Updated October 2026. Tennis City SF › New to San Francisco? A Tennis Starter Guide
If tennis is part of where you choose to live, the Inner Sunset (next to Goldman Tennis Center’s 16 lighted courts) and the Mission (11 lighted public courts) have the most court capacity. The Inner Richmond, Ingleside and McLaren Park areas follow, but their courts mostly have no lights. The table below counts every Rec & Park tennis court by neighborhood.
Public courts by neighborhood
Rec & Park lists 139 tennis courts at 64 sites. Of those, 86 can be reserved (70 on rec.us plus Goldman’s 16 on CourtReserve), 53 are walk-up only, and 61 have lights. Reservable Rec & Park courts are also free to use first come, first served when nobody has booked them.
| Neighborhood | Sites | Courts | Reservable | Walk-up only | Lighted courts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Sunset & Golden Gate Park | 3 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 16 |
| Mission | 4 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| Inner Richmond | 4 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Ingleside & Oceanview | 4 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| McLaren Park & Portola | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Pacific Heights & Japantown | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Outer Richmond | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Excelsior & Outer Mission | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Russian Hill & Nob Hill | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Presidio Heights & Laurel Heights | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Castro & Corona Heights | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Outer Sunset | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Parkside | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Marina & Cow Hollow | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Western Addition & Hayes Valley | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Potrero Hill & Mission Bay | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Glen Park & Diamond Heights | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| North Beach & Chinatown | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Haight-Ashbury & Cole Valley | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Noe Valley | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Bernal Heights | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Stern Grove & Stonestown | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Bayview & Hunters Point | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| West Portal & Miraloma Park | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
How to read the table
- Working 9 to 5? Lights matter most. Sunset is before 5pm in December, so in winter only lighted courts work after work. The Mission, Marina, Potrero Hill, North Beach, Bayview and Goldman have lights at every listed court.
- Like to book ahead? Look at the reservable column. The Inner Sunset (via Goldman), Inner Richmond, McLaren Park and Ingleside have the most bookable courts.
- Prefer to just show up? The Mission (8 walk-up courts) and the Castro (5) have the most walk-up-only courts. See walk-up courts.
- Want sun? The NWS says the bay side of the city clears first on foggy mornings. See the sunniest courts.
Living near Goldman Tennis Center
Goldman Tennis Center (50 Bowling Green Drive, Golden Gate Park) has 16 lighted courts, is open 7am to 10pm and runs classes and round robins and hosts USTA league teams. It is counted in the Inner Sunset and Golden Gate Park row above. Verified San Francisco residents book 8 days ahead instead of 7 and pay $10 to $12 per court hour instead of $16 to $20. Lifetime Activities, which runs Goldman, says free 3- and 4-hour street parking is available. See the Goldman guide.
FAQ
Which San Francisco neighborhood has the most tennis courts?
The Inner Sunset and Golden Gate Park area, with 21 public courts including Goldman’s 16. Among neighborhood parks, the Mission has the most, with 11 courts at 4 sites, all lighted.
Where should I live in San Francisco to play tennis after work?
Near lighted courts: the Mission, near Goldman Tennis Center, the Marina (Moscone, 4 lighted courts) or Potrero Hill. 24 of the 64 Rec & Park sites have lights.
Source: SF Rec & Park Tennis Court Directory, Lifetime Activities San Francisco, Goldman court policies, NWS Climate of San Francisco, checked October 2026.
Related guides
- San Francisco Tennis Courts by Neighborhood
- Goldman Tennis Center: Fees, Booking and Tips
- Lighted Tennis Courts in San Francisco for Night Play
- The Sunniest Tennis Courts in San Francisco
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