The San Francisco Zoo borders the Great Highway along the city's western coast. On the other side of that highway are the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Pacific Ocean. There are a few hotels within a block or two of the zoo that are also conveniently near Ocean Beach.
Sporting a Victorian style turret and bay windows in some of its second floor rooms, the Days Inn San Francisco at the Beach does its best to blend in with the period architecture that surrounds it. Conveniently located across the street from the zoo entrance and just one block from the beach, this property offers comfort at reasonable rates. One big plus is the free on-site parking. Spaces are hard to come by in this part of town and many parking spots are metered. Daily continental breakfast is included in the rates. Pasquale's Pizzeria is right next door.
Day's Inn San Francisco At The Beach
2600 Sloat Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-665-9000
daysinn.com
The Ocean Park Motel dates back to 1937 and opened just before the first car crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge. It also was the Sunset District's first hotel, created at a time when hopping in the car for a weekend trip or Sunday drive was a novelty. The location was perfect for visitors to the amusement park Playland at the Beach, the Sutro Baths and of course the San Francisco Zoo. The Art Deco style architecture and nautical theme of the original property remains, freshened by new paint, updated furnishings and a hot tub in the backyard. Ocean Park Motel is one block from the beach and the zoo. This property offers complimentary off-street parking.
Ocean Park Motel
2690 46th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-566-7020
oceanparkmotel.com
Just two miles north of the San Francisco Zoo, the Great Highway Inn is directly across from Ocean Beach. It is also only two blocks from the edge of Golden Gate Park, home to the Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Garden. If your destination is UCSF Medical Center, either as a patient, visitor or employee, the Great Highway Inn provides free shuttle service Mondays through Fridays. Rooms are simply but comfortably furnished and parking is free. Third floor rooms offer ocean views. Ladda's Restaurant is right next door, offering Thai cuisine. The biggest draw for this hotel is the location. It is rather hard to imagine that you are in one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities when all you see is sand dunes and the Pacific Ocean.
The Great Highway Inn
1234 Great Highway
San Francisco, CA 34122
415-731-6644
greathwy.com
