Muir Woods Parking: How the Reservation Works

Muir Woods is the easiest redwood forest to reach from the city, and it is one of the most popular choices if you are still picking a trip. If you are still choosing, see our list of things to do in San Francisco day trip ideas. The park is small, so the rules for getting in matter more than the walk itself.

Step 1: Reserve Muir Woods parking on gomuirwoods.com

You reserve Muir Woods parking online at GoMuirWoods, and you need the reservation before you drive. The official booking page says reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders. A standard vehicle costs $10, a medium vehicle costs $30 and a large vehicle costs $45.

Use the "Reserve Now" button on the site. You can also call ACE Parking at 800-410-2419. There is no cell service or WiFi at or near the park, so download the confirmation before you leave your hotel.

Reservations often sell out, especially on weekends and holidays, according to the National Park Service. The Park Service does not describe a walk-up parking option for drivers. It also names no other lot, so a sold-out day means a different way of getting there. Step 4 and Step 5 cover those.

The seasonal shuttle is the other reservation. It runs from local ferry terminals, mostly on summer weekends and holidays, and it costs $4 per adult round trip. Children 15 and under ride free. Because it is seasonal, check the schedule on the booking page before you plan around it in autumn or winter.

Key Takeaway A standard car reservation costs $10, a large vehicle costs $45, and the $4 adult shuttle fare is the cheapest way in if the shuttle is running on your date.

Step 2: Arrive inside your 30-minute window

Each parking reservation has a 30-minute arrival window, and you should arrive inside it. The Park Service says arrivals less than about 20 minutes outside the window will likely be accommodated. If you will be more than 20 to 30 minutes early or late, call ACE Parking at 800-410-2419.

Standard vehicles can stay as long as they like. Large vehicles get time-limited reservations. The park is open every day of the year from 8:00 am to about sunset, and the closing time changes through the year. The Visitor Center opens at 8:00 am and closes 30 minutes before the park does.

The roads are steep with sharp turns, so leave extra time. Neither the NPS nor the booking page publishes the drive time from San Francisco. Check a live traffic source on the day, and build in time for the window.

Step 3: Add the $15 entrance fee to the parking price

The entrance fee is $15 per person aged 16 or older, and it is separate from the parking reservation. The fees page says visitors under 16 need no entrance pass. A family of two adults and a child in a standard car pays $10 for parking and $30 for entry.

An annual pass costs $45 and covers the holder plus three adults aged 16 or older. The America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee but not the parking reservation. Tuesday 27 October 2026 is a fee-free day, and it waives the entrance fee only. The parking or shuttle reservation still applies that day.

Pro Tip If you hold an America the Beautiful pass, you still pay the $10 parking fee, so book the reservation first and show the pass at the entrance.

Step 4: Go without a car if parking is sold out

You can skip the parking reservation by arriving on foot, by rideshare or taxi, or by public bus. The Park Service says hikers, bikers, rideshare and taxi riders need no parking reservation. Bikes are not allowed on the Muir Woods trails, and Deer Park Fire Road is the nearby bike-friendly option.

A rideshare has one catch. There is no cell service in the park, so you cannot call a ride back from inside. The Visitor Center has limited WiFi and a pay phone, and the Park Service discourages scheduling pickups in advance. Settle your way back before you go in.

Marin Transit Route 61 is the bus option. It stops at Panoramic Highway and Ridge Avenue, about 1.3 miles from the park, and the Park Service directions call for a walk of about 3 miles round trip with a steep climb back. Plan that day with our guide to getting around San Francisco.

For a car-free option from the city, the Park Service suggests the Golden Gate Ferry and then the seasonal shuttle. A Golden Gate Ferry adult ticket from Sausalito costs $8.50 with a Clipper card or a contactless bank card, and $14.00 for paper, according to the Golden Gate Ferry fare page. Boats run every 15 to 120 minutes, with fewer sailings on weekends. The fare page does not state the crossing time.

The Muir Woods and Sausalito tour with a ferry option from Gray Line San Francisco is one way to combine both. It costs from €67.65 per person for 5 to 8 hours, includes a 90-minute stop in Muir Woods and admission to the park, and is rated 4.5 from 616 reviews.

A small park with a limited number of spaces is easier to enjoy when the way in is planned.

Step 5: Book a Muir Woods tour when parking is gone or you want no driving

A Muir Woods tour with a transfer is the simplest option when parking is sold out, because the operator handles the trip. A Muir Woods tour leaves from the city, so you do not book parking or drive the steep road yourself.

Things to Do in San Francisco's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found that 6 of the 15 Muir Woods listings (40 %) include hotel pickup.

The Muir Woods and Sausalito half-day trip is run by Incredible Adventures and costs from €88.13 per person. It takes 5 hours, includes the Muir Woods entrance fees and round-trip mini-bus transport, and offers pickup from four listed spots. It is rated 4.6 from 1,808 reviews, and the listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

The small-group Muir Woods and Sausalito tour is run by A Taste of SF Tours and also costs from €88.13 per person. It holds up to 14 people, includes hotel pickup from most San Francisco hotels, and covers the $15 entry fee. It is rated 4.7 from 901 reviews, and wheelchair users are listed as not suited to it.

The ferry-option tour in Step 4 includes Muir Woods admission, but its listing says hotel pickup is not included.

A tour is the wrong choice if you want a long, slow walk. The listings give you a stop of about 90 minutes in the park, while a car or a rideshare lets you set your own pace. Doing it yourself costs less for one or two people on an off-peak day if you can get the $10 reservation. If the reservation is gone or you do not want to drive, a tour is usually the less stressful way.