Coming from out of town?
Stay inside the park, steps from the start line
The Bay Ride starts at Sports Basement Presidio on August 29, 2026, and the Presidio happens to have two great hotels inside the park itself. Stay at either one and you can roll out of bed, grab breakfast, and be at the start line without ever getting in a car.
Two hotels, one national park
Both are run by Presidio Lodging, both live in beautifully restored Army buildings on the Main Post, and both are less than a mile from the start. Breakfast is included at each, which matters when you have a 7:00 AM rollout.
The closest hotel to the Golden Gate Bridge
Lodge at the Presidio
A 42-room boutique hotel inside an 1890s Army barracks on the Main Parade Ground. Most rooms look out at the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, or the city skyline, which is a pretty good way to wake up on ride day.
- ✓Complimentary breakfast before you roll out
- ✓Nightly wine and cheese reception
- ✓Rooms with Golden Gate Bridge and Bay views
- ✓Pet friendly
A historic inn with fireplaces and rocking chairs
Inn at the Presidio
A 22-room inn in Pershing Hall, a 1903 brick building that once housed Army officers. Seventeen of the rooms are suites with gas fireplaces and sleeper sofas, so it works well if you are bringing family or splitting a room with riding buddies.
- ✓Complimentary breakfast before you roll out
- ✓Evening wine and cheese reception
- ✓Suites with gas fireplaces and sleeper sofas
- ✓Front porch rocking chairs and an outdoor fire pit
What ride morning looks like
This is the whole reason to stay in the park. No pre-dawn drive, no parking scramble, no stress.
- 1Wake up in the Presidio
The fog will be in, the eucalyptus will smell great, and the start line is already in walking distance.
- 2Eat the free breakfast
Both hotels put out breakfast in the morning. Top off before a long day in the saddle.
- 3Roll down to Sports Basement
An easy downhill cruise to Sports Basement Presidio at 610 Old Mason St. Give yourself 30 minutes before the 7:00 AM start to check in.
- 4Ride the Bay
The 135-mile route brings you right back to the Presidio, so your hotel shower is waiting at the finish. The 35-mile route ends in Oakland, and we have a whole guide on getting back.
Riding the 35 and wondering how to get back across the Bay? Read the return trip guide.
Out-of-state travel tips
Book early
Between the two hotels there are only 64 rooms, and late August is peak season in the Presidio. If you know you are coming, lock in your room as soon as you register.
You may not need to fly your bike
Sports Basement Presidio rents road bikes, and the ride starts and finishes right there. Renting can be cheaper and far less hassle than airline bike fees and a travel case.
Skip the rental car
If you stay in the Presidio, you can walk to the start, and the park has restaurants, cafes, and a free shuttle. Rideshare covers everything else. Parking in SF is not worth the headache for a weekend.
Getting from the airport
SFO is about 30 to 40 minutes away by rideshare, or take BART downtown and a quick car ride from there. Oakland (OAK) works too and is sometimes cheaper to fly into.
Pack layers
August mornings in the Presidio are foggy and cool, often in the 50s, and it can warm up 20 degrees by the time you hit the East Bay or the Peninsula. Arm warmers and a vest earn their spot in your bag.
Make a weekend of it
The ride is on a Saturday. Stay Sunday and recover with a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field, the Palace of Fine Arts, and some of the best food in the country.
If the Presidio hotels are full
The Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods sit just outside the Presidio gates, with plenty of hotels and motels along Lombard Street. Most of them put you within a 10 to 15 minute ride of the start line. Short-term rentals in the Marina, Pacific Heights, or the Richmond also work well, especially for groups. Wherever you stay, aim to be on the west side of the city so ride morning stays simple.
Sort the room, then sort the ride
12th Annual edition, August 29, 2026. We have sold out 11 years in a row, so grab your spot before you book your flight.
Register for The Bay Ride