San Francisco Cable Cars

San Francisco's cable cars are the only mobile National Historic Landmark in the United States and one of the most iconic family experiences in the city. These wooden cars, pulled by underground cables since 1873, climb impossibly steep hills while riders hang off the sides and conductors clang brass bells. For kids, it is part roller coaster, part time machine, and utterly unforgettable.

Three cable car lines operate today. The Powell-Hyde line is the family favorite, running from Powell & Market downtown over Nob Hill and Russian Hill to a turnaround near Ghirardelli Square and the bay. The dramatic highlight is the crest of Russian Hill, where the car tips over a steep hill and suddenly the entire bay, Alcatraz Island, and the waterfront unfold below you -- kids gasp every time.

The Powell-Mason line follows a similar initial route but veers to end near Fisherman's Wharf. The California Street line runs east-west through Chinatown and the Financial District; it is less scenic but also less crowded.

The biggest challenge for families is the wait at the Powell Street turnaround, where most tourists queue. On summer weekends and holidays, the line can stretch 60-90 minutes. Here is the secret locals know: walk 2-3 blocks uphill from the turnaround and board at any mid-route stop.

Cable cars pick up passengers at every intersection along their route as long as there is room. Waits at these stops are typically 5-15 minutes. The California Street line has turnarounds at both ends with rarely any wait at all.

Riding the cable car itself is a thrill that requires some practical awareness with kids. The open-air cars have no doors or seatbelts. Passengers on the outer running boards stand and hold a pole while the car moves at about 9 mph.

This is exhilarating but requires kids to hold on firmly and keep hands, arms, and heads inside when passing parked cars and other vehicles on narrow streets. The interior bench seats are safer for very young children and strollers. Conductors are helpful and will tell you where to stand.

Pricing is straightforward: $8 per person per ride, one way. Kids 4 and under ride free. The smartest move for families is buying a MuniMobile day pass for $13 per adult, which gives unlimited cable car rides plus all Muni buses and streetcars for the entire day.

Two cable car rides already exceed the day pass cost, so it saves money immediately. Download the MuniMobile app and activate the pass before your first ride.

For a bonus stop, visit the free Cable Car Museum at the corner of Mason and Washington Streets. Inside the actual powerhouse that drives the cable system, you can see the enormous wheels and underground cables that pull every cable car in the city. The machinery is mesmerizing for mechanically minded kids, and the museum takes about 20 minutes.

It is located right on the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde routes.

A single cable car ride takes about 20-30 minutes end to end. Most families ride one direction and walk, bus, or Uber back. For a perfect half-day itinerary: ride the Powell-Hyde line from Union Square to Ghirardelli Square, get sundaes, walk to Pier 39 for sea lions, and take the F-line streetcar back downtown.