Muir Woods Without a Car
A guided tour
A tour is the one option with transport in both directions included in the booking. Six tours on GetYourGuide include Muir Woods. The half-day trip and the small-group tour pick up from hotels, the ferry-option tour meets at Union Square or near Fisherman’s Wharf, the roundtrip tour starts at 99 Jefferson St, the private Jeep tour at 2870 Hyde St, and the wine-country day picks up at selected hotels. Five include the entrance fee. The tours hub sets them out side by side.
Ferry to Larkspur and the shuttle
The Muir Woods shuttle runs from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal on weekends (Friday to Sunday) and federal holidays from early spring through September, and on October weekends. The reservation site names the Larkspur Ferry as a transit link, which makes a ferry from San Francisco to Larkspur and the shuttle onward a car-free route in season. The shuttle needs a reservation for both directions. The shuttle page gives the detail.
Bus 61 and a walk
Marin Transit route 61 stops about 1.5 miles from the monument. The walk adds 3 miles to the day, there and back, before any trail inside Muir Woods. Timetables are on marintransit.org. No reservation is needed; the entrance fee applies from age 16.
Ride-share or taxi
A ride-share or taxi can drop off at the entrance with no reservation. It cannot be called back: there is no cell service and no Wi-Fi at or around Muir Woods, so the app will not work at the gate. The return has to be booked before arriving, with a fixed time and place. The cell service page explains the gap, and the ride-share page covers the booking.
By bicycle
Cyclists need no parking reservation. Bicycles are not allowed inside the monument or on the shuttle, so the bike stays outside the forest while its rider walks. The last miles of road are narrow and winding, with significant drop-offs.
Before leaving San Francisco
Every car-free route runs into the same gap at the forest: no cell service and no Wi-Fi. Before setting off, a shuttle rider downloads both reservations, a bus rider saves the route 61 timetable, and a ride-share passenger fixes the time and place of the return. Layers help in the cool, shaded canyon at any season. Snacks can be carried but are eaten only on the entrance plaza or the café patio.
The options side by side
| Option | Reservation | Entrance fee | Way back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided tour | None | Included on five of six | The tour’s own transport |
| Ferry and shuttle | Shuttle, both ways | Applies from age 16 | Booked return shuttle |
| Bus 61 and walk | None | Applies from age 16 | Walk 1.5 miles to the stop |
| Ride-share or taxi | None | Applies from age 16 | Arranged before arriving |
| Bicycle | None | Applies from age 16 | By bike |
The roundtrip tour from Fisherman’s Wharf is the shortest of the four half-day tours at about 4.5 hours, with 1.5 hours in the forest and an optional audio guide in seven languages. The roundtrip tour page has its itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Can Muir Woods be reached without a car?
Yes: by guided tour, by ferry to Larkspur and the seasonal shuttle, by bus 61 and a walk, by ride-share with a booked return, or by bicycle. The tours hub lists the six tours.
Can an Uber be called back from Muir Woods?
Not by requesting one there, since there is no signal. The return has to be arranged in advance; see the ride-share page.
Is there a bus to Muir Woods?
Marin Transit route 61 stops about 1.5 miles away, a 3-mile walk there and back.
Is it possible to cycle to Muir Woods?
Yes, but bikes are not allowed inside the monument or on the shuttle, so the bike stays outside the forest.