Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island sits a mile and a half off San Francisco's waterfront, a steep rock topped by a lighthouse and the concrete cellhouse of the federal penitentiary that held Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and Robert Stroud. Today it is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and one of the most visited national park sites in the West. A visit means a short ferry ride, a climb to the cellhouse, an audio tour narrated by former guards and inmates and some of the best views of the city and the Golden Gate.

From Palo Alto it is one of the few big day trips you can do entirely without a car. Our San Francisco guide mentions Alcatraz as part of a city day. This page covers the island in detail: the late 2026 closure, tickets and tour types, how to get to Pier 33 and what to expect once you land.

The late 2026 closure

Start here, because it changes everything this month. The National Park Service announced on September 28, 2026 that Alcatraz would close starting October 26, 2026 while crews replace the pilings that secure the ferry dock to the island. The park's news release said work was expected to finish by November 18, 2026, while warning that weather or other factors could change the timeline.

• Visitors holding tickets for the closure period were notified and refunded.
• KQED reported that tours booked for November 19 or later could still be cancelled if the work runs long, so watch your email.
• The repairs follow shorter closures earlier in 2026 after a piling failed in January. The park says the concessioner is paying for the work, not taxpayers.
• During the closure, Alcatraz City Cruises offered its 90-minute Bay Discovery Cruise, which circles the island without docking, from about $44 per person.

Alcatraz is also closed every year on Thanksgiving (November 26 in 2026), Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If you are planning a holiday visit, check the Alcatraz page on nps.gov first.

Tickets and tour types

Every visit starts with a ferry ticket. The National Park Service charges no entrance fee, but the only way onto the island is the ferry run by Alcatraz City Cruises, the park's authorized concessioner. The ticket covers the round-trip ferry, the cellhouse audio tour and the federal recreation fee. America the Beautiful passes do not apply.

The NPS fee page, last updated January 21, 2026, lists these prices:

Day tour departures leave about every half hour from 8:45 a.m. The night tour runs on a set evening schedule and adds programs and spaces not offered by day. The Behind the Scenes tour takes small groups into restricted areas and includes the night tour, so plan on four to five hours. Ranger talks on the island are free and change daily.

Booking tips

• Tickets go on sale up to 90 days ahead. Summer and holiday dates can sell out a month or more in advance.
• Buy from Alcatraz City Cruises directly. Resellers bundle the same ferry tickets with other tours at higher prices.
• Refunds are available for cancellations made at least 72 hours before departure.
• If the island is sold out or closed, a bay cruise still gets you close. You can compare San Francisco Bay cruises that pass Alcatraz and sail under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and Muni

Take Caltrain north from Palo Alto or California Avenue to San Francisco's 4th and King station. A weekday express takes about 40 minutes and a local about 50. Palo Alto to San Francisco is a three-zone trip, $8.50 one way in late 2026 and rising to $9.00 on January 1, 2027. Tap a Clipper card or a contactless bank card on the platform reader. Our Caltrain guide covers schedules and fares. The Clipper guide explains tapping on and off.

Alcatraz Landing is at Pier 33 on the Embarcadero, near Bay Street, about 2.5 miles from 4th and King. The park recommends transit. Muni's historic F line streetcars run along the Embarcadero right past the landing. A rideshare from the station takes about 15 minutes outside rush hour. Walking the Embarcadero takes about 50 minutes and is a pleasant waterfront stroll if you have time. Allow about 1.5 hours from Palo Alto in total and aim to reach the pier 30 minutes before your departure.

By car

The drive is about 35 miles up US 101 and takes 50 minutes to an hour without traffic. There is no parking at Alcatraz Landing and street meters near Fisherman's Wharf rarely allow enough time. The park counts about 15 commercial lots within five blocks. The closest is at 80 Francisco Street at Kearny, a block away. Expect to pay a lot for a half day. Never leave anything visible in your car.

What to expect on the island

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes. You land at the dock, where rangers give a short orientation. From there a paved road climbs to the cellhouse at the top of the island. It is steep, roughly the height of a tall building over a quarter mile, so take your time. Visitors with limited mobility can ask about the park's accessible shuttle up the hill.

Inside the cellhouse, the audio tour leads you down the main corridor nicknamed Broadway, past the cells, the dining hall, the library and D Block, where the solitary confinement cells were. Voices of former officers and prisoners tell the story, including the June 1962 escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, who were never found. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Plan on at least two and a half to three hours on the island in all.

Outside, look for:

• The lighthouse: the first U.S. lighthouse on the West Coast was lit here in 1854. The current tower dates from 1909.
• Gardens: volunteers have restored gardens first planted by soldiers, guards and inmates' families.
• Graffiti from the occupation: from November 1969 to June 1971, Indians of All Tribes occupied the island. Their painted messages survive on the water tower and other buildings.
• Birds: western gulls, cormorants and night herons nest on the island. Some areas close in nesting season.

The island served as a military fort and prison before the federal penitentiary opened in 1934. The prison closed in 1963 because it was too expensive to run. The National Park Service has managed the island since the early 1970s.

Practical tips

Our weather guide explains why the bay can be 20 degrees colder than Palo Alto on the same afternoon. In November expect mild days, early sunsets and a chance of rain.

Combining Alcatraz with the rest of the day

Alcatraz fills a morning or an afternoon. Pier 33 is a short walk from Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and North Beach for lunch. Coit Tower is a steep climb up Telegraph Hill behind the pier. Alcatraz City Cruises also sells a combined Alcatraz and Angel Island tour on some dates. Our Angel Island guide covers the island and ferries from the Ferry Building. If you want to cross to Marin as well, see Sausalito and Marin.

A sample day

1. 8 a.m. Caltrain from Palo Alto to 4th and King.
2. 9 a.m. Muni or a rideshare to Pier 33.
3. 9:30 a.m. Ferry to Alcatraz.
4. 12:30 p.m. Back at the pier. Lunch in North Beach.
5. 2:30 p.m. Ferry Building, the Embarcadero and a slow walk back toward the train.
6. 5 p.m. Caltrain home, or stay for the night tour and book a hotel near Fisherman's Wharf.

Browse all our day trips from Palo Alto for more ideas.

Frequently asked questions