11 Easy Day Trips from San Francisco You Can’t Miss
San Francisco is dazzling, but what’s waiting just outside its seven-mile by seven-mile border is equally impressive.
Within two hours, you can find yourself wandering among redwoods taller than skyscrapers, sipping sparkling wine in a garden, sundowning on soft sandy beaches, and going hands up on one of the country’s oldest wooden roller coasters.
If the city’s fog has you craving more Golden State scenery, add one of these 11 easy day trips to your San Francisco itinerary.
Need help booking a hotel? Check out my list here.
1. Half Moon Bay
Just 45 minutes south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay is where rugged cliffs crash into sandy shores, and small-town charm comes with a salty breeze. Once a humble fishing and farming village, it still embraces its agricultural and maritime roots, especially when pumpkins take over every square inch of town in October, and at Pillar Point Harbor, where you can still eat fresh seafood and fish daily.
Wander the wide Half Moon Bay State Beach, or take an easy walk along the mostly-paved and multi-use Coastal Trail that goes along the bluffs. Main Street is pure small-town Americana, with boutique shops, art galleries, and cafés, and the adorable By the Teashore, serving breakfast and afternoon tea until 1:30 p.m.
For an evening experience, head to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and grab a drink at their outdoor bar and enjoy the sundown moment every night, when their resident bagpiper circles the grounds and serenades guests.
World famous Napa Valley is home to tasting rooms, word-class hotels, gourmet dining, and more
2. Napa Valley
Ninety minutes north, you’ll find Napa Valley, a famous wine-producing region and a lifestyle where you’ll find rolling hills, Tuscan-inspired castles, and more tasting rooms than you could possibly conquer in a lifetime, from fancy-pants to mom-and-pop.
Downtown Napa is a good place to start. It’s full of shops, markets, restaurants and tasting rooms, all navigable on foot. Tastings at individual wineries along Highway s 29 and Silverado Trail should be booked in advance with each winery. You can ride the Napa Valley Wine Train, and be served a meal aboard if that’s your style.
If you’re not a wine drinker? No worries. Napa Valley has great hikes, spas, restaurants, and even hot air balloon rides over one of the most famous wine regions in the world.
Muir Woods was named after John Muir, a prominent American naturalist and conservationist
3. Muir Woods
Less than an hour from San Francisco, Muir Woods will make you feel small in the best way possible. These coastal redwoods have been standing for more than a thousand years, some reaching heights of more than 250 feet. Named after naturalist John Muir, this leafy cathedral has easy walking paths, like the Main Trail Loop, as well as more challenging hikes into Mount Tamalpais State Park, if you’re up for getting a sweat on.
Pro tip: Parking reservations are non-negotiable if you’re driving yourself in. There is NO cell phone service or WiFi at or around Muir Woods National Monument. Download your parking reservation or shuttle ticket in advance.
You can also book on the Muir Woods Shuttle, which picks up in Sausalito and at the Larkspur Landing ferries.
4. Stinson Beach
Just an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, along a serpentine stretch of Highway 1, Stinson Beach delivers classic California coastal vibes with none of the pretension. On warm days, the wide crescent of soft sand lures the entire Bay Area, it seems, so plan to go early, especially on sunny weekends.
Grab breakfast or lunch at Breakers Cafe, or an afternoon milkshake, burgers, and fries at the Parkside Snack Bar.
On fog-free evenings, the sunsets at Stinson Beach could convince even the most stubborn city dweller to decamp permaanently to the coast.
Santa Cruz is known for its surf culture and beach boardwalk, home to one of the country’s oldest wooden roller coasters, the Big Dipper
5. Santa Cruz
Head two hours south and suddenly life is all board shorts and beach cruisers. Santa Cruz has been surfing central since 1885 when Hawaiian princes introduced the sport to mainland America. Today, Steamer Lane is the place to watch surfers perform jaw-dropping feats.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a kitschy classic: roller coasters, cotton candy, and ocean breezes all rolled into one. Downtown? Vintage shops, record stores, and a laid-back vibe that practically screams “California cool.”
Don’t miss: Natural Bridges State Beach, especially at low tide, when you peruse the tide pools for marine life, and in October, when the monarch butterflies return for the winter.
Sausalito is an easy day or half-day trip from San Francisco
6. Sausalito
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito feels like a world away. Best of all, a visit is easy to work into a San Francisco Itinerary (you can hop over for lunch).
Sausalito was a shipbuilding epicenter during World War II, when dozens of Liberty Ships were built there. It later became a haven for artists and musicians like Janis Joplin and the Kingston Trio, among others. The small town still leans into its artistic vibes, with art galleries, cafes, houseboats, and live music.
For more, see my How to Visit Sausalito Like a Local guide.
7. Healdsburg
The city of Healdsburg is easily accessible via the 101 freeway, approximately 90 minutes away, and makes for a perfect one-stop getaway. Centered around a leafy plaza, Healdsburg has become a foodie haven brimming with tasting rooms, bakeries, boutiques, and lauded restaurants such as Single Thread, Valette, and the Matheson, to name just a few.
Park once and spend an entire day strolling around Healdsburg.
8. Point Reyes National Seashore
Nature goes big here, where rugged cliffs, windswept beaches, and more than 100 miles of trails crisscross the 70,000 acres. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for herds of tule elk, one of two subspecies of elk native to California that roam here. You might also catch a glimpse of offshore whales during their winter migration, and elephant seals between December and March, from the overlook above Drakes Bay.
The little town of Point Reyes Station is a great stop for pastries and coffee at Bovine Bakery, offering a great spot for coffee and pastries. Hog Island Oyster Co. is not too far away, and a great place to sample the edible treasures of Tomales Bay.
Point Reyes National Seashore shows off the Golden State at its best
9. Anderson Valley
Who doesn’t love a secret? Especially if there’s wine involved. I love Anderson Valley because that’s what it feels like….a secret wine country. Not only that, it’s more affordable and less crowded than its famous cousins, Napa and Sonoma, yet it is still pouring tons of natural eye candy and winemaking prowess, with award-winning vineyards such as Goldeneye, Navarro, and Scharffenberger Cellars, whose adorable tasting room and garden is a delightful place to sip sparkling wine.
The drive from San Francisco will take about two hours, and it includes a serpentine section of Highway 128, the ribbon of road that cuts through Anderson Valley toward the Pacific Ocean.
Anderson Valley is also within driving distance from California's famous redwoods found in smaller state parks like 850-acre Hendy Woods State Park, where there are easy walks, including a wheelchair accessible trail that leads into the heart of Big Hendy Grove.
If you feel like an overnight, the Booneville Hotel is roadhouse chic, with good food, quirky rooms, and walking distance to Disco Ranch, considered one of the best wine shops in the state.
10. Angel Island
Visitors to San Francisco should consider a trip to Angel Island, a hidden gem in the bay that combines natural beauty with rich history.
You can reach the island via ferry from San Francisco’s Ferry Building, but I recommend a stop in the quaint town of Tiburon for a stroll along its cute Main Street before boarding the Angel Island Ferry.
Once on Angel Island, you can walk or cycle the five-mile perimeter path, which has stunning views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Marin Headlands. Meanwhile, history buffs will appreciate the Angel Island Immigration Station Museum, known as the Ellis Island of the West, where exhibits share the powerful stories of immigrants, particularly those from Asia, who passed through during the early 20th century.
To get the most out of the visit, guided tours are available, providing fascinating insights into both the island’s cultural significance and its role as a military outpost.
The tasting room at Scharffenbergerright in with Anderson Valley’s low-key wine country vibes
11. Carmel-by-the-Sea
For a one-square-mile village, Carmel-by-the-Sea sure know how to pack a punch. It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from San Francisco, which might be a tad long for a day trip, but it's worth it, with its dog-friendly white sand beach, trails along the bluff, and walkable gridded streets lined with boutiques, wine tasting rooms, galleries, and restaurants like Stationaery, a super-cute, tucked-away gem that serves brunch every day.
On the way into town, or back to San Francisco, make sure to roll along 17-mile Drive (home of Pebble Beach Golf Links) and maybe make a stop in neighboring Pacific Grove, with its historic downtown and scenic curving coastline. Whether you go in summer or the off-season, Carmel is an unhurried and deeply restorative escape.
Carmel’s coastal beauty and village-like atmosphere are why millions visit each year. Photo by @CarmelCalifornia
Day Trip Tips
Timing: Leave early to beat traffic and maximize your day. Heading north from the city after about 3 p.m., especially on a Friday, is going to be unpleasantly slow.
Transport: Renting a car gives you maximum flexibility and will be required for some of these trips. There is a shuttle that goes to Muir Woods, and plenty of tours offering wine tasting tours in Napa Valley if you want to let someone else manage the logistics. Ferries will take you to Sausalito and Angel Island.
Weather: Layer up. Coastal areas can be foggy and cool, even in summer. Meanwhile, Napa Valley and Sonoma get hot in the summer. Be prepared and you’ll be happy.
Plan a 3-Day San Francisco Itinerary here
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