Situated on the Main Post at the historic Presidio in San Francisco, the Lodge at the Presidio is a small boutique hotel that welcomes guests to one of the country’s most interesting national parks. A former U.S. Army military fort, the Presidio was founded in 1776 and became a national park in 1994. No hotel is closer to the Golden Gate Bridge than the Lodge, making it the perfect base camp for exploring the Presidio’s 1,500 acres of forests, trails and museums, as well as the picturesque waterfront.
The Presidio of San Francisco invited me to explore the park and spend the night at the Lodge. Although the cost of my stay was covered by the Presidio Trust, this review of my wheelchair accessible room at the Lodge at the Presidio is my own honest assessment.
Room Rates & Reservations
The cost of a hotel room at the Lodge at the Presidio starts at $320 per night and goes up to $525 per night, depending on the room type. ADA accessibility features are offered across multiple room types.
Reservations can be made online via the hotel website.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room
My guest room was number 212, located on the second floor. The room featured a king size bed and an accessible bathtub. As you will see, the room was large and spacious, making it especially wheelchair-friendly.
The king size bed was extremely comfortable and allowed me to enjoy a great night’s sleep. My power wheelchair was able to fit on both sides of the bed. The mattress and boxspring are on a platform base, meaning the bed will not be accessible to most transfer hoists. The bed height could also be a barrier for some.
My room, which I think was a Junior Suite, had a pull-out sofa in the sitting area. While I didn’t deploy the sofa bed myself, the hotel says that it contains a queen size mattress.
All of the extra floor space made getting around the room easy and saved me from bumping into things with my wheelchair. It was a comfortable space with lots of natural light from the room’s three large windows.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
The wheelchair accessible bathroom was also spacious and very accessible.
The bathroom vanity includes two sinks, perfect for those traveling with a companion or a significant other. Both sinks are wheelchair accessible, with space to roll a wheelchair underneath the counter.
A toilet with grab bars is also provided, and there is space to park a wheelchair directly alongside the commode for a safe, lateral transfer.
While I normally prefer a roll-in shower, I was delighted to find an ADA accessible bathtub in the room. Few hotels have the type of bathtub seat that is required by the ADA, but the Lodge at the Presidio has one. The seat connects securely to the side of the bathtub and has legs which sit in the basin.
The water pressure was strong and I was able to take a safe and enjoyable shower using this facility.
Restaurants & Dining
The hotel does not have a restaurant on site, but has a small lounge where a free continental breakfast is served to guests.
In the evening, the lounge area is used to provide a complimentary wine & cheese offering. I found both offerings to be lovely, and certainly something that most guests wanted to take advantage of.
Location & Transportation
The hotel is located at the Main Post of the Presidio, within walking distance of the Visitor Center, as well as a number of museums, restaurants and a bowling alley. The Walt Disney Family Museum is located right next to the Lodge.
Transportation throughout the park and to the Golden Gate Bridge is available on the wheelchair accessible PresidiGo Shuttle. The nearest stop is right in front of the hotel and the shuttle is free to ride.
The PresidiGo Downtown Shuttle provides service roundtrip service between the Presidio and downtown San Francisco. A number of SF MUNI bus routes stop near the park entrance. Bus number 43 enters the park and stops at the Presidio Transit Center on the Main Post, which is only a short walk from the hotel.
A number of pathways are located near the hotel, and it is possible to walk or roll from the hotel to the Golden Gate Bridge. You should allot 1 to 2 hours for that journey, depending on your physical ability.
For more information about the Presidio and the PresidiGo Shuttle, visit Presidio.gov.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning to visit the Presidio, why not stay for a night or two? With so much to see and do in the park, you’ll need more than a day to see it all. The Lodge at the Presidio provides a comfortable and accessible place to stay, right at the heart of the park. Whether you prefer to explore solo or are traveling with a group of friends or family, visiting the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge is something that everyone will enjoy.
Featured image courtesy David Wakely/Architect Magazine.
