Union Square is a central downtown San Francisco area with transit connections at Powell Street and Market Street.
- Location: Powell Street BART Station is at Powell and Market Streets, near Union Square.
- Transit: The station connects with Muni and the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars.
Getting oriented around Union Square
Union Square sits close to Powell Street and Market Street, where BART and other local transit connections make it easy to orient yourself downtown. Powell Street BART Station is at 899 Market Street, at the corner of Powell and Market Streets.
For a downtown visit, use the station and the surrounding streets as your bearings. Market Street is the key reference point for transit connections, while Powell Street links the station area with the cable-car network.
How do you get to downtown from the hotel?
Powell Street BART Station gives you a transit point near Union Square, at Powell and Market Streets. From Francisco Bay Inn, the Union Square/Market Street station is about a 40-minute walk or a 6-minute drive; rooms for a downtown visit offer a place to stay while exploring the square.
At Powell Street Station, you can connect to Muni and the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason Cable Cars. For a cable-car ride, SFMTA advises checking route travel alerts because maintenance work can affect service. Before you go, check the official sites for BART and SFMTA for current transit information.
Nearby cultural and shopping stops
Powell Street Station is a useful starting point for the cable-car connections around Union Square. The Powell-Hyde line runs between Hyde and Beach and Powell and Market, passing along Hyde, Washington and Powell streets on its inbound route.
San Francisco cable cars were invented in the city 150 years ago and were named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. From Powell Street, the cable-car connections also make Russian Hill accessible by the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines.
Planning a downtown walking loop
Market Street and Powell Street give you two clear anchors for a downtown walk. Start near the Powell Street BART Station, follow the streets around Union Square, then return to the Market Street side to connect with local transit.
If you want to include a cable car, Powell Street Station connects with the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines. The Powell-Hyde route serves Hyde Street at Union Street and ends inbound at Powell Street and Market Street, bringing the ride back to the downtown transit area.
A wider San Francisco day can include cable cars as part of the route; the guide to San Francisco cable-car routes and boarding covers that transport option.
Powell Street Station connects with the cable-car network around the downtown transit area.
For a broader itinerary, a one-day San Francisco route from the hotel offers another way to plan a city visit.
FAQs
Where is Powell Street BART Station?
It is at 899 Market Street, at Powell and Market Streets, near Union Square.
Which cable cars connect at Powell Street Station?
The station connects with the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason Cable Cars.
Does the Powell-Hyde Cable Car pass Union Street?
Yes. It serves Hyde Street at Union Street and terminates inbound at Powell Street and Market Street.