Redwoods & coast day trip · California

Muir Woods and Sausalito day trip

Muir Woods and Sausalito

A classic day out of San Francisco: cross the Golden Gate Bridge to the Vista Point, walk among old-growth redwoods at Muir Woods on a booked early parking slot, stop at the Muir Beach Overlook cliffs, then spend a slow afternoon over lunch on the Sausalito waterfront. Drive back over the bridge, or let anyone who isn't driving ride the ferry home to the Ferry Building.

Time
8–9 hour day
Driving
About 2 hours of driving in all, roughly 40 miles, much of it on narrow, winding Marin roads
Best time
All year; best September–October and weekday mornings
Updated
$4 USD

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Tall, deeply furrowed coast redwood trunks in soft hazy light, with ferns and young trees on the forest floor
Gzzz · CC BY-SA 4.0. Summer 2022 photograph of coast redwoods in Muir Woods; resized and displayed with crop.
Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

  • 7:45 amLeave downtown San Francisco
  • 8:05 amGolden Gate Bridge Vista Point
  • 9:00 amMuir Woods National Monument
  • 11:35 amMuir Beach Overlook
  • 12:40 pmLunch and the Sausalito waterfront
  • 3:30 pmFerry back to San Francisco
  • 3:45 pmDrive back to San Francisco
Highlights

Worth the trip

  • The Bridge 4 loop through Muir Woods' redwoods before the midday crowds
  • Pacific cliffs and the long view north from the Muir Beach Overlook
  • An unhurried Sausalito lunch, with the ferry home as an option

What’s in the guide

Matching HTML and PDF guides, detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links, weather alternatives and phone instructions. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

The coast north of the Golden Gate is cool year-round. In summer (June–August), marine fog often covers the bridge, Muir Woods and the ocean cliffs in the morning, with cool wind, while Sausalito on the bay side may clear by afternoon. September and October usually bring the clearest, warmest days. Winter (November–March) is the rainy season, with storms that can bring heavy rain, wind and road slides, and fresh green woods between them. Muir Woods is shaded and damp, and often cooler than the city. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast the evening before and the morning of your trip.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

A good day, in the bag.

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