Day Trips from San Francisco: The Best Places to Explore

I love living in the heart of San Francisco and one benefit of that is being able to explore the many amazing places nearby. There are dozens of easy day trips from SF that allow you to see even more of the beauty of California.

I love to visit Muir Woods and try to head up north to Napa and Sonoma for wine tasting a few times a year. Monterey is another one of my favorites with great shopping and one of the best aquariums in the world.

In my opinion, no other national park compares to Yosemite. I try to visit at least once a year for hiking and soaking in its amazing views.

These are just some of the places I love to explore near San Francisco. 

To help you find some ideas for your visit, I created this day trip guide. It includes details on some of the top locations to visit, how to get there, and what to expect when you arrive.

Some of these locations can be accessed through a day tour, so you don't have to do much planning. You can also access all of these locations by driving, so if you like to explore on your own, this is a great option. 

Very few are easily accessed by public transportation. You might be able to get there, but it will take you a few hours or even all day, so if you want to use public transportation to reach some of these spots, I recommend visiting for more than just one day so you can experience what each one has to offer.

SFTourismTips is made possible by readers like you! If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more.

Day Trips from San Francisco

To help you make the most of this page, I've organized these by location. The top 10 list are places that visitors visit all the time. Many offer guided day tours from San Francisco and, if heading there are on your own, the are well traveled paths.

• Top 10 Day Trips from San Francisco
• More Places North of San Francisco
• More Spots Along the Pacific Coast Highway/Highway 1
• More Redwood Parks to Explore
• More Local Wine Regions
• More Spots Around the SF Bay Area

1. Muir Woods National Monument

What makes this a must-see?

It's one of the few well-preserved old-growth redwood forests that's so easily accessible from San Francisco. The beautiful trees you will find here are Coast Redwoods.

They are a close relative to the larger Giant Sequoias. Most are 600 to 800 years old.

What is there to do here?

In the park, you can walk along the wooden and dirt paths which are flat and perfect for those who don't want to exert themselves too much. You can also set off for a longer hike on one of the dirt trails.

Even on busy weekends, I usually find peaceful corners where I can enjoy the redwoods in quiet.

How do you get here?

You can take a shuttle, guided tour, or drive. I created a full guide for how to get here so you can find the best option for your visit.

This is one of the most popular tours from San Francisco.

How much time should you spend here?

Most tours stop for about 90 minutes and that's plenty of time for most people to explore the park. If you are taking a shuttle or driving, you may spend up to 2 hours here. If you want to do some more intense hiking, you could spend the entire day here.

This is one of my favorite places to take nature photographs. It is an easy day trip from SF.

• More about visiting Muir Woods
• How to Use the Muir Woods shuttles
• Other National Parks Near San Francisco

2. Napa Valley

What makes this a must-see?

This wine region is the most well-known in Northern California. Cabernet Sauvignon is the red wine of choice from Napa with winemakers also doing a great job with Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Merlot.

White lovers should check out the region's Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blanc wines and some sparkling white wines.

What is there to do here?

Most people visit for the wine tasting. With more than 400 wineries, there are plenty to choose from. I recommend making appointments in advance, especially if you are visiting on a weekend.

Other activities including hiking, explore some of its historic sites, enjoying the hot springs, and eating at one of its top restaurants.

This list includes the best things to do here.

How do you get here?

If this is your first time, I recommend heading up with a guided tour (this is a popular one). This gives you time to sit back and enjoy the tastings.

You can also drive or take public transit (although this option takes up quite a bit of the day).

I created this guide with more details on all the ways to get here from SF.

How much time should you spend here?

The wineries typically open around 10 am and close around 5 pm.

It makes for a great day trip as you have plenty of time to get there and back in one day. It always turns into a long day, so I don't recommend planning much that evening.

>> Additional wine tours to Napa from San Francisco

3. Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea

What makes this a must-see?

Monterey is a small city that sits on the Monterey Bay. It's well known for its shopping, aquarium, and food scene. Carmel-by-the-Sea is just south of Monterey and most people visit them at the same time.

What is there to do here?

Monterey is home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Some of the most popular things to do here are shopping on Cannery Row, sampling the local wines, and golfing. 

Fisherman's Wharf is also fantastic for those looking to go whale watching or enjoy some fresh seafood. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great place for shopping, wine tasting, and seafood.

Find my tips here for Carmel.

How do you get here?

You can take a one day guided tour from San Francisco, which also includes visits to 17-Mile Drive and Carmel-by-the-Sea. You can also drive.

In this guide, I give you more details about how to get here.

How much time should you spend here?

You could spend anywhere from one full day to several day exploring this area. Most people start with a day trip and often return to spend more time here on a return trip.

Here are a few more of my favorite things to do here:

4. Sonoma County Wine Country

What makes this a must-see?

Sonoma is a gorgeous county with thousands of acres of vineyards, outdoor activities, old growth redwood trees, and the Russian River.

You will find larger cities such as Santa Rosa and cute small town such as Guerneville. It's relaxing, peaceful and offers plenty of fun activities.

What is there to do here?

While I usually visit to go wine tasting, I also love the outdoor activities here. Wine tasting is the biggest draw for most visitors and perfect for those who love Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Chardonnay.

I also love exploring Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve or doing some hiking at one of the dozens of parks. Every year, there are also a lot of fun festivals and other events that draw in large crowds.

One of my favorites is Passport to Dry Creek Valley.

How do you get here?

Sonoma County is pretty spread out, so the best way to get here is to drive. If you plan to just visit Santa Rosa, you can also take the 101 bus from San Francisco.

If you want to do a little wine tasting, this is also a great guided tour that will get you here and back to SF in one day.

How much time should you spend here?

You could spend just the day here or an entire week.

5. Sausalito

What makes this a must-see?

The beauty and views of this low-key waterfront town are unmatched. It sits right along the SF Bay with sweeping views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the entire bay.

Visitors also stop here a lot either before or after their visit to Muir Woods.

If you bike the Golden Gate Bridge, this is where you will finish your journey and grab a ferry back to SF.

What is there to do here?

hopping, eating, visiting museums, and soaking in the views are the main activities here.

I love checking out the Bay Model Visitor Center and grabbing a sweet treat as I stroll along the Sausalito Boardwalk. There is also a cute place to go wine tasting, which I usually stop at as well.

Here are my 10 favorites. This is also where you will find one of the summer shuttles to Muir Woods.

How do you get here?

You can take a Golden Gate Transit bus, ferry, or Uber/Lyft. You can also walk (yes, I've walked here many times from SF!), and bike over the Golden Gate Bridge.

I created a guide on how to get from SF to Sausalito which gives more details for each option.

How much time should you spend here?

Most visitors spend just a few hours here. It's a small town and a few hours gives you plenty of time to explore it.

Want to stay in Sausalito? Here are the best places to stay.

6. Yosemite

What makes this a must-see?

Yosemite is one of the best national parks in the United States. It's a must visit for those that love the outdoors, hiking, camping, and also those that love history.

What is there to do here?

Most people head to Yosemite Valley if they are just here for a day. In this valley, you can head out for a hike, check out Yosemite Falls, step into a museum, grab something to eat, or admire Half Dome from below.

If you have more than one day, you can head up to Glacier Point, check out the sequoias in Mariposa Grove, or drive up to Tuolumne Meadows.

I've been here numerous times and I love hiking (my favorite is the Yosemite Falls trail) and strolling around Yosemite Valley.

How do you get here?

You can take a day trip (this is the most popular one) or drive on your own.

You can reach Yosemite by bus from San Francisco, but it takes most of the day, so you would need to spend a few days here to make it worth it.

This guide I created details all of your options with estimated time for each one.

How much time should you spend here?

You could spend a week here without getting bored.

If you are here for just one day from San Francisco, you would probably be able to spend about 5 or 6 hours here before needing to drive back to SF.

>> Fun things to do near Yosemite

>> Tips to enjoy the Sugar Pine Railroad

7. Marin Headlands & Vista Point

Travel Time from SF: 15 minutes north across the Golden Gate Bridge, 1 hour by bike

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, you will find the Marin Headlands. It's one of the best places to get a picture of our iconic bridge with San Francisco in the background. 

You will also find a few attractions nearby, including the Point Bonita Lighthouse, several old military batteries (the most visited is Battery Spencer), and some hiking trails.

You can either get here by car or by bike. If you decide to ride a bike across the bridge, there is a lane on the East side of the bridge specifically for walking or cycling. If you decide to drive over, it takes less than 30 minutes to get there and the views alone are worth the visit! 

>> Tips for biking across the Golden Gate Bridge

8. Santa Cruz

Travel Time from SF: 1.5 hours south

Just south of Año Nuevo State Reserve and on the northern end of Monterey Bay is the city of Santa Cruz. This bustling college town offers a variety of activities. 

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is fun for the entire family all year long. This seaside amusement park opened in 1907 and is home to the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and the Looff Carousel (both are national historic landmarks).

It's open daily from April through Labor Day Weekend and some parts of it are also open during the off-season.

Santa Cruz is also a great place to find unique art pieces created by local artists, go whale watching, or spend some time sampling local beers and wine.

>> More fun things to do in Santa Cruz

9. Point Reyes National Seashore

Travel Time from SF: 1 hour and 15 minutes north

This gorgeous national park is about an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Some of my top picks include the hike to Alamere Falls (starting at the Palomarin Trailhead), the Point Reyes Lighthouse that dates back to 1870, and the Cyprus Tree Tunnel.

For those visiting between December and March, seeing the elephant seals is also a treat.

You can either hike or drive around this 71,000-acre park to see many of its main attractions.

10. Half Moon Bay

Travel Time from SF: 35 minutes south via Hwy 101, 45 minutes via Hwy 1

Half Moon Bay is a small town on the Pacific Coast. It's a dream vacation for surfers and is famous for its Mavericks Surfing Competition held most years.

Even if you don't like to surf, you will still find some fun things to do here. You can spend the day on one of its many beaches, hike its trails that offer amazing views of the water, or grab a cocktail at the Ocean Terrace in the Ritz-Carlton for the best sunsets.

You can also head over to the local distillery for a tour, gaze up at the redwoods in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, or do a little wine tasting.

>> More fun things to do in Half Moon Bay

More Places North of San Francisco

11. Angel Island

Travel Time from SF: About an hour by ferry

Angel Island is also a great day trip from San Francisco. While it sits close by in the SF Bay, I still consider it a day trip, as the ferries to and from only run a couple of times a day. 

If you head over in the morning, you will have to stay until the late afternoon. That will give you plenty of time to explore.

On the island, you can hike, bike, have a picnic, enjoy the beach, and visit the museums (a former immigration station and old detention barracks).

My favorite thing to do is hike to the highest point in the picture shown above. From there, you get an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the SF skyline.

>> More things to see & do on Angel Island

12. Tiburon

Travel Time from SF: 30 minutes to an hour by ferry (some ferries make multiple stops), 30-minute drive north

Tiburon is a cute seaside town just about half an hour north of San Francisco by car or the Tiburon ferry.

This small town offers you the chance to do a little shopping and enjoy one of its waterfront restaurants on the SF Bay.

Its most famous waterfront restaurant is Sam's. On a warm summer day, you will find a large crowd soaking in the rays and enjoying a nice cold beer or some tasty local wine.

13. Mount Tamalpais State Park

Travel Time from SF: 30 minutes north

If you love to hike, don't miss some of the best hiking in the Bay Area at Mount Tamalpais State Park—the area just northwest of the Marin Headlands.

Inside the park, you will find more than 60 miles of hiking trails. They also link to several other state parks, which connect you to a total of our 200 miles of trails.

You will find trails for hikers of all levels and ability. The most popular hike is a moderate hike that includes the Matt Davis, Steep Ravine, and Dipsea Trail. You will get some amazing views on this trail as you hike to the top of Mt. Tam.

A less strenuous hike that is also popular is the Verna Dunshee Trail combined with the Plank Trail.

Make sure to bring along some snacks and water, as there is nowhere in the park to pick these up.

14. Stinson Beach

Travel Time from SF: About an hour north

Another one of the fun day trips from San Francisco is Stinson Beach. It's only about 20 miles north of SF, but it takes about an hour to get there due to the roads that wind through Mount Tamalpais State Park.

This low-key beach town (only about 600 residents) is popular for the beach. It's also perfect for those looking to do some hiking, bird watching, or just spending some time outdoors. 

There are only a couple of places to stay and about a half-dozen places to eat, so many people prefer to just spend the day there and then return to SF.

15. Bodega Bay

Travel Time from SF: 1.5 hours north

Bodega Bay is a cute oceanfront town that is about an hour and a half north of San Francisco.

Some of the best things to do here are water activities such as sailing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. People also love to come here just to hang out on the beach or go horseback riding.

Make sure to also leave some time to check out the Fishetarian Fish Market. They have some of the best clam chowder and fish & chips around. They are open 7 days a week.

More Places to Visit Along the Pacific Coast Highway

16. Big Sur

Travel Time from SF: 2.5 hours south via Hwy 101, 3.5 hours via Hwy 1

Big Sur is a stretch of undeveloped shoreline about two and a half hours south of San Francisco. Its stunning scenery and peaceful surroundings make it one of the more popular day trips from San Francisco.

In addition to checking out the views, you can also do some hiking, hang out on the beach, or camp for the night. The area does have a few hotels and restaurants, but it's still mostly wilderness, which is why more than 7 million people visit each year.

This place does have problems with mud and rock slides, so make sure to check if there are any issues with it before you arrive.

17. Año Nuevo State Reserve

Travel Time from SF: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Año Nuevo State Reserve is another one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco.

The biggest draw to this beach and wildlife reserve is the elephant seals. You will find them all year round on the beaches near the Pacific Ocean. 

To see the seals, you must pick up a permit at the visitor's center. They are a hot commodity during mating season (mid-December to late March), so make sure to reserve yours ahead of time.

Visitor access to the elephant seals is closed during the first two weeks of December when the pregnant seals arrive on the beaches.

The only way to see the seals is by walking a 3 to 4-mile trail through the reserve. It's a flat walk with plenty of wildlife and other things to see along the way.

More Redwoods to Explore

18. Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve

Travel Time from SF: 1.5 hours north

Another great place to see some of our amazing giant coast redwoods is Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. It's about an hour and 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are several hiking options here with loops that range from just around a mile to up to 10 miles. The shorter ones are mostly flat and the longer ones will give you a great workout.

The trees in this park are 500 to 1,000 years old and grow up to 200 to 250 feet tall. You can drive around the park a bit, but the best way to see these magnificent trees is on foot.

>> Find more top parks to see redwoods near SF

19. Big Basin

Travel Time from SF: 1.5 hours south

About an hour and a half south of San Francisco, and about an hour west of San Jose, you will find the oldest California State Park. Big Basin Redwoods State Park covers around 18,000 acres.

It's famous for its ancient coastal redwoods that are between 1,000 and 1,800 years old. Inside the park, you will find around 80 miles of hiking trails. Along these trails, you will find views of the Pacific Ocean and dozens of waterfalls.

The recent fire in 2020 impacted the trees here and it will take time to regrow. Some trails are still closed, so make sure to check the latest on their reopening before you plan your visit.

More Local Wine Regions

20. Anderson Valley

Travel Time from SF: 2 hours and 20 minutes north

Less than two and a half hours north of San Francisco, you will find the up-and-coming wine region of Anderson Valley. It isn't as built-up or as popular as Napa or Sonoma, but it's an amazing experience for those looking for a unique wine tasting option.

There are about four dozen wineries in this region and they are a bit more spread out than Napa or Sonoma. Almost all offer drop-in tastings. Due to the cooler temperatures and just a bit of elevation, most wineries here focus on Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.

Boonville is the main town on the southern end. It's isn't large—only around 8,000 people—but it's a great place to find a hotel. It's also home to a very successful brewery called the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

21. Carmel Valley

Travel Time from SF: 2-2.5 hours

The biggest draw to Carmel Valley is the wine tasting rooms centered around Carmel Valley Village. You will find almost 20 tasting rooms within just a few minutes of each other.

The wines that grow well here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.

If you want to stay for a night or two, you will also find some great high-end hotels and boutiques in Carmel Valley Village.

It's about a 20-minute drive inland from the Monterey Coast and about 2.5 hours from San Francisco.

22. Livermore Valley

Travel Time from SF: About an hour by car

You will find wine regions on all three sides of San Francisco. The closest to the east is the Livermore Valley.

There are more than 50 wineries in the Livermore Valley area. Even though this region isn't as well known, the first grapes were planted here in the 1760s with the first commercial grapes planted in the 1840s. 

The region offers wineries the chance to produce everything from Merlot to Chardonnay. Quite a few of the tasting rooms are open Friday through Sunday with some of the bigger ones open all week long.

Livermore Valley is about an hour's drive from San Francisco.

23. Lodi

Travel Time from SF: 1.5 to 2 hours east, depending on traffic

About an hour and a half east of San Francisco, you will find yet another Northern California wine region. Lodi is home to more than 80 wineries growing a diverse array of grapes. Some of the most planted include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel.

The fun part is that you will find a number of tasting rooms in the downtown area, so you can park your car and walk from one to the next. There are also plenty of places to stay here if you decide not to drive back after a day of tasting.

More Around the SF Bay Area

24. Silicon Valley

Travel Time from SF: 45 minutes south by car, 1-2 hours by train (longer on the weekends)

Silicon Valley is home to dozens of the world's most influential tech companies. Although most don't offer an inside view of their facilities, you can easily drive around and check them out. The Google, Apple, and HP campuses all have drive-by displays for the public that make for quick photo ops.

You can also stroll through Stanford University's scenic campus in Palo Alto or visit one of several technology museums in the area.

Silicon Valley is made up of several towns, including Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, and Santa Clara. 

25. San Jose

Travel Time from SF: Just over an hour south by car

San Jose is also part of Silicon Valley, but I wanted to separate it out as it has so much to offer. San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and makes for one of the best urban day trips from San Francisco.

Here you will find some great museums, a large performing arts community (with opera, ballet, and theater performances), and several unique districts including everything from the downtown area to Japantown.

San Jose is also where you will find the Bay Area's NHL team, the San Jose Sharks, and MLS team, the San Jose Earthquakes. In addition, the San Francisco 49ers play just north of San Jose at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

26. Henry W. Coe State Park

Travel Time from SF: 1.5-2 hours southeast

On the eastern side of San Jose, about an hour and 45 minutes from San Francisco, you will find another great state park named Henry W. Coe State Park.

The park covers around 87,000 acres and is the largest state park in the SF Bay Area. It's a wonderful place to reconnect with nature with more than 200 miles of trails.

Some of the trails are well maintained and easy to follow. Others are overgrown and might be hard to spot. Either way, you will find plenty of space to relax, unwind, and enjoy the outdoors.

27. Oakland

Travel Time from SF: 15 minutes driving (up to an hour in rush hour traffic), 20 minutes on BART

Just across the San Francisco Bay is the lively city of Oakland. You will find tons of things to do here including world-class museums, Jack London Square, and Oakland A's baseball.

The Rockridge and Temescal area of Oakland are a food lover's dream. Lake Merritt is a great place for a nice walk, run, or gondola ride. These are just a few of the most popular things to do around Oakland. 

Most of these places are a quick 15- to 20-minute BART ride away from downtown San Francisco.

28. Berkeley

Travel Time from SF: 20 minutes driving (up to an hour in rush hour traffic), 40 minutes on BART

A little further north of Oakland, you will find the university town of Berkeley. Here you can do some shopping, check out the UC Berkeley campus, and enjoy an amazing meal.

Other fun things to do here include attending a concert at the Greek Theatre, catching a theater performance, or going hiking in Tilden Park. Two of my other favorites here include visiting the Lawrence Hall of Science and the Botanical Gardens.

Berkeley is also just a 40-minute BART ride away from San Francisco.

29. Mount Diablo State Park

Travel Time from SF: 1 hour and 15 minutes east by car

If you are heading over to the East Bay and are looking for a nice outdoor adventure, then check out the hiking at Mount Diablo State Park. You can either walk or hike to its peak at 3,849 feet.

From the top, you will see most of the Bay Area, including San Francisco, and out to the Pacific Ocean. There is also a visitors' center at the peak that is open daily.

The drive to the peak takes about an hour and 15 minutes from San Francisco.

About Me   |   Contact Me   |   What's New  |  Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service   |   Advertising Disclaimer