Located on Lake Merritt in Oakland city, 9.2 miles from San Francisco. Rated 5.0/5 from 2 Google reviews. Public access.
The 10 Best Boat Ramps Near San Francisco, CA (2026)
We ranked every boat ramp within 50 miles of San Francisco by real boater reviews. The top pick: Lake Merritt Boat Landing in Oakland city, rated 5.0/5 from 2 Google reviews (9.2 miles out). 30+ launches mapped in the area, across 3 waterbodies.
Located on Pacific Ocean in Unincorporated Tiburon, 8.0 miles from San Francisco. Rated 4.8/5 from 38 Google reviews. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Pacific Ocean in South San Francisco city, 8.1 miles from San Francisco. Rated 4.8/5 from 21 Google reviews.
Located on Pacific Ocean in Berkeley, 8.7 miles from San Francisco. One of the most reviewed launches in the area — boaters rate it 4.7/5 across 1,818 Google reviews. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Pacific Ocean in Emeryville, 7.2 miles from San Francisco. One of the most reviewed launches in the area — boaters rate it 4.7/5 across 1,259 Google reviews. Private facility — fees or membership may apply. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
★ 4.7/5 (1259)7.2 mi from San FranciscoPacific Oceanprivate accessDetails, conditions & directions →
Located on Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, 1.9 miles from San Francisco. Rated 4.7/5 from 43 Google reviews. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Pacific Ocean in Richmond, 10.2 miles from San Francisco. Rated 4.7/5 from 10 Google reviews. Private facility — fees or membership may apply. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Pacific Ocean, 5.2 miles from San Francisco. Rated 4.7/5 from 3 Google reviews. Public access. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Lake Merritt in Oakland, 9.1 miles from San Francisco. One of the most reviewed launches in the area — boaters rate it 4.6/5 across 871 Google reviews. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Located on Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, 1.7 miles from San Francisco. One of the most reviewed launches in the area — boaters rate it 4.6/5 across 159 Google reviews. Tidal location: check the tide tables before launching at low water.
Launching Around San Francisco? Watch the Tide
8 of the top 10 ramps near San Francisco are tidal. At low water, short or shallow ramps can leave your trailer wheels-deep with the prop in the mud. Every tidal ramp page on BoatLaunchMap shows live NOAA tide readings — check before you tow.
Complete Rankings: Top 23 Near San Francisco
| Rank | Name | City | Rating | Reviews | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Merritt Boat Landing | Oakland city | 5.0/5 | 2 | 9.2 mi |
| 2 | Tiburon Uplands | Unincorporated Tiburon | 4.8/5 | 38 | 8.0 mi |
| 3 | Oyster Point Launch | South San Francisco city | 4.8/5 | 21 | 8.1 mi |
| 4 | Cesar Chavez Park | Berkeley | 4.7/5 | 1818 | 8.7 mi |
| 5 | Emeryville Marina Park | Emeryville | 4.7/5 | 1259 | 7.2 mi |
| 6 | Bayfront Park | San Francisco | 4.7/5 | 43 | 1.9 mi |
| 7 | Launch Ramp | Richmond | 4.7/5 | 10 | 10.2 mi |
| 8 | Sommerville Rd Boat Ramp | — | 4.7/5 | 3 | 5.2 mi |
| 9 | The Gardens at Lake Merritt | Oakland | 4.6/5 | 871 | 9.1 mi |
| 10 | China Basin Park | San Francisco | 4.6/5 | 159 | 1.7 mi |
| 11 | Richmond Launch Ramp 13-103 | Richmond city | 4.6/5 | 21 | 10.3 mi |
| 12 | Oyster Point Marina | South San Francisco city | 4.5/5 | 377 | 8.0 mi |
| 13 | Grand Marina | Alameda | 4.5/5 | 146 | 9.1 mi |
| 14 | Public Boat Ramp sausalito | Sausalito | 4.5/5 | 11 | 6.9 mi |
| 15 | Boat Ramp Street | Richmond city | 4.5/5 | 8 | 10.6 mi |
| 16 | Oyster Point Marina/Park | South San Francisco city | 4.4/5 | 382 | 8.2 mi |
| 17 | Pier 52 Boat Launch | San Francisco | 4.4/5 | 66 | 1.8 mi |
| 18 | Berkeley Marina Boat Launch Ramps | Berkeley | 4.4/5 | 27 | 8.5 mi |
| 19 | Encinal Boat Ramp | Alameda city | 4.3/5 | 124 | 7.0 mi |
| 20 | Grand Street Launching Facility | Alameda city | 4.3/5 | 69 | 9.2 mi |
| 21 | Port Authority Small Boat Ramp | San Francisco city | 4.3/5 | 37 | 2.0 mi |
| 22 | City of Richmond small watercraft launch ramp | Richmond city | 4.0/5 | 3 | 10.0 mi |
| 23 | Boat & Kayak Launch Ramp | San Francisco | 3.0/5 | 2 | 4.2 mi |
San Francisco Boat Ramp FAQ
What is the best boat ramp near San Francisco?▾
Lake Merritt Boat Landing in Oakland city is the highest-rated boat ramp near San Francisco, with a 5.0/5 Google rating from 2 reviews, 9.2 miles from the city center on Lake Merritt.
How many boat ramps are near San Francisco?▾
BoatLaunchMap tracks 30+ boat ramps within 50 miles of San Francisco, California. 10 of the top-rated launches offer public access.
What waterbodies can I launch on near San Francisco?▾
Top-rated launches near San Francisco put you on Lake Merritt, Pacific Ocean, Hoffman Marsh.
Do I need to worry about tides at San Francisco boat ramps?▾
Yes — 8 of the top 10 ramps near San Francisco are tidal. At low tide, shallow ramps can leave trailers short of the water. Each BoatLaunchMap ramp page shows live tide data for tidal locations, so check conditions before you tow.