Lombard Street San Francisco Address, Map and Directions

After spending some time at the Fisher's Wharf, catch the cable car back up to Lombard Street, known as one of the crookedest streets in the United States. As an east-west street in San Francisco, Lombard Street is notable for a steep, one-block section that is made up of tight hairpin turns.

The steep hilly street was built with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill passing fabulous Victorian mansions. With 8 sharp turnings, Lombard Street has become the most striking street in the Golden Gate City. Some of the superior and most expensive real estate of the city can be found on this street.

Location: Beginning at Presidio Boulevard inside the Presidio, Lombard Street traverses east through the Cow Hollow neighborhood. Spanning 12 blocks between Broderick Street on the east and Van Ness Avenue on the west, it is a chief arterial road that is co-signed as U.S. Route 101. The street continues in both directions, wandering all the way east, up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower and spreading west down through the Marina, where it becomes a main artery channeling traffic to the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you want to gain a clear understanding of its location, the following maps will help you gain a visual understanding of Lombard Street and its surrounding area.

Map of Lombard Street

http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/map/11345434/san_francisco_ca/lombard_street.html

Maps of Hotels near Lombard Street

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocalMaps-g60713-d106232-Lombard_Street-Area.html

While you are on the Lombard Street, the most interesting thing to do there is watching people drive down the crooked, one-block section. If you would like to drive down it yourself, drive to the Lombard Street. Driving to the street not only gives you access to experience the fun, but also gives you more freedom and convenience.

However, before starting your engine, equip yourself with the driving directions. The following directions to Lombard Street are offered for the benefit of driving visitors.

1) From the North

If you are driving from the north, take US-101 South towards San Francisco. Drive on until US-101 South turns into Richardson Avenue. Then continue on Lombard Street.

2) From the South

Driving visitors from the south are suggested to take US-101 North towards San Francisco. Take the Mission Street exit and make a left on Van Ness Avenue.

3) From the East

For visitors departing from the east, it is necessary to take I-580 West towards San Francisco. When on I-580 west, get off at Harrison Street towards Embarcadero. Make a left on Harrison Street and then turn right on Third Street. Follow the Third Street until it becomes Kearny Street. Then make a left on Geary Street. While on Geary Street, bear right on Van Ness Avenue.

4) From San Francisco International Airport

If you are coming from San Francisco International Airport, start out going northwest and keep right at the fork. Take the ramp to US-101 North. Remain right at the fork and follow signs for US-101 North / San Francisco to merge onto US-101 North. Take exit 434A to merge onto Mission Street towards Golden Gate Bridge. Bear left onto Van Ness Avenue.

You can get exact directions from your location to Lombard Street on this page:

Get Directions to Lombard Street

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=lombard+street,+san+francisco,+ca,+united+states&xhr=t&q=lombard+street+san+francisco&cp

After driving on Van Ness Avenue, you can't turn left on Lombard Street. You need to drive up one block and make a right turn around the block so that you can go straight across Van Ness and drive on Lombard Street.

Once you reach the crooked section, get ready for a slow down. The speed limit in this section is 5 miles per hour. Reserved for one-way traffic traveling east, the crooked section of the street is approximately 0.25 miles long, between Hyde and Leavenworth, just a few blocks above Ghirardelli Square.

For visitors who take the Powell-Hyde cable car to Lombard Street, the cable car makes stops at the top of the street. To get to the crooked section, you can walk up Hyde from Ghirardelli Square, up Leavenworth (one block east) or walk west from North Beach on Lombard Street.

Visiting Tips: To gain the full Lombard Street experience, start your journey on Van Ness and travel up Lombard Street.

The best place to take photos at the street is from Leavenworth Street at the bottom. You will see cars headed down slowly, daring souls walking up and down the sides, while flowers and buildings offer glamorous color. Morning is usually the best time for photographs.