Where to Watch the Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels in San Francisco: 20 Best Viewing Spots With Addresses

The best places to watch the Fleet Week Parade of Ships and the Blue Angels in San Francisco on Friday, October 9, 2026, are along a four-mile arc of waterfront from Crissy Field to Pier 39, with the Marina Green at its center: the Parade of Ships sails under the Golden Gate Bridge from 11 a.m. to noon, and the air show runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels usually flying in the last hour. This guide lists 20 viewing spots with exact addresses, what you can see from each, how crowded it gets, how to get there now that robotaxis and cars are restricted on the northern waterfront, and what Saturday’s wind and midday king tides mean for your plans, SFNews.us reports.

The air show is free to watch from public land; only reserved seats on the Marina Green cost money. The performance area, known as the box, sits over the Bay between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, so anywhere with a clear view of that stretch of water works. The closer you are to the Marina Green, the better the formation flying looks; the farther away you are, the more of the Bay, the bridge and the ships you get in a single view.

Fleet Week Friday at a glance

How the Parade of Ships works

The Parade of Ships is the formal opening of Fleet Week’s big weekend. From 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, military vessels, led by the San Francisco Fire Department’s fireboats with their water cannons arcing, enter the Bay from the Pacific, pass under the Golden Gate Bridge and sail east along the northern waterfront. It is shorter and smaller than it was a decade or two ago, so do not expect a long procession of aircraft carriers, but it remains the moment when the Navy, Coast Guard and the city’s maritime services are most visible together.

The ships open for public tours this weekend include the amphibious transport dock USS Ashland, the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George and the Coast Guard cutters Munro, Benjamin Bottoms and George Cobb. There are no ship tours on Friday; free tours run on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pier 27 and Pier 35 on The Embarcadero, and on Monday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at Pier 35. Visitors aged 18 and over need photo ID, under-17s must be accompanied by an adult, and large bags and high heels are not allowed on board.

Best places to watch the ships

For the moment the ships pass under the bridge, the best views are from the Golden Gate Bridge’s own approaches and from the Marin side. From the San Francisco side, Crissy Field and Fort Point give the closest view of ships under the span. Once they are inside the Bay, the Marina Green, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park and the piers of Fisherman’s Wharf all see them pass within a few hundred yards. If you want both the ships and the air show, stay put at Fort Mason or the Marina Green from 10:30 a.m.

The 20 best places to watch the Blue Angels and the Parade of Ships

1. Marina Green

Address: Marina Blvd between Scott St and Buchanan St, San Francisco. The Marina Green is the show center: pilots fly their routines relative to it, and the announcer’s commentary is broadcast here. Reserved seating in the premium area is sold separately through Fleet Week, and the free public lawn on either side fills by late morning. Arrive by 10 a.m. on Friday and earlier on the weekend. Best for: formation passes overhead, the full air show experience. Downside: crowds, limited toilets, the slowest exit afterwards.

2. Crissy Field

Address: Crissy Field East Beach, 1199 East Beach, Presidio, San Francisco. Wide lawn and beach with the Golden Gate Bridge directly to the west, which makes it the best spot for photographs of aircraft and ships with the bridge behind them. It is less crowded than the Marina Green, though trees and the angle of view can hide some low passes. On Saturday and Sunday, Presidio roads close to cars at noon, so come by Presidio GO shuttle, Muni 30 Stockton or bike. Paid parking is $9 an hour or $45 a day on the weekend.

3. Fort Mason Great Meadow

Address: Bay St and Laguna St, San Francisco (Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, is below it). The meadow sits on a slope above the water, so you get height without the Marina Green crowds. It is one of the best all-round spots, with a view from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz. Best for: families with picnics. Nearest transit: 28, 30, 43 and 49 buses.

4. Aquatic Park

Address: Beach St and Hyde St, San Francisco (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, 900 Beach St). A small curved beach and stepped seating face the water, creating a natural amphitheater. Many regulars consider it the best place for the air show because the jets turn tightly over the cove. It fills early. Restrooms are at the Maritime Museum building. Note that Saturday’s high tide around noon may push water up the beach.

5. Ghirardelli Square

Address: 900 North Point St, San Francisco. The terraces have elevated views over Aquatic Park and the Bay, plus restrooms, cafés and the free USAF Band of the Golden West at 5 p.m. on Friday. Best for: a comfortable spot with food nearby.

6. Pier 39

Address: Beach St and The Embarcadero, San Francisco. Close to Alcatraz and the eastern end of the box, with plenty of food and restrooms. It is crowded, and the western end of the show can be partly hidden, so look for a spot along the outer railing with a clear line toward the Golden Gate. The Navy Band Southwest Destroyers play here at 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

7. Jefferson Street and the Hyde Street Pier

Address: Jefferson St between Hyde St and the end of the street, Fisherman’s Wharf. Jefferson Street west of Hyde is closed to cars from 6 a.m. on Friday to 10 p.m. on Sunday, which turns it into a pedestrian viewing area. The historic ships at the Hyde Street Pier frame the view.

8. Golden Gate Bridge east sidewalk and Welcome Center

Address: Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, Golden Gate Bridge Plaza, San Francisco. Watching ships pass directly beneath you is unforgettable, and the jets fly at close range nearby. The walkway fills early, and it is very windy, especially on Saturday, when gusts on the coast are forecast at 30 to 40 mph. Arrive at least two hours before the show. Muni 28 stops at the toll plaza.

9. Fort Point and the Presidio Promenade

Address: Long Ave and Marine Dr, Presidio, San Francisco. Directly under the south end of the bridge, at water level. It is spectacular for the Parade of Ships but has limited space and parking, and is wind-exposed. On weekends, reach it on foot or by bike from Crissy Field.

10. Presidio Tunnel Tops

Address: 210 Lincoln Blvd, Presidio, San Francisco. The landscaped park above the Presidio Parkway tunnels looks over Crissy Field to the Bay. It has food trucks on weekends, restrooms and the 191st Army Woodwind Quintet at noon on Friday. Muni 43 stops nearby.

11. Battery Spencer, Marin Headlands

Address: Conzelman Rd, Sausalito (Golden Gate National Recreation Area). The classic postcard view down onto the bridge, with the city behind. You see the Parade of Ships head-on as it approaches the Gate. Parking is very limited and the road can be closed when full, so arrive early or cycle across the bridge. Best for: photographers. Downside: distant air show views.

12. Fort Baker and Cavallo Point

Address: 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito. On the Marin side, just inside the Gate at water level, with ships passing close by after they clear the bridge. Quieter than anywhere in San Francisco. Parking is limited; check Golden Gate National Recreation Area signage.

13. Sausalito waterfront

Address: Gabrielson Park, Anchor St and Bridgeway, Sausalito. A relaxed view across Richardson Bay toward Angel Island and the city, with the jets visible over the Bay. Reachable by the Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building, which avoids bridge traffic.

14. Treasure Island

Address: Avenue of the Palms, Treasure Island, San Francisco. Panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge and the eastern part of the show box. Muni 25 Treasure Island runs from the Salesforce Transit Center. Parking is easier than on the northern waterfront.

15. Coit Tower and Pioneer Park

Address: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco. High above North Beach, with sweeping views over Alcatraz and the Bay. The parking lot at the top is tiny and closes when full; take the 39 Coit bus, which is affected by the Powell Street closure this weekend, or walk up the Filbert or Greenwich steps.

16. Ina Coolbrith Park

Address: Vallejo St and Taylor St, Russian Hill, San Francisco. A small terraced park with a Bay view toward Alcatraz and the Golden Gate. Few people know it, so it stays calmer.

17. Alta Plaza Park

Address: Jackson St and Steiner St, Pacific Heights, San Francisco. From the northern terraces you can see across the Marina to the bridge and the Bay. The jets roar over Pacific Heights on their turns, so expect it to be loud.

18. Lafayette Park

Address: Washington St and Gough St, Pacific Heights, San Francisco. Elevated lawns and a partial northern view. Best for: a family afternoon with shade and playground, away from the waterfront crush.

19. Pier 27 and The Embarcadero

Address: James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, Pier 27, The Embarcadero at Lombard St, San Francisco. The ship tour pier, with Fleet Fest activities on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The air show is farther away here, but you can combine a ship tour with the last part of the show.

20. Twin Peaks

Address: 501 Twin Peaks Blvd, San Francisco. The city’s highest public viewpoint gives a sweeping but distant view of the Bay and the flying. Best as a quiet alternative if you want to see the formation from above the city rather than from the waterfront.

Which spot is right for you

Watching from the water

Several operators run Fleet Week cruises that sit near the edge of the show box. Red and White Fleet runs a 2.5-hour cruise from Friday to Sunday; Blue and Gold Fleet and Hornblower run cruises on Saturday and Sunday; and the historic Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien sails on Saturday and Sunday. These usually sell out in advance. Private boaters must stay outside the Coast Guard’s restricted zone during the show, and this weekend should expect rough water outside the Gate, with gale-force gusts offshore and strong to near-gale marine winds forecast.

Getting there: transit, robotaxis and parking

Leave the car at home if you can. Muni is adding service from Friday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.: F-line shuttle buses run between Embarcadero Station and Fisherman’s Wharf, the 49 Van Ness/Mission adds buses between 11th and Mission and Van Ness and North Point, and the 28 19th Avenue runs a shortened route from Daly City BART to Van Ness and North Point. On Saturday and Sunday, F-line streetcars turn back at Pier 39 between noon and 5 p.m., and the Powell-Mason cable car is partly replaced by buses. Free Muni, including cable cars, applies to anyone in uniform or with a military ID.

Robotaxis cannot pick up or drop off along the northern waterfront between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Friday to Sunday, and do not operate in the Presidio. Uber, Lyft and taxis are not restricted, with taxi stands at Beach St and Hyde St and at Pier 39. Jefferson Street west of Hyde is closed to cars from Friday to Sunday night. Full details are in our road closures guide and our explainer on Waymo’s Fleet Week restrictions.

Weather this weekend: wind, tides and fog

Friday is the warmest and calmest of the three air show days, with a forecast high of 71 degrees and a west-southwest breeze gusting to 21 mph. Saturday turns cooler, around 63 degrees, with west winds of 10 to 17 mph in the city and gusts of 30 to 40 mph along the coast. Sunday is sunny and a little milder. Fog can still roll through the Gate in the afternoon, and low cloud or strong wind can lead organizers to modify routines, so check the official Fleet Week channels on the day.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is also in effect from Friday morning to Tuesday afternoon, with midday high tides around seven feet at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday and 12:18 p.m. on Sunday. Low points at Crissy Field, Aquatic Park and along the Embarcadero may be wet, so stand on higher ground and keep children back from the water. Our report on Hurricane Rachel’s effects on the Bay Area has the full tide table and beach warnings.

Who is flying

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, formed in 1946, flies Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets painted in blue and gold. The team’s show combines the six-jet Delta formation, the four-jet Diamond with wingtips only feet apart, and solo passes by two opposing jets that appear to head straight for each other before crossing. Over San Francisco, the Diamond often turns over the Golden Gate Bridge and runs east along the waterfront, which is why the stretch from Crissy Field to Aquatic Park gets the best views. The support aircraft, a C-130J Hercules nicknamed Fat Albert, usually flies before the jets.

Patriots Jet Team

The Patriots Jet Team is a civilian aerobatic team based in Byron, in eastern Contra Costa County, and flies Czech-built L-39 Albatros jets. Its routines are smaller and slower than the Blue Angels’, which makes them easier to follow and photograph.

F-22 Raptor and the United Airlines 777

The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration shows off the stealth fighter’s thrust vectoring, with slow, high-angle passes that seem to defy physics. The United Airlines Boeing 777 flypast, a Fleet Week tradition for San Francisco’s home airline, is the moment many spectators find most surprising: a widebody airliner flying low and slow along the waterfront.

Fleet Week’s history in San Francisco

San Francisco’s modern Fleet Week began in 1981, when Mayor Dianne Feinstein invited the Navy to celebrate the city’s maritime ties, and it has grown into one of the city’s largest annual events, combining the air show, ship visits, band concerts and humanitarian assistance exercises in which military and civilian agencies practice disaster response. In some years federal budget disputes have led to the cancellation of the Blue Angels, ship tours or bands, which is why organizers still advise checking official updates close to the date.

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter speed, at least 1/1000 second, to freeze jets; for propeller aircraft, slower speeds keep some blur in the props.
• The sun is in the south and west in the afternoon, so shooting from the Marina Green or Fort Mason toward the bridge means backlight; Crissy Field and Fort Point give side light on aircraft over the Bay.
• A zoom lens of 200 to 400mm is ideal for formations. Phones work best for wide shots of the crowd, the bridge and the ships.
• Drones are not allowed anywhere near the air show; the airspace is restricted and violations are prosecuted.
• On Saturday, wind and spray can coat lenses near the water, so bring a cloth.

Accessibility and families

The Marina Green, Crissy Field promenade, Fort Mason’s upper paths and Ghirardelli Square are mostly flat or ramped. Accessible restrooms are at several Presidio Main Post sites and at Presidio Tunnel Tops, and the free Presidio GO shuttle is wheelchair accessible and carries bikes. Muni’s added 28 and 49 buses are accessible. For children, ear defenders, a meeting point in case you get separated and a spare layer make the day easier. Strollers are easier on the Crissy Field promenade than on the crowded Marina Green.

What to bring

• Layers and a windproof jacket: the waterfront is several degrees colder than downtown, and the wind picks up through the afternoon.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat that will not blow away.
• Ear protection for small children: the jets are extremely loud on low passes.
• Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. There is a Trader Joe’s at 401 Bay St, a few blocks from Fisherman’s Wharf, and Presidio food trucks on the weekend.
• A blanket or low chair. Tents are not allowed in the Presidio, and shade structures there must be smaller than 5 by 5 feet and unstaked.
• A charged phone with tickets, maps and the Muni app ready; mobile networks slow down in big crowds.

Restrooms

Free restrooms are available at Ghirardelli Square, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park building at 900 Beach St, Pier 39, Crissy Field and Presidio Tunnel Tops, plus portable toilets along the Marina Green. Lines are longest between 1 and 3 p.m.

Noise: which neighborhoods hear the jets

The jets turn over the northern neighborhoods, so the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill and North Beach are the loudest parts of the city from noon to 4 p.m. on all three days. The Mission, Dogpatch, Noe Valley and the southern neighborhoods are much quieter. If you have pets that are sensitive to noise, keep them indoors during the show.

Fleet Week beyond the air show

Fleet Week runs until Monday, October 12. On Saturday and Sunday, Fleet Fest fills Fisherman’s Wharf from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Pier 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food, music, demonstrations and family activities. K9 Heroes, a demonstration by military working dogs, takes place at Duboce Park, Duboce Ave and Scott St, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Free military band concerts continue across the city, including Golden Gate Park Band Shell at noon on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Monday, Union Square at 4 p.m. on Friday and the Italian Heritage Parade on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Our weekend guide for October 10–11 has the full program, and our concerts guide covers the evenings.

A suggested Friday timeline

Where to eat near the viewing spots

Restaurants along the waterfront will be busiest from 4 to 6 p.m., just after the show. Book ahead or eat earlier. A few reliable options close to the best viewing areas:

After the show: how to avoid the crush

The 30 minutes after 4 p.m. are the hardest part of the day. Tens of thousands of people leave the waterfront at once, buses fill at the first stops and streets around Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street jam. Three approaches work. Stay put and eat or listen to a band until 5:30 p.m. Walk south up the hill to Union Street or Chestnut Street before boarding a bus heading downtown. Or walk east along the waterfront to the F-line shuttle or the Embarcadero and take BART from Embarcadero Station. If you need a ride, request it from at least a few blocks south of Lombard Street; robotaxis will not pick up inside the restricted zone until 6 p.m.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Fleet Week Parade of Ships on Friday, October 9, 2026?

From 11 a.m. to noon. The ships enter the Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge, led by San Francisco Fire Department fireboats, and sail along the northern waterfront.

What time do the Blue Angels fly in San Francisco?

The air show runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Angels usually fly in the final hour, around 3 to 4 p.m., but times can change because of weather.

Is the Fleet Week air show free?

Yes, from public land such as Crissy Field, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park and most of the Marina Green. Reserved premium seating on the Marina Green costs extra.

Where is the best free spot to watch the Blue Angels?

Aquatic Park and the Fort Mason Great Meadow combine close views with natural seating. Crissy Field is best for photographs with the Golden Gate Bridge.

Can I tour the Navy ships on Friday?

No. Free ship tours run on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Piers 27 and 35, and on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon at Pier 35.

Can I drive to the Marina Green?

You can, but parking is scarce and traffic heavy. On Saturday and Sunday the Presidio closes to cars at noon. Muni’s 28, 30, 43 and 49 lines and the free Presidio GO shuttle are faster.

What happens if it is foggy or windy?

Pilots and organizers can shorten or change routines. Saturday is the windiest day of the weekend, with coastal gusts of 30 to 40 mph forecast.

Materials used: KTVU, SFist, Axios San Francisco, SF Tourism Tips, SFMTA Fleet Week travel update, Presidio Trust, National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area.