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Major city · United States

Larkspur and Corte Madera

Give the twin towns one night, or a half-day between ferry and mall: Larkspur's Magnolia Ave for food, Corte Madera for shopping. Two nights only if you day-trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug fog and crowds; winter rain
Airports
SFO · OAK
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Larkspur and Corte Madera sit 20–30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge on US-101, and most travellers meet them by accident: the Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco docks at Larkspur Landing, and SMART trains stop beside it. The pair is small — a walkable old main street in Larkspur, two upscale malls in Corte Madera — so it works as a half-day or a single night, not a destination in itself. Base here if you want Marin at lower prices than Sausalito or Mill Valley, with the ferry as your car-free route into the city.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Larkspur and Corte Madera, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main$22–40
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or casual lunch$14–22
  • BeerDraft beer$8–12
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum or theater ticket$12–25
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bed, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedMotel or highway hotel double, a night, per roomUS$190
  • High-end bedMotel or highway hotel double, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Larkspur Ferry Terminal and Golden Gate FerryMagnolia Avenue, LarkspurThe Village and Town Center mallsMarin Country Mart farmers' marketShared Fourth of July parade
Airports
SFO San Francisco International (Marin Airporter bus stops in Larkspur; about 45–75 min depending on traffic) · OAK Oakland International (No direct shuttle; drive or BART plus bus via San Rafael)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Larkspur and Corte Madera: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

14°C

5°C

11 rd

Feb

16°C

6°C

10 rd

Mar

18°C

7°C

10 rd

Apr

20°C

8°C

6 rd

May

22°C

10°C

4 rd

Jun

25°C

11°C

2 rd

Jul

27°C

12°C

1 rd

Aug

27°C

12°C

1 rd

Sep

27°C

11°C

2 rd

Oct

24°C

10°C

4 rd

Nov

18°C

7°C

8 rd

Dec

14°C

5°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk the two downtown cores; between them and to the ferry use Marin Transit buses (22 for both downtowns, 17 and 228 for Larkspur Landing, 29 weekdays) or a bike. Sidewalks are patchy outside the centres, so most visitors drive or ride. SMART rail runs north from Larkspur Landing to San Rafael, Novato and Santa Rosa.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
San Francisco via Larkspur Ferrygo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Golden Gate Ferry from Larkspur Landing to the San Francisco Ferry Building

The car-free route into the city; buy the return leg before you leave.

Mill Valley and Muir Woods

go

Door to door: 25–50 min

Drive US-101 south, then CA-1 and Muir Woods Road; shuttle in peak season

Muir Woods parking needs a reservation; check before you drive.

San Rafaelgo

Door to door: 20–35 min

SMART from Larkspur Landing, or Marin Transit bus 22

County seat with the most food and transit in Marin.

Sausalitocaution

Door to door: 20–40 min

Drive US-101 south, or ferry hop via San Francisco

Parking is the bottleneck; go early or skip the car.

Tiburon

go

Door to door: 25–35 min

Drive via US-101 and Tiburon Blvd

Waterfront lunch and the ferry to Angel Island.

Novato

caution

Door to door: 30–40 min

SMART north from Larkspur Landing

Mostly a residential stop; useful only for the train ride or a specific errand.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Larkspur Landing

Ferry terminal, SMART stop and Marin Country Mart on foot; the practical base without a car.

Downtown Larkspur (Magnolia Ave)

Restaurants and the Lark Theater; quiet, residential, limited beds.

Corte Madera (Madera Blvd / Tamal Vista)

Highway-side motels and hotels next to the malls; cheapest parking, least charm on foot.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or highway hotel double1 × 1 night × US$190US$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Golden Gate Ferry, Larkspur to San Francisco, one way2 × US$14US$28
SMART fare, Larkspur to San Rafael2 × US$4US$8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$70US$70
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$61
Trip total≈ US$334 per person per day, bed includedUS$667

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Bakery pastry$4–7
Sandwich or casual lunch$14–22
Sit-down dinner, main$22–40
Draft beer$8–12
Golden Gate Ferry, one way$10–15
Museum or theater ticket$12–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime suburban Marin; the real risks are traffic on US-101, unlit road shoulders at night and summer heat on exposed bike paths. Lock bikes and don't leave anything visible in a parked car.
  • US-101 through Corte Madera backs up at commute hours and on weekends; add 15–20 min to any drive.
  • Ferry and SMART last departures are early evening: check the day's timetable before you plan a late return.
  • Summer fog can sit over the towns until midday; mornings are cool even in July.
  • Mall hours are shorter on Sundays; several Magnolia Ave kitchens close between lunch and dinner.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Central Marin Police Authority (non-emergency)
415-927-5150
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Larkspur and Corte MaderaLarkspur and Corte Madera

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Please take me to this addressPlease take me to this address

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Central Marin Police (non-emergency)415-927-5150
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; consulates-general are in San Francisco.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Larkspur Ferry Terminal → San Francisco Ferry Building: about $14 one way, about 30 min
  • SMART Larkspur → San Rafael: about $4, about 15 min
  • Taxi or rideshare, Larkspur → Corte Madera: $12–18

Say or show

  • Where is the ferry terminal? — Where is the ferry terminal?
  • One ticket to San Francisco, please — One ticket to San Francisco, please
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
  • Thanks, have a good one — Thanks, have a good one

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Larkspur and Corte Madera. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug fog and crowds; winter rain · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry and SMART last-departure fixtures for Larkspur Landing, with taxi fallback.
  2. Three walking clusters with anchors: Larkspur Landing, Magnolia Ave, Corte Madera malls.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Lark Theater, Marin Country Mart and both malls.
  4. Eat pages with last orders for Magnolia Ave kitchens, which close between services.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources