Kayakers who are SF Giants baseball fans in Marin or Sonoma Counties

Hi fellow Kayakers,

I'm a SF Giants fan and like to attend a few home games each year.  I'm retired and looking for others who like to go too.  Increased parking fees near the park and the higher bridge toll fee has made it very pricey to drive there and see a game now.  I mostly take the Ferry from Larkspur Landing and enjoy the bay ride over directly to the back gate of the park.  I can go during the week or the weekend and prefer day games to night games.

The new Giants season starts today, so maybe there are a couple others in Marin or Sonoma County that are in the same situation.

Let me know if you want to go too,

Rick aka Tatanka

I heard parking is $120 today?!

I heard parking is $120 today?!

Heck, I'll valet your car from Potrero Hill for half that

Who was at the game today!

How much is the bridge toll,these days?

Any halibut at McCovey cove?? Catching one and a splash landing on the same day would be instant AOTY in my book. Hummmmm baby!

Twopatch,
The GG Bridge doesn't accept pay at the gate anymore.  If you blow through the gate without paying, the camera will get your plate and the registered owner will automatically be sent the toll charge plus a $25 fine.  You have to setup an account on FasTrak, automatic pay by license plate or other method ahead of time; even a year ahead.  Toll price is between $8 and $9 for a southbound crossing depending on how you choose to pay.  No charge for northbound traffic.  I've had FasTrak for many years that is good for all the Bay Area bridges.  I think the toll fees are different for busses, trucks, etc.  Vacationers and folks from out of town can't pay with cash and will get busted by the camera only to find a fat bill waiting in their mailbox when they get home.

Adding up the FasTrak cost plus the gouged parking lot fee is very similar to the Ferry fee, but of course if several people carpool and split the parking fee then it is cheaper to drive, but then you have to fight traffic for an hour when the game lets out.  The Ferry leaves 30 minutes after the last out and drops you at the Larkspur Terminal about 45 minutes later.

If you drive and park in the bay side lots next to McCovey Cove or in the open or garage lots within 3 or 4 blocks the fees range from $30 to $80 on a normal game day or night.  For special event games the price skyrockets.  Opening day was reported to be $120.  I used to go to a night game about an hour early and cruise around the nearby neighborhoods within a couple blocks, trying double park until the meter made drove by.  Then I would circle the block.  I'd wait for somebody to leave their spot then pull in and park where he just left.   I'd sit in my car and not feed the meter unless I saw the meter maid again.  It's much cheaper to feed a meter for an hour if needed until the regulated time passed by (then it was free), then I'd walk to the park.

Let me get this straight. We live far north of the city of my birth, San Francisco. We only go through about every 4-5 years and it's a new nerve-wracking high blood pressure evoking bridge paying experience every time.

So, you're saying that there is no one to man the toll booths anymore? Only the trusty cameras are in full force? A person traveling must have a FasTrak account or set up by "automatic pay by license plate." How does one do that? It's not I don't want to pay to keep the bridge up by blowing through the gate, it's just that an extra $25 penalty would kind of chap me. Thanks.

Twopatch,
The GG Bridge doesn't accept pay at the gate anymore.  If you blow through the gate without paying, the camera will get your plate and the registered owner will automatically be sent the toll charge plus a $25 fine.

I don't think that's accurate. You just need to make sure you pay the toll within two days I think. But yeah, you won't get the invoice mailed to you until a week later. Kinda ridiculous. But you can pay online and also pay before hand

Twopatch,
The GG Bridge doesn't accept pay at the gate anymore.  If you blow through the gate without paying, the camera will get your plate and the registered owner will automatically be sent the toll charge plus a $25 fine.

I don't think that's accurate. You just need to make sure you pay the toll within two days I think. But yeah, you won't get the invoice mailed to you until a week later. Kinda ridiculous. But you can pay online and also pay before hand

When I cross the bridge they send me a bill in the mail for maybe $8?  Then I have a couple weeks to go online and pay.

I haven’t crossed in a few months though.  Last time was in October.

The toll booths have not been manned for several years.  A big sign at the bridge entrance says that now.  Its best to go online or call the GG Bridge District to get more information.   My post was to find others in Sonoma or Marin County that like to go to Giants games and want to offset the bridge and parking costs.   There is still the option to park and ride the GG Ferry at Larkspur for me.

Golden Gate toll options:
https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/tolls-payment/toll-payment-options/