Parking at Muir Woods

The lots and the booking

Parking at Muir Woods is two lots at the entrance, and both run on reservations only. A reservation is required seven days a week, year-round, and is booked in advance at gomuirwoods.com or by phone on 1-800-410-2419. It gives a 30-minute window in which to arrive. It is a separate charge from the entrance fee, which still applies to everyone in the car aged 16 and older. The reservations page covers the whole system.

Download the confirmation

There is no cell service and no Wi-Fi at or around Muir Woods. A confirmation that exists only in an app or an inbox cannot be loaded at the gate, so it needs to be downloaded or printed before leaving.

The road in

The last miles of road to the monument are narrow and winding, with significant drop-offs. The NPS advises against oversized vehicles on it. Muir Woods is about 12 miles north of San Francisco, 16 to 17 miles by road; the drive from San Francisco page covers the route.

Road shoulders

The NPS asks visitors not to park on the road shoulders near the monument. A car without a reservation has no space waiting at the entrance, and the narrow, winding road has little room beside it. The alternatives below avoid the problem.

What to do if Muir Woods parking is full

• The shuttle. On weekends and federal holidays from early spring through September, and on October weekends, the shuttle runs from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. It needs its own reservation for both directions. See the shuttle page.
• A guided tour. Tour passengers need no parking reservation, and five of the six tours on GetYourGuide include the entrance fee.
• Ride-share or taxi. Drop-off at the entrance works. The ride back has to be booked before arriving, because there is no signal to request one.
• On foot. Hikers arrive from Mill Valley or from Panoramic Highway, where a common trailhead is by the Mountain Home Inn. A Muir Woods reservation covers only the lots at the entrance; parking anywhere else follows the signs posted there.
• The bus. Marin Transit route 61 stops about 1.5 miles away, a 3-mile walk there and back.

Accessible arrival

ADA shuttle reservations exist for visitors who need an accessible vehicle. Once inside, the Bridge 2 and Bridge 3 loops of the Main Trail are paved and boardwalk and listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible. The Visitor Center at the entrance is open from 8 am to 30 minutes before closing, and the monument itself from 8 am to sunset, every day of the year including holidays.

Where to park to hike into Muir Woods

For a hike that starts outside the monument, Panoramic Highway is the usual approach, with the trailhead by the Mountain Home Inn, and the trails drop from there into the canyon. The longer routes between the monument and Mount Tamalpais are described on the Mount Tamalpais hikes page. The walk back up to the trailhead has to fit inside the day, since the monument closes at sunset.

Frequently asked questions