Fleet Week SF 2026: A View from Angel Island

The Fleet Week air show has become a family ritual. For years, we have bought premium seats at Marina Green, paying more than $100 for a place close to the action. The seats are good, but they do not come with any authority over Karl the Fog. He spoiled our visit in 2022 and returned for another cloudy Sunday in 2023. We finally had a full show in 2024, only to discover a different obstacle last year: the government shutdown. The Blue Angels could not come, though the Canadian Snowbirds did a very good job of rescuing the afternoon.

This year, the Blue Angels were back. With the shutdown out of the way, I could return to worrying about the weather. But I was not eager to bet hundreds more dollars on Karl's cooperation. I still wanted to see the show, but I wanted a plan that would feel less disappointing if Karl had other plans this year.

That led me to Angel Island. From across the bay, I imagined we could see the whole flight path at once. If the fog arrived, we would still have a ferry ride, a walk around the island, and some time in Tiburon. The day would have something to offer even if the air show did not cooperate.

There was another reason to stay away from Marina Green: our Fourth of July fireworks trip. Karl had hidden much of that show too, but the larger memory was the disastrous traffic afterward. A fifteen-minute display had led to a drive home of more than three hours. I expected Fleet Week traffic to be much lighter, but I was still reluctant to return to those streets. That evening had left me with a little traffic trauma. Returning to Tiburon, having dinner, and giving the crowds some time to disperse sounded much more pleasant.

For Sunday, October 11, I booked the 11 am ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island. We arrived around ten and found the parking lot almost empty, which was an encouraging start. I had not been able to reserve a space through SpotHero in Tiburon, but I had chosen Lot D for its location near the harbor and the $16 daytime maximum. With the car settled and an hour before the ferry, we had time to enjoy the morning sunshine with some gelato. Already, the new plan was working very well.

There was an unexpected event waiting when we reached the island. People in nineteenth-century clothing were tending displays and selling treats and old-fashioned goods. It was the Victorian Sundae Social, a picnic and fundraiser for Camp Reynolds, with volunteers in period attire, music, and games. We browsed for a while, and I bought a deck of early American playing cards. They were paper cards with completely blank backs, a small detail that made them feel quite different from the decks I am used to. If I had known about the event beforehand, I would have allowed more time for it. Even just knowing that “Sundae” was in the name would have made me stop for ice cream. We had come for the airplanes and found another reason to linger before even starting our walk.

We headed toward Point Knox, where I thought we would have a good view of the show. The walk took about forty minutes. Along the way, signs reading “Special Event: Air Show Viewing” reassured me that I was not the only person who had considered this spot. Dozens of people were already gathered when we arrived, and there was a water station. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The only inconvenience was the restroom, about a ten-minute walk away at Camp Reynolds. That is worth knowing before settling in for an afternoon.

The show brought back many familiar participants, and the F-22 was wonderful as always. But once the flying began, the weakness of my plan became clear: we were a long way from the main viewing area at Marina Green. The much larger F-22 was easier to recognize from that distance, while the Patriots Jet Team's smaller L-39 Albatros jets looked tiny and were difficult to make out. I had gained the wider view I wanted, but given up much of the closeness that made those expensive seats appealing in the first place.

There was one moment when the island worked especially well for me. After watching the Blue Angels for so many years, I knew to expect their opening approach from the Angel Island side. I held my phone steady along the path and waited, and this time I caught the entrance. Of everything I tried to record that afternoon, that was the shot I was happiest to bring home. Knowing what was about to happen helped more than trying to chase every aircraft around the sky.

Watching the full flight path was interesting in its own right. From the island, I could take in more of the movement across the bay at once. I am glad we tried it, and it gave me a different sense of a show I already knew well. Still, I think once may be enough. For watching the airplanes themselves, I missed being closer. I even missed the overwhelming noise, which surprised me. I had not realized how much it added to the experience.

The show ended around 3:45 pm, and we hurried back to the harbor in time for the 4:20 ferry to Tiburon. The last boat that day was at 5:20, but departure times change with the season, so it is worth checking the schedule before a visit. Back in Tiburon, we could finally stop watching the clock. We had dinner at Malibu Farm, with good food and a seat by the water, and stayed to enjoy the sunset. It was the unhurried end to the day I had hoped for when making the plan.

Next year, I may return to Marina Green and simply watch from the public area without buying premium seats. I may also spend less time trying to record every flight. Coming back year after year has one useful benefit: I no longer feel that I have to capture everything in a single afternoon. This year's opening approach was worth recording, but next time I would like to leave more of the show to my eyes and less to my phone.