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Many people come to California to see the magnificent redwoods. While Redwoods National Park & Sequoia National Park are both gorgeous places that should be on any visitor’s bucket list, there are redwoods much closer to San Francisco that are easy to see. Muir Woods National Monument is a gorgeous redwood forest located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. It’s one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. There are several great Muir Woods Tours from San Francisco, many of which combine the redwood forest with other nearby highlights such as Sausalito or Napa & Sonoma Wine Country.
How far is Muir Woods from San Francisco?
Muir Woods is only about 15 miles away from San Francisco. Depending on traffic and where in the city you are starting from, the drive from San Francisco to Muir Woods takes between 30 minutes and an hour.
However, given the popularity of the redwoods, Muir Woods parking reservations are now necessary. Muir Woods shuttles also run from Larkspur & Sausalito depending on the season & the day of the week. These too require reservations (latest info). If these reservations are all booked for the day you want to go, then Muir Woods tours are solid alternatives.
Many San Francisco visitors forget to consider that if they rent a car as soon as they arrive at SFO, they will also have to pay for expensive parking at their hotel. If you’re only planning to go on a short day trip from San Francisco before taking a longer road trip around California, then a Muir Woods tour can actually be cheaper than several days of parking.
Muir Woods & Sausalito Tours from San Francisco
Many Muir Woods tours also include Sausalito, a pretty town located just across the bay from San Francisco. Sausalito has shops, restaurants, bars, and of course, excellent city views (as long as the fog cooperates!). Some tours return by bus, while others offer other options such as the ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco.
Book your hotel in San Francisco Bay Area now!San Francisco: Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour with Ferry Option
This Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour by Gray Line San Francisco offers several options.
First, the tour visits Muir Woods, with plenty of time for hiking through the redwoods. Next, there is a stop in Sausalito.
From there, you have a few different options. One ticket includes a ferry ride back to San Francisco. The ferry ride from Sausalito to San Francisco is a fantastic way to get out on the water and see the city skyline. This option also allows you to spend as long as you want in Sausalito, so you can have lunch, go shopping, or go for a drink. If you have the time, this tour option would be my personal preference thanks to its flexibility.
Another option is to take the tour bus back to San Francisco from Sausalito. Along with this option, you can also add a 4-hour bike rental if you want to further explore San Francisco.
Gray Line also offers a similar tour that includes a San Francisco Bay cruise after the tour of Muir Woods & Sausalito.
Book a Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour with Ferry Option
From San Francisco: Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Trip
This San Francisco to Muir Woods tour from Incredible Adventures offers plenty of time to explore the redwoods & Sausalito.
After heading across the Golden Gate Bridge, you will have a generous 90 minutes to visit Muir Woods before being driven to Sausalito. This is the longest you’ll see from most of these tours. A few others also offer 90 minutes of hiking, while others tend to have 60-75 minutes. Click each tour’s full description for details.
You then have the option to either stay longer in Sausalito and take the ferry back to San Francisco, or return as scheduled on the bus.
Book a Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Trip from San Francisco
From San Francisco: Muir Woods Guided Bus Tour
For those who are looking for a Muir Woods tour & care less about Sausalito or for those who want to stay in the seaside destination longer, this tour from Big Bus Sightseeing is a good option.
The visit to Muir Woods lasts 90 minutes, then the bus passes through Sausalito but does not include time in the town. Instead, you have the option to get off the bus if you want & can return from Sausalito to San Francisco by ferry on your own schedule, or you can stay on enjoy the ride back to SF.
Book a Muir Woods Guided Bus Tour from San Francisco
San Francisco: Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour
This Muir Woods and Sausalito small-group tour from A Taste of SF Tours is a similar tour to the ones above.
The tour includes a visit to Muir Woods as well as a stop in Sausalito. You are then welcome to either return to the city in the vehicle, or you can stay longer in Sausalito and return by ferry or Uber.
Book a Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour from San Francisco
San Francisco: Muir Woods and Marin by Land, Air and Sea
For the most unique way of going on a Muir Woods day trip, check out this tour from Fogcutter Tours.
First, the tour heads from San Francisco to Muir Woods. After time to hike through the woods, the tour then continues around the Marin Headlands, with stops at some of the most picturesque sights.
Here’s where the tour becomes a special experience. There’s a seaplane harbor in Sausalito. Board a plane & then retrace your steps, seeing glorious views of Muir Woods, Mt. Tamalpais, and the Marin Headlands from above.
The seaplane flight then continues around San Francisco Bay, taking in other views such as downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz, and Angel Island before returning to Sausalito.
Back on the ground in Sausalito, you will be greeted with sparkling wine & a locally sourced organic lunch. Following lunch, you will have plenty of time to explore Sausalito before returning to San Francisco by ferry.
Needless to say, this isn’t a tour for anyone who is afraid of heights, but it’s a fantastic option for anyone who will enjoy the thrill & the unique views.
Book a Muir Woods and Marin by Land, Air and Sea tour from San Francisco
Muir Woods & San Francisco City Tours
There are several Muir Woods tours from San Francisco that also include full tours of the city, which are perfect for people who don’t have much time in SF but also want to get out to see the redwoods while seeing as much as possible. Most of these Muir Woods San Francisco tours also include Sausalito.
San Francisco: 6-Hour City and Muir Woods Tour
San Francisco Excursions offers an excellently-reviewed tour that includes San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Sausalito. Visitors love how fun, knowledgeable, and informative tour guides Brendan and Alex are as they head to beloved SF spots by minibus.
The San Francisco portion of the tour visits Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, the Tenderloin, Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, the Presidio, and more, with several photo stops along the way.
The tour then includes a lunch stop in Sausalito and a visit to Muir Woods.
Book a San Francisco: 6-Hour City and Muir Woods Tour
San Francisco, Sausalito and Muir Woods Small Group Tour
This small-group tour by Dylan’s Tours offers a great overview of San Francisco along with Muir Woods and Sausalito. The tour has fantastic reviews.
The city tour heads to Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, North Beach, Pacific Heights, the Presidio, and Fort Point before heading across the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, you’ll see some of the most famous highlights of San Francisco, including movie filming locations.
After a lunch break in Sausalito, the tour heads to Muir Woods National Monument for hiking & spectacular forest views.
Book a San Francisco, Sausalito and Muir Woods Small Group Tour
Muir Woods & Wine Tours from San Francisco to Napa & Sonoma
Several Muir Woods tours also include wine tasting in Sonoma & Napa. While these Napa wine tours don’t offer as much time to explore Muir Woods, they are great options for those who are looking to experience the redwoods while also making it up to Wine Country.
San Francisco: Redwood & Wine Country Tour with Lunch & Wine
This Muir Woods wine tour from San Francisco to Napa and Sonoma by Extranomical Tours is an especially good choice for foodies. The tour includes a gourmet lunch & wine pairings on Sonoma Plaza. For those who prefer to choose their own lunch, they also offer the same tour without it.
Prior to lunch, the tour heads from San Francisco to Muir Woods. While there are many tours that focus on Muir Woods & Sausalito, there are also tours such as this one that combine a visit to Muir Woods with wine tasting in Napa & Sonoma.
In addition to Muir Woods & a wine lunch, there are also visits to 3 local wineries, including wine tastings.
Book a Redwood & Wine Country Tour with Lunch & Wine from San Francisco
San Francisco: Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Wine Country Tour
This Wine Country tour from Tower Tours also includes stops in the beautiful Muir Woods & Sausalito.
The tour starts by heading across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods to see the coastal redwoods. This is followed by a lunch break in Sausalito.
Following lunch, the tour heads north for wine tasting at two wineries in Napa & Sonoma.
Book a Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Wine Country Tour from San Francisco
From San Francisco: Muir Woods Wine Tour with Napa & Sonoma
For those looking to enjoy some of the natural beauty of the Bay Area, look no further than this Muir Woods tour from Incredible Adventures. Their small group wine tours from San Francisco include Muir Woods in addition to two wineries.
The tour has a maximum of 13 passengers. After being picked up at a San Francisco hotel, the tour starts out by heading to Muir Woods for an hour of hiking. This is followed by a break for lunch at Sonoma Plaza. The afternoon continues with wine tasting in Napa & Sonoma.
Book a Muir Woods Wine Tour with Napa & Sonoma from San Francisco
Private Muir Woods Tours from San Francisco
If you are looking for a more intimate hiking experience, I recommend one of these private Muir Woods tours. Private tours let you set your own schedule without having to be rushed or having to wait for a busload of people. You get more time to explore the redwoods, especially on some of the trails towards the coast & Mt. Tamalpais which are much less crowded. If you are traveling with enough people, these private Muir Woods tours can potentially be cheaper than booking tickets on a larger tour!
San Francisco: Private Muir Woods, Sausalito Half-Day Trip
This private Muir Woods tour from Dingo Tours offers a guide & driver who will take you wherever you want to go in Marin by car, including Sausalito.
The highlight is Muir Woods, of course, including a hike along Redwood Creek.
There are also plenty of other potential stops in the beautiful Marin Headlands, including views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge from Point Bonita Lighthouse, Ridge Battery, Hawk Hill/Battery 129, and Fort Baker.
The trip also includes plenty of time to explore the quiet town of Sausalito, including its shops & restaurants.
Book a Private Muir Woods, Sausalito Half-Day Trip from San Francisco
San Francisco: Private Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour
This private Muir Woods & Sausalito tour from San Francisco by Edge of the World Tours includes similar stops as other tours, though you can also customize based on your preferences.
After picking you up at your chosen location, the van (which holds up to 13 passengers, so this is a great option for larger private groups) heads across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods.
You then have about 90 minutes to hike amidst the towering coastal redwoods. The tour then heads to Sausalito, where you will have time to explore the quaint town.
Book a Private Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour from San Francisco
As you can see, there are plenty of great tours to Muir Woods from San Francisco. Click here for even more Muir Woods tour options.
Here are some great San Francisco tours & other things to see & do in SF.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out these San Francisco hotels.
