San Francisco: Alcatraz, Muir Woods & Sausalito Day Trip

Three stops in one day: Alcatraz, old-growth redwoods, and a waterfront village

You ride a narrated coach from downtown San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, where you walk among 1,000-year-old redwoods for 90 minutes. After an hour in the village of Sausalito, you head to Pier 33 for the ferry to Alcatraz Island, where you take a self-guided audio tour of the former federal penitentiary and spend as long as you want exploring. Entry to Muir Woods and the official Alcatraz admission with ferry are both included; you just need to pick up your Alcatraz ticket at the pier when you arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Depart from Union Square
• Pass by Union Square theaters and shops
• Pass by 1906 earthquake firebreak site
• Pass through Cow Hollow neighborhood
• Drive above Crissy Field
• Stop at Golden Gate North Vista Point
• Enter Robin Williams tunnel
• View Sausalito from tunnel exit
• Explore Muir Woods redwood forest
• Visit Sausalito village and shops
• Arrive at Pier 33 for Alcatraz tour

The Experience

Driving out of Union Square, the coach heads north toward the Golden Gate Bridge, passing through Cow Hollow's boutique-lined streets and climbing above Crissy Field for a first view of the bay. You stop at the Golden Gate North Vista Point on the far side of the bridge — the angle here is the one you see in photographs, with Alcatraz Island sitting in the water below and the city skyline behind it. From there, the road dips through the Robin Williams tunnel and opens onto Sausalito's waterfront before turning inland toward Muir Woods.

The redwoods at Muir Woods are the main reason most people make this drive. You get 90 minutes to walk among trees that are older than the Gold Rush, with ferns and banana slugs on the forest floor and the canopy so thick that the light comes down in columns. The narrated bus tour explains what you're seeing — the diversity of the place can be overwhelming if you don't know what you're looking at — and then you're free to hike at your own pace. After that, Sausalito gives you an hour to eat or browse the galleries and shops along the waterfront, or just sit and watch the water.

The Alcatraz portion starts when you arrive at Pier 33, where you pick up your official admission ticket at the Guest Services counter. The ferry ride out to the island takes about 15 minutes, and then you have the audio tour — roughly 45 minutes of narration as you move through the cellhouse — plus as much time as you want to explore on your own. Ferries back to the pier run every 30 to 60 minutes, so you control when you leave. The whole island visit usually takes around 2.5 hours, though you can stretch it if you want. After Alcatraz, you're on your own to get back to your hotel or wherever you're staying; the bus doesn't return to the city.

What’s included

• Narrated coach tour departing Union Square and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
• 90 minutes of free time in Muir Woods National Monument with admission included.
• 60 minutes in Sausalito village.
• official Alcatraz Island admission ticket with ferry ride and cellhouse audio tour (approximately 45 minutes of narration plus self-guided exploration).
• ferry transportation to and from Alcatraz Island.
• access to the Golden Gate North Vista Point for photos.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line San Francisco

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see three of the Bay Area's main landmarks in a single day without renting a car or coordinating separate tickets and ferries — the coach handles the driving and the entry fees are bundled in, which is what makes the pace work.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start and end?

The itinerary departs from Union Square in the morning. The bus portion ends at Pier 33 when you disembark for Alcatraz; you control when you leave the island by catching a return ferry, so the full day length depends on how long you spend there and whether you add the optional ferry back to San Francisco from Sausalito.

Is lunch included?

No. You have 60 minutes in Sausalito, where there are waterfront restaurants and cafes, and you can eat on Alcatraz Island during your visit, but meals are not part of the package.

Can I skip Alcatraz and just do Muir Woods and Sausalito?

The tour is sold as a full-day combo. If you want to skip Alcatraz, you can arrange a refund if you request it at least 5 days before departure, but the tour itself includes all three stops.

Do I need to book Alcatraz in advance, or is it guaranteed?

Alcatraz reservations are first-come, first-served and finalized 5 days before your departure date. You must provide the first and last names and ages of all passengers within the booking window, or your reservation will be forfeited. After the 5-day mark, no refunds or changes are allowed.

What if I want to take the ferry from Sausalito back to San Francisco instead of returning by bus?

You can extend your stay in Sausalito and return by ferry to Fisherman's Wharf at your own pace. The ferry cost is not included unless you select it during booking.

How much time do I actually spend on Alcatraz Island?

The audio tour is about 45 minutes, but the full island visit usually takes around 2.5 hours. You can spend more time if you want — ferries depart every 30 to 60 minutes, and you choose when to leave.

Is the Golden Gate Bridge crossing included?

Yes. The narrated bus tour crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and stops at the Golden Gate North Vista Point on the north side for photos before heading to Muir Woods.

What's included in the price?

The narrated bus tour, admission to Muir Woods National Monument, official Alcatraz admission with ferry ride and cellhouse audio tour, and the Golden Gate Bridge crossing. Meals and the optional ferry from Sausalito back to the city are not included.