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San Francisco to Sausalito: 8 Ways to Get Here
by Jill Loeffler •
Published: August 23, 2023
If you are looking to travel from San Francisco to Sausalito, you will find various transportation options to get you there. You can take the ferry service, walk or bike over the Golden Gate Bridge, or go on a guided tour.
The small seaside town of Sausalito is about 9 miles away from SF. It's a popular day tour for its shopping, waterfront restaurants, and views. Most people spend just a few hours here exploring everything it offers.
My guide includes details for seven great options to get you there. Read on to learn more about how to cross the San Francisco Bay to visit this cute town in Marin County.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Sausalito Ferry from Fisherman's Wharf
One of the most popular options from San Francisco to Sausalito is the ferry from Fisherman's Wharf. It's run by the Blue and Gold Fleet and offers daily service across the San Francisco Bay.
The Sausalito ferry typically runs between 5 to 7 ferries daily, allowing you to spend a few hours in Sausalito or even head over for lunch. The first ferries usually leave mid to late morning and return in the late afternoon or early evening.
This ferry leaves from the dock area just west of Pier 39. It drops you off in downtown Sausalito.
>> Find out more about taking the ferry to Sausalito
2. Sausalito Ferry from the Ferry Building
The second of the two Sausalito ferries companies runs from the Ferry Building over to Sausalito. Golden Gate Transit operates this one.
These ferries also run daily, with around seven between 7 am and 7 pm. It's a popular option with commuters and those needing to get over to Sausalito a little earlier than the times offered by the Blue and Gold Fleet.
This ferry service leaves from behind the Ferry Building and drops you off in downtown Sausalito. Check the board inside the building to find which gate you will leave from. You can purchase tickets through the kiosks outside or use your Clipper Card.
>> Find out more about the Ferry Building
3. Guided Tour
The combined Muir Woods National Monument and Sausalito Tour is a popular option. This one offers a shuttle service up to Muir Woods first, where you will spend about 90 minutes on your own exploring this national monument.
It will then take you to Sausalito for a 15- to 20-minute tour of this seaside village. The one I recommend below offers you an additional 30 minutes to check it out on your own.
From there, you can either stay on the bus and return to San Francisco or stay in Sausalito and take the ferry back across the SF Bay. The second option allows you to spend a little time doing whatever you want to do.
This tour is a favorite of mine. The cool thing about this tour is that you usually stop at the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge on your way to Muir Woods for a photo opp.
>> Find out more about this guided tour
>> Learn more about all the options to get to Muir Woods from SF
More Great Pages for Your Visit to San Francisco
4. Bike Over the Golden Gate Bridge
Another fun way to get from San Francisco to Sausalito is to cycle here. The route is impressive.
You'll start by riding along the SF waterfront. Your ride continues as you bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, then along Alexander Avenue, which leads you into the heart of Sausalito.
You have two options. You can either do this via a guided tour (this is my favorite one) or you can rent a bike to go on your own (this is a great place to rent bikes).
For both options, you can select manual or electric bikes (this is a good electric bike option). The entire ride over from Fisherman's Wharf is around eight miles.
You can return from Sausalito to San Francisco again by bike or take one of the ferry services mentioned above.
>> Learn more about biking the bridge and cruising over to Sausalito
5. Walk Over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito from San Francisco
Walking over the Golden Gate Bridge is another fantastic way to get to Sausalito. I've done this walk about half a dozen times.
You'll start by walking over the bridge, then along Alexander Avenue, and finally to the waterfront.
The walk from the San Francisco side of the bridge to downtown Sausalito is about 4 miles.
You can then check out the shopping, restaurants, etc., and take the ferry back from Sausalito to San Francisco.
>> Learn more about what it's like to walk
6. 130 Bus to Sausalito from San Francisco
The often overlooked option is the bus. Golden Gate Transit runs a bus between the two almost every hour from around 6:30 am to around 11:30 pm. It's a great option to take you directly from SF to downtown Sausalito.
This bus picks up along Mission Street, Van Ness Street, and Lombard Street. It takes you over the bridge and then into Sausalito. It will drop you off near the ferry terminal, giving you easy access to everything Sausalito offers.
I usually recommend this option for those that have an early shuttle over to Muir Woods or end up missing the last ferry back to SF.
7. Electric GoCar Tour Over the Golden Gate Bridge
A fun way to get over the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito is on an electric GoCar. These small but street and bridge legal cars allow you to take an open-air tour to Marin County.
Your tour starts at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. It begins with an orientation and safety briefing so you are comfortable before you set off on your adventure.
Even though you are your own "guide," don't worry about getting lost! This GPS-guided car will tell you exactly where to go!
This two-hour tour also includes helmets, a fully charged electric vehicle, and a chance to get all of your questions answered before you set off.
This option is unsuitable for kids under 12 or anyone over 254 lbs (115 kg). You must be 25 or older with a valid driver's license.
>> Find out more about this tour, including booking details
8. Uber/Lyft
The final option to get over to Sausalito from San Francisco is by using a rideshare service. Since Sausalito is in another county, it's expensive to get here using a regular taxi or cab (additional fees apply for these taxis to drive between counties), but Uber and Lyft will charge you their standard rate.
To cross over the San Francisco Bay from Fisherman's Wharf, this option is around $35 to $50 before tip and taxes (so plan for around $45 to $60). To cross over from Union Square, it will cost about $5 to $10 more per trip. This is during standard visiting times and not during rush hour traffic.
The ride only takes about 20 to 25 minutes during regular traffic.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!