Bay Area/ San Francisco
Published on August 10, 2017
Outside Lands 2017 Survival GuidePhotos: Andrew Jorgensen/Outside Lands

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the Outside Lands Music Festival, a three-day celebration of entertainment, art, and food. The festival, featuring headliners Metallica and The Who, is expected to attract 210,000 attendees in total.

As city and festival organizers get ready to kick off the weekend, we’ve compiled a list of essential information for residents, plus some tips for those who will be going to this year's festival.

Traffic And Parking

While public transportation is encouraged, heavy traffic around Golden Gate Park will be inevitable.

The festival’s main entrances—located at 30th and Fulton, 36th and Fulton, and 36th and Lincoln—will likely see the densest congestion.

Source: Outside Lands

To reduce vehicle traffic for festival attendees and neighbors alike, an official pickup and dropoff point for Uber and Lyft drivers has been designated at 30th Avenue and Balboa Street.

Additionally, several schools in the Richmond and Sunset are opening their parking lots for those driving to the festival, including Argonne Elementary, Lawton Alternative School, and George Washington High School. Attendees can expect to pay around $30-40 per car, with the added benefit of supporting a local school.

Resources For Blocked Driveways

While some residents use the festival as an opportunity to rent out their driveways for an extra buck (or $50), others face headaches as drivers push the limits of acceptable parking.

As stated on Outside Lands’ Neighborhood 311 page, two dedicated tow trucks and one Parking Control Officer will be located on each side of the Park “to quickly respond to any blocked driveways or any other parking issues related to the Festival.” The statement advises calling SFMTA directly at 415-553-1237 or 415-553-1200 if you need to have a vehicle towed.

SF Rec & Park is providing printed signs that can be posted in front of driveways. Signs can be obtained at the front desk of McLaren Lodge at 501 Stanyan St.

Photo: SFMTA

Community Hotline

As in previous years, Outside Lands will be providing a hotline for Richmond and Sunset residents to report any issues related to the festival. The Community Hotline number is 415-965-8001 and will be available from 10am to 11pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Public Transit

Residents across the city should expect large crowds on buses headed to and from the park this weekend.

To accommodate the masses, Muni will be increasing service for the N-Judah and the 5/5R Fulton all three days of the festival. 5X Fulton Express service will also be provided from Golden Gate Park to Civic Center Station each night.

Other lines, including the 7, 7R, 28, 28R, 29, and 44, will likely also be crowded during peak hours (the festival starts at 11am and ends at 10pm each day). Detailed information can be found on SFMTA’s website.

Source: SFMTA

Concertgoers can also use the festival’s pre-paid shuttle service from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, which runs from 11am to 11:30pm. Shuttle passes are $48.00 and must be purchased beforehand.

And for those seeking to avoid traffic and parking altogether, Outside Lands offers extensive bike parking in several locations, as well as valet bike parking at Transverse and Overlook Drive.

Road And Park Closures

Many streets in and around Golden Gate Park have already been closed off in preparation for this weekend’s festivities. This includes JFK between Transverse and 36th Avenue, which is closed to vehicle traffic this week as well as next Monday and Tuesday (bikes are allowed at a 5mph speed limit).

As posted by SF Rec and Park, the following entrances to the park will be closed to the public: 

North side of the park:

  • Transverse Dr at Crossover Dr
  • JFK Dr at Transverse Dr
  • 30th Ave
  • 36th Ave
  • 43rd Ave (Chain of Lakes)
  • 47th Ave
  • Great Hwy at JFK Dr.

On the south side:

  • Martin Luther King Jr Dr at Crossover Dr
  • 25th Ave
  • Sunset Blvd @ Irving St
  • 41st Ave (Chain of Lakes)
  • Martin Luther King Jr Dr at Lincoln Ave

In addition, the following areas will be closed:

  • Polo Field Complex: Closed from Monday July 31st, 12:01am to Friday August 18th, 11:59pm
  • Middle Drive Between MLK to Polo Field to Overlook: Closed from Monday July 31st, 12:01am to Friday August 18th, 11:59pm
  • Access to Polo Field via Little Speedway Meadow Bike Path: Closed from Monday July 31st,12:01am to Friday August 18th, 11:59pm
  • McLaren Path: Closed from Tuesday August 1st, 12:01am to Wednesday August 16th, 11:59pm
  • Hellman Hollow: Closed from Saturday August 5th, 7pm to Wednesday August 16th, 11:59pm
  • Lindley Meadow: Closed from Sunday August 6th, 7pm to Tuesday August 15th, 11:59pm
  • Little Speedway Meadow: Closed from Monday August 7th, 12:01am to Thursday August 17th, 11:59pm
  • Marx Meadow: Closed from Wednesday August 2nd, 12:01am to Friday August 4th at 11:59pm AND from Monday August 7th, 12:01am to Wednesday August 16th, 11:59pm
  • Lloyd Lake, Metson Lake, Spreckels Lake and the Dog Run will be closed to vehicles Friday August 11th – Friday August 13th
  • JFK Dr. between Transverse Dr. and 36th Ave will be closed to non-ticket holder pedestrian traffic Friday August 11th – Friday August 13th

        Tips For Attendees

        Those interested in attending can still purchase single-day tickets on the Outside Lands website. Wristbands will be available for pickup at the Box Office located at 25th Avenue and Fulton Street.

        To cut down on wait times, attendees are advised to “go cashless” and use their wristbands or phones to pay for food and drink. 

        Square is setting up Apple Pay Fast Lanes with different vendors. For speedy food and drink service, Square is accepted at Polo Field, Hellman Hollow, VIP (next to Twin Peaks) and Marx Meadow.

        A full list of vendors can be found on the Outside Lands mobile app, which is also a handy resource for getting around, tracking schedules, and receiving up-to-date festival news.

        Weather is looking to be slightly nicer than usual, with temperatures pushing 70 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Of course, as most residents of the west side know, attendees should always be prepared for chilly weather. And don't let the fog deceive you: sunscreen is still a must.

        Sealed water bottles and soft pack coolers are allowed; but leave your selfie sticks and drones at home. See a complete list of what you can and can't bring here.

        Not jazzed about the crowds or pricey admission cost? Good news: you can enjoy the festival from the comfort of your home. Tune into go90, where select performances will be live-streamed throughout the weekend.

        And for those heading to Golden Gate Park for this year's festival: stay safe, enjoy the music, and bring a jacket.