How to Drive Down Lombard Street in San Francisco
Lombard is the name of the street in San Francisco that winds snake-like for one extremely short city block. Drivers make eight right and left turns before the street returns to normalcy. During the peak time of the day, drivers line up and descend the block in a procession-like fashion. It is a very popular year round visitor destination so scheduling the best time to take the drive may be a bigger challenge then the drive itself.
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Instructions
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Visit in the springtime. Though the rose gardens along the curb are in bloom much of the year, they seem to have a unique freshness in the spring.
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Visit in the afternoon. The coastal fog can sock in many a San Francisco morning. Driving down the street with low visibility is not as effective.
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Approach the street from the west. With a map of San Francisco, note that Lombard Street is a dominant east/west thoroughfare in the city. By turning east as U.S. 101 turns west, one will climb one of many hills in the city. Lombard is a two-way residential street at this point.
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Expect braking at the top of the hill. Automobile brakes and clutches really get a workout in this city, especially from visitors not used to the grade.
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Expect other visitors waiting patiently for their descent as well. Lombard becomes one-way at the top of the hill thus allowing for its serpentine design. A three-way stop usually determines the pecking order of which driver goes next.
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Obey the strict speed limit rule. The cobblestones and narrow curbs don’t allow for much acceleration, but note that the regulated speed limit permits an even slower speed.
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Respect the residents living on this block. How these families can live with such a steady stream of traffic, while needing access to their garage is amazing. Surely they take it in stride.
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Note the absolutely beautiful rose gardens that encompass the area between the curves and the sidewalk. The gardens are a showcase in itself.
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Stop at the bottom of the block. Invite every passenger in the vehicle to exit and to instead walk back up the street. This one-block hike requires climbing several steps, but allows an up close view of the street and the gardens. Again respect the residents.
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Circle around the block, returning to the top of Lombard, pick up the passengers, who should be waiting and drive the street again. Note that the one-block drive is very short, but nevertheless amazing and requires one more descent before experiencing Fisherman’s Wharf or Alcatraz.
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Tips & Warnings
Lodging and dining prices in San Francisco range from high end to very affordable, depending on the season. Lodging is even more affordable south toward Santa Cruz or across the Bay.
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- Photo Credit James Barnett
