Picnic Areas

Picnic areas are available in Golden Gate Park, John McLaren Park, and numerous neighborhood parks. Sites offer amenities including barbecue grills and tables, making them ideal for birthday parties and social gatherings. Larger open areas are available for bigger groups and activities such as kickball or jump houses.

Booking and Contact Information

Book your reservation online using our Picnic Area Directory , or call us at 415-831-5500 , Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (closed holidays). Email questions to RPDReservations@sfgov.org .

Site availability varies; we recommend booking early. Picnic sites may be reserved up to 90 days in advance. If your desired date is more than 90 days in advance, please contact us (opens in a new window) for available options.

Fees

Reservation fees and park impact fees: Picnic Impact Fees (PDF, opens in a new window) .

Coyote Warning

April to August is coyote pup-rearing season. For a list of picnic sites with active coyote warnings and additional information, visit our SFRPD Coyote Warning page (opens in a new window) .

Barbecue Grills

Charcoal grilling is allowed only at sites with built-in grills. Single propane grills with a tank no larger than one quart may be brought into the following picnic areas in Golden Gate Park:

• 14th Avenue East Meadow
• Bunny Meadow
• Dahlia Dell
• Doughboy Meadow
• Elk Glen
• George Washington Grove
• Hellman Hollow
• Hoover Redwood Grove
• Lindley Meadow
• Marx Meadow
• Old Speedway Meadow
• Peacock Meadow
• Pioneer East Meadow
• Pioneer Log Cabin
• Robin Williams Meadow
• Blue Heron Lake Boathouse
• Strawberry Hill

For a comprehensive list of sites with built-in grills, see the Picnic Site Directory .

Large Picnics (over 100 people)

Gatherings with more than 100 attendees must complete a Large Picnic Application . We recommend contacting us first to confirm site availability.

Cancellations, Changes, and Refunds

Any changes or cancellations must be made at least 10 business days prior to your event and will be subject to a fee of the higher of $33 or 20% of the reservation fee. If you prefer a refund (instead of a credit), there is an additional refund fee of the higher of $17 or 20% of the refund amount. Changes or cancellations within 10 business days of your event date are not accepted. Credit card processing fees are non-refundable. Refunds must be processed back to the original method of payment. Cash/check payments will be refunded by check.

Activities That Require Additional Permitting

An event involving any of the following is considered a special event and requires submission of a Special Event Application :

• Advertising that the event is open to the public
• Amplified sound (more than a battery-operated, low-wattage speaker)
• Needing to confirm date/time/location more than 6 months in advance
• Selling food, alcohol, or merchandise
• Selling tickets to the event
• Special setups of stages, tents, barricades, fences, or other items