a shuttle from Caltrain. It's from the Townsend & 4th Street stop. It will drop you off at Aquatic Park.
- Van Ness/Civic Center Fireworks Shuttle: You can board this bus at the UN Plaza/Civic Center BART Station or anywhere along the 49 Van Ness/Mission stops along Van Ness Street. It will drop you off at Aquatic Park.
After the display, SF Muni will run three special shuttle services from 10 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. or until the crowds clear. They offer express service to the Ferry Building, Civic Center, and Caltrain.
- Market Street Express: This is great for connecting to BART and the Ferry. You board at Kearny and North Point, and the shuttle drops you off at Market and Battery.
- Civic Center Express: This is option is great for connecting to BART or other Muni Metro services. It picks up at Bay and Polk. It drops off at all of the 49 Muni stops along Van Ness with the final stop at the UN Plaza/Civic Center BART.
- Caltrain Express: This one takes you to the Caltrain Station at Townsend & 4th Streets. It boards at Kearny and North Point.
The shuttles leave once full, so they will run a few shuttles during this timeframe.
BART
BART will run a Sunday schedule but will add some extra trains to help people return home after the San Francisco 4th of July fireworks.
They will run all five lines until 8 p.m. and their standard three-line service after 8 p.m.
Their extra trains will run through the Embarcadero Station to help everyone get home after the fireworks end.
Caltrain
Caltrain will operate on a weekend schedule for the Fourth of July in San Francisco.
After the fireworks display, They will offer additional trains to help everyone get home.
The last train will depart the San Francisco station at 4th and Townsend at 12:05 a.m.
To avoid long lines at the ticket booths, I recommend buying a Day Pass through their mobile app (must be purchased on July 4th for it to be valid that day) or using your Clipper card.
Driving
If you plan to drive, arrive really early in the day. I recommend arriving in the late morning or the early afternoon to grab a spot.
Even if you arrive that early, there is no guarantee parking will still be available in the area.
If you need to drive into the city, I'd park my car in Union Square and take public transit down.
There are several parking lots there, and at least you will find a decent place.
This means you will need to either walk back or take public transit to your car after the display, but it might take less time than trying to fight the traffic in Fisherman's Wharf.
However, even if you park here, you will still face quite a bit of traffic as you attempt to leave the city.
Places to Stay Near the San Francisco 4th of July Fireworks
The best way to fight the crowds is to grab a hotel room in Fisherman's Wharf. If you book early, you will not have to worry about fighting the crowds to get in or out of the district after the show.
Click here to check out my recommendations in Fisherman's Wharf. This page includes all budget ranges, although prices go up for this weekend.
You might even be able to find some great deals on hotel rooms in the district (or other places in the city) by clicking here to check out their deals for this night and/or weekend in SF.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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