Hoover Redwood Grove Picnic Area in Golden Gate Park offers a quiet redwood-lined lawn perfect for relaxed picnics, families, and small gatherings.
Hoover Redwood Grove Picnic Area is a cozy, shaded corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, designed for people who love calm, natural spaces. Surrounded by tall redwoods and centered around a grassy lawn, it offers a tranquil escape from busy city streets. This spot is ideal for quiet picnics, simple celebrations, or small family gatherings where the focus is on conversation, nature, and fresh air rather than built-in park infrastructure.
Unlike many traditional picnic sites, Hoover Redwood Grove has a minimalist setup: there are no fixed picnic tables or public barbecue grills. Instead, you bring what you need—blankets, portable chairs, picnic baskets, and even a small portable grill if you want to cook. The result is a more flexible, “do-it-yourself” picnic atmosphere, with the redwood grove providing all the ambiance you need.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 716-808 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, San Francisco, CA 94122 |
| Phone | (415) 831-5500 |
| Opening Hours | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Facilities | Street Parking, Grass Area |
| Important Notes | No picnic tables; no public barbecue equipment; portable grills are allowed; no liquor or large kegs; no restrooms directly in the picnic area. |
Hoover Redwood Grove Picnic Area is ideal if you’re looking for a spot that feels more like a natural hideaway than a formal picnic pavilion. With a grass lawn under redwood shade, it’s perfect for laying out a picnic blanket, stretching out with a book, or creating a low-key picnic setup with portable furniture.
For small gatherings—such as birthday picnics, casual friend meetups, or family outings—this grove works beautifully. Because there are no built-in tables, power, or fixed seating, groups who need more complex setups should bring their own folding tables, chairs, and portable power if necessary. The wide grass area also doubles as a play zone where you can toss a frisbee, kick a ball, or play light outdoor games.
Alcohol rules are important here: beer and wine are typically allowed, but liquor and large kegs are not permitted. Always follow Golden Gate Park regulations and pack out all trash—bring sturdy garbage bags and leave the grove cleaner than you found it.
Weather can shift quickly in San Francisco. The redwoods provide shade, but summer sun can still be strong, so sunscreen and hats are recommended. In cooler seasons or foggy afternoons, bring extra layers, as the grove can feel cooler and damp under the trees.
For a relaxed family weekend, arriving in a Tara Roadster 2+2 adds comfort and convenience from the start. With four seats, it comfortably accommodates parents and kids or a small group of friends, while the built-in cooling function keeps drinks and fresh food perfectly chilled on the way to the park. The generous storage area easily fits picnic baskets, blankets, portable games, and even a compact grill.
Parking around Hoover Redwood Grove is mostly street parking on Martin Luther King Jr Drive and nearby roads. Spaces can be limited, so arriving earlier in the day usually makes it easier to find a good spot and unload your gear efficiently.
Plan to arrive around 9:00 a.m. in your Tara Roadster 2+2. Find street parking near Hoover Redwood Grove and unload your picnic gear: blanket, small folding table, cooler, toys, and any light sports equipment. Because there are no picnic tables or fixed grills, a flexible, blanket-based setup works best.
By 9:30 a.m., take a slow walk through the grove before fully settling in. The grassy area is ringed by tall redwoods, creating a peaceful, filtered-light atmosphere that is perfect for walking, photographing, and simply breathing in the forest scent. The way sunlight passes through the branches makes this spot especially beautiful for portraits and nature shots.
Around 10:00 a.m., return to your chosen spot on the grass and set up your picnic base. Lay out your blanket, unpack a few morning snacks, and let kids run around with a frisbee, badminton set, or simple throwing games. Without fixed tables or barbecue pits, this area is best suited to easy food like sandwiches, wraps, and snacks rather than complex cooking.
At noon, enjoy your main picnic meal. Thanks to the cooling system in your Tara Roadster 2+2, drinks stay cold and perishable items keep their freshness. This grove is one of the most comfortable lunchtime spots in Golden Gate Park, with ample shade and gentle light perfect for relaxing and taking photos.
After lunch, around 2:00 p.m., you can either stay in the grove or explore nearby areas of Golden Gate Park. Within walking distance or a short drive, you’ll find favorites like Stow Lake, Strawberry Hill, and playgrounds such as the 19th Avenue Playground, giving you plenty of options for walking, boating, or letting kids burn off energy.
By about 3:00 p.m., returning to Hoover Redwood Grove for a relaxed afternoon break is a great idea. Spread out on the blanket for a casual “afternoon tea” picnic—listen to music, sip a drink, chat, or play simple games like card decks or compact board games. As the sun dips lower, the warm backlight through the redwoods makes for beautiful early-evening photos.
Around 5:00 p.m., start packing up. Carefully collect all trash into your bags and make sure the grass area is clean. Load everything back into your Tara Roadster 2+2 and enjoy a calm drive home after a full, relaxing day in Hoover Redwood Grove Picnic Area.
For a simple, low-fuss picnic, consider bringing:
Recommended gear includes:
With a bit of preparation and the comfort of a well-equipped Tara Roadster 2+2, Hoover Redwood Grove Picnic Area becomes a charming, flexible base for a full day of nature, relaxation, and time together in the heart of Golden Gate Park.
