Directions: How To Get From Marin County To San Francisco

Something our Marin Hotels guests love is our hotels’ proximity to San Francisco, located only a few minutes from any of our hotels. Our properties make a great home base for visiting San Francisco plus all of the highlights of Marin County.

Here’s how to hop from Marin’s dramatic, pristine beauty to a vibrant San Francisco in minutes via car, ferry, or bus.

Drive to San Francisco from Marin

If you’re driving, you’re going over the Golden Gate Bridge, the vital link between Marin and San Francisco. Here’s a “did you know” — the Golden Gate Bridge is shared between San Francisco and Marin Counties. You’ll technically reach San Francisco over the water!

Driving Time. From Acqua Hotel, you’ll reach the other side of the bridge in San Francisco in about 8 minutes. From Mill Valley Inn in about 15 minutes. From Waters Edge Hotel in about 18 minutes. Of course this depends on time of day. Avoid the commute traffic by taking your time with (complimentary!) breakfast at the hotel, and head out after 9am. A pretty heavy evening commute usually starts around 4 and goes to 6:30ish.

What’s on the other side? When you pop out of the bridge on the San Francisco side, you’re in the Presido. While you’re there, consider exploring this beautiful spot. Here’s our guide for the best things to do in Presidio. And here’s one of our favorite hikes in the Presidio.

Explore the Golden Gate Bridge. Here’s our Golden Gate Bridge Travel Guide with the best spots for exploring the bridge on the Marin side and the San Francisco side.

Tolls. There are toll booths going into San Francisco (but not coming back to Marin). They’re electronic so there’s no way to pay with cash. Here’s everything you need to know about paying the toll in your own car (one-time payment or toll invoice) or a rental car.

Parking. You’re lucky if you find street parking, but if you do please pay attention to the often confusing signs that indicate hours street cleaning, special parking hours, limited parking hours etc. Mostly street parking is limited to 2 hours. They do tow, no joke! Plan to pay for metered parking with credit cards or with the PayByPhone parking app which allows you to replenish your meter before the time runs out. Garages and parking lots are located in most areas so that’s always a good option. Also — as in any major city — don’t leave valuables in your car. Want more details? Here’s everything you need to know about parking in San Francisco.

Ferry to San Francisco from Marin

Want to leave the driving to someone else? Take the Ferry!

Ferry Terminals. There are 3 ferry terminals in Marin: Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon. If you’re staying at Waters Edge Hotel lucky you, the Ferry dock is steps from the hotel. For the other two terminals, you can drive (there’s paid parking at both) or catch an Uber or Lyft to the terminal.

Ferry Services & Schedules. There are two Ferry companies operating between Marin and San Francisco:

Golden Gate Transit. Here are Marin-San Francisco Ferry Schedules from Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon to San Francisco. These Ferries dock at the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace.

Blue and Gold Fleet. Here’s the Sausalito Ferry schedule. These Ferries dock at Pier 41.

Both terminals on the San Francisco side are close to Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Park, and the Exploratorium. For all other destinations in the city you can walk, catch a bus, Uber/Lyft, street car, or cable cars. Here are the basics on public transportation in San Francisco.

Special Events. Headed from Marin to Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants and other special events? There’s a Ferry for that!

Bus to San Francisco from Marin

Here’s the bus schedule from Marin to San Francisco. If you’re staying at Mill Valley Inn the closest bus stop is Mill Valley Depot stop at Miller & Sunnyside; Acqua Hotel is Strawberry Village at Reed & Belvedere. Tiburon has limited bus service, the ferry is a much better option!

Enjoy your trip to San Francisco!