San Francisco’s cable cars run on three routes, connecting downtown with neighborhoods and waterfront areas. Knowing which line serves your destination—and where you can board—makes it easier to plan a ride.
- Three routes: California, Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason.
- Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason run daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- A single ride costs $9.00 for one one-way trip.
- Pay with MuniMobile, Clipper or exact-change cash.
Understanding the cable car routes
San Francisco has three cable car routes: California, Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason.
The California line runs along California Street, between Van Ness Avenue and Market Street. Its outbound terminal is at California Street and Van Ness Avenue; inbound service ends at California Street and Davis Street. California Street and Drumm Street is also an inbound stop. On the official Muni map, the route is marked C.
Powell/Hyde connects Fisherman’s Wharf with Powell and Market. Stops along the route include Hyde Street at Beach, North Point, Bay, Chestnut and Lombard streets. The line appears as PH on the Muni map. Hyde Street at Lombard Street provides access to the famous crooked block described in this guide to visiting Lombard Street.
Powell/Mason serves Chinatown, the Financial District, Nob Hill, North Beach, Russian Hill and SoMa. Look for PM on the official Muni map to identify the route.
Where can you board near the hotel and downtown?
You can board at a cable car turntable at the beginning or end of a route, or at a stop marked with a brown-and-white cable car sign.
For the Powell/Hyde line, Powell and Market and Hyde and Beach are route endpoints; the Powell/Mason line also begins or ends at Powell and Market. The California line’s endpoints are California Street and Van Ness Avenue, and California Street and Davis Street.
Powell Street station is about a 41-minute walk from a San Francisco motel.
For downtown plans, Powell and Market is the cable car terminal.
The area also gives you access to Union Square and downtown San Francisco.
SFMTA route pages provide planned schedules, stop lists and real-time arrival predictions. Stop status for temporary relocations is updated every 30 minutes on the hour.
What are the fares, passes and payment options?
A single cable car ride costs $9.00 and covers one one-way trip; it does not include a transfer between cable car lines.
Seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders may pay the $4.00 fare before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Children ages 4 and under ride free. San Francisco youth ages 18 and under ride free with a Free Muni for Youth Clipper card.
You can pay with MuniMobile, a Clipper card or app, or cash in exact change. MuniMobile accepts credit or debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. A one-day Visitor Passport costs $15.00 and covers unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars and cable cars.
At the Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach terminals, buy your fare before boarding during kiosk hours, which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. At other stops, or outside those kiosk hours, you can pay the operator in cash with exact change. SFMTA recommends prepaying with MuniMobile or Clipper to avoid terminal lines.
Using cable cars for nearby sightseeing
Choose a route based on the neighborhoods and stops you want to reach, and allow for the fact that a single-ride fare covers only one line.
For Lombard Street, the Powell/Hyde stop at Hyde Street and Lombard Street offers a direct stop in the area. Powell/Hyde also runs between Fisherman’s Wharf and Powell and Market, making it useful for combining a waterfront visit with a downtown stop.
Powell/Mason serves neighborhoods including Chinatown, North Beach and Russian Hill, while the California route runs along California Street between Van Ness and Market. For Union Square plans, Powell and Market is a downtown endpoint; check the route details to match the line to your itinerary.
Before you go: Operating hours, fares and payment rules can change, so check the official SFMTA site before you go.
FAQs
How many cable car routes are there in San Francisco?
There are three: California, Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason. The official Muni map labels them C, PH and PM.
Can you transfer between cable car lines with a single-ride fare?
No. The $9.00 single-ride fare covers one one-way trip and does not include a transfer between cable car lines.
Can you pay cash when boarding?
Yes. At non-terminal stops, or outside terminal kiosk hours, you can pay the operator with exact change. At these terminals during kiosk hours, buy a fare before boarding.
Do children ride San Francisco cable cars free?
Children ages 4 and under ride free. San Francisco youth ages 18 and under ride free with a Free Muni for Youth Clipper card.