Getting to Muir Woods

Muir Woods sits about 17 miles from downtown San Francisco, on the steep western slope of Mount Tamalpais. The roads in are narrow and winding, parking is reservation-only, and the most reliable way in from the city is the shuttle. Here’s how each option actually works.

Reservations required. Every parking spot and shuttle seat must be reserved in advance at gomuirwoods.com. Walking in from outside the lots is not permitted. Rangers will turn you around.

By Car

Driving yourself is the flexible option, but you need a parking reservation for a specific 30-minute arrival window. From San Francisco, take US-101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge, exit at Mill Valley / Stinson Beach (CA-1), and follow signs up Panoramic Highway to Muir Woods Road. The last few miles are narrow, curvy, and slow. Budget 45 to 60 minutes from downtown SF, longer on summer weekends.

Full details on parking, pricing, and booking windows: Parking at Muir Woods.

Muir Woods Shuttle (Marin Transit Route 66/66F)

The Muir Woods Shuttle is operated by Marin Transit as Route 66/66F. It runs seasonally, typically from early spring through October.

  • Larkspur Landing is the primary pickup, running on weekends and holidays.
  • Sausalito Ferry Terminal runs only on select summer weekdays (roughly June through August), not weekends.
  • Fare: $4 round-trip per adult; kids 15 and under ride free.
  • Parking: Larkspur Landing parking is free on weekends and holidays. Sausalito has no dedicated shuttle parking, so it’s designed for people already in Sausalito by ferry or on foot.

Reservations go through gomuirwoods.com. For seasonal dates and pickup times: Muir Woods Shuttle and Tours.

Guided Tour from San Francisco

San Francisco tour operators run half-day and full-day trips that include transportation, park admission, and a guided walk. They handle reservations for you. It’s usually the most expensive option per person but the simplest if you don’t want to navigate roads or booking systems.

Listings and what to look for in a tour: Tours & Shuttle.

Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)

Rideshare drop-off is allowed, but pickups back to the city are unreliable. Cell coverage at the park is patchy, and drivers aren’t always willing to make the round trip. If you take rideshare in, have a backup plan: the shuttle, a pre-arranged return, or a willingness to wait.

By Bike

Experienced road cyclists ride in from Sausalito over Panoramic Highway. It’s a serious climb, not casual. No bike reservation is required, but the roads are shared with cars and have long sections without a shoulder. Not recommended unless you’re comfortable with steep, narrow mountain roads.

What Doesn’t Work

  • Walking in from outside. The park is gated and checked. You need either a parking or shuttle reservation.
  • Year-round public transit. The only transit service to the park is the seasonal Marin Transit Route 66/66F shuttle. No other Marin Transit route and no Muni route reaches the monument.
  • Arriving without a reservation. Drive-up parking is not available, even off-season.

Plan Your Route