The San Francisco Bay Trail is one of the most ambitious trail systems in the United States. It wraps around the enormous Bay Area for 500 miles and snakes through nine counties along the way. You can see the Bay from every angle at different parts, and some of the most popular portions of the trail pass through San Mateo County. It is from the harbors here that you can get grand central bay views.
Plenty of comfortable hotels on The San Francisco Peninsula offer walking-distance access to the trail so that you can wake up and immediately start exploring. Here are our top five choices for clean, comfortable hotels that count the trail as one of their many featured attractions. In addition, these hotels offer convenient access to much of the best San Mateo County offers, including Silicon Valley, Downtown San Mateo, and San Francisco International Airport.
SFO Marriott Waterfront
As the name of this upscale hotel suggests, the SFO Marriott Waterfront is the closest choice to both the bay waterfront and the airport. It’s also right beside excellent sections of the San Francisco Bay Trail. The on-site restaurant, Hangar Steak, features bay views, prime-aged beef, and fresh seafood. A Starbucks Coffee on the property and a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms make this property a lifesaver for anyone working on the road.
Embassy Suites SFO Waterfront
This waterfront hotel is on a little island full of less explored sections of the San Francisco Bay Trail. This Embassy Suites property features an indoor swimming pool and offers everything you need to make your suite home away from home, including pet-friendly rooms. This hotel is surrounded by parks and lagoons, so it’s a great place to relax and enjoy free breakfast in the morning and free drinks in the evening.
Aloft SFO and The Westin Hotel
Half a mile from the San Francisco International Airport and a half-hour south of downtown, you can find two hotels perfect for all travelers. Aloft San Francisco Airport is nestled between the freeway and the bay. Guests can enjoy a drink or two at the W XYZ Bar, play a game of chess in the Re:Mix lounge, or simply take a relaxing dip in the indoor pool.
Right next door, visitors can book a room at The Westin Hotel San Francisco Airport. Guests can stop by the Grill and Vine for lunch or dinner, or take advantage of the hotel’s 24-hour room service from the comfort of their own bed. Across the street, visitors can watch planes as they take off and land or go for a stroll at Bayfront Park.
Grand Bay San Francisco
Right in the heart of Redwood City, the Grand Bay San Francisco boasts a contemporary style and luxurious features like Bose sound systems in the rooms. The nearby sections of the San Francisco Bay Trail in Redwood Shores are some of the most scenic stretches in the whole trail system. With lagoon views, spacious rooms, and a glamorous outdoor pool, this is the absolute best option near the trail. Make time to dine at the Scroll Waterside Kitchen, featuring a streamside setting and locally-grown, organic ingredients fueling a California cuisine menu, and refueling you after a day out on the trail.
Sonesta ES Suites SFO Oyster Point
Not only is the Sonesta ES Suites close to the airport and right on the San Francisco Bay Trail, but it’s an easy walking distance to the Oyster Point Marina. The superb bayside views are a feature of the balcony rooms. This well-appointed short- or long-term stay hotel offers everything that travelers need to stay with confidence, including an all-night market for snacks and a kiosk to print boarding passes. South San Francisco hotels like this offer a relaxed gateway to the best of San Francisco at a price that is affordable for those that need to stay for a while.
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