Day trips · San Francisco · United States
7 best day trips from San Francisco
Where to go when you want a day away from San Francisco, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from San Francisco is Muir Woods (About 40 minutes by car). The closest option is Sausalito, about 13 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 7
- Closest
- Sausalito (13 km)
- Most popular
- Muir Woods
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muir Woods | 20 km | About 40 minutes by car | Car with a parking reservation, shuttle or tour | Families, First-timers, Quiet stays |
| Sausalito | 13 km | About 30 minutes by ferry | Ferry from the Ferry Building or Pier 41, or bike over the bridge | Couples, First-timers, Families |
| Napa Valley | 80 km | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Car or organised wine tour | Couples, Food lovers, Luxury |
| Berkeley | 20 km | About 30 minutes by BART | BART to Downtown Berkeley | Culture, Food lovers, Budget |
| Monterey and Carmel | 190 km | About 2.5 hours by car | Car | Families, Couples, Beach |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | 65 km | About 1.5 hours by car | Car | Quiet stays, Couples |
| Yosemite National Park | 300 km | About 4 hours by car | Car or organised tour | First-timers, Couples, Families |
The day trips
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20 km · About 40 minutes by car
1.Muir Woods
Old-growth coast redwoods, some more than 75 metres tall and many centuries old, line the boardwalk trails of Muir Woods National Monument at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. Parking or shuttle reservations are required, so book before you go.
- Getting there
- Car with a parking reservation, shuttle or tour
- Best for
- Families, First-timers, Quiet stays
13 km · About 30 minutes by ferry
2.Sausalito
This hillside waterfront town across the Golden Gate has galleries, waterfront restaurants and a colony of colourful houseboats. A popular plan is to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, coast downhill into Sausalito and take the ferry back.
- Getting there
- Ferry from the Ferry Building or Pier 41, or bike over the bridge
- Best for
- Couples, First-timers, Families
80 km · About 1–1.5 hours by car
3.Napa Valley
Napa Valley has hundreds of wineries along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, with Yountville, St Helena and Calistoga for lunch. Many wineries require tasting reservations, and a driver or tour is the sensible choice.
- Getting there
- Car or organised wine tour
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Luxury
20 km · About 30 minutes by BART
4.Berkeley
The University of California campus and its Sather Tower anchor Berkeley. Telegraph Avenue has bookshops and student cafés, and the North Shattuck food district is home to Chez Panisse, the restaurant credited with launching California cuisine.
- Getting there
- BART to Downtown Berkeley
- Best for
- Culture, Food lovers, Budget
190 km · About 2.5 hours by car
5.Monterey and Carmel
Monterey's Cannery Row leads to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with sea otters and a towering kelp forest tank, and the coast continues to Carmel-by-the-Sea and its white-sand beach. With extra time, take 17-Mile Drive or head south towards Big Sur.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, Couples, Beach
65 km · About 1.5 hours by car
6.Point Reyes National Seashore
Windswept beaches, the clifftop Point Reyes Lighthouse, a tule elk reserve and oyster farms on Tomales Bay make Point Reyes a wild contrast to the city. Grey whales pass the lighthouse in winter and spring.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples
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300 km · About 4 hours by car
7.Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley's granite walls — El Capitan and Half Dome — and its waterfalls, fullest in late spring, make a long but possible day trip; a night or two is far better. Check whether park entry reservations apply on your dates.
- Getting there
- Car or organised tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Muni buses cover the whole city, including Golden Gate Park, the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from San Francisco?
Muir Woods. Old-growth coast redwoods, some more than 75 metres tall and many centuries old, line the boardwalk trails of Muir Woods National Monument at the foot of Mount Tamalpais.
+How long does it take to get from San Francisco to Muir Woods?
About 40 minutes by car — Car with a parking reservation, shuttle or tour, about 20 km.
+How long does it take to get from San Francisco to Sausalito?
About 30 minutes by ferry — Ferry from the Ferry Building or Pier 41, or bike over the bridge, about 13 km.