Riding the Cable Cars With Kids in San Francisco

My kids would ride a cable car forty times in a row if I let them. There is something about hanging off the side of a moving wooden box, up a hill that feels close to vertical, that turns even a tired ten year old back into a kid having the best day.

Here is what I tell families before they go. The Powell-Hyde line is the one you want with kids. It ends near Ghirardelli Square and gives you the big drop toward the bay that everyone pictures. Get there early. By ten in the morning the line at the Powell Street turnaround can be an hour long, and an hour in line with three kids is nobody’s idea of a good start.

You can skip the wait by walking a few blocks up and catching the car at a stop along the route. The catch is it might be full when it reaches you, so we usually just eat the early wake up and go first thing.

A single ride is eight dollars and kids are not free, so a family of five adds up fast. If you are riding more than twice in a day, a Muni day pass pays for itself and covers the buses and streetcars too. The historic F line streetcars are a favorite of mine for tired legs at the end of the day.

Hold little ones on the inside benches, not the running board. The grips are steep and the stops are sudden.

Want the full breakdown of neighborhoods, timing, and where to stay with kids? Read San Francisco With Kids. And if you would rather hand the planning to someone, Work with me.