After living in the Bay Area for over 10 years (including 1.5 years in SF), I’ve gone on my fair share of day trips. If you’re looking for a fun escape within a couple of hours of the city, these are my favorite day trips from SF!
1. Monterey
Why Visit:
Monterey is known for its world-class aquarium, coastal views, and historic waterfront.
Highlights:
- Monterey Bay Aquarium → famous for its sea otters, jellyfish, and giant kelp forest tank.
- Cannery Row → waterfront street once home to sardine canneries, featured in John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row.
- Old Fisherman’s Wharf → classic boardwalk area with seafood stands and gift shops.
- Kayaking → paddle next to harbor seals and otters. I booked a guided tour from Monterey Bay Kayaks and it was super helpful for spotting wildlife.
- Pair with Carmel-By-The-Sea (~10 minutes drive), a small beach town known for its storybook cottages.
How to Go:
Monterey is ~115 miles (185 km) south of SF (~2.5 hours). I recommend buying the aquarium tickets online in advance to avoid long entry lines.
2. Santa Cruz
Why Visit:
Santa Cruz is a beach town famous for its surf culture and historic landmarks.
Highlights:
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk → seaside amusement park with roller coasters and arcade games.
- Santa Cruz Wharf → walk the pier and watch sea lions lounge under the planks.
- Stop by Mystery Spot on the way (~10 minutes drive), a quirky attraction with optical/gravity illusions
How to Go:
Santa Cruz is ~75 miles (120 km) south of SF (~2 hours). Mystery Spot usually sell out during the holidays and on weekends, so book online in advance. We couldn’t get same day tickets online, but luckily we called and were able to snag a last-minute opening.
3. Muir Woods National Monument
Why Visit:
Muir Woods National Monument is known for its magnificent old-growth coastal redwoods, which are among the tallest living things on Earth.
Highlights:
- Main Trail → flat 2-mile (3.2 km) loop through giant redwoods.
- Muir Beach Overlook → dramatic cliffside platform with ocean views located next to Muir Woods.
- Stop by Sausalito on the way (~30 minutes drive), a cute waterfront town with cafés, art galleries, and views of SF.
How to Go:
Muir Woods is ~16 miles (26 km) north of SF (~1 hour). Parking reservations are required if you drive. If you don’t want to navigate the winding roads yourself, you can reserve a shuttle from Sausalito from early spring through October.
4. Napa Valley / Sonoma County
Why Visit:
Both regions produce world-class wines. Napa Valley feels more polished and upscale with big-name wineries, while Sonoma County is more relaxed with smaller, family-owned vineyards.
Highlights:
- Do a wine tasting or take a winery tour. I’m not a wine person, but it was still fun to hang out with friends at a beautiful vineyard.
- Enjoy fine dining in Napa or farm-to-table restaurants in Sonoma.
- Oxbow Public Market (Napa) → indoor market with a diverse mix of food and drink vendors.
- Sonoma Plaza → charming historic town square with restaurants, tasting rooms and boutiques.
How to Go:
Both are ~50 miles (80 km) north of SF (~1.5 hours). Most wineries require reservations, and popular ones fill up on weekends. When we booked Frog’s Leap two weeks ahead, some tasting options were already gone.
5. Point Reyes National Seashore
Why Visit:
A huge expanse of protected coastline with cliffs, beaches, wildlife, and coastal views.
Highlights:
- Point Reyes Lighthouse → climb 313 steps down to the lighthouse for dramatic cliffside views.
- Cypress Tree Tunnel → long tunnel of Monterey cypress trees.
- Chimney Rock Trail → easy 1.75-mile (2.8 km) round-trip hike with amazing coastal views. Stop by the Elephant Seal Overlook to see elephant seals (best sightings Dec – March).
- Alamere Falls → waterfall that drops directly onto the beach. I skipped this one since it’s a 13-mile (20 km) round trip hike.
How to Go:
Point Reyes is ~50 miles (80 km) north of SF (~1.5 hours). It’s one of the foggiest and windiest places on the West Coast and chilly even in summer, so bring layers! Also download offline maps in advance since cell service is almost nonexistent.
Looking for things to do in San Francisco? Check out my top 5 must dos for first time visitors.