Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour San Francisco
- Duration5 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This five-hour small-group tour is the easy way to see the redwoods near San Francisco. A 14-passenger van collects you from most San Francisco hotels, drives through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge, stops on the north side for photos, then continues to Muir Woods National Monument, where you spend about 80 minutes among giant coast redwoods, with the entry fee included. The tour ends with an hour in Sausalito before you are driven back to your hotel. Morning and afternoon departures are available.
Highlights
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from most San Francisco hotels
- Small group in a 14-passenger van with a professional guide
- Photo stop at the Golden Gate Bridge viewpoint
- About 80 minutes in Muir Woods, with entry fee included
- About one hour to explore Sausalito
- Bottled water included, with morning and afternoon departures
Full Description
The Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge
The tour begins with a scenic drive through some of San Francisco's best neighbourhoods and the Presidio, a former military post that is now a large national park along the shore. Your guide points out landmarks as you go, so the drive is part of the sightseeing, not just transport. Then you cross the Golden Gate Bridge, which opened in 1937.
On the north side you stop at the vista point for photos of the bridge, the bay and the city. This is one of the best places for pictures of the Golden Gate, and small-group tours can stop in places that large buses cannot. Fog sometimes sits over the bridge in the morning, which is part of the atmosphere.
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods is a protected grove of coast redwoods just north of San Francisco, and it is the main event of this tour. The trees rise over 250 feet, and many are hundreds of years old. Walking among them on flat, well-kept paths is cool and quiet, and it feels a world away from the city.
Your guide explains how to see the grove and where the oldest trees stand, then you have about 80 minutes to explore. The Muir Woods entry fee is included in your ticket, so you do not need to buy anything at the gate. There is also a visitor centre, a café and a gift shop. It is a popular answer to how to visit Muir Woods without a car.
Sausalito
After the forest, the van heads to Sausalito, a small waterfront town on the Marin side of the bay. You have about an hour to wander the promenade, browse galleries and shops, or find a bite to eat, with views across the water to the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge.
Sausalito is known for its houseboat community, yacht harbours and hillside houses. If you want more time there, you can stay after the tour ends and return to San Francisco by ferry or taxi at your own expense. Otherwise, the van takes you back to your hotel.
Why choose a small-group tour
With a maximum of 14 passengers, the group moves quickly, gets a more personal experience and is easier to manage than a full coach. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most San Francisco hotels, which saves a lot of effort if you do not have a car. The tour takes about five hours.
There are two departures, at 08:00 and 13:30, so you can choose whether to start your day here or use the afternoon. Bring a jacket and comfortable shoes, since the forest is cool and shaded. Snacks and meals are not included, though bottled water is. Tips are optional and not included.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupBe ready at your pickup point for the 08:00 or 13:30 departure; the exact time is confirmed after booking.
- Scenic drive through the PresidioRide through San Francisco neighbourhoods and the Presidio with commentary (about 30 minutes).
- Golden Gate Bridge viewpointStop for about 10 minutes of photos on the north side of the bridge.
- Muir WoodsExplore the redwood grove for about 80 minutes, with your entry fee included.
- SausalitoSpend about one hour in the waterfront town.
- Return to your hotelDrive back to San Francisco, or stay in Sausalito and return at your own cost.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from most San Francisco hotels
- Transport in a 14-passenger van
- Professional guide
- Bottled water
- Muir Woods National Monument entry fee
Not included
- Tips (optional)
- Ferry or taxi fare if you stay longer in Sausalito
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 0–16
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- A half-day plan — about 5 hours
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.6/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
- Guests who cannot manage walking on forest paths
- Travellers who want to visit Alcatraz in the same tour
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in San Francisco from one of the pickup locations, confirmed after booking, for the 08:00 or 13:30 departure. Pickup and drop-off are included from most San Francisco hotels. Please be ready in your hotel lobby at your pickup time.
Important information
- Wear comfortable shoes and layers; Muir Woods is shaded and cool
- Bring a camera, sunglasses and snacks if you like; bottled water is provided
- Tips are optional and not included
- You can stay in Sausalito after the tour, but ferry or taxi fare back is at your own cost
- The Muir Woods entry fee is included in your ticket
- Information brochures at Muir Woods are available in several languages
- Fog is common in the morning, which can hide the bridge towers
- The route may change slightly with traffic
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Muir Woods and Sausalito tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers and whether they are adults or children. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each, so you can see the total before booking.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most San Francisco hotels. Your exact pickup point and time are confirmed after booking.
How long is the tour?
The tour takes about five hours, with morning (08:00) and afternoon (13:30) departures.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes. There is a child ticket for ages 0 to 16, and the short walks and small group suit families.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear comfortable shoes and layers, and bring a camera and a jacket. Bottled water is provided, and you can bring snacks.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, if seats remain. Choose your date in the booking panel to see live availability for both departures.
What is the difference between the options?
There is one option on this page, a small-group tour with hotel pickup, a professional guide, a Golden Gate photo stop, Muir Woods with entry included and time in Sausalito. Tips and the ferry or taxi fare if you stay longer in Sausalito are not included.
Is the Muir Woods entrance fee included?
Yes, the Muir Woods National Monument entry fee is included in your ticket.
How long do we spend in Muir Woods?
You have about 80 minutes to explore the grove, plus time to visit the café and gift shop.
Can I stay in Sausalito after the tour?
Yes. If you stay, you will need to return to San Francisco by ferry or taxi at your own cost.
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