Muir Woods sits about 17 miles from downtown San Francisco, reached by a narrow, winding coastal canyon road. Parking reservations are required for every personal vehicle, and the drive itself asks for a little extra patience and attention.
Muir Woods is roughly 30 to 45 minutes from downtown San Francisco, depending on traffic.
The approach climbs over the ridge at Panoramic Highway and drops into the canyon through a series of switchbacks. Take your time, use pullouts if a line of cars forms behind you, and be ready for bicyclists around every bend, especially on weekend mornings.
There is no reliable cell service in or near Muir Woods. Download your parking pass, directions, and any maps before you leave home. Uber and Lyft cannot reliably pick you up from the park. If you arrive by taxi or rideshare, arrange a firm return time with your driver before they leave.
Marin Transit runs the seasonal Muir Woods Shuttle (Route 66/66F). Larkspur Landing service runs weekends and holidays; Sausalito service runs summer weekdays only (approximately June through August). Round-trip fare is $4 for adults; kids ride free. Larkspur Landing has free weekend/holiday parking; Sausalito has no dedicated shuttle parking. Check Marin Transit for the current schedule.
Skip the parking reservation and the winding road entirely. Guided tours include round-trip transportation from San Francisco, park admission, and a local guide.
Round-trip from downtown San Francisco with park admission included — no parking reservation, no ridge road, no cell-service problem on the way home. Free cancellation on all three.
Straight transport across the Golden Gate and back, admission included, no guide and no fixed itinerary once you’re in the grove. The closest thing to driving yourself without the reservation or the switchbacks.
Drops into the canyon in the morning, then Sausalito, and you choose the ferry back across the bay instead of retracing the road. Over 5,000 reviews and the most-booked Muir Woods trip out of the city.
Adds the bridge vista stops most drivers skip because there is nowhere legal to pull over, then the redwoods and Sausalito. Optional Alcatraz add-on. The highest-rated of the full-length options.
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.