Stinson Beach Day-Trip
A wide Marin sand beach beyond Mount Tam, one of the area's best for swimming.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you're traveling with kids.
Short answer
Is Stinson Beach Day-Trip worth it?
Stinson Beach Day-Trip deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A broad, soft three-mile beach in a sunny pocket of Marin — one of the few Bay Area beaches mild enough to actually lounge on, reached by a gorgeous winding coast drive.
- 02
The catch: the drive over the mountain is slow and twisty, summer weekend parking fills early, and the water is still cold.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
Stinson Beach Day-Trip earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You're traveling with kids
With kids, Stinson Beach Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Stinson Beach Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Stinson Beach Day-Trip is an easy yes.
Plan it well
- Cost
- $ (free; gas + parking)
- Timing
- Arrive before late morning on summer weekends to find parking.
- Allow
- Half–full day
- Accessibility
- Beach wheelchairs may be available seasonally; the main beach is soft sand.
- Getting there
- About an hour north over winding Mount Tam roads; a car is needed.