Verdict
San Francisco cityscape

Muir Woods Day-Trip

Old-growth coast redwoods across the bridge, reservation-only, often via tour.

The call

Worth it if you're watching the budget and you only have one day.

Independent, never pay-to-rankGraded for your kind of tripVerified 2026-06-06How we decide

Short answer

Is Muir Woods Day-Trip worth it?

Muir Woods 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

  1. 01

    Standing under 250-foot redwoods is a hush-the-whole-group moment.

  2. 02

    The catch is parking reservations, a half-day round-trip, and the fact that you're not the only one who read about it.

  3. 03

    Cathedral Grove holds redwoods topping 250 feet and over 600 years old, with the Park Service asking visitors to keep silent among them.

    marincountyvisitor.com
  4. 04

    Mandatory parking and shuttle reservations have 'really reduced the crowding and congestion,' so the grove feels far calmer than it used to.

    visitmarin.org

Is it a fit?

Go if

Think twice if

  • You want context, not just the photograph

    Muir Woods Day-Trip offers some depth & learning, but not enough to make it the reason to go.

Plan it well

Cost
$15 entry + transport/tour
Timing
By 8–9 a.m. or after 3 p.m.; weekdays Nov–Feb are quietest, summer weekend afternoons busiest
Booking
Parking ($10) and shuttle reservations required 7 days a week year-round via GoMuirWoods.com or 1-800-410-2419; no cell signal on site
Allow
Half day
Accessibility
Main trail is a flat boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs and strollers
Getting there
~30 min north of SF; shuttle serves Larkspur Landing (weekends/holidays) and Sausalito Ferry (select summer weekdays)
Ready to plan it?
Booking may earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict.
Check availability
Sources and method (7)