Travel Guide: Stay In Marin and Day Trip to San Francisco
Our guests love staying out our hotels — Mill Valley Inn, Waters Edge Hotel, Acqua Hotel — for Marin’s natural beauty, laid-back atmosphere, and easy access to all the things to do in Marin. And also this: you can quickly travel for a day trip or two to San Francisco during your stay in Marin. Whether you choose to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, or take a Ferry across the San Francisco Bay, the journey is a world-class stunner!
How To Get To San Francisco from Marin: The Ferry
There are three ferry terminals all within easy driving or car service distance from the hotels: Sausalito, Tiburon, and Larkspur. Get this: The ferry pier is less than one minute’s walk from Waters Edge Hotel!
There are two ferry companies that offer service to San Francisco from Marin: Blue and Gold Fleet and Golden Gate Ferry. Blue and Gold picks up in Sausalito and docks at Pier 41 in the city (near Fisherman’s Wharf); Golden Gate Ferry picks up at all three terminals and docks at the San Francisco Ferry Building (and gourmet marketplace!) at the base of Market Street.
Sausalito Ferry
Located in Downtown Sausalito, a ferry pier rather than a full terminal. There is paid parking near the pier, here’s a guide on where to park. You can purchase tickets for your round trip from the machine near the pier. Pro-tip: afternoon weekend ferries from Sausalito to San Francisco are crowded! Plan accordingly.
Sausalito Ferry Schedules
Blue and Gold Fleet, with service to Pier 41.
Golden Gate Ferry, with service to San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
Larkspur Ferry
Larkspur is a proper terminal, with a large parking lot. if you park there M-F, 5am-1p, there is a $2 fee. Learn more about parking here. You can purchase tickets for your round trip to San Francisco from machines at the terminal.
Larkspur Ferry Schedule
Golden Gate Ferry, with service to San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
Headed to a Giants Game? There’s a ferry for that! For an event or game at the Chase Center, check this out.
Tiburon Ferry
Downtown Tiburon, also a ferry pier, with paid parking lots nearby. There isn’t a ticket machine for the Ferry in Tiburon, so you’ll board the Ferry and get your ticket at the other end from a machine. There will be a gate agent there who will take your ticket after you purchase it.
Tiburon Ferry Schedule
Golden Gate Ferry, with service to San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
If you’re staying in the city later than the ferry schedule accommodates, check out Tideline which offers late night water taxi service from San Francisco back to Tiburon.
How To Get To San Francisco from Marin: Driving
You’re going over the Golden Gate Bridge, yay!
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; you can click on those links that show the drive time for current info.
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.
Have a great day in the city and see you back in Marin later!
