HashiConf 2025 is heading to San Francisco this September, and if you're planning to attend, you're in for more than just world-class talks on Terraform, Vault, and Nomad. You're getting a chance to explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world while diving deep into the future of infrastructure automation.
When, Where & What to Expect
HashiConf 2025 runs September 24-26 at Fort Mason Center, a waterfront venue in San Francisco's Marina District. Wednesday activities start at the Fairmont San Francisco (certification exams, AWS GameDay from 7:30 AM) before the welcome reception at Fort Mason (4:30-7:30 PM). Main sessions happen Thursday-Friday at Fort Mason.
Conference Highlights:
- Four content tracks: Three Cloud Engineering tracks plus one Business track covering everything from technical deep-dives to strategic cloud adoption
- Free certifications: Two onsite exams included (Associate and Professional for Terraform, Vault, or Consul) — a $600+ value
- Learn Labs: Interactive hands-on sessions with HashiCorp education engineers
- Networking opportunities: Speaker Q&As, vendor demos, hallway conversations, and community meetups
Key themes: Multi-cloud automation, AI-powered infrastructure, and real-world production stories from teams scaling infrastructure automation across hundreds of engineers.
If you're planning certification exams, arrive Tuesday evening to prepare. Professional exams are only available Wednesday; Associate exams run all three days.
Connect with Overmind
Stop by the Overmind's booth to see how we're helping teams deploy Terraform changes without breaking production through blast radius analysis and AI-powered risk assessment. Overmind shows exactly what your impact changes will affect before deployment by simulating. James Lane and Dylan Ratcliffe will be at the conference and available for coffee, beer, or even catching waves at Pacifica Beach. Reach out on our LinkedIn's to connect.
Making the most of San Francisco
We are no means locals in San Francisco, at least yet, or traveller bloggers. But we've put together some of our own personal highlights from our time we've spent there. Some touristy, some not.
Marina District & Waterfront
You're already in one of SF's most scenic neighborhoods. The Marina Green offers unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge - perfect for morning runs or evening walks. Rent a bike from one of the many stations and cruise along the waterfront path to Crissy Field.
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North Beach: Little Italy
A 15-minute walk from the conference venue gets you to North Beach, San Francisco's historic Italian neighborhood. Grab dinner at Tony's Little Star Pizza or enjoy gelato while people-watching at Washington Square Park. The area has a distinctly European feel that's perfect for unwinding after technical sessions.
Mission District Tacos
No San Francisco visit is complete without Mission District burritos and tacos. Take a 15-minute rideshare to Valencia Street and explore spots like La Taqueria or El Farolito. Afterward, walk up to Mission Dolores Park for panoramic city views. Remember, bring a jacket, as SF evenings get cold fast.
Outer Sunset Adventures
If you have extra time (maybe extend your stay through the weekend), venture to the Outer Sunset. Hook Fish Co. serves some of the city's best seafood with ocean views, and you're just minutes from Ocean Beach. The area feels like a different city entirely - foggy, quiet, and perfect for thinking through everything you learned at the conference.
Ferry Adventure to Faction Brewing
For a uniquely San Francisco experience, take the ferry from the Ferry Building across the bay to Alameda and visit Faction Brewing. Its about 20-minute scenic ride that offers stunning views of the city skyline and Bay Bridge before arriving at one of the Bay Area's most beautifully situated breweries. Its based in a massive repurposed airplane hangar on the old Naval Air Station. With unobstructed views back toward San Francisco's skyline, surprisingly reasonable craft beer prices (some pints as low as $5). You can also bring your own food or grab something from rotating food trucks, it's perfect for a relaxed afternoon or sunset session with colleagues, and the ferry schedule (Wed-Sun) aligns perfectly with Faction's hours (Wed-Thu 2-8pm, Fri-Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-6pm).
Quick Pacific Surf Session
Feeling ambitious? Pacifica Beach is just 15 minutes south by car. The waves are perfect for surfing (rentals available), and the coastal drive offers stunning views. It's a great way to decompress after a busy couple of days. We've previously hired boards from NorCal Surfshop.
San Francisco Tips
Weather: September is actually SF's warmest month, but bring layers. It can be 75°F and sunny at noon, then 55°F and foggy by 6 PM.
Transportation: Uber and Lyft work well. Public transit (Muni) is extensive but can be slow. Walking is often fastest for short distances.
Parking: If you're driving, expect to pay $25-40/day for hotel parking. Street parking requires patience and exact change for meters.
See you at Fort Mason Center this September. And don't forget to explore everything San Francisco has to offer while you're there.