The Golden Gate Bridge is more than just an ordinary bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. The 2 mi long red suspension bridge is one of the main symbols of San Francisco, along with Alcatraz and the cable cars. Completed in 1937, it was not originally intended to be red at all.
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Table of Contents
Facts About the Golden Gate Bridge – Length, Map and Tolls
ℹ️ Golden Gate Bridge Length, Height and Color
The Golden Gate Bridge is made of steel, the length of the bridge is 8,981 ft. The total height of the bridge is 746 ft and the width is 90 ft. The red colour of the bridge is officially called “International Orange”, the closest to Pantone 180 of the existing colour palettes.
🗺️ Where the Golden Gate Bridge Is Located
The Golden Gate Bridge in California, connects the northern part of San Francisco to the southern part of Sausalito. The bridge carries U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1.
🪙 Golden Gate Bridge Toll
The Golden Gate Bridge toll is only charged when travelling in the direction of San Francisco.
The toll price via FasTrak is $8.75, via one-time payment $9.00, via invoice $9.75, and via Carpool $6.75. I last updated the toll prices on June 14, 2024.
Carpool discount is available for cars with 3 passengers Monday through Friday from 5:00am to 9:00am from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. You must have FasTrak and must drive through the carpool lane to receive the discount.
Most rental car companies pass on the fees to clients, using Pass24, eToll, PlatePass, or TollPass systems. For drivers, this means they can drive through Fast Track. They will be charged through the rental company.
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Tips for Golden Gate Bridge Visitors
🚗 How to Get to the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Transit buses will take you to the bridge, the ticket will cost $5.25 if you pay in cash and $4.20 if you pay in the app. Fares were last updated on June 14, 2024. Get off at the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza stop and use the 101, 114, 130, 132, 150, 154, 164 and 172 lines.
An Uber from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge works out to $30–$45. Pedestrians can walk along the Golden Gate for free.
You can also go to the Golden Gate by rental car, but be prepared for parking problems. There is a charge of $5.00 per hour and spaces are quite scarce, so parking is limited to 3 hours.
🕒 Best Time to Visit the Golden Gate Bridge
Although the Tourist Center at the Golden Gate Bridge is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, I recommend going to the bridge in the afternoon or midday. In the morning you might not see anything at all due to the thick fog. Except for a model of the bridge, where you can simulate the effect of inclement weather on the Golden Gate.
📷 Where to Take Pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge
Most photos of the bridge are taken from the visitor center from a place called Golden Gate Vista Point South. The bridge is visible from here for its entire length, including both towers and the water in the bay.
You can take photos directly from the bridge because of the easily accessible pedestrian paths. Baker Beach is also a popular spot and is relatively easy to get to, providing the necessary distance for photography.
The best time to take photos is usually early in the morning or at sunset.
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Fun Facts About Golden Gate Bridge
📛 What Is the Origin of the Name Golden Gate Bridge
Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge if it’s red? The name of the Golden Gate Bridge refers to U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont. On July 1, 1846, two years before the discovery of gold in California, he looked at the strait separating San Francisco from the ocean and declared that it was a golden gateway for the Orient trade.
🌫️ How the Color Was Chosen
The Golden Gate Bridge itself was originally intended by the architect to be black or gray. The now iconic red was chosen because it blends well with the surrounding terrain and is also relatively visible in the fog. The fog in San Francisco is like the canals of Venice.
👷 How Many People Work on the Bridge Management
Today, 50 workers work full time on the bridge maintenance, 33 of them are painters, 16 take care of the iron structure and one is their boss. The bridge is painted virtually non-stop throughout the year, once the workers at one end are finished, they start painting again at the other end.
💥 The Golden Gate Bridge Was Hit by an Earthquake
Before the Golden Gate Bridge opened, it was hit by a rather strong earthquake. Workers working on the structure reported that in June 1935, the pier on the south side of the bridge was tilted from side to side by as much as 16 ft.
⛴️ The Bridge Was Preceded by a Ferry
The first connection between the two banks was provided by shipping, with the ferry first sailing sometime in the 1820s. The regular connection was established in the 1940s, the reason for its introduction was quite curious from today’s point of view. The boats brought drinking water to the citizens of San Francisco.
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The History of the Golden Gate Bridge
The idea to build a bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County was conceived in 1923. Strauss submitted his design on August 27, 1930. The next three years dealt with, among other things, the financing of the construction, with the Golden Gate Bridge costing a total of $27 million at then-current prices, equivalent to $507,776,228 in 2024 prices.
Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began on January 5, 1933 and took four years. During that time, it set one quite positive record, as “only” 11 workers died during its course. This was a low number for the time, as the death toll was usually 2.5 times higher for structures of similar scale.
The Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937, when 200,000 city residents walked across it. A day later, motorists were allowed on the bridge. Even then, a toll of 50 cents ($10.91 in 2024 prices) was paid for a one-way trip, and cars with more than 3 passengers were surcharged 5 cents.
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The Golden Gate Bridge Is the Most Popular Suicide Bridge in the World
The Golden Gate Bridge remains a key bridge that connects San Francisco and all of Southern California in general to the northern part of the state. More than 2 billion cars have crossed the bridge since it opened in 1937, and the billion-dollar mark was passed on February 22, 1985. Approximately 112,000 cars cross the Golden Gate Bridge daily.
The unique bridge has also won several awards and firsts. In 1994, it was listed as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World” and is also ranked second on the list of the greatest construction achievements of the 20th century. It is probably no great surprise that the Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world.
However, the Golden Gate Bridge also holds one slightly sad first place. Along with the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China (the former is mentioned once and the latter a second time), it is the most popular bridge among suicide bombers. By 1995, when suicide counts stopped, over 1,500 people had jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. One suicide every three weeks. Today, there are special phones on the bridge that allow you to call a psychologist directly.
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Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge
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