We Conquer the 49 mile scenic drive in San Francisco…

The 49 Mile Scenic Drive in San Francisco. Known for it’s iconic signs that are scattered across San Francisco in seemingly random locations, it turns out that it is one heck of a long drive. The San Francisco department for getting you to come leave your money with us has a good description and overview of the 49 mile scenic drive:

San Francisco 49 mile scenic drive sign at City Hall

The 49 mile scenic drive was created in 1938 by the Downtown Association to highlight the city’s beauty and to promote it as a tourist destination. The route was also created as a way for visitors to see The City while they were here for the Golden Gate International Exposition from 1939-1940.

Over the years, the route has changed many times. Today, the route starts at City Hall and takes you along many of San Francisco’s historic and iconic landmarks. The blue line highlights the route on the map. We’ve called out some of the highlights: start at #1: The Civic Center.

Some notes and tips: driving in the congested downtown area is not recommended during commute hours. Portions of the route may be affected by construction projects, especially in the downtown area. If you are planning a walking tour, check with the Visitor Information Center or your hotel or motel regarding distances and other factors. In some cases public or vehicular transportation is advisable.

Here’s my bottom line: We all know that San Francisco is an incredibly gorgeous, beautiful, scenic, amazing place to live (or visit). Only a masochist would shove themselves in the car and attempt to tackle 49 miles of it in one sitting. It’s just too much! Do yourself a favor and learn from our adventure: too much beauty can just about make you insane. Slow down. Rent a bike, take a walk or a hike and choose just a few San Francisco icons to savor. But whatever you do, don’t do the 49 mile scenic drive all at once.