Travel Info

Transportation to the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing at Pier 33 is available from a variety of public and private transportation services.

Parking is limited in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, especially during peak visitation months, so we recommend you enhance your Alcatraz experience by taking one of the many public transit services that reach the Pier 33 area. As a bonus, public transit is also the least expensive way to reach the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing.

Follow the links below to learn more about the various ways you can travel to the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing:

Buses
Cable Cars
Streetcars
Trains
Ferry Service
Driving
Other

HINT: A handy way to organize your trip to Hornblower Alcatraz Landing is to visit the 511 TakeTransit Trip Planner. This site contains a wealth of links to local transit agencies, their services, fares, schedules, maps and related information. Type in your starting point, destination, and date you want to travel, and the Trip Planner will provide step-by-step directions on how to reach Hornblower Alcatraz Landing via public transportation.

(Note: All websites, addresses, phone numbers, schedules and other transit information contained in the links above are subject to change without notice.)

Special Needs

Q. How accessible is Alcatraz?

A. Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly, so be prepared for walking long distances uphill. The distance from the dock to the prison at the top of the island is about 1/4 mile (.4 km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters). This is equivalent to climbing a thirteen story building.

Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz's roads may take advantage of SEAT –Sustainable Easy Access Transport -- an electric shuttle that runs once an hour from the dock to the prison building, and once an hour from the front of the prison back to the dock. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Please call 415-561-4900 to obtain a SEAT schedule.

The following areas are completely wheelchair accessible:

• Alcatraz dock area
• Prison building main floor
• All bookstores
• Museum displays
• Island theater