The Muir Woods shuttle opens on April 5, 2026, and it’s the perfect weekend getaway for Bay Area families. Taking the shuttle is easy, affordable, and it makes for an unforgettable adventure.
My daughters and I visited Muir Woods on a warm October day last year. We woke up early and headed down to the Ferry Building, where we snagged a block of delicious cheese from the Farmer’s Market before boarding the ferry to Larkspur.
The girls had so much fun looking out the window at the shrinking city skyline, the bay’s islands, the bridges, and the many sailboats as we crossed the water. We even ventured out on deck for a short time before the wind proved too strong for my toddler.
We disembarked in Larkspur, where we enjoyed the snacks we had packed, along with our farm-fresh cheese, while overlooking the bay. Soon, the shuttle arrived and we hopped on.
The Muir Woods shuttle is a small charter van with comfortable seats and plenty of space to stretch. The trip takes about 45 minutes, and it’s a bit of a curvy ride, so I chose to buckle my kids into the front row to mitigate the risk of any carsickness. The driver put on some tunes, and we sat back to enjoy the scenery through Mill Valley and the Muir Beach campgrounds. Before we knew it, we were climbing out of the shuttle and checking into Muir Woods.
The moment you step beneath the redwoods in this magical forest, you know you’ve found someplace special. We walked along the main trail, which is marked by wooden planks and bridges crisscrossed over the central creek. It was cool and breezy in the shade of the towering trees, offering the perfect respite on such a warm day (but remember that it’s several degrees cooler inside the park and pack layers when you go).
The main trail is completely stroller-friendly, and there are several other small, more challenging trails that branch off for families with older kids or more independent hikers. We stuck to the main trail and another easy part of the park called Cathedral Grove, which is marked as a silent area.
My kids and I ate the rest of our boiled eggs and cheese on a bench formed from a redwood log as we observed birds and squirrels and listened to the creek trickle by. If you don’t pack your own food, you can break for lunch at Muir Woods Trading Company, a little sandwich shop just inside the park entrance.
The best part of our stroll through Muir Woods was when we spotted a deer. I grew up in the redwoods, and I often forget what a novelty wild animals are to my city kids. Both girls became instinctively silent and still when they saw the young buck drinking lazily at the water’s edge. They watched him for a while, and we slowly followed him as he ambled down along the creek, pausing to munch on berries and leaves.
The shuttle picked us back up at the same spot three hours after bringing us there (but you can book a longer or shorter stay if you prefer). It was time for a relaxing drive home.
We got to Larkspur with some time to kill before the ferry arrived, so we took a short walk over to Marin Country Mart. There are plenty of eateries and boutiques to peruse, and a small kids’ play area in this cute little shopping village.
Soon enough, we were back on the bay and then docking at the pier, where we climbed off tired and happy. All three of us are counting down the days until the Muir Woods Shuttle is back up and running so we can repeat this adventure.
The Muir Woods Shuttle out of Larkspur operates on weekends and holidays, from April through October. There is also a shuttle from Sausalito that operates only during the summer months.
To book your trip to Muir Woods from San Francisco:
- Book your shuttle
- Purchase park admission tickets (you will be prompted to do so after you book the shuttle)
- If you’ll take the ferry, look up the Golden Gate Transit ferry schedule and load up your Clipper Card or buy one at the gate.
You can also drive into the park year-round, but you’ll be required to reserve a parking space to gain entry.
Happy Hiking!
