This guide covers what the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) publishes about the lines, the fares, how to pay, and who can and cannot board. If you want the story of how the system began, read our cable car history guide.
The Three Lines
| Line | Runs between | Notes from SFMTA |
|---|---|---|
| Powell-Hyde | Powell and Market, and Hyde and Beach (Victorian Park, Fisherman’s Wharf area) | Inbound goes via Hyde, Washington and Powell. Outbound goes via Powell, Jackson and Hyde. |
| Powell-Mason | Powell and Market, and Taylor and Bay (Fisherman’s Wharf) | Runs via Taylor, Columbus, Mason, Washington and Powell. Serves Nob Hill, North Beach and Chinatown. |
| California | California Street at Van Ness Avenue, and the Market Street end of California Street | Serves Chinatown, Nob Hill, Pacific Heights and the Financial District. |
You can board at a turntable at either end of a line, or at a brown-and-white cable car sign post along the route.
Fares and How to Pay
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ride (no transfers) | $9.00 |
| Senior, disabled or Medicare riders, before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. | $4.00 |
| Children 4 and under | Free |
| 1-day Visitor Passport | $15.00 |
| 3-day Visitor Passport | $35.00 |
| 7-day Visitor Passport | $47.00 |
SFMTA describes the Visitor Passports as unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars and cable cars. They are sold through the MuniMobile app, as a paper Passport, or on Clipper. Youth 18 and under ride regular Muni free, but that exception does not cover cable cars. Cash works on board if you have exact change.
Hours and Frequency
SFMTA lists cable car service as starting at 7 a.m. daily. Its pages give different closing times (see “What We Could Not Verify” below), so check the line page on the day you go.
Accessibility and Rules
- SFMTA says cable cars are not equipped with accessible boarding.
- Full-size and folding bicycles are not allowed.
- Service animals ride inside the car, on the owner’s lap or as far from the aisle as possible. On exterior sections they must be on the owner’s lap.
- If you stand on the outside poles, do not lean outward.
- The green “X” signal at crossings is for cable cars, not pedestrians.
Which Line Fits Your Day
Powell-Hyde ends at Hyde and Beach in Victorian Park, and Powell-Mason ends at Taylor and Bay. Both start at Powell and Market. California runs in a different part of town, up and over Nob Hill between Van Ness and the Financial District, and it is the line not routed to Fisherman’s Wharf. If you are choosing between Muni, BART and the cable cars for a whole trip, see Muni vs. BART vs. Cable Car. Travelling with children? Read Muni, BART and Cable Cars With Kids.
See the Cars Up Close
The Cable Car Museum is in the Washington-Mason powerhouse and carbarn on Nob Hill. It is run by the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, admission is free, and it is closed on Mondays. It shows historic cable cars, photographs and mechanical displays. The museum says the first cable car ran in 1873. More in our Cable Car Museum listing. For views once you reach the top of a hill, see views of San Francisco, or browse San Francisco neighborhoods.
What We Could Not Verify
- SFMTA pages disagree on service hours. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason pages say 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, the California page says 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the frequency guide says 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for all three. The guide gives no single answer; check the live line page the day you ride.
- How often cars run. SFMTA lists frequencies per period, but the pages do not define the exact hours of each period and the Powell-Mason page leaves a weekday midday value blank.
- Cable Car Museum opening and closing times. The museum home page says open daily except Mondays but does not list hours.
- Whether the museum is wheelchair accessible. The page does not say.
- How many cable cars are in service. Neither SFMTA nor the museum page gives a number.
- Current queue lengths and the current status of temporary stop relocations and the sheaves and gearbox projects. SFMTA pages mention them but the alerts feed did not load.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Cable Car Ride Cost?
SFMTA lists a single ride at $9.00 with no transfers. Children 4 and under ride free. Visitor Passports cost $15 for one day, $35 for three days and $47 for seven days.
Can I Pay with Cash?
Yes, with exact change. SFMTA recommends prepaying with MuniMobile or Clipper to avoid long lines, and requires prepayment at Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Are the Cable Cars Wheelchair Accessible?
No. SFMTA says cable cars are not equipped with accessible boarding.
Can I Bring a Bike?
No. SFMTA does not allow full-size or folding bicycles on cable cars.
Checked on 27 October 2026 against the SFMTA cable car, fares and line pages and the Cable Car Museum website.
Sources
More Guides
Presidio Ghosts and the Pet Cemetery: Legends and Facts
The Presidio’s ghost stories and the Pet Cemetery legends, told as stories and then checked against the Presidio Trust and National Park…
Read the guide →Chinatown Tunnels Myth: What Is Under Grant Avenue
The claim that a maze of tunnels runs under San Francisco Chinatown, traced to 1800s tour guides, and what SFGATE and KALW…
Read the guide →Is Coit Tower a Fire Hose Nozzle? The Legend and the Facts
The story that Coit Tower was shaped like a fire hose nozzle to honour firefighters, and what San Francisco Recreation and Parks…
Read the guide →Questions People Ask About How to Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars
How much does a cable car ride cost?
SFMTA lists a single ride at $9.00 with no transfers. Children 4 and under ride free. Visitor Passports cost $15 for one day, $35 for three days and $47 for seven days.
Can I pay with cash?
Yes, with exact change. SFMTA recommends prepaying with MuniMobile or Clipper, and requires prepayment at Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Are the cable cars wheelchair accessible?
No. SFMTA says cable cars are not equipped with accessible boarding.
Can I bring a bike?
No. SFMTA does not allow full-size or folding bicycles on cable cars.
More to Explore
Happening Soon
- Treasures of the Pharaohs Sat, Aug 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · de Young Museum
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Sat, Sep 12 – Dec 31 · Ferry Building Plaza
- Heart of the City Farmers Market Sun, Sep 13 – Dec 31 · Fulton Plaza, Civic Center
- SF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, through Dec 4) Thu, Oct 1 – Dec 4 · SF State Observatory, Thornton Hall
Places to Check Out
- Aquarium of the Bay Attractions
- Asian Art Museum Museums
- Balmy Alley Murals Attractions
- Berggruen Gallery Art Galleries
Cite this page: Project SF, “How to Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars”, projectsf.com/guides/ride-the-cable-cars-san-francisco/ (updated ).