By Karen

Updated October 8, 2024.

Fleet Week San Francisco
Returning October 7-14, 2024

With the roar of the Blue Angels over the city, we know Fleet Week San Francisco is here!

Here are some tips from a local on what to see and how to enjoy it with the least stress!

Every year in early October, San Francisco hosts a series of events that celebrate our naval forces.

San Francisco's Fleet Week is enormously popular and draws huge crowds to the city's waterfront.

See the Best Places to Watch the Blue Angels!

Blue Angels in Formation

(image courtesy of www.blueangels.navy.mil)

Highlights of Fleet Week

The Air Show: Fri, Sat & Sun, Oct. 11-13, 2024

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 12:00 to 4:00, an air show takes place on San Francisco Bay, visible all along the waterfront from the Ferry Building to the Golden Gate Bridge.

A series of stunt planes swoop and loop above the water, warming the crowd up for the main event, the Blue Angels at 3 pm.

Warm-up Air Show

Air Show Schedule

From 12:00 to 3:00 pm each day (Fri, Sat, Sun), there are performances by the other aircraft.

The show is the same each day.

At 3:00 pm, the Blue Angels begin their performance, which lasts about 40 minutes.

The Blue Angels usually do a practice show on Thursday at 3 pm, which is pretty much the same routine they will do for the other three days.

Many of the participants are the same each year, and of course, the Blue Angels are always here.

2024 Air Show Performers

The Blue Angels
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor (stealth fighter) Demo Team
Patriot Jet Team (Sat & Sun only)
U.S. Marines F-35B demo (fighters for aircraft carriers)
Greg Colyer Ace Maker T-33 fighter jet stunts
Air Force Heritage Flight (historic fighter planes, 1940s)
U.S. Coast Guard Demo
Randy Howell & Corey Lovell Demo, air acrobatics
United Airlines jet (show sponsor)

Coast Guard Rescue Demo

Marines F-35B Flight Demo

The Blue Angels

At 3:00 p.m. each day, the Blue Angels roar in over the Golden Gate Bridge; such a cool sight!

Six navy fighter planes perform frighteningly daring stunts over San Francisco Bay. Precision flying at its most breathtaking. Don't miss this! This is what most of the crowds have come to see.

Blue Angels Hornet in Front of Alcatraz

(image courtesy of www.blueangels.navy.mil)

The Blue Angels fly from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and usually on Thursday as well (a practice day).

For lots more information on the Blue Angels, including the best places to watch the show, see the Blue Angels San Francisco.

Watch a Blue Angels performance in SF

Blue Angels Pilot Autographs

It's really cool to see the actual pilots up close. If you're willing to hang around Fisherman's Wharf until evening on Saturday, the pilots are usually signing autographs at the entrance to Pier 39, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m.

Have an early dinner at the wharf, then see them in person. In the past, the wait hasn't been very long.

Fleet Week Cruises for 2024

There are a number of options for doing a Fleet Week cruise.

All these cruises take you out on the bay and stay out there for part of the air show, including the Blue Angels performance at 3 pm.

They tend to book up so get your tickets early if you want to go.

Jump to:

Red and White Ferry

The Red and White Fleet offers a bay cruise to watch the Blue Angels show from the water. The view from the ship is excellent and the scenery is spectacular.

They keep the boat in one spot for the show, a little ways offshore and directly across from Alcatraz so you can see the planes easily with no obstructions.

I went on this one a few years ago and it was a great way to see the air show.

View From the Red and White Fleet Week Cruise

View from the Red and White Ferry

This has been a two hour cruise that leaves from Pier 43 1/2 at Fisherman's Wharf at 1:45 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The tickets are a bit expensive, $105 for adults 21+, $65 for ages 5-20, but you can sometimes get them half price through goldstar.com. The tickets include two drinks.

You can purchase snacks and additional drinks on board. No buffet this year like years past (see my photos of the ship buffet) but hopefully that will return at some point.

Red & White vs Blue & Gold: the Red & White cruise is cheaper for ages 12 to 20, but more for seniors, compared to the Blue & Gold Fleet Week Cruise below, plus they go out all three days and include 2 free drinks. But the Blue & Gold cruise is a half hour longer. Otherwise the cruises are very similar.

View of SF Fleet Week Air Show from Red and White Ferry

Front Row Seats for the Blue Angels

There were a lot of people on board, but it didn't feel crowded. Highly recommended!

To book tickets with the Red and White Fleet, see Fleet Week Cruise.

Blue and Gold Ferry

The Blue and Gold Fleet has a two and ½ hour Blue Angels cruise during Fleet Week, $105 adults, seniors & military $85, $70 kids 5-11, under 5 free), including a box lunch from the Boudin Bakery.

Alcohol and soft drinks are available for purchase. Saturday & Sunday, 1:30-4 pm, leaving from Pier 39.

You can get the tickets at www.blueandgoldfleet.com

See the air show from a sailboat.

The popular Adventure Cat, a catamaran cruise, is going out on the bay for Fleet Week this year.

Unfortunately, it's already sold out. If you want to check for cancellations and ticket availability, see Fleet Week Air Show Cruise.

The San Francisco Sailing Company sometimes has Fleet Week cruises set up for the Thursday through Sunday air shows on their sailboats. See sailsf.com for info.

I went on one of their 90-minute bay cruises and had a great time. For what their regular sailboat cruise is like, and pictures of the boat, see my page on the Privateer cruise.

San Francisco Bay Sailboat Cruise, city view

Out on the Bay with the Privateer

Cruise the Bay on a Riverboat

City Experiences cruise:

Another way to get out on the water to see the Blue Angels, a bit more expensive at $125, but rather elegant, is the Air Show Lunch Cruise on the San Francisco Belle, one of ships in the City Experiences fleet.

The Belle is a charming recreation of an old-time, Mississippi riverboat, complete with paddle wheel and three levels of decks.

View of the San Francisco Belle from Pier 7

The champagne flows freely and you are treated to an extensive buffet with salads, entrees and desserts, during the two hour voyage.

This cruise goes out at 2:30 p.m. and returns at 4:30 pm on Friday, Oct 11, and Saturday, Oct 12, and Sunday, Oct 13, 2024, of Fleet Week, from Pier 3 (Hornblower Landing) close to the Ferry Building.

The boat leaves from Pier 3, near the Ferry Building. Their parking lot at Pier 3 will be closed during Fleet Week, unfortunately.

Sail the Bay on a WW2 Liberty Ship

If you're up for a longer cruise on a historic war ship, you might consider the USS Jeremiah O'Brien, one of the few remaining liberty ships used to transport troops during WW2.

For 2024, they have Fleet Week cruises on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, 2024, from 10 to 5 (boarding at 9), that sail around the bay, under the Bay Bridge, and give you a great view of the air show. $185 adults, $110 kids 5-16, $500 family (2 adults, 2 youths).

See Jeremiah O'Brien for details. Food, drinks and music included. It's an interesting ship to explore (the Titanic's boiler-room scene was filmed on it).

This is the same ship that's used to be parked at Pier 45 on Fisherman's Wharf but has now moved to Pier 35, and is still available for a visit year-round.

See the Blue Angels from a Whale-Watching Boat.

Cruise around the bay for two hours and see the air show from a whale-watching boat. Bring your own food and drinks (beer and wine okay).

Leaves from Pier 39, Gate B, behind the Aquarium of the Bay at 2 pm, returns at 4:30 pm.

See SF Whale Tours for more info and tickets. $90.

Blue Angels over the City

Tip: the Fleet Week cruises are very popular and tend to sell out, so it's good to book early if you plan on going.

Parade of Ships 2024

When: the Friday of Fleet Week, October 11, 2024, from 11:00 a.m-12 p.m.

A variety of U. S. Navy (and one Canadian Navy) ships sail under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay, usually including destroyers, missile cruisers and amphibious assault transports.

Some of these ships will be available to explore during the ship tours at the piers.

The "parade" lasts for about one to two hours; you can watch it from anywhere along the waterfront, though try to be where you can see them come under the bridge.

It's such a great setting to watch the ships come in.

Ship Tours on the Big Ships 2024

View from the deck of one of the Navy ships.

Ship tour schedule for 2024...

When:

Wednesday, Oct. 9: 10-4, Pier 27: USS Somerset (amphibious landing ship).

Thursday, Oct. 10: 10-4, Pier 27: USS Somerset. Pier 35: USCGC Bertholf (Coast Guard cutter).

Friday, Oct. 11 No ship tours.

Saturday, Oct. 12: 10-4, Pier 27: USS Somerset. Piers 30/32: USS Tripoli (amphibious assault ship w/helicopters). Pier 35: USCGC Bertholf. Piers 15/17: HMCS Regina (Canadian frigate, 10-3:30).

Sunday, Oct. 13: 10-4, same as Saturday.

Monday, Oct. 14: 9-12, Pier 27: USS Somerset. Piers 30/32: USS Tripoli.

All the ship tours are free.

If you've ever been curious about what it's like to be on a war ship, this is your chance to explore some of them. They will be moored at some of the piers along the San Francisco waterfront.

Where:
The tours for the U.S. Navy ships will be held at Pier 27 and Piers 30/32.

The Coast Guard ship will be at Pier 35.

The Canadian ship will be at Piers 15/17.

Pier 35 is walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf; Piers 30/32 are not. Piers 30/32 are about a six block walk along the waterfront from the Ferry Building, past the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Pier 27 is about a 10 minute walk from Pier 39 towards the Ferry Building.

See my page on where the piers are, with maps of the odd and even piers.

Tip: get there early. The lines can be long, hours long at times. Also, there's no shade while waiting, so plan accordingly.

Naval officer near Navy ship during Fleet Week

Fleet Week Ship Tours

To see more information on the ship tours for 2024, and see a map showing where the piers for the tours will be, see Fleet Week ship tours.

Me at the Fleet Week ship tours

Bring a wrap, even if it's a warm sunny day. It can be cool and breezy near the water.

It can get hot, too, because it's held in October. Layers! I should have brought a hat.

Other Events in 2024

There's a Marine Corps Band concert in Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave. Thursday, Oct 10, 6 pm- 7:30 pm. The concert is free, but reservations are required. See Honor Our Fallen Concert for current info.

There's an extensive series of free concerts at public locations over Fleet Week performed by Navy and Marine Corps bands, starting Monday, October 7 and running through Monday, October 14, 2024. See concert schedule for list.

There's a band concert in Golden Gate Park on Monday, October 14, 2024, from 10 to 3. The US Marine Corps Band performs, then there's a competition among local high school bands. It's on the Music Concourse, at the bandshell, between the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.

A long-time, San Francisco tradition, the Italian Heritage Parade, formerly known as the Columbus Day Parade, starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday of Fleet Week, at Jefferson and Powell Streets, goes along Jefferson Street in Fisherman's Wharf, then down Columbus Avenue to Washington Square in North Beach (see parade).

There is also a festival at the Marina Green, with food, information booths, etc, from 10 to 5, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including exhibits about disaster preparedness.

Pier 39 has some Fleet Week activities, as well. Check out Pier 39 for scheduled activities.

San Francisco Fleet Week, American sailors

Some of our sailors

Getting to Fleet Week San Francisco

Public Transportation for Fleet Week

Around 1 million people come to watch the Blue Angels. The sheer size of the crowds for Fleet Week in San Francisco is pretty scary, so a hefty dose of patience is required for taking Bart or Muni.

Coming into the City on Bart, or taking Muni:
Get off Bart (or Muni) at Embarcadero station, then go upstairs to Market Street where you can catch the F-line trolley in the direction of the Ferry Building. Or walk to Fisherman's Wharf, about 35 minutes along the Embarcadero.

The F-Line Trolley runs along the Embarcadero (the street along the waterfront where all the piers are) to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. You can use your Muni (but not BART) transfer for the trolley. Muni buses and streetcars are now $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 65+ and youth 18 and under, free. Exact change required (or use the MuniMobile app on a mobile phone, or a Clipper Card, to pay, and get a slight discount.).

If you're going to the Navy ship open houses, get off at the pier(s) listed on the ship tours schedule (see info on ship tours and map). Piers 30/32 are not on the F-line; they are about six blocks south of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. For the Blue Angels show, get off at Fisherman's Wharf (the end of the F-line).

Coming by Car:

Driving to Fleet Week in San Francisco sounds like something only an insane person would do, but it's surprisingly easy! At least where parking is concerned.

Parking...

There are a number of parking areas along the Embarcadero, within walking distance to Fisherman's Wharf; see my page on Embarcadero parking for maps and details.

The catch is that it can be double the usual price for special events like Fleet Week.

Note: I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through the link below, at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information I post on this website.

Something you may want to consider is reserving a parking space using the Spot Hero parking app. You can compare the parking garages and lots in the area and book one that works for you ahead of time.

Drive or take public transportation...?

I've done it both ways during Fleet Week, and driving and parking at the piers was vastly less stressful and frustrating than waiting in the long lines for the trains and trolleys, and being packed in with the crowds. I live in the city, but if you're coming over the Bay Bridge, the traffic might be as bad as the crowds on Bart!

If you hit the evening rush hour on Bart or Muni, or a Giants game, or both like I did, you have my sympathy! It's a trade-off: expense vs. inconvenience. But it's all worth it to see the Blue Angels come roaring in over the Golden Gate Bridge!

Insider Tips:

When to Go. Get there at least a couple of hours before the Blue Angels show starts (usually around 3 p.m.) to avoid the worst of the crowds and to get a good (free) viewing spot. See Blue Angels San Francisco for more info on the best place to watch from. The Blue Angels rehearsal on Thursday is usually the same show, but it's less crowded.
See the Pilots. Hang around until evening on Saturday and see the Blue Angels pilots up close at the autograph-signing at the entrance to Pier 39, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
Where to Catch the Trolley. Get on the F-line trolley at either the first or last stops along the Embarcadero: at the end of Market Street at Main Street, above ground from the Embarcadero BART station, and at Jones Street between Jefferson and Beach Streets at the Fisherman's Wharf (marked on map below).

Map of Best Trolley Stop, Fisherman's Wharf

Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Don't try to board at other stops; the trolley is usually packed and you may not be able to get on. If the crowds are bad at the Embarcadero stop on Market Street, hike back to the previous stop on Market (at 1st Street).
Walking is a great alternative: 25 to 30 minutes from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf. Or a take water taxi from Pier 1 1/2 (next to the Ferry Building), or a pedicab.
If you are coming for the Friday Blue Angels show, know that the SF rush hour starts around 3:30 p.m.; commuters leaving the downtown area and locals leaving town for the weekend jam the routes to the bridges and freeways, and BART and Muni can be packed leaving the city. Thursday rush hour is almost as bad. For the sake of your sanity, I suggest having dinner in the city and leaving after 7:00 p.m.

Transportation to Fisherman's Wharf

Transportation to Pier 33 map, Alcatraz Ferry, Fisherman's Wharf. BART, cable cars, muni.

Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Plan on staying in town for Fleet Week? Check out my article on the best areas to stay in San Francisco, with recommendations for hotels in each area.