Best Family Day Trips from San Francisco (Plus Where to Stay If You Want to Make It a Weekend)

I’ve lived in San Francisco since before I had kids. There have been countless times where I’ve googled “day trips from San Francisco” in order to find a (new) hike to do with friends, or easy and kid-friendly places to hang out with other families while feeling like we made the most out of our day (hint: a change of scenery does the trick).

San Francisco is one of the best home bases in the country for family travel. Within 2.5 hours in any direction, you’ve got beaches, redwoods, harbor towns, whale-watching spots, and some of the most dramatic coastline in the world. I’ve put together the best day trips for families with young kids – the ones that are actually worth the drive, where little legs won’t give out, and where you won’t spend half the day looking for parking.

Most of these work as a there-and-back day trip, but I’ve also included where to stay for each destination if you want to turn it into a weekend. Some of those posts already live on this site – others I’ve included a quick hotel pick or two to get you started.

Pricing Tier Key: 💰 Under $175/night 💰💰 $175 – $299/night 💰💰💰 $300 – $499/night 💰💰💰💰 $500+/night.

Always check the latest rates on hotels.com. I link to hotels.com because I find that it consistently gives the cheapest and most transparent rates. I’m never hit with any hidden extras and customer service has been helpful. I feel good about recommending them.

Quick Picks: Where to Stay Overnight

🌳Cavallo Point | 💰💰💰💰 | Sausalito | Check Rates→

🌳Half Moon Bay Lodge | 💰💰 | Half Moon Bay | Check availability→

🌳Beach House Hotel Half Moon Bay | 💰💰💰 | Half Moon Bay | Check Rates →

🌳Olema House at Point Reyes | 💰💰 | Point Reyes | Check Rates→

🌳The Inn at the Tides | 💰💰 | Sonoma Coast (Bodega Bay) | Check Rates →

🌳The Lodge at Bodega Bay | 💰💰💰 | Sonoma Coast (Bodega Bay) | Check Rates→

For Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa, and Lake Tahoe overnight picks, see those dedicated hotel posts linked in each section below.

Under 1 Hour from San Francisco

Sausalito

Drive time: 30 minutes – or take the ferry! Just bear in mind that you’d have to ride the ferry back too, which can increase your costs vs car.

TBH whether you drive or take the ferry really comes down to what the weather is like at the time.

If you’ve never taken the Golden Gate Ferry with your kids, it’s a pretty low-effort high-reward thing to do. The ferry from the Ferry Building drops you right in the heart of Sausalito, which means you skip the car entirely and arrive feeling like you’re on vacation the moment you step off the boat. Kids under 5 especially love it.

Pretty much every time we’ve driven to Sausalito proper, we’ve had to spend a bit of time looking for parking. We always managed to find a parking space even if it meant going further up the road and away from the main downtown area.

Once you’re there, Sausalito is genuinely easy with little kids – it’s flat along the waterfront, there’s good food within a short walk, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum is right there in the Marin Headlands for a half-day of hands-on play.

What to do with kids:

• Walk the Bridgeway waterfront – ice cream, harbor seals, boat watching.
• Walk around at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, where you can see many yachts and interesting houseboats. You can reach this harbor by walking north along Bridgeway.
• Have lunch at Bar Bocce or the restaurants near it. They have great pizzas, fish and chips, and relaxed outdoor seaside vibe.
• Watch the sunset at the Sausalito Boardwalk. You can even get a table at one of the many restaurants that line the boardwalk. Alternatives with outdoor seating are at the pier, such as Scoma’s. But don’t be afraid to venture inland for equally great restaurants if the ones with sea view are busy.
• Bay Area Discovery Museum – great for ages 1-10, one of the best children’s museums in the Bay Area, plan 2-3 hours. Tickets are not cheap, but most SF families end up buying the membership, which pays for itself in 3 visits.
• Marin Headlands for a short hike and Golden Gate views if you have older kids with some energy

Practical notes: The ferry runs from the SF Ferry Building and Pier 41. There isn’t a huge price difference between either ferry services. Weekend mornings fill up fast – book tickets ahead. If you drive, arrive early for street parking or use the downtown garage, or just take an uber.

The touristy shops on Bridgeway aren’t geared towards under-5s, but it still makes for a nice, long stroll. I’ve been there when it’s pretty busy but it’s still very manageable.

If you stay overnight: Sausalito doesn’t have a lot of family-friendly (rooms that sleep 4+) hotel options right in town, but Cavallo Point – just a mile away in Fort Baker, where Bay Area Discovery Museum is – is one of the most spectacular places to stay in the entire Bay Area. It’s on the edge of the Marin Headlands with Golden Gate views, hiking trails from the front door, and spacious rooms that work well for families.

You can walk around Sausalito one day, stay overnight, do Bay Area Discovery Museum the next day, then take the ferry back to SF.

🏨Cavallo Point Lodge

The splurge pick for a Sausalito overnight – and honestly worth every dollar if you can swing it. Cavallo Point sits right at the foot of the Golden Gate in Fort Baker, with some rooms in original 1901 military buildings and others in modern lodge-style suites. Kids can run the trails, watch ships pass under the bridge, and feel like they’re miles from the city even though SF is 10 minutes away.

This was also highly recommended as a date night or weekend away location by some very good SF friends.

• 💰💰💰💰
• Lodge rooms and historic cottages, several sleep 4 comfortably
• Pool, spa, excellent on-site restaurant with kids’ menu
• Free cribs and rollaway beds available
• No resort fee; free parking!
• Best for families who want a splurge weekend with easy access to both Sausalito and Muir Woods

Muir Woods / Mill Valley

Drive time: 45 minutes

Muir Woods is the most accessible old-growth redwood forest in the Bay Area, and it is one of the best perks of living in SF. It is genuinely like walking through an enchanted forest, which kids can relate to. This is such a great way to feel like you “got out of the city” – the mental shift you experience when forest bathing is worth the trip. The main Cathedral Grove loop is about a mile, flat and paved, and completely doable with a stroller.

The catch: you must reserve parking in advance because there is no cell service there. It is only ~$10 per vehicle and you can purchase single entry tickets along with the parking reservation. On the official National Parks booking website (recreation.gov) you can only purchase annual passes.

absolutely must reserve timed entry tickets in advance. They sell out weeks ahead on weekends. Don’t skip this step or you’ll be turned away at the gate.

What to do with kids:

• Main Trail loop (1 mile, paved, stroller-friendly) – this is enough for most families with little kids
• Cathedral Grove – the most impressive section, about 0.5 miles in
• Grab lunch or a snack in Mill Valley after – it’s a genuinely charming town with good cafes
• Combine with a Sausalito stop on the same day – it’s only 15 minutes from Muir Woods to the waterfront

Practical notes: Timed entry tickets are required and must be booked at recreation.gov – do this as early as possible, especially for weekends. Parking fills up fast too; there’s a shuttle from Sausalito and Marin City that’s worth taking. The park itself has no food service, so bring snacks. It can be cold and foggy even in summer – pack layers.

If you stay overnight: Mill Valley has a handful of small inns, but most families overnight here in conjunction with Sausalito. Cavallo Point (above) is the best nearby option. I’ll have a dedicated Muir Woods with Kids post up soon with more detail.

1-2 Hours from San Francisco

Half Moon Bay

Drive time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Half Moon Bay is the underrated coastal day trip. It doesn’t have the name recognition of Santa Cruz or Monterey, but for families with young kids it actually works better – It’s way closer to SF, the town is quieter, and the pumpkin patch scene in October is legitimately one of the best fall activities in NorCal. Pescadero is just down the road and worth a quick stop for the famous Arcangeli bread (their focaccia artichoke bread is famous, and I’d say it rivals my favorite Jane Bread – IYKYK).

What to do with kids:

• Half Moon Bay State Beach – wide, flat, and sandy; great for toddlers who just want to dig and run
• Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Cypress Tree Tunnel in Moss Beach – best tide pooling in the Bay Area, tons of sea stars, anemones, and crabs (check tide charts beforehand) and the tree tunnel makes for great photos. Only 13 minutes north of Half Moon Bay.
• Lemos Farm – pony rides, hay rides, petting zoo; great for the 2-6 crowd. We had a birthday party here – it was amazing!
• Pumpkin patches in October – dozens of them along Highway 92, most with corn mazes and activities. We always end up spending all day at Lemos farm though!
• Sam’s Chowder House in Princeton-by-the-Sea – great clam chowder, lobster rolls, and a view that is unmatched.

Practical notes: Highway 1 south of Pacifica can be slow on summer weekends – budget extra drive time. The water is cold and the surf can be rough at HMB State Beach – this is a wading/sandcastle beach, not a swimming beach. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve requires a low tide of 1.5 feet or lower to be worthwhile; check tide charts at tideschart.com before you go.

If you stay overnight: Half Moon Bay has a good range of options – from budget-friendly lodge to full luxury at the Ritz-Carlton if you really want to blow it out.

🏨Half Moon Bay Lodge

The best value overnight in Half Moon Bay for families. It’s not on the water, but it’s well-located for exploring the area, the rooms are spacious, kids love the heated saltwater pool and hot tub, and the included breakfast means one less meal to figure out. Rooms with two queen beds work well for families of four.

• 💰💰 Actually great value!
• Rooms sleep 4; connecting rooms available
• Heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi, sauna
• Free continental breakfast included
• Free parking, no resort fee
• 10-minute walk to Half Moon Bay Golf Links; 5-minute drive to State Beach

🏨Beach House Hotel Half Moon Bay

The step-up pick for Half Moon Bay – and genuinely lovely if you want a beachier vibe. All 54 rooms are junior suites with fireplaces and most have harbor or ocean views. It’s right on Pillar Point Harbor, which means you wake up to boat views and walk five minutes to Sam’s Chowder House. Feels more like a special trip and less like a road stop.

• 💰💰💰 A bit more pricey but still great value because the rooms are large with great views.
• Junior suites with fireplaces; several sleep 4
• Outdoor heated pool and hot tub
• Complimentary breakfast included; locally sourced pastries, fruit, yogurt
• Free parking, free WiFi
• Walk to Sam’s Chowder House and Pillar Point Harbor trails

Point Reyes National Seashore

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Point Reyes is a place that I consider a quintessential Bay Area experience. Some might consider it a bit of a secret especially to tourist (because it’s a national seashore rather than a national park), but every SF person would have been here at least once. It is often windy and foggy but sometimes sunny (like the rest of SF) and it has one of the most dramatic landscapes in California.

For families with curious and active kids, the combination of tide pools, elk herds, whale watching, and a lighthouse at the edge of a cliff is hard to beat.

The one thing to know: this is not a day trip where you roll up and figure it out. Point Reyes rewards a little planning. Decide ahead of time whether you’re going for the lighthouse, the beaches, or the wildlife, because they’re all spread out across the peninsula (

What to do with kids:

• Point Reyes Lighthouse – the hike down (and back up) the 308 steps is memorable; check if it’s open ahead of time as it closes in high winds and fog (which is often the case!)
• Elephant Seal overlook at Chimney Rock – especially impressive January through March during breeding season; you can get surprisingly close
• Tule Elk Reserve at Tomales Point – an easy flat trail with good odds of seeing a wild elk herd
• Tomales Bay Oysters – several farms do picnic-style oyster sales directly on Tomales Bay; it’s casual and fun even with kids
• Towards the southern end of the Point Reyes peninsula you have a few beaches, each with very distinct and breathtaking rock formations to rival more famous coastlines around the world. However, to get down to the beach from the Lighthouse can take up to an hour due to the way the roads are, so visiting the beaches here can be a separate trip altogether, or save it for Day 2.
  • Limantour Beach and Santa Maria beach are highly rated and spectacular beaches. Limantour is one of the calmest, most sheltered beach in the park; good for little kids who want to play in the sand without big surf

Practical notes: The lighthouse closes in high winds and sometimes fog – check before you go. Dress in layers no matter the season (a light puffer jacket is a MUST year-round for the bay area!); Point Reyes is consistently 10-15°F cooler than the rest of the Bay Area. There’s very limited food in the park – bring lunch. The drive from SF is beautiful but winding; some kids get carsick on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

If you stay overnight: The most family-friendly option near the park is Olema House at Point Reyes, right at the southern entrance to the seashore.

🏨Olema House at Point Reyes

A low-key, well-run boutique hotel right in the tiny village of Olema, about 2 miles from the park entrance. It’s dog-friendly, has a nice outdoor fire pit area, and the rooms are comfortable without being fussy. Not a luxury property, but the location is ideal – you can start hiking before the day-trippers arrive.

• 💰💰💰
• Standard rooms and suites; some sleep 4 with rollaway
• Outdoor fire pit and garden area; great for s’mores after dinner
• On-site restaurant and bar; kids’ menu available
• Free parking, dog-friendly
• 2 miles from Bear Valley Visitor Center; walking distance to Olema restaurants

Napa Valley

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Most people think Napa is just for the wine tasting, but it’s actually a surprisingly good family day trip if you plan it right. The scenery is stunning, there’s good food everywhere, and Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa is a great lunch stop with something for everyone. I’ve got a full [Napa Wineries post] with more detail on the family-friendly angle.

What to do with kids:

• Oxbow Public Market – great lunch spot with a mix of vendors; kids can usually find pizza or tacos while parents do cheese
• Bouchon Bakery in Yountville – the best pastries in Wine Country, hands down; worth a stop
• Castello di Amorosa – a genuinely impressive medieval castle with a kid-friendly tour; not cheap but memorable for kids who are into knights and dungeons
• Napa Valley Vine Trail – flat, paved multi-use trail that runs through the valley floor; good for a stroll or bike ride
• di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art – some kids love it, some are bored; better for ages 8+ with curious minds
• Visit a kid-friendly winery! See my 👉 kid-friendly wineries in Napa post for a list of the most accommodating wineries for families with young kids.

Practical notes: Summer in Napa is hot – like, really hot. 95°F+ days are common July through September. If you’re going in summer, plan to be done by early afternoon. Spring and fall are ideal. Downtown Napa has the most stroller-friendly walkability; Yountville is also easy to navigate on foot. You can still go in the winter, but it may be overcast, foggy and cold.

If you stay overnight: See my 👉 Best Family Hotels in Napa post for the full rundown on where to stay with kids.

Santa Cruz

Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Santa Cruz is the classic Bay Area family beach trip. The Boardwalk is genuinely fun for kids of all ages – it’s cheesy in the best way, the Giant Dipper roller coaster has been running since 1924, and the beach right in front is wide and swimmable. It’s also got some of the most consistent surf in Central California if you have older kids who want to try surfing.

I’ve got a full 👉 Best Family Hotels in Santa Cruz post if you want to make it an overnight.

What to do with kids:

• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – the Giant Dipper coaster, Loggers Revenge log flume, and Looff Carousel are all classics; under-5s can ride the smaller rides
• Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab – great for curious kids; they have a blue whale skeleton outside that’s free to view
• Natural Bridges State Beach – famous monarch butterfly sanctuary November through February; also a good tide pool spot year-round
• Surfing lessons – Santa Cruz Surf School and Richard Schmidt Surf School both do family-friendly beginner lessons on the calmer west side beaches
• Capitola Village – the colorful beachfront village just east of SC is quieter than downtown and great for a stroll with little kids

Practical notes: Summer weekends at the Boardwalk are busy – arrive before 10am or after 3pm to avoid the worst of it. Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz Mountains can have significant traffic Sunday evenings heading back to San Jose/Bay Area. Parking near the Boardwalk is paid; the beach lot fills fast.

If you stay overnight: See my 👉 Best Family Hotels in Santa Cruz post.

2-3 Hours from San Francisco

Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea

Drive time: 2 hours

Monterey is one of the best family destinations on the entire West Coast, full stop. The aquarium alone is worth the drive. Add in the Coastal Recreation Trail along Cannery Row, the sea otters in the harbor, and Carmel’s white sand beach just 5 miles away, and you’ve got a genuinely excellent day – or a very easy weekend.

I’ve got a full 👉 Best Family Hotels in Monterey post with hotel picks across all budgets.

What to do with kids:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium – the jellyfish, sea otters, and touch tanks are always the highlights; budget at least 3-4 hours, buy tickets ahead online
• Cannery Row Coastal Recreation Trail – flat, stroller-friendly path right along the water; good before or after the aquarium
• Fisherman’s Wharf – easy lunch stop with clam chowder in bread bowls; touristy but convenient
• Carmel Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in California, white sand, no crowds compared to SoCal beaches; the water is cold but the scenery is stunning
• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – spectacular coastal hiking, best for kids who can do 1-2 miles; arrive early as parking fills up

Practical notes: The aquarium is the priority – book tickets online well ahead for weekends. Plan to arrive early since parking near Cannery Row fills up fast on weekends. Carmel is 5 miles south and worth the short drive after the aquarium; it’s walkable from the beach parking lot.

If you stay overnight: See my 👉 Best Family Hotels in Monterey post.

Sonoma Coast – Bodega Bay & Dillon Beach

Drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes to Bodega Bay, 1 hour 20 minutes to Dillon Beach

The Sonoma Coast is surprisingly accessible from San Francisco without the Highway 1 traffic snarls you hit south of the city. Bodega Bay is the main hub – a small fishing village with great seafood, dramatic harbor views, and easy access to Sonoma Coast State Beach.

Dillon Beach is just 20 minutes further north, and it’s the quieter, less-known alternative where locals go when Bodega feels busy. We have family friends who have a house here, so we have been going to Dillon Beach at least annually for many years.

Fair warning: this coast is rugged. The water is too cold and rough for swimming, the wind can be fierce (like the entire Bay Area tbh), and some of the most beautiful spots require a short hike. But for kids who love tide pools, seal spotting, and running on big wide beaches, it’s fantastic.

What to do with kids in Bodega Bay:

• Doran Beach – sheltered bay beach, calm enough for kids to wade; good for sandcastles and seal watching
• Bodega Head – short 1.5-mile loop hike with incredible Pacific views; good gray whale watching January through April
• The Tides Wharf – the famous restaurant from Hitchcock’s “The Birds”; kids don’t need to know the movie to enjoy the fresh fish and chips
• Chanslor Ranch horseback riding – beach and meadow rides available; great for kids 7+ who can handle a horse

What to do with kids at Dillon Beach:

• Dillon Beach itself – a wide, protected beach with calmer surf than the open coast; great for younger kids
• It’s primarily a beach day destination – bring a kite, buckets, and snacks, and let the kids go to town. It’s also a good idea to bring a wagon to carry all the stuff to the beach, and beach tents can protect from sun as well as wind
• Get up close to sea creatures at the tide pools on the beach! Check the times for low tide and venture out. It was cold and foggy when we went and one of the kids fell into the water but everyone still had a ton of fun!
• Lawson’s Landing nearby offers clam digging if tides are right – a genuinely fun activity with kids who are old enough to dig
• Get the private room that you walk down the pier to at Nick’s Cove, or get some delightful pastries at Wild Flour bakery (this place has gotten really famous).

Practical notes: Bodega Bay has no traffic lights and limited services – fill up on gas before you go. Both beaches can be windy and cold even in summer; fleeces and windbreakers are non-negotiable. Dillon Beach access requires a small parking/day use fee.

If you stay overnight: Two good picks in Bodega Bay that work well for families:

🏨The Inn at the Tides

The most family-accessible hotel in Bodega Bay, sitting on a hillside right above the harbor with bay views from many rooms. It’s a bit dated but offers good value for the coast – spacious rooms, a complimentary full breakfast, pool and hot tub, and the Tides Wharf restaurant right across the street. If you’re with young kids who need space to spread out and not a lot of fuss, this is the practical choice.

• 💰💰 Great value for large rooms with sea views
• 86 rooms across 12 low-rise lodges; double queen rooms sleep 4, many with patios
• Heated outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness center
• Complimentary full breakfast and bottle of wine included
• Free parking; Tides Wharf restaurant steps away

🏨The Lodge at Bodega Bay

The nicer option in Bodega Bay – a 4-star property perched on a bluff right over the water with some of the best coastal views anywhere on this stretch of coast. Rooms are spacious and well-designed, the on-site restaurant (Drakes) is excellent, and there’s a fenced pool that’s a plus with young kids. Weekend rates get pricey, but midweek is much more reasonable.

• 💰💰💰 More of a splurge
• Rooms with two queens available; cribs and rollaway beds on request
• Fenced outdoor pool and hot tub, full-service spa, fitness center
• On-site restaurant Drakes Sonoma Coast; free bike rentals
• Free parking, free WiFi, no resort fee
• Best for a splurge weekend where you want to stay put and enjoy the property

Looking for more NorCal family travel ideas? Check out the 👉SF to Oregon Road Trip with Kids guide, or browse 👉Best Family Hotels in Monterey and 👉Best Family Hotels in Santa Cruz to start planning your overnight.