Exploring San Francisco by Waymo: Full House Filming Spots & City Landmarks with an Autonomous Tax

Introduction

On this outing I hopped into a self-driving Waymo’s fully driver-less robotaxi in San Francisco to hunt down filming locations from the ’90s hit sitcom Full House.

Alphabet’s fully autonomous ride carried me from Alamo Square—home of the “Tanner house” in the show’s opening credits—all the way to the famously twisty Lombard Street.

The photo below shows the legendary Painted Ladies just off Alamo Square.

Waymo’s service is a showcase of true human-free autonomy, and the ride quality is every bit as smooth and comfortable as you’d hope from next-generation tech.

You can experience the trip virtually in the video below—give it a watch!

Waymo Ride Experience

As soon as the trip begins, soft background music plays and the spacious cabin puts you at ease.

The vehicle of choice is Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE SUV, whose upscale interior and supportive seats instantly stand out.

On the road, Waymo drives exactly the way a seasoned human would.

It performs a full stop at every stop sign, gauges cross-traffic before entering an intersection, and—most impressively—recognizes when another car is parallel-parking, holding back at a safe distance until the maneuver is finished.

Thanks to LiDAR-based 3-D mapping, the system builds a real-time model of its surroundings and adapts effortlessly to whatever the street throws at it.

Landmarks Featured in the Video

Japantown

Our route happened to pass through Japantown, one of the oldest and largest Japanese communities in the United States, founded by immigrants in the early 20th century.

Its signature landmark is the Japantown Peace Pagoda, a five-story tower designed by architect Yoshirō Taniguchi and gifted to the city by Osaka in 1968.

Golden Gate Bridge

While waiting at a red light, we took in the iconic Golden Gate Bridge—also featured in the opening of Full House.

A toll of $9–$10 (cash-free only) is charged when you drive toward the San Francisco side. Crossing by car takes only a few minutes; on foot it’s a 30-plus-minute walk.

Alcatraz Island

At another stoplight we looked out toward Alcatraz, the former federal prison once deemed “escape-proof.”

Operating from 1934 to 1963, it became infamous after a 1962 breakout in which inmates widened air-vents with spoons and fashioned life vests and a raft from raincoats.

If you plan a visit, buy tickets online in advance and take an early-morning ferry so you can explore the island at your own pace.
It can get chilly inside the cell blocks, so bring an extra layer.

Waymo’s Technology & Growth

Waymo began in 2009 as Google’s self-driving-car project, and in 2015 it completed the first fully driver-less run on public roads.

The original reference vehicle, nicknamed “Firefly,” had no pedals or steering wheel—driving was handled entirely by software and sensors.

To date Waymo has logged more than 20 billion miles of testing—on public streets and in simulation—equivalent to roughly 800,000 laps around the Earth.

Its high-resolution LiDAR measures distance to surrounding objects and builds a three-dimensional model of the world in real time.

The cars also carry external audio receivers (EARs) that listen for emergency-vehicle sirens and other critical sounds so the system can react appropriately.

Most recently Waymo announced a partnership with Hyundai and will test a fleet of IONIQ 5 EVs on public roads by late 2025.

Which automakers it teams up with next—and what models will join the lineup—are developments well worth watching.

How Waymo Handles the Road

The first thing you notice is how polite the car feels.

There are no sudden stops or jack-rabbit starts—just the calm, measured style you would expect from an experienced, patient driver.

Lane changes are silky smooth, and if a pedestrian or parked car blocks the way, Waymo eases around the obstacle and then glides back into position.

Even on San Francisco’s busy, people-packed streets, the vehicle keeps its cool and makes consistently safe, sensible decisions.

Regulatory hurdles remain, but the ride makes it clear that the technology is already capable of navigating a megacity as crowded as Tokyo.

Final Stop: Lombard Street

After climbing one last steep hill we reached Lombard Street—famous from the Full House opening and widely billed as “the crookedest street in the world.”

It’s a must-see for visitors, and Waymo pulled over safely exactly where the next passenger was waiting.
Our tour ended right there, at one of San Francisco’s most iconic spots.

Conclusion

Riding Waymo’s fully autonomous taxi let us pair cutting-edge technology with a nostalgic tour of Full House filming spots—a surprisingly perfect combo.

Traveling without a human driver felt not only safe but genuinely comfortable, showing just how real the era of driver-free mobility has already become.

Waymo’s calm, seamless driving proves the future of mobility is here, and it’s ready for sightseeing.

On your next trip to San Francisco, try using Waymo to hop between landmarks quickly and stress-free—you might never look at city touring the same way again.

This post is based on a May 2024 ride. Service areas and details may change without notice.