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Major city · United States

Mill Valley

Base here 1–2 nights for Muir Woods and Mount Tam, not as a San Francisco base: last bus back is early and parking needs booking.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Mill Valley sits at the foot of Mount Tamalpais, 30–40 min north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. The draw is redwoods and ridge trails, not the small downtown. Muir Woods needs a parking or shuttle reservation, and the woods have no phone signal, so plan the return leg before you go up.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (fog and weekend crowds), Dec–Feb (wet trails)
Airports
SFO · OAK
Nights
1–2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mill Valley911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mill Valley, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

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$4–7
  • Sit-down mealDinner main, mid-range restaurant$20–35
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast plate$12–20
  • Beerdraught$7–10
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, Muir Woods to Sausalito Ferryabout $40
  • Budget bedHostel or lodge bed, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$520

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

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

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Muir Woods National MonumentMount Tamalpais trailsMountain biking (the sport started on these slopes)Mill Valley Film Festival
Airports
SFO San Francisco International (About 45–60 min by car via US-101; check traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge) · OAK Oakland International (About 50–70 min by car; usually the cheaper of the two)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    13°C (55°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    24°C (75°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    24°C (75°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    13°C (55°F)

Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)), coolest Jan (5°C (41°F) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mill Valley: 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

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

Feb

15°C (59°F)

6°C (43°F)

10 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

10 rd

Apr

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

6 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

10°C (50°F)

4 rd

Jun

23°C (73°F)

11°C (52°F)

2 rd

Jul

24°C (75°F)

12°C (54°F)

1 rd

Aug

24°C (75°F)

12°C (54°F)

1 rd

Sep

24°C (75°F)

12°C (54°F)

2 rd

Oct

22°C (72°F)

10°C (50°F)

4 rd

Nov

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

8 rd

Dec

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Downtown is walkable in 10–15 min end to end. Everything else — Muir Woods, Mount Tam, Stinson Beach — needs a car, a bike or a booked shuttle. Golden Gate Transit route 4 runs to San Francisco and Marin Transit route 17 serves local stops; both sides of the street can show as one stop in map apps, so check which side you are on.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Muir Woods National Monument

go

Door to door: 20–30 min by car

Car via Panoramic Hwy, or the seasonal Muir Woods Shuttle from Mill Valley

Entry and parking both need advance booking; go at opening or late afternoon.

Sausalitogo

Door to door: 15–25 min

Car or bus down US-101, about 10 min

Ferry back to San Francisco is the easy way to end the day.

Stinson Beach

go

Door to door: 30–40 min

Car over Panoramic Hwy and Highway 1, winding road

Leave early; midday parking fills and the return road is slow.

San Rafaelgo

Door to door: 20–30 min

US-101 north, about 15 min by car

Bigger town for supplies, dinner and a wider hotel choice.

Tiburon

go

Door to door: 20–30 min

Car via Tiburon Blvd, about 15 min

Ferry to San Francisco from here avoids bridge traffic.

San Francisco

caution

Door to door: 40–60 min

Golden Gate Transit route 4, or car over the Golden Gate Bridge

Doable as a day trip, but bridge traffic and tolls make it a poor daily commute.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Downtown / Depot Plaza

Walkable to cafés, the bookstore and the film-festival venues; Mill Valley Inn is the in-town option.

Along Shoreline Hwy / Redwood Hwy (US-101)

Highway motels and the Acqua Hotel; cheaper than downtown, but you need a car for everything.

Mount Tamalpais (Panoramic Hwy)

Mountain inns and a members' lodge above town; quiet, but a drive to any restaurant.

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

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
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–260 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$260US$260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$170US$340
Muir Woods entry, per adult2 × US$15 · ages 15 and under freeUS$30
Muir Woods parking reservation1 × US$8US$8
Muir Woods Shuttle, round trip2 × US$4 · limited dates; free for ages 15 and underUS$8
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$76
Trip total≈ US$416 per person per day, bed includedUS$832

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

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Breakfast plate$12–20
Casual lunch (taco, burrito, sandwich)$10–18
Dinner main, mid-range restaurant$20–35
Beer, draught$7–10
Rideshare, Mill Valley to Sausalitocheck$15–25
Taxi, Muir Woods to Sausalito Ferryabout $40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are trail exposure on Mount Tam, no phone signal near Muir Woods, and fog on the ridge roads. Hike with someone and carry water.
  • Muir Woods parking and shuttle seats are reservation-only and sell out on weekends: book online before you leave.
  • No cell service in or near Muir Woods: arrange your ride back in advance or you may be stranded.
  • Do not hike alone on Mount Tam trails; tell someone your route and carry water.
  • Golden Gate Bridge toll is charged southbound only, by plate — rental companies add a fee.
  • Summer fog can drop visibility on Panoramic Hwy; drive slowly.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Mill Valley Police (non-emergency)
415-389-4100
Muir Woods information line
415-388-2596

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.

Mill ValleyMill Valley

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Mill Valley Police (non-emergency)415-389-4100
  • Muir Woods information line415-388-2596

Embassy

No embassies in Mill Valley; consulates-general are in San Francisco.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Muir Woods entry, adult: $15; ages 15 and under free
  • Muir Woods parking reservation: about $8 per car, booked online
  • Muir Woods Shuttle: $4 round trip, limited dates, book ahead
  • Golden Gate Bridge toll: charged southbound only, by plate

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is there cell service here? — Is there cell service here?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I have a parking reservation. — I have a parking reservation.
  • How long is the walk? — How long is the walk?
  • Call me a taxi, please. — Call me a taxi, please.

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

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Mill Valley. 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 weekend crowds), Dec–Feb (wet trails) · 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. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SFO and OAK: last bus times, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters for downtown, the mill and Old Mill Park, and the Mount Tam trailheads.
  3. Place pages with verified booking rules (Muir Woods entry and parking, shuttle dates) and eat pages with closing times.
  4. Fog and trail-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources