49-Mile Scenic Drive

The 49-Mile Scenic Drive is a historic scenic road tour highlighting much of San Francisco, California. It was created in 1938 by the San Francisco Down Town Association to showcase the city's major attractions and natural beauty during the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition.

Originally beginning at San Francisco City Hall and ending on Treasure Island, the route had been modified several times since. By 1999, the route formed a loop proceeding counterclockwise from Civic Center Plaza, and its length was closer to 48.8 miles (78.5 km). Modern signage for the route, depicting a seagull in profile on a sky blue background, were erected in 1954 and maintained by the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic. Owing variously to its length, its labyrinthine route, and the difficulty of driving through a bustling city, the drive remained relatively unpopular with tourists and locals alike. Permanent closures to vehicular traffic on John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park and on Great Highway in the 2020s made the loop discontinuous.

In 2019, the San Francisco Chronicle proposed a non-driving alternative that it called the 49-Mile Scenic Route.