Booking choice: The small group tour, from $99 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Muir Woods is the closest big redwood grove to San Francisco, and the only one most tours go to. The others are quieter in places, further in others and run on different fee rules.
Fees below come from the official park pages. Check the date you plan to go, because fees change.
The quick answer
For a tour or no car, Muir Woods wins: nothing else here has a day tour on this site. With your own car, Armstrong Redwoods, Redwood Regional Park and Henry Cowell are real alternatives. The small group tour at $99 covers Muir Woods.
How does Muir Woods compare with other redwood parks?
It is the closest and best organized, but the most regulated. The others charge less and ask for less planning.
Each one is coast redwood, the same species. The table shows the main rules.
| Park | Where | Cost and rules | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muir Woods | Marin County, over the Golden Gate Bridge | $15 per person 16 and over, plus parking or shuttle reservation | Tours, first visit, a short loop |
| Armstrong Redwoods | Near Guerneville, Sonoma County | $10 per vehicle, per State Parks | A drive with a car |
| Redwood Regional Park | Oakland hills | $5 per vehicle on weekends and holidays, April to October, cash only | Long hikes, no reservation |
| Big Basin | Santa Cruz Mountains | Limited day use, reservation $8, most of the park closed | Visitors with a car and a plan |
| Henry Cowell | Santa Cruz Mountains | $10 per vehicle day use, per State Parks | An easy loop and a car |
The only redwood grove with a small-group van, the entry paid and a Sausalito hour on the way back.
Check dates for the small group tourIs Armstrong Redwoods worth the drive?
If you have a car and want to leave the Marin crowds, yes. The California State Parks page lists $10 per vehicle.
It sits near Guerneville in Sonoma County, so it is a drive of its own and not a stop on a San Francisco tour. Check the park page for hours and current fees before you set out.
What is Redwood Regional Park in Oakland like?
A 1,833-acre forest in the Oakland hills, with nearly 40 miles of trails and no reservation.
The East Bay Regional Park District says the redwoods reach about 150 feet. They are the forest that grew after logging in the mid 1800s, so they are younger and shorter than Muir Woods' tallest trees. Parking is $5 per vehicle on weekends and holidays from April to October, cash only, and cell service is limited. It suits a hike more than a sightseeing stop.
What about Big Basin and Henry Cowell?
Both are in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Big Basin is still partly closed after the 2020 CZU fire, and Henry Cowell is the easier visit.
The Big Basin page says limited day use runs 8 am to sunset. Day-use parking costs $8 with a $2 reservation fee included and must be booked at least a day ahead, and most of the park remains closed. The California State Parks page for Henry Cowell lists vehicle day use at $10. Both are for drivers, with Big Basin needing a plan in advance.
Can you see redwoods at Mount Tam and Muir Beach?
Yes. Redwood Creek starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park, runs through Muir Woods and reaches the ocean at Muir Beach.
The state park has no main entrance fee, though some lots charge for parking. Dogs are not allowed in Muir Woods, but the NPS points to the Coastal Trail at Muir Beach and some Marin Headlands trails as pet-friendly. Check each page before you go.
Are Muir Woods trees the same as giant sequoias?
No. Muir Woods holds coast redwoods, the tallest trees on earth. Giant sequoias grow in the Sierra Nevada, as in Yosemite.
The NPS coast redwood page says coast redwoods exceed 350 feet and grow along a narrow strip of the Pacific coast from central California to southern Oregon. Giant sequoias are shorter but heavier, and live past 3,000 years. The tallest Muir Woods tree is listed at over 258 feet in the NPS handout.
Small-group van to the coast redwoods, with the $15 entry included.
Explore the small group tourWhat about Redwood National Park and the Avenue of the Giants?
Both are far up the coast, near the Oregon border and beyond, so each is a trip of its own.
Redwood National and State Parks and the Avenue of the Giants are not day trips from the city, and no tour on this site goes there. If you have a few days and a car, plan them as a road trip.
Tour or car: which redwoods suit which?
Muir Woods suits a tour. The rest suit your own car.
Armstrong Redwoods, Redwood Regional, Henry Cowell and Big Basin all run on parking, not on tour permits. For one day from the city with a guide and the entry covered, start with the small group tour, then compare the Gray Line tour. Read the tour or drive guide if you are unsure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best redwood forest near San Francisco?
Muir Woods is the closest big grove and has tours. Armstrong Redwoods and Henry Cowell are the best for a drive with your own car.
Are there redwoods near San Francisco without reservations?
Yes. Redwood Regional Park in Oakland asks for a $5 parking fee on weekends and holidays from April to October, with no reservation.
Are Muir Woods trees giant sequoias?
No, they are coast redwoods. Giant sequoias grow in the Sierra Nevada.
Is Big Basin open?
Part of it, by day-use reservation. Most of the park is still closed after the 2020 fire.
Ready to book
Choose your Muir Woods tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Muir Woods and Sausalito Small Group Tour
- About 5 hours in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter van, 14 guests at most
- A 10-minute vista stop at the Golden Gate Bridge
- 1 hour 15 minutes at Muir Woods and 1 hour on the Sausalito boardwalk
Muir Woods and Sausalito, Bus or Ferry Back
- Minibus with a certified driver-guide, morning or afternoon departure
- Muir Woods admission (a $15 value) unless you pick the option without park entry
- A 90-minute stop in the woods, the most the park allows tour operators
Muir Woods and Sausalito Half Day Tour
Morning slot gets you in before the crowds; entry included
