Region

Marin County

Base in San Rafael or Mill Valley; do Muir Woods and Point Reyes as day-trips by car.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Marin is the county immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge: redwoods, a 784 m mountain, a rugged coast and small bay towns. It is not served by BART, and buses to the parks are sparse, so a car decides your trip. Sleep in San Rafael for transit and the SMART train, in Mill Valley for Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods, in Sausalito for the ferry and bay views. Two nights covers the towns; add a night for Point Reyes.

Where to sleep

5 places in this region

Sleep base

San RafaelCity guide
County seat, transit hub, SMART and Greyhound stop, most hotels.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open San Rafael →
Mill ValleyCity guide
Closest base to Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Mill Valley →
SausalitoCity guide
Ferry to San Francisco, bay views, priciest rooms.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Sausalito →

Day trip

Stinson BeachCity guide
Ocean beach and Dipsea trailhead; summer parking fills by mid-morning.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Stinson Beach →
Point Reyes StationGuide: planned
Gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore; full day from any base.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: San Rafael or Mill Valley 2; Sausalito, Tiburon and Mount Tamalpais in between
3 nights: Mill Valley 2 + Point Reyes or Stinson Beach 1

Marin has no BART station. From BART you transfer to a ferry or bus in San Francisco or at El Cerrito del Norte.
West Marin buses can run every two hours or less; a missed bus can strand you.
Fog rolls in overnight and burns off by late morning; drive carefully after midnight.
Check for ticks after hiking in grass; Lyme disease is present in the Bay Area.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Muir Woods	Mill Valley	25 min	unknown	Reserved parking or shuttle only; go before 09:00.Reserved parking or shuttle only; go before 9:00 AM.
Point Reyes National Seashore	San Rafael	60 min	unknown	Lighthouse road and steps; wind and fog most afternoons.
Stinson Beach	Mill Valley	35 min	unknown	Marin Transit 61 runs, but infrequently; check the schedule.
Tiburon	San Rafael	25 min	unknown	Ferry to San Francisco and the Angel Island ferry dock.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding; hotels hold bags on request — ask before you book.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
San Rafael	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	×
Mill Valley	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	×
Sausalito	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	×
Stinson Beach	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
United States (country-wide)	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Marin coast and hillsSausalito, Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, Point Reyes	ok	wet	ok	best	best	ok	ok	ok	best	best	ok	ok

best: dry, mildok: workablewet: daily rain

Marin coast and hills: Warm dry summers, mild wet winters, frost rare. Fog is common overnight and in early morning; layers and a jacket are needed even on warm days.

Summer is the driest window for hiking and the beach, but it is also the foggiest on the coast. May, June, September and October are the best balance of clear days and smaller crowds.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
SFO (San Francisco International)	Sausalito, Mill Valley, Larkspur, San Rafael, Novato	Marin Airporter bus	~30–75 min depending on stop	Runs about every 30 minutes, roughly 05:00 to midnight; pay the driver on exit. 2026 estimate $23.Runs about every 30 minutes, roughly 5:00 AM to midnight; pay the driver on exit. 2026 estimate $23.
OAK (Oakland International)	San Rafael and points north	Groome Transportation shuttle	~60–90 min	About every two hours, early morning to evening; 2026 estimate $37 adult, children 12 and under free.
San Francisco	Sausalito or Larkspur	Golden Gate Ferry	~30 min Sausalito, ~45 min Larkspur	Sit on the top deck; Clipper accepted. Check the last sailing before a late return.
San Francisco or Santa Rosa	San Rafael Transit Center	Golden Gate Transit 101 bus	~45–60 min from San Francisco	Connects to BART in San Francisco; Clipper tap-off on exit.
Sonoma County Airport	San Rafael, Novato, Larkspur	SMART commuter rail	~50–70 min	Fares about $3.50–$11.50 by distance; Clipper or the eTickets app only, no cash.
San Francisco	Sausalito	Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge	~45–60 min	Popular one-way ride; return by ferry with the bike.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Clipper card

buy

One card for the ferry, Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit and SMART; no pass maths needed.

Muir Woods parking or shuttle reservation

buy

Required for most arrivals; without it you can be turned away at the gate.

SMART day pass

check

Only pays if you ride several times in one day; single fares are distance-based.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Bay-side seafood and cioppino	Sausalito and Tiburon waterfronts	Lunch is cheaper than dinner; weekend tables need booking.
Farmers-market picnic	San Rafael and Marin Country Mart, Larkspur	Buy bread, cheese and fruit before heading to the coast; West Marin has few shops.
Taqueria burritos	San Rafael, especially the Canal district	Cheapest full meal in the county; open through the afternoon.
Oysters	Point Reyes Station and Marshall, along Tomales Bay	Grill-your-own at some spots; reserve weekend lunch.
Coffee and pastries	Mill Valley and Fairfax	Most cafés close by late afternoon.

Go next

North Bay

planned

US 101 north

Continue to Sonoma wine country and the coast.

San Francisco

Ferry ~30 min or Golden Gate Transit 101

Leave the car; parking in the city is expensive.

California

US 101 south, then I-80 or CA-1

Marin is a natural first stop on a Pacific coast drive.

Los Angeles

US 101 south to CA-1, or fly from SFO/OAK

About 6–7 h by car; flying is faster.

Seattle

Fly from SFO or OAK

Too far to drive in one day.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 3 bases
Day trips: 4, 25 min to 1 h
Nights suggested: 2–3 nights
Ways in: 6 listed
Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open North Bay Up to United States

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialMarin County — official site
officialVisit Marin — county tourism
officialGolden Gate Ferry and Golden Gate Transit
officialMarin Transit
officialSMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit)
officialMarin Airporter
officialNational Park Service — Muir Woods and Point Reyes
secondaryWikivoyage: Marin County, revision 5243349 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Marin County

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