Lombard Street
Eight hairpin turns lined with flowers on a single steep block of Russian Hill.
Photo: Érico Andrei · CC BY 3.0
Lombard Street guide: the crooked block, driving down it, the best photo spots, the cable car to the top, nearby Coit Tower and North Beach, parking and tips.
What to expect
The “crookedest street in the world” is in fact just one block between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets on Russian Hill in San Francisco. In 1922 the city built eight sharp switchbacks into the slope, which had a grade of 27 percent, so that cars and horses could get down safely.
Today the brick roadway is lined with hydrangeas, flower beds and elegant houses, and cars crawl down it one way, at about 8 km/h. Many visitors prefer to walk the stairs on either side, which give the best views of the turns, of Coit Tower and of the bay.
The classic photo is taken from the bottom, at Leavenworth Street, looking up at the curves. The Powell–Hyde cable car stops right at the top of the block, which makes it an easy addition to a ride from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf.
The residents live with millions of visitors a year, so keep the noise down and do not block driveways. Beyond the curves, the rest of the street is a straight, busy road that crosses the city toward the Presidio.
Lombard Street: top things to do
- 1The view up the curves from Leavenworth Street
- 2A slow drive down the eight turns
- 3The flowers in summer
- 4The Powell–Hyde cable car stop at the top
Lombard Street: best time to visit
Early morning on a weekday, before the crowds and the line of cars.
Lombard Street: insider tips
- Arrive by cable car and walk down the stairs instead of driving.
- Never leave anything visible in a parked car nearby.
- Be quiet and respect private driveways; people live here.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance | Free |
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Car break-ins are common at viewpoints and downtown: never leave anything visible in the car.
- Downtown parking is expensive and hard to find; book a garage in advance with a parking app or leave the car at the hotel.
Gas and fast charging nearby
284 gas stations within 20 km
- 0.5 km 76
- 1.1 km Chevron
- 1.1 km Shell
- 1.4 km Standard
- 2.1 km Chevron
- 2.1 km 76
- 1.4 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 2.3 km Electrify America Fast chargers (Electrify America)
- 2.3 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 2.8 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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