Overview
The Marin Headlands are located in southern Marin County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area of California. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Marin Headlands offer beaches, hiking, history, and spectacular views of the California coast.
7 sights · 2 things to do · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Marin Headlands
Hawk Hill
Kirby Cove
Point Bonita
Point Bonita Lighthouse
Nike Missile Site
Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 72°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby San Francisco)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 16 mi away (major hub). Directions
- OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Oakland — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
Follow U.S. 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, or south from other parts of Marin County. Exit at Alexander Ave. If coming north, this is the second exit, after the "Vista Point". Going either way on Alexander Avenue can take you to the Marin Headlands.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $24–$24 a night (typical $48), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$120, comfortable ~$190.
Options are grouped as Lodging, Camping, Backcountry in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Point Bonita, Point Bonita Lighthouse, Nike Missile Site
- Afternoon Headlands Center for the Arts, Marine Mammal Center
Day 2
- Morning Hawk Hill, Kirby Cove
- Afternoon Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, One-way Conzelman Road
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Follow U.S. 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, or south from other parts of Marin County. Exit at Alexander Ave. If coming north, this is the second exit, after the "Vista Point". Going either way on Alexander Avenue can take you to the Marin Headlands.
If you go west, turn right before the road goes back into the freeway. You can park in a lot right next to the highway, or proceed on the road (Conzelman Road) up the hillside. Various roadside parking areas line this road. Along this road you will see breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Eventually this road becomes one-way steep downhill "roller coaster" heading west, so if you pass this point you will have to return by a different route.
If you go east, turn left at the first intersection, with signs pointing to Marin Headlands. (If you enter Sausalito, you've gone too far.) This road goes through a one-lane tunnel (Bunker Road) controlled by a traffic light. After you pass through the tunnel, you will be in the Tennessee Valley area of the Marin Headlands.
If you want to search direction from your place to Marin Headlands, use the following address:
948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA 94965, US
By bus
Place Muni
Muni operates the 76X Marin Headlands route from Downtown San Francisco on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only. The bus also stops at the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion in Presidio near the toll booths.
Get around
There are two parallel roads into the Marin Headlands: Conzelman Road (the Coastal Route) and Bunker Road (the Tunnel Route). Conzelman Road is more scenic. Bunker Road goes through an old one-lane tunnel at one point. After Hawk Hill, Conzelman Road turns into a one-way section, which eventually intersects with Field Road. Field Road goes to the Point Bonita Lighthouse trailhead. You can also use Field Road to return to Bunker Road for the return trip (Bunker Road is the only way back after passing the one-way Conzelman Road.) McCullough Road also connects Bunker Road and Conzelman Road after the Bunker Road tunnel, but before one-way section of Conzelman Road, so you can use it to switch between the roads if one of them is blocked by construction.
See
See Kirby Cove
See Point Bonita
See Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point
Do
- Drive the
Do One-way Conzelman Road
An extremely thrilling drive down an 18% grade descent. At many points, you will seem to be driving straight into the vast, open ocean right in front of you.
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Backcountry
Nearby
Sausalito
City / town · 33 listings · 2 mi away
Tiburon
City / town · 14 listings · 4 mi away
Angel Island
Park · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Mill Valley
City / town · 22 listings · 6 mi away
San Francisco
City / town · 66 listings · 6 mi away
Larkspur and Corte Madera
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
Stinson Beach
City / town · 5 listings · 9 mi away
Daly City
City / town · 9 listings · 10 mi away
My experience
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