San Francisco is a busy place to visit. You might find yourself nixing more than a few activities from your itinerary for sheer lack of time. (Or funds, but let’s not go there.)
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The city is layered with intrigue. It’s home to the oldest Chinatown in the country. It was the stomping ground of a battle for peace and free love in the 1960s. Today, it’s transitioned to a modern tech hub with some seriously weird side quests. (Like, say, the Tonga Room, one of my favorite tourist traps out there.)
But if you’re visiting San Francisco, I recommend leaving the city—at least for one afternoon. You have one mission: Find the redwoods and wrap your arms around one. Or, if tree-hugging isn’t your thing, stare in wonder at some of the world’s largest trees.
While California’s larger, more expansive redwood forests are located hours north of San Francisco, some are within reach via day trips and tours. Below, you can find the most highly rated tours from San Francisco that take you to the magical, unforgettable redwood trees.
A quick note: You can find dozens of tours in San Francisco that include a trip to Muir Woods, the closest redwoods, along with Sausalito in Marin County. I’ve divided my recommendations into two categories: redwood tours that include a stop in Sausalito and those that don’t.
Best tours from San Francisco to see the redwoods: at a glance
- The easy-peasy tour: Shuttle to/from Muir Woods and San Francisco
- The cruise edition: Muir Woods + Sausalito + SF Bay cruise
- The winery edition: Coastal Redwoods plus Wineries Tour
Tours from San Francisco for redwood-hunting: no Sausalito stop
Shuttle to/from Muir Woods and San Francisco
Grab a ride to and from Muir Woods in Marin County, located just over the Golden Gate Bridge. This isn’t a tour so much as it’s a hands-off transportation to and from the site. (You still need to pay for entry tickets.) You can join either the morning or afternoon tour, which run for four hours each, then explore at your leisure before the pickup time.
Muir Woods + Wine Country with Optional Lunch
If you want a proper redwoods adventure that includes a stop in one of California’s top winery corridors, look no further. This is a day trip that runs for eleven hours, first taking you to Muir Woods National Monument before heading to Sonoma County and, later on, Napa Valley. There, you’ll enjoy a gourmet lunch between stops at multiple wineries. This tour also includes a photo op at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Coastal Redwoods plus Wineries Tour
This is a similar tour that runs for nine hours and includes redwoods and wineries, except that you don’t stop at Muir Woods. Instead, you visit Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, meaning you won’t see the same Muir Woods park as most other SF tourists. After exploring the park, you’ll head to two wineries in the Korbel and Russian River areas.
Tours from San Francisco for redwood-hunting with a stop in Sausalito
Muir Woods + Sausalito Basics
This tour runs from five to eight hours, giving you enough time to first explore Muir Woods before taking on Sausalito on foot. Your tour includes transportation, along with reservations needed to get into the park. The rest is up to you, letting you explore each site at your own pace. When it’s time to head back to SF, you can choose between a ferry or coach.
Muir Woods + Sausalito + SF Bay cruise
If you’re looking for a tour similar to the one listed above but want to get out on the water, here’s your pick. This tour includes a visit to Muir Woods and, afterwards, Sausalito. The main difference is that this tour comes with a San Francisco Bay cruise to get you back to the city. It’s one of the best ways to experience the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz without actually visiting either. You’ll enjoy sweeping city views, too, as you head back to SF.
Morning half-day Small-Group Tour of Sausalito + Muir Woods: Morning or Afternoon
If you want to get in and out, and stay even more agile with small group tours from San Francisco, you can choose between morning or afternoon options. Each gives you a shorter window to soak up Muir Woods and Sausalito, in case you have other plans for the day. I tend to avoid shorter tours like this because they feel a little too quick to be immersive, but San Francisco has too many activities on its bucket list—you might need to keep it moving to see all the sights.
Muir Woods + Sausalito + Battery Spencer Small-Group Tour
This small-group tour caps out at twelve, giving you a more personalized experience as your guide shows you Muir Woods and Sausalito. This tour also comes with two iconic photoshoot stops in Battery Spencer and Fort Point. It’s a well-balanced tour where you’ll learn about redwoods, Sausalito, and get to snap a few memorable pictures along the way.
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