Bus Routes for Field Trips and Other Groups

We are not accepting Field Trip reservations at this time. For more information, please contact our Reservations Office at 415.528.4407.

Arrival and Departure Times for Buses

If you're coming to the Exploratorium by school or charter bus, please make your bus reservations after your Field Trip reservation, so you can be sure that your preferred time slot is available. We carefully coordinate bus arrival and departure times so they don't interrupt the flow of traffic on the Embarcadero.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Directions

• Directions to Short-term Bus Parking (pdf)
• Field Trip Bus Staging Area (pdf)

School buses will line up on Green Street where it intersects with the Embarcadero, then proceed to the curb cutout in front of Pier 17 to unload their passengers. There will be an Exploratorium staff member available to check buses in, assist drivers with unloading their passengers, and provide maps to bus parking areas.

Buses will not be allowed to unload their passengers on Embarcadero without first lining up on Green Street. Any bus that attempts to stop on Embarcadero will be directed to circle around to Green Street.

It is imperative that each bus arrive on Green Street at its scheduled time. There is a very small area for buses to line up and wait for their turn to unload their students. There is NO parking for buses at the drop-off site. The buses that arrive more than 15 minutes early will not be allowed to line up on Green Street, and will have to keep circling the area until their scheduled times to unload or pick up.

From the East Bay

• Cross the Bay Bridge toward San Francisco.
• Take the Harrison Street exit on the left toward Embarcadero. Follow it for 0.4 miles. 
• Merge onto Fremont Street. Follow it for 0.1 miles.
• Turn right onto Folsom Street. Follow it for 0.3 miles.
• Turn left onto The Embarcadero. Follow it for 0.8 miles. 
• Turn left onto Broadway Street. Follow it for four blocks.
•  Turn right onto Sansome Street. Follow it for two blocks. 
• Turn right onto Green Street.
• As you approach the Embarcadero on Green Street, pull to the curb. Look across the Embarcadero to find the bus zone—it's to the left, in front of Pier 17. If you see three or more buses in front of Pier 17, wait at the curb on Green Street until the bus zone clears. When it's clear, turn left on Embarcadero and proceed to the bus zone.​

From the North Bay

• Cross the Golden Gate Bridge toward San Francisco.
• Follow the signs onto Lombard Street. Follow it for about 1.1 miles.
• Turn right onto Van Ness Avenue. Follow it for 0.4 miles.
• Turn left onto Broadway Street. Follow it for 0.8 miles.
• Turn left onto Sansome Street. Follow it for two blocks.
• Turn right onto Green Street.
• As you approach the Embarcadero on Green Street, pull to the curb. Look across the Embarcadero to find the bus zone—it's to the left, in front of Pier 17. If you see three or more buses in front of Pier 17, wait at the curb on Green Street until the bus zone clears. When it's clear, turn left on Embarcadero and proceed to the bus zone.

From the South Bay

From 101 North:

• Follow 101 North toward San Francisco
• Take I-80 toward the Bay Bridge. Follow it for 0.7 miles.
• Take the Fourth Street exit. Follow it for 0.2 miles.
• Turn left onto Bryant Street. Follow it for 0.8 miles.
• Turn left onto The Embarcadero. Follow it for 1.1 miles.
• Turn left onto Broadway Street. Follow it for four blocks.
• Turn right onto Sansome Street. Follow it for two blocks.
• Turn right onto Green Street.
• As you approach the Embarcadero on Green Street, pull to the curb. Look across the Embarcadero to find the bus zone—it's to the left, in front of Pier 17. If you see three or more buses in front of Pier 17, wait at the curb on Green Street until the bus zone clears. When it's clear, turn left on Embarcadero and proceed to the bus zone.

From 280 North:

• Follow 280 North toward San Francisco
• 280 North ends at King Street. Merge with King Street. Follow it for 0.4 miles.
• King Street merges with The Embarcadero. Follow Embarcadero for 1.5 miles.
• Turn left onto Broadway Street. Follow it for four blocks.
• Turn right onto Sansome Street. Follow it for two blocks.
• Turn right onto Green Street.
• As you approach the Embarcadero on Green Street, pull to the curb. Look across the Embarcadero to find the bus zone—it's to the left, in front of Pier 17. If you see three or more buses in front of Pier 17, wait at the curb on Green Street until the bus zone clears. When it's clear, turn left on Embarcadero and proceed to the bus zone.