Take advantage of the fact that you have a campervan or car, and cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, which might be the most photographed bridge in the world.
The bridge is 2,737 m long and has 67 m of elevation. Both California State Route 1 and U.S. Route 101 include the crossing of this bridge.
If you are leaving San Francisco, make sure to stop at the H. Dana Bowers Memorial Vista Point for some more pictures of this amazing architecture. Plus, you can also have a spectacular view of this great city (even when it's cloudy).
Paying a one-time toll for the Golden Gate Bridge
The only time you have to pay for the toll is when entering San Francisco. There are no toll booths on the bridge, so you have to keep on driving. You will notice some signs informing you about tolls and making it clear that you should not stop.
All the tolls can be paid online by phone or in person.
When we crossed the bridge, we were quite confused as to how the system works.
But don't worry, we got you covered. Here is the important information you need to know:
As a visitor, you have the option to pay for a one-time toll. You can pay for this toll before you cross the bridge or afterward.
The cameras on the bridge take pictures of every license plate crossing and will keep your balance open until you pay it. If you fail to do so, you will get fined. So don't risk it.
The good news is that you have up to 48 hours to pay for the toll after you have crossed the bridge. Just make sure to have written down the time and date of your crossing.
For online payments: You can pay for the toll online through the Bay Area Fastrak website.
For cash payments: In this map from the Fastrak website, you will be able to find all the locations where you can pay for the toll by cash.
For payments by phone: Call toll-free 1-877-229-8655 or +1 415-486-8655 outside the USA.
Back in 2018, we paid US$7.75 for our toll with a credit card online and received a confirmation e-mail a few minutes later.
You can check out the current prices for the toll at the Golden Gate website.
If you would not like to cross the bridge but are still interested in having some gorgeous views, you can check out our "Drive to Different Lookouts". In this article, we will share with you a route that guarantees incredible views of the Bay Area.
