Best Day Trips from San Francisco 2026 — Napa Valley, Muir Woods and Yosemite Near San Francisco

Best Day Trips from San Francisco 2026

San Francisco sits at the top of a peninsula with extraordinary natural geography on all sides. The Marin Headlands and Muir Woods are 30 minutes north across the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley's wine country is 90 minutes northeast, and the Santa Cruz mountains and beaches are 90 minutes south. Yosemite National Park is 4 hours east by car — doable as a day trip for those willing to start before dawn. California's public transit is car-centric beyond the Bay Area, so most day trips work best with a rental car or organised tour. This guide covers the best day trips from San Francisco in 2026.

Top Day Trip Destinations from San Francisco

• Muir Woods National Monument (20km north, 45 minutes by car or 90 minutes by ferry+shuttle): an ancient cathedral of coastal redwood trees with the oldest over 1,200 years old; entry $15 (AUD 23) per person — advance timed entry reservation required at recreation.gov; Muir Beach and Stinson Beach are 15 minutes further west; Napa Valley (90km north, 90 minutes by car via Highway 29): the world's most prestigious American wine region with Caymus, Opus One, and hundreds of boutique wineries; tasting fees from $35-75 (AUD 54-115) per winery; the Napa Valley Wine Train ($185+ / AUD 283) is a luxury alternative; Sausalito and Tiburon (15km north, 30 minutes by Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building): car-free trip across the bay to the Mediterranean-style waterfront town of Sausalito and the hillside village of Tiburon; ferry $18 (AUD 28) return; cycle back across the Golden Gate Bridge; Point Reyes National Seashore (70km northwest, 1.5 hours by car): a rugged headland with elk herds, dramatic sea cliffs, the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, and oyster farms at Tomales Bay; Yosemite National Park (290km east, 4 hours by car): Yosemite Valley with El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall is one of the world's greatest national parks; entry $35 (AUD 54) per car; advance timed entry reservation required in summer; very long day trip — depart by 5am for maximum time in the valley

Day Trip Logistics from San Francisco

• Golden Gate Ferry serves Sausalito and Larkspur from the Ferry Building (Market Street waterfront); a rental car from SFO or downtown is the most flexible option for Napa, Muir Woods, Point Reyes, and Yosemite; Golden Gate Transit buses serve Marin County; organised wine tours from San Francisco are widely available for Napa and Sonoma; advance reservations required for Muir Woods timed entry and Yosemite in peak season

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