It is a tale as old as time — a music festival ends, and people need to get home. Unfortunately, that few mile trip back to your apartment almost always ends up being a nightmare.
To try to soften the travel apocalypse, Outside Lands runs extra MUNI service throughout the festival, with added buses along the 5R Fulton bus on the north of Golden Gate Park, and more service along the N-Judah light rail line on south of the park . However, despite these additional reinforcements, other bus routes like the 38 Geary were swamped shortly after the festival let out.
Biking is the easiest way to get to and from the festival, and Outside Lands offers extensive bike parking near the entrances.
The ridehailing pickup point north of Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands.
Dan Gentile
If you dared to use a ride-hailing company after the festival, dedicated pickup zones a few blocks off of Fulton and Judah tried to lessen the logistical burden, but even so, you likely experienced some serious sticker shock.
Up until around 9 pm, prices remained fairly reasonable by 2022 standards, with a short trip to the Lower Haight costing around $20, and a trip to Oakland costing $45.
However as dueling headliners SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Disclosure began letting out at 10 pm, prices surged wildly, with that same 4-mile Lower Haight trip costing $62, and that Oakland ride clocking in at $140. A ride to North Beach neared $80. and the cost of trips to further-flung San Francisco neighborhoods like Mission Bay or Glen Park almost hit triple digits, topping $90.
A screenshot of ridehailing prices during the first night of Outside Lands.
Dan Gentile
A screenshot of ridehailing prices during the first night of Outside Lands.
Dan Gentile
Ride-hailing prices arose after Outside Lands. Credit: Dan Gentile
So if you’re planning on hailing a ride the next few nights, it unfortunately might be best to skip out on that headliner’s encore.
MORE OUTSIDE LANDS COVERAGE:
— Everything you need to know before you go to SF’s Outside Lands
— The best photos from Day One of Outside Lands
— What it’s like to be the only Bay Area rapper playing Outside Lands
— The best bands to see at San Francisco’s Outside Lands music festival