Day Trips in San Francisco

Earn panoramic views of Yosemite Valley from Half Dome's summit on a full-day guided hike up the National Park's most iconic landmark. This strenuous trip is a rite of passage for hikers from around the world, a physical and mental challenge with breathtaking rewards. Walk alongside your guide as you trace the legendary rock path and cable route, learn the natural and geologic history of the Sierra Mountains and finish the epic adventure with sore muscles, stunning photos and a lifetime place in the Half Dome Summit Club. IMPORTANT: Hikers must obtain a permit to hike Half Dome. The supplier may have a permit depending on time of departure. To apply for a permit yourself, the Half Dome Permit Application Process is from March 1-31, and done through recreation.gov.

On this private tour from San Francisco, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to explore two delightful bayside towns, Sausalito and Tiburon. Stop to stroll under a cathedral of 400- to 800-year-old redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument, an homage to tree lovers worldwide. You determine how long to spend in each locale with this customizable 4-hour itinerary. Pricing is per group, based on a maximum of six people.

Drive down one of the most scenic roads in California on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Cruise along the coast-hugging Highway 1, passing the mansions of Pebble Beach on the iconic 17-Mile Drive. Enjoy free time to explore Monterey, where you can stroll down Steinbeck's Cannery Row or visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Browse the ritzy boutiques of Carmel-by-the-Sea and get a glimpse of Silicon Valley's tech campuses on the return drive to San Francisco.

Explore Yosemite and Glacier Point on a full-day trip with a small group. Catch views over the entire Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome at Glacier Point, before continuing on a hiking or driving tour. Hotel, airport, or bus/train station pickup is included, in addition to lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel (except Sundays). As this tour is designed for a very small group, chances are if you have four or more people in your party you may get a private tour.

Take a combo tour from San Francisco that visits several top northern California destinations over two consecutive days. On the first day, hop the ferry to Alcatraz for a self-guided audio tour, and visit Aquarium of the Bay anytime during the day. On day two, cross the Golden Gate Bridge to walk through Muir Woods National Monument, then taste premium local wines on a Sonoma County wine tour. Enjoy lunch at a Sonoma winery or in the plaza, and also stop for photos from Golden Gate Bridge.

Spare yourself the headache of car rental and navigation with round-trip bus transit from San Francisco to Muir Woods. Listen to live commentary during the 45-minute drive to the national forest.  Entrance is included to the park, where you enjoy 1.5-hours to explore on your own. Afterwards, relax during your return journey through the Marin Headlands.

Explore Yosemite National Park on this day hike from Glacier Point. Led by an expert guide, hear about the park's natural features as you journey past three famous waterfalls: Vernal Fall, Illilouette Fall and Nevada Fall. Take in stunning views of Half Dome after a shuttle ride to Glacier Point and, from there, begin a moderately strenuous 8.5-mile trek on foot. Travel down to the valley floor and soak up the scenery of the Panorama and Mist Trails. This small group tour runs from May to October.

Hike the redwoods and sip on world-class wine on this Muir Woods and Sonoma wine country day trip. Led by an expert guide, you'll enjoy views of the San Francisco Bay and Marin Headlands as you travel to the trails of the famous Muir Woods. After admiring groves of California redwoods, head to Sonoma County for an afternoon of wine tasting. There, you'll sample wine and cheese at a handful of notable cellars before returning to your original departure point.

Explore some of top destinations of the American West, once known as the Wild West, on this 3-night one-way tour from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You'll travel through California and Nevada to visit Yosemite National Park, Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam. Attractions include a cruise on San Francisco Bay and an evening tour of the Las Vegas Strip.

Book your Alcatraz tickets and explore inside the Silicon Valley tech industry on this 2-day tour from San Francisco. Skip the hassle of booking notoriously difficult-to-get tickets to Alcatraz, and then enjoy easy ferry transportation and a guided audio tour of the island. The next day, head through Silicon Valley on a fully-narrated coach tour that includes entrance to the Computer Museum and top tech campuses like Apple and Facebook.

Explore the scenic highlights of Yosemite National Park on a full-day, small-group guided trip from Lake Tahoe with a lunchtime picnic beside Cascade Falls. Capture unforgettable images of the park's soaring rock walls and craggy peaks then enjoy an invigorating hike to Yosemite Falls or Bridalveil Falls, where high-mountain rivers tumble from sheer granite cliffs. Spot rock climbers scaling the face of El Capitan, watch for deer in alpine meadows, and take in the timeless beauty of California's High Sierra mountains.

See two of the San Francisco Bay Area's most scenic destinations, Muir Woods and Sausalito, then get another perspective on the city during a 1-hour bay cruise. This 5-hour tour departs from Fisherman's Wharf and crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, passing through rolling hills to reach Muir Woods National Monument. Admire the towering forest of old growth redwood trees before continuing to Sausalito, a picturesque town on the bay. Aboard your bay cruise, enjoy fantastic views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghirardelli Square and more.

Set out from San Francisco and get to know northern California over two days on a tour that visits Alcatraz Island and Monterey. On your first day, you'll take the ferry to Alcatraz Island with a ticket that includes an audio tour, orientation film, and round-trip ferry. On the second day, go on a full-day tour of the Monterey Peninsula, explore popular destinations along Highway 1 such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, 17-Mile Drive, and Carmel. Accommodation is not included.

Commune with giants during this 4.5-hour exploration of the coastal redwoods of Muir Woods and stop in charming Sausalito. Escape the concrete jungle for the solitude and foggy climate of Muir Woods, a grove of 1,000-year old redwoods towering more than 260 feet (79 meters). Then take a break in Sausalito, a picturesque seaside town offering a wealth of unique boutiques and hip cafes, before riding the ferry back across picturesque San Francisco Bay. A guide, park entrance fees, return ferry ticket and coach transport are included.

Customize a private getaway to Monterey, Carmel and Pebble Beach, reached via the cliff-hugging Pacific Coast Highway and scenic 17-Mile Drive. You're chauffeured in the comfort of a luxury limo with personalized commentary by your very own guide. Stop to stroll down Cannery Row and browse the boutiques of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You'll get a glimpse of Silicon Valley's tech campuses on the return drive to the San Francisco Bay Area. Price is per group, based on a maximum of six people.

Tired of the urban cityscape and feel like you need a breath of fresh air? Then jump on this San Francisco day trip by bus, and visit some of the world's tallest trees at Muir Woods National Historic Monument, only minutes from downtown. One moment you'll be kicking your way past the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito, and a short while later wandering beneath the majestic canopy of centuries-old California coastal redwoods.

Visit top California destinations over two consecutive days on this combo tour from San Francisco. On day one, ride the ferry to Alcatraz, take a self-guided audio tour of the prison, and see Aquarium of the Bay at your leisure. On the second day, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument, then continue to Sonoma County for wine tastings. Also, have lunch at a winery or in Sonoma Plaza, and make a photo stop at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Explore Monterey, Carmel, and the Pacific Coast Highway without the hassle of renting a car during this 14-hour tour from San Francisco. Wind down the coast through Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, the 17 Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Pickup and drop-off at downtown San Francisco hotels included. Small group of 13 passengers or fewer.

Visit two world-famous San Francisco attractions, Alcatraz and Muir Woods, over the course of two sightseeing days. Venture into the Cell House of Alcatraz for an award-winning audio tour of the notorious former federal penitentiary. Then stroll under towering old-growth redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument. You'll visit the waterfront town of Sausalito followed by a ferry ride back to the city, with your choice of admission to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum or the San Francisco Dungeon. Hotel transport plus ferry to Alcatraz Island included.Due to popular demand, this ultimate package is likely to sell out; advance reservations are required.

Discover the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada on this full-day trip to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. Travel aboard a comfortable van through historic Gold Rush towns to reach the park, where you'll be amazed by supersized natural wonders like Yosemite Falls and the granite cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan. Take a hike among ancient sequoia trees, and enjoy several hours to explore the park's wonders on your own.