It’s easy to stay cozy in the 7×7 bubble of San Francisco, which holds a wealth of attractions, both indoors and out. But sometimes a change of scenery does the mind and body good, and, thankfully, city residents have a myriad of fun options at our disposal, in whatever direction we choose to travel (even straight into the Pacific), with whatever means of transportation we can get our hands on. Here are some of the best day trips from San Francisco that are an absolute must-do.

1. Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpais & Stinson Beach
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA
Marin County, CA, USA
Mark Gunn/Flickr
Travel slightly north and take a look at the city from a whole different angle. Marin County has a slew of things to do: explore the coastal areas of the Marin Headlands (including the Point Bonita Lighthouse), walk through the sky-high redwoods of Muir Woods, hike up Mt. Tam, and hang out on the expansive Stinson Beach.

One of the best Northern California day trips is always Muir Woods. Enjoy a hike on the Bohemian Grove Trail and the Redwood Creek Trail with California Through My Lens:
2. Napa & Sonoma Counties
Napa Valley, CA, USA
Sonoma, CA 95476, USA
Deb Harkness/Flickr
Make your way up through the wine country of Napa and Sonoma, where you’ll find hundreds of wineries to visit and quaint towns to pass through, all with incredible scenery and food (we suggest stops in Sebastopol, Calistoga, and/or St. Helena, too).

And while Napa is certainly glorious, don't forget about Sonoma County, Napa's wine-producing neighbor to the south. If you've yet to experience the splendor of Sonoma County, now’s the time to change that. Between long-standing institutions like Gundlach Bundschu Winery (the third-oldest winery in the state, in fact) to beloved family-run operations like Chateau Diana, wine lovers have a lot to celebrate (and taste!) in Sonoma County -- as do environmentalists. With 99% of Sonoma County’s vineyards certified sustainable, this is the most sustainable wine-growing region in the world.
3. Half Moon Bay & Pescadero
Half Moon Bay, CA, USA
stevegeer / E+ via Getty Images
Take a short day trip down Highway 1 and stop at the adorable seaside town of Half Moon Bay. Explore the fancy Ritz-Carlton while you’re at it, as well as the beach that sits below it. From there, keep traveling south to Pescadero for more great beach options. Then, head into the small downtown and to Harley Farms to play with goats and sample their incredible cheeses. If you keep traveling south, we also recommend a hike through Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
4. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Rabin Pamela/Flickr
Keep traveling south and you’ll find yourself in Santa Cruz, known as, among other things, the birthplace of the best hot dogs in NorCal! Dogs aside, walk around downtown for great shops and cafes, then take to the Beach Boardwalk, hop on some rides, and scarf down a funnel cake. It’s also worth exploring nearby nature, including Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, where you can even go zip-lining through the trees.
5. Oakland & Berkeley
Oakland, CA, USA
Berkeley, CA, USA
Daniel Parks/Flickr
No car? No problem. Because our neighbors across the bay have some pretty great attractions to discover. Take a walk around Oakland’s Lake Merritt (and be extra kind to the geese), and head to neighborhoods like Rockridge, Temescal, and Piedmont Avenue for quirky shops and notable eateries. Don’t forget to stop by the Gourmet Ghetto of Berkeley for some of the Bay Area’s finest restaurants. You’ll also find plenty of great hiking trails scattered throughout the hills of Oakland and Berkeley.

Another one of our favorite San Francisco day trips is Oakland’s Lake Merritt. Enjoy a virtual tour in this video from LifeOfBD:
6. Sausalito & Tiburon
Sausalito, CA, USA
Tiburon, CA, USA
Miwok/Flickr
The best way to experience these two charming towns across the bay is by bike and/or ferry. Both will quickly melt the city stress right off of you with their cute boutiques, cool art galleries, fantastic waterside bistros and cafes, and, of course, unmatched views. For a jam-packed day of fun, we recommend biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping in Sausalito first, then winding your way through to Tiburon, and taking the ferry back to the city.
7. Angel Island
Angel Island, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA
Liz Henry/Flickr
A quick ferry ride away from downtown, Angel Island, a California Historical Landmark, is for the more adventurous day-trippers. There are a few different hiking trails, all of which grant 360 views of the bay, as well as plenty of historical landmarks to explore. If you want to turn this into more than just a day trip, it’s also a pretty cool spot to camp.
8. Bolinas
Bolinas, CA 94924, USA
Ridge Walker / 500px via Getty Images
Just north of Stinson Beach is the artsy small town of Bolinas. It’s a good spot to grab some lunch before heading to Point Reyes National Seashore, which offers some of Marin County’s most beautiful trails (and that’s saying a lot). Our favorite hike takes you to the stunning beauty of Alamere Falls.
9. Tomales Bay & Bodega Bay
Tomales Bay, California, USA
Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
Miwok/Flickr
Travel further up the coast to explore two more beautiful spots: Shuck and slurp your way through all the oysters you can eat along Tomales Bay, then head up to the picturesque fishing village of Bodega Bay, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds.
10. Skyline Boulevard
Skyline Boulevard, Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA, USA
Jawed Karim/Wikimedia Commons
From San Francisco, head south on Highway 280, then take Highway 92 until you reach the peak, where you’ll arrive at Skyline Boulevard, one of the most scenic drives in NorCal. This road winds through lush mountain forests and offers scenic overlooks of the Pacific as well. Take a pit stop at the rustic biker diner Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside, and go for a hike (and a climb) in Castle Rock State Park.
11. Farallon Islands
Farallon Islands, San Francisco, CA, USA
Tom Coates/Flickr
A few different tour companies will guide you right into the Pacific, 27 miles off the coast of San Francisco, to explore this group of islands, home to seals, whales, and even great white sharks.

Taking a boat tour of the beautiful Farallon Islands, often called California's Galapagos Islands, is one of the best day trips in San Francisco. Learn more about this fascinating tour in this video from At Home In Wild Spaces:

Planning your day trips from San Francisco as a starting point gives you nearly an infinite amount of exceptional places to explore. Seriously, you can’t get bored around here, but if you’re looking for more of the best day trips in San Francisco, check out these nearby hiking spots, waterfalls, and state parks.

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More to Explore

Best day trips in San Francisco

Sarah M. | July 20, 2022

What are some other fun day trips near San Francisco?

A few fun day trips near San Francisco include:

 

Looking for a fun "European" kind of day trip near San Francisco... that's *not* wine country? A slice of Mediterranean magic in NorCal? No, it’s not too good to be true; this is the magic of Capitolia, California. A small beach city in Santa Cruz County, Capitola is known for its trendy shops, top-notch restaurants, fishing wharf, and - most notably - its long, sandy beach. Simply put, it's the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty of the NorCal coast. In addition, there’s an impossibly picture-perfect hotel located in town that is bound to transport you across the globe with its bold-colored adobe and waterfront vistas. Of course, you can opt to make your day trip to Capitolia into an overnight adventure; as the top-ranked hotel in town, the Capitola Venetian Hotel is an ideal spot to make the most of this slice of paradise. Tucked right along the beach, you definitely couldn't ask for a better setting!

What are some scenic places to visit near San Francisco?

Some scenic places to visit near San Francisco include:

 

Pretty much every place you visit near the Bay City is going to be scenic, from our stunning shoreline and Golden Gate Bridge to our waterfalls, trails, and painted ladies. One place we love near San Francisco (that also makes a great day trip adventure!) is Point Reyes. Hailed as San Francisco's most resplendent natural wonder, Point Reyes is one of those jaw-droopingly scenic places to which pictures simply don't do justice. Popular points of interest within this 111-square-mile expanse include 12 miles of beaches, the beguiling Point Reyes Lighthouse, fields of California poppies, and the Point Reyes National Seashore Trail.

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