8 Best National Parks to Explore From San Francisco

• Golden Gate National Recreation Area
• Muir Woods National Monument
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Pinnacles National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
• Redwood National and State Parks

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.

The best national parks near San Francisco include recreation areas, national monuments, national marine sanctuaries, and more. Some are free to enter, while others have an entrance fee. If you plan to visit more than one, the America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80 for U.S. residents; $250 for non-residents) will get you into all of them.

And of course, you can always take a tour with Extranomical and let us handle the logistics.

We’ve arranged the eight parks below in order of their distance from San Francisco: starting with those closest to or inside the city, and ending with the ones that reward a longer journey.

1. Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area stretches north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge, offering expansive views and excellent hiking without leaving the city.

Price	Free (some areas and special exhibits may have fees)
Hours	Varies
Distance from SF	Inside San Francisco to 16 miles / 30 minutes
Activities	Hiking, history, and views
Pet Friendly?	Varies; check website
Nearby Attractions	Bay Area Discovery Museum, Exploratorium, The Walt Disney Family Museum

Explore the well-maintained and protected landscapes of 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 — and some of the best hikes in San Francisco are inside the GGNRA, including Lands End and Battery Spencer. Note: Muir Woods is contained within the GGNRA.

2. Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods is known for its stunning old-growth redwood groves, where you can walk beneath 1,000-year-old trees just 40 minutes from the city.

Price	$15 per adult (16+); children under 15 free. Parking reservation required in advance: additional $10.
Hours	8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Distance from SF	16 miles / approximately 40 minutes
Activities	Hiking, views of redwood trees
Pet Friendly?	No
Nearby Attractions	Sweetwater Music Hall, Marin Theatre Company, Sausalito

Muir Woods National Monument (inside the Golden Gate Recreation Area) is a natural forest of coast redwoods and other old-growth vegetation, just north of San Francisco. Its hiking trails wind through the ancient forest, making for a deeply immersive outdoor experience — among the best redwood hikes near San Francisco you’ll find anywhere. You can also hike up the hillside to enjoy stunning views of the treetops and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Important: Advance reservations are required for all visitors driving or taking the shuttle to Muir Woods. Book your parking and shuttle at GoMuirWoods.com or call 1-800-410-2419. Reservations open up to 90 days in advance and fill quickly on weekends and holidays — see how to get to Muir Woods from San Francisco for the full breakdown — don’t skip this step.

3. Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes is a dramatic peninsula separated from the mainland by the San Andreas Fault, offering everything from lighthouse hikes to elephant seal beaches.

Price	Free (fees for camping and shuttle buses)
Hours	6 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Distance from SF	37 miles / approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Activities	Seaside walks, mountain hikes, wildlife viewing, ocean views
Pet Friendly?	Yes
Nearby Attractions	Jack Mason Museum, Bolinas Museum

If you want to experience a variety 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. The seashore is home to elk, elephant seals, and other wildlife; if you’re lucky, you may even spot migrating whales. The Point Reyes Lighthouse and the cliffs of Alamere Falls are among the park’s most iconic sights — and it’s one of the better day trips from San Francisco for travelers who want coast and wildlife in a single afternoon.

Tip: Check the NPS website (nps.gov/pore) before visiting, as certain trails and wildlife areas have seasonal closures. Cell service is unavailable throughout much of the park.

4. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

One of the largest ocean sanctuaries in the United States, Monterey Bay is a world-class destination for marine wildlife and coastal adventure — just two hours from San Francisco.

Price	Free (sanctuary). Sanctuary Exploration Center (Santa Cruz): also free.
Hours	Sanctuary: 24/7 | Exploration Center: Wed–Sun, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Distance from SF	120 miles / approximately 2 hours
Activities	Whale watching, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, tidepooling, surfing, hiking, bird watching
Pet Friendly?	Varies by beach and location
Nearby Attractions	Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive, Point Lobos State Reserve

Stretching 276 miles of California coastline from south of San Francisco all the way to Cambria — much of it along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway — Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the most biologically rich marine environments on the planet. Beneath its surface lies a submarine canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, sheltering an extraordinary diversity of life: over 36 species of marine mammals, 525 species of fish, and 94 species of seabirds.

The sanctuary is one of California’s premier whale watching destinations. Gray whales pass through from January through March, while humpback whales, blue whales, and orcas frequent the bay from April through December. Sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions are year-round residents. Whether you explore by kayak, dive the kelp forests, or simply walk the shoreline, Monterey Bay delivers a memorable encounter with California’s wild ocean.

5. Pinnacles National Park

California’s youngest national park packs dramatic volcanic spires, talus caves, and some of the best California condor sightings on the West Coast into a compact and rewarding visit.

Price	$30 per vehicle; $15 per person on foot or bicycle
Hours	East Entrance: 24 hours | West Entrance: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Distance from SF	130 miles / approximately 2.5 hours
Activities	Rock climbing, hiking, cave exploring, bird watching, camping
Pet Friendly?	No (not on trails)
Nearby Attractions	Salinas Valley wine country, Gilroy, Hollister

Though its volcanic rock formations are more than 20 million years old, Pinnacles National Park earned its national park designation only in 2013 — making it the youngest national park in California. The park’s dramatic landscape of craggy spires and ancient lava fields is split into two sides, each accessible from a different entrance with no connecting road. Talus caves wind beneath the boulders, and the park is one of the most important sites in North America for the recovery of the California condor.

Note: The east and west sides of the park are not connected by road. Choose your entrance — near Hollister (east) or Soledad (west) — before setting out. Rock climbers love the east side; the west side offers great canyon hiking and cave access. Pinnacles is one of the more under-the-radar day trips from San Francisco — a solid pick if you’ve already done Yosemite and Muir Woods.

6. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite’s sheer granite cliffs, ancient sequoias, and thundering waterfalls make it a must-see national park when visiting the Bay Area.

Price	$35 per vehicle (U.S. residents). Non-U.S. residents: add $100 per person (age 16+). Non-Resident Annual Pass (up to 4 persons): $250.
Hours	24/7 (some attractions vary seasonally)
Distance from SF	200 miles / approximately 4 hours
Activities	Camping, cycling, hiking, bird-watching, fishing, stargazing, rock climbing, skiing
Pet Friendly?	Yes
Nearby Attractions	Bass Lake, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Mariposa, local wineries

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 vary by season, but include hiking, biking, stargazing, and rock climbing. With its sheer cliffs, sprawling meadows, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, Yosemite easily lives up to its reputation as one of the best national parks near the Bay Area.

Good news for 2026: Yosemite has suspended its timed-entry reservation system, so you can drive directly into the park without an advance booking. The standard entrance fee still applies. International visitors should note the new $100 per-person nonresident surcharge (age 16+) — or consider the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250) if visiting multiple parks.

7. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Home to the largest living thing on Earth, Sequoia & Kings Canyon is a place where nature puts human scale firmly in perspective.

Price	$35 per vehicle (U.S. residents). Non-U.S. residents: add $100 per person (age 16+). Non-Resident Annual Pass (up to 4 persons): $250.
Hours	24/7 (visitor center hours vary seasonally)
Distance from SF	280 miles / approximately 5 hours
Activities	Hiking, giant sequoia groves, cave tours, camping, wildlife viewing
Pet Friendly?	Limited (paved roads and campgrounds only)
Nearby Attractions	Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, Boyden Cavern, Fresno

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are home to some of the most extraordinary living things on the planet. The General Sherman Tree — the largest living organism on Earth by volume — towers above the forest floor at 274 feet tall and is estimated to be over 2,000 years old. These Giant Sequoias are cousins to the coastal redwoods at Muir Woods, but grow shorter, wider, and only along the Sierra Nevada. The parks contain more than 200 caves, including Crystal Cave, where visitors can explore underground passages on a guided Wild Cave Tour.

Beyond the trees, you can drive through a fallen sequoia (Tunnel Log), hike 350 steps to the top of Moro Rock for sweeping Sierra Nevada views, or spend days exploring the rugged Kings Canyon. Whether you’re coming for a day hike or a multi-night camping trip, these parks reward every level of adventurer. Don’t have time for the 5-hour drive? See similar groves at Mariposa Grove or Tuolumne Grove inside Yosemite.

Visiting Yosemite with Extranomical? Our one-day tour from San Francisco includes a hike into the Giant Sequoia groves — the same ancient trees that make these parks so extraordinary.

8. Redwood National and State Parks

A chain of interconnected parks stretching to the Oregon border, Redwood is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth.

Price	Free (federal park). State park sections may charge day-use fees. Parking permit required for Fern Canyon & Gold Bluffs Beach: May 15–Sep 15.
Hours	24/7 (visitor center and campground hours vary by season)
Distance from SF	311 miles / approximately 7 hours
Activities	Hiking, biking, driving, camping, wildlife viewing
Pet Friendly?	Yes
Nearby Attractions	Oregon Caves, Crater Lake National Park

Stretching all the way to the Oregon border in Northern California, Redwood National and State Parks offer a unique mix of ancient forest and rugged Pacific coastline. You can hike, bike, or drive through the woods, stopping to take in panoramas of the most ancient and impressive trees on Earth — see our roundup of the best redwood hikes near San Francisco for closer alternatives. With great camping and lodging options and other nearby national parks, it rewards visitors who stay for multiple days.

One of the park’s signature hikes is the 9-mile round-trip to Fern Canyon on the James Irvine Trail. The fern-draped canyon walls — famously used as a backdrop in Jurassic Park 2 — are well worth the journey. If visiting between May 15 and September 15, reserve your Fern Canyon parking permit in advance online — it sells out quickly.

Published on: April 29th 2026