There are enough things to do in San Francisco — from the Palace of Fine Arts to Alcatraz — to keep you busy for weeks. But for most visitors, a trip to the Bay Area isn’t complete without visiting one of the many national parks near San Francisco. Whether you want to get lost in the redwoods or see the tallest waterfall in North America, the best national parks near San Francisco feature some of the most iconic sights and attractions in the country.
Best National Parks Near San Francisco
The best national parks near San Francisco include recreation areas, national monuments, and national historic sites. Some of them are free to enter, while others have an entrance fee. If you plan to visit more than one, the America the Beautiful annual pass will get you into all of them.
And of course, you can always take a tour with Extranomical and let us handle the logistics for you. Here are eight of the best national parks in and around the Bay Area to explore while you’re here:
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Point Reyes National Sea Shore
- Rosie The Riveter National Historical Park
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
- John Muir National Historic Site
- Redwood National Park
- Yosemite National Park
1. Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate Park features expansive views and excellent hiking, without even leaving the city. It stretches north and south from the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Price: Free (special exhibits may have fees)
- Hours: 24 hours
- Distance from San Francisco: 7 miles/20 minutes
- Activities: Hiking, history, and views
- Pet Friendly? No
- Nearby Attractions: Bay Area Discovery Museum, Exploratorium, The Walt Disney Family Museum
Explore the well-maintained and protected landscapes in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, just minutes from downtown San Francisco. You’ll find green landscapes with lush vegetation along with the stunning backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge. The hills offer enjoyable walks, while the proximity to San Francisco makes this the perfect afternoon or evening outing.
2. Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument is known for its stunning groves of redwood trees, where you can see these majestic giants up close.
- Price: $15 per adult; children 15 and under are free.
- Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Distance from San Francisco: 16 miles, approximately 40 minutes
- Activities: Hiking, views of redwood trees
- Pet Friendly? No
- Nearby attractions: Sweetwater Music Hall, Marin Theatre Company
Muir Woods National Monument is a natural forest of redwood trees and other vegetation, just north of San Francisco. Its hiking trails wind and twist through the old-growth redwood forest, making for an immersive outdoor experience. You can also hike up the hillside to enjoy stunning views of the treetops as well as the Pacific Ocean to the West.
Yosemite and Giant Sequoias One Day Tour from San Francisco
The only 1-day Yosemite National Park tour from San Francisco to deliver more than you dreamed at Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and on a hike to Giant Sequoias.
Muir Woods Redwood Forest and Sausalito Morning Tour
This is the only Muir Woods tour with guided audio narration inside the park. Walk under the world’s tallest trees, then enjoy charming Sausalito.
3. Point Reyes National Seashore
There’s plenty to see and do at Point Reyes National Seashore — a peninsula that’s separated from the mainland by the San Andreas Fault.
- Price: Free (fees camping and shuttle buses)
- Hours: 6 a.m. – 12 a.m.
- Distance from San Francisco: 37 miles, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
- Activities: Seaside walks, mountain hikes, ocean views
- Pet friendly? Yes
- Nearby attractions: Jack Mason Museum, Bolinas Museum
If you want to experience an array of coastal activities, Point Reyes National Seashore may be the best national park in the Bay Area for you! From Wildcat Beach to Mount Wittenberg, there are a range of trails to hike and breathtaking views to take in. This shoreline is a protected area, and offers such diverse sights as the cliffs of Alamere Falls and the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes is home to elks, elephant seals, and other wildlife; if you’re lucky, you may even see migrating whales!
4. Rosie The Riveter National Historical Park
This urban national park provides a window into World War II history and is a must-see attraction for history-lovers.
- Price: Free
- Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Distance from San Francisco: 18 miles, approximately 25 minutes
- Activities: Museum exhibits
- Pet Friendly? No, only service animals
- Nearby Attractions: Richmond Museum of History
Many Americans know Rosie the Riveter from the image of a flexing woman used on World War II posters. But not as many know that you can easily visit the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park on a day trip from San Francisco. Just 25-minutes outside the city in Richmond, CA, you can tour an old Ford Assembly Plant and see other exhibits in the Visitor Center that focus on the “home front” during the WWII Era.
5. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park features museums and historic vessels right near Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Price: $10 for 7 days, or an annual pass for $40. Children under 15 are free if accompanied by an adult.
- Hours: Varies by attraction
- Distance from downtown San Francisco: 2 miles
- Activities: Museums, historic ships, and libraries
- Pet Friendly? Yes
- Nearby Attractions: Alcatraz Island
Learn about San Francisco’s seafaring history at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. You’ll find a range of historic vessels, including tug boats, schooners, sailing ships, and ferries. There’s also a Visitor Center and Maritime Museum housing historic photographs, maps, and charts. The Hyde Street Pier is undergoing renovations, so not all of the historic ships may be there. Check with the National Park Service for more information.
6. John Muir National Historic Site
The John Muir National Historic Site features the mansion where John Muir lived, as well as access to hiking trails on Mt. Wanda.
- Price: Free
- Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Distance from San Francisco: 32 miles, approximately 36 mins
- Activities: Hiking, historic sites
- Pet Friendly? Yes
- Nearby Attractions: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Concord, CA
The John Muir National Historic Site provides a glimpse into the life of one of America’s most renowned conservationists. Muir played a role in preserving future national parks such as Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. This historic site preserves the home where he lived, as well as the place he hiked along with his daughter. It also includes the gravesite of Muir and his wife Louie.
7. Redwood National Park
Redwood National and State Parks are a chain of parks that include some of the oldest and largest trees in the world.
- Price: Free
- Hours: 24/7, but the visitor center and campground registration hours vary depending on the season
- Distance from San Francisco: 311 miles, approximately 7 hours
- Activities: Bike, drive, hike, or camp
- Pet Friendly? Yes
- Nearby Attractions: Oregon Caves, Crater Lake
Stretching all the way to the Oregon border in Northern California, Redwood National and State Parks offers a unique mix of forest and coastal sights. You can hike, bike, or drive through the woods, stopping to enjoy panoramas of the most ancient and impressive trees. If you’re planning to stay for a longer visit, there are great camping and lodging options, and other nearby national parks as well. If you don’t have time for a road-trip, consider visiting one of these other giant redwood forests or redwood hikes near San Francisco.
8. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park views are known far and wide, making it a must-see national park when you’re visiting the Bay Area.
- Cost: $35 per vehicle, $20 for cyclists and pedestrians
- Hours: 24/7, but some attractions may vary
- Distance from San Francisco: 200 miles, approximately 4 hours
- Activities: Camping, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, bird-watching, fishing, stargazing, rock climbing, skiing, boating, etc.
- Pet Friendly? Yes
- Nearby Attractions: Bass Lake, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad & Thornberry Museum, Mariposa, wineries, and more!
Yosemite National Park attracts millions of visitors each year from all over the world. While Yosemite Valley is the heart of the park, there are plenty of other regions to explore, from Mariposa Grove to Tuolumne Meadows.
The best things to do in Yosemite National Park vary by season, but include hiking, biking, stargazing, and rock climbing. With its sheer cliffs, sprawling meadows, rushing waterfalls, and wildlife, Yosemite easily lives up to its reputation as one of the best national parks near the Bay Area.Wondering how to get to Yosemite from San Francisco? The easiest way to get there is on a day trip or an overnight tour.
Gary Lillian is an advisor to Extranomical Tours which has led more than 10,000 guided tours in Northern California in the last 10 years. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, holds a master’s degree from Kellog Graduate School of Management, and is a recognized subject matter expert in marketing and customer experience engineering.
