13 Best Northern California Day Trips from San Francisco
Northern California has an endless supply of day trips and excursions where you can enjoy the Pacific Ocean in all its glory. I lived in Northern California for four years and every weekend we took a different day trip. I can highlight the abundance of options along the coast South of San Francisco and up North into Wine Country.
Below, you’ll find my top 13 favorite Northern California places to visit, offering a glimpse of the area’s best features.
1. Santa Cruz
Only about a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from San Francisco is Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is one of my favorite beach towns for a Northern California day trip. We often drove up here from our apartment in Los Altos. It’s a fun, windy, scenic short drive through the woods. Santa Cruz is great if you want to sit out or play volleyball on a sandy beach or walk out on the Santa Cruz boardwalk. It’s a fun eclectic town and a perfect destination for a day trip.
Top 5 things to do in Santa Cruz:
- Enjoy the rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Visit Natural Bridges State Beach
- See the views along West Cliff Drive
- Visit the Mystery Spot
- Hang out or play Volleyball on Main Beach
Awesome Santa Cruz: Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting
2. Capitola
Another great Northern California day trip spot is Capitola. Capitola is approximately a 14-minute drive from Santa Cruz and 1 hour and 17 minutes from San Francisco. It is a charming seaside town lined with colorful buildings along the shore. It’s an ideal spot to pause for lunch and enjoy the coastal views. There are numerous activities to do for an enjoyable beach day, including kayaking or surfing the mild waves, engaging in a game of volleyball, or fishing at the pier.
Top things to do in Capitola:
For lunch spots below are the best restaurants with a view in Capitola:
- Zeldas On the Beach
- Paradise Beach Grill
- Margaritaville
- Shadowbrook Restaurant
- Capitol Bar and Grill
3. Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is one of my favorite towns along the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. It’s a great location for a day trip and about 51 minutes from San Francisco. This coastal town is renowned for hosting the annual big wave surfing competition, Maverick’s. It is a trendy destination for water sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking.
Another great outdoor activity I always enjoy doing in Half Moon Bay is going on a coastal hike. The surrounding area has numerous hiking trails that provide breathtaking views. Between hiking and walking along the sandy beaches, there is plenty to do in a day here.
Below are 10 must-visit spots at Half Moon Bay:
- Visit Pillar Point Harbor
- Go on a hike at Cowell Ranch State Beach
- Check out the surf at Mavericks Beach
- Go on a guided e-bike tour
- Go horseback riding at Sea Horse Ranch
- Check out the stunning views at the The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
- Walk around Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Go on a hike on the Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
- Go to happy hour at the Moss Beach Distillery
- Do goat yoga at Lemos Farm
4. Big Sur, California
Big Sur is a stunning place for a day trip in Northern California and is one of my favorite locations in Northern California. From San Francisco, it is about a 2-hour and 34-minute drive. This is the area to go on a drive and look at the beautiful coastline. You can start at Pebble Beach and go on the picturesque 17-mile drive and then head up the coast along Highway 1 and go across the Bixby Bridge. The views here will not disappoint and you can stop for lunch or a hike along the way.
Top 5 things to do in Big Sur:
- Go for a hike at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- View McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Stop at the Big Sur Station for Visitor Information
- Look at the seals at Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
- Have lunch at Sierra Mar
Book this: Half-Day Private Big Sur Driving Tour in California
Book This: Big Sur Sightseeing Tour with 4 to 5 Stops
5. Monterey Bay & Carmel
Another exciting day trip in Northern California is a visit to Monterey Bay. Enjoy a day filled with fun as you check out the vibrant marine life along the Bay. One of my favorite things I have done in Monterey Bay was to rent a sea kayak and kayak in the bay with the cutest Sea Lions you’ll ever see. There are also charming towns nearby, such as Carmel by the Sea and Pacific Grove, adding to the allure of your Northern California adventure. From San Francisco Monterey Bay is about a 2-hour drive.
Below are the top 10 things to do around Monterey Bay:
- View the sea life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Go Sea Kayaking in Monterey Bay
- Go on a Whale Watching Excursion
- Walk around Cannery Row
- See the Monarch Butterflies in Pacific Grove
- Go on the 17-mile drive and visit Pebble Beach
- Visit the Carmel Beach Boardwalk
- Go on an e-bike tour around charming Carmel
- Go on a walking tour of Carmel by the Sea
- Book a Carmel Valley Wine Tour
Book a Day Tour From San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel
6. Sausalito
When exploring options for day trips in Northern California, consider visiting Sausalito, situated north of San Francisco, just a 25-minute drive away. You can get here by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge or by catching a ferry. Enjoy the scenic charm of this town, adding a pleasant dimension to your Northern California day trip experience. Sausalito is located in Marin County, California, and sits across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. Known for its houseboat communities on Richardson Bay, established by artists as squatters following World War II. The views from Sausalito are amazing, from here you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the San Francisco Skyline all from a unique perspective.
Below are some top sites to see in Sausalito:
- Walk along the Sausalito Boardwalk
- See the Houseboats at Waldo Point Harbor
- Walk around Rodeo Beach
- Check out the Golden Gate Bridge views at Vista Point
- Scenic Sausalito Kayak Tour: Beginners Welcome
Book this San Francisco Golden Gate Sausalito Muir Woods Private Tour
7. Muir Woods
The redwoods in California are known for their impressive size and beauty and for having the tallest trees in the world. The Muir Woods are designated as a National Monument, with protected trees aged between 400 to 800 years, reaching heights of up to 250 feet. With 6 miles of trails, including loops of different durations and longer hikes extending into Mount Tamalpais State Park, it offers various options for exploration and if you are up north of San Francisco, it is a must-visit sport. Tours are available to visit both Sausalito and San Francisco in a day.
Check out these tours to the Muir Woods
- Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour
- Small Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz
- Muir Woods Tour of California Coastal Redwoods (Entrance fee included
8. Napa & Sonoma
About 50 miles north of San Francisco and perfect for a day trip are Napa and Sonoma. Napa and Sonoma are popular destinations in the California Wine Country, with rolling green hills and beautiful vineyards. From the charming towns of Napa and Sonoma to Cloverdale and Calistoga in the far north of the Bay Area, these parallel valleys have many top-tier wineries and restaurants. However, there is more to do in Napa and Sonoma beyond wine tasting.
Below are the top things to do in Napa & Sonoma:
- Go on the Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour
- Go on a Napa Valley Redwood Hike
- Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Tour Wine Country in a Private Party Bus
- Relax at the Calistoga Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa
- Go on a Sonoma Horseback-Riding Tour
Another charming wine town in Sonoma County is Healdsburg. For wine tasting, an amazing culinary scene, and arts and culture, Healdsburg is worth a visit. Healdsburg is a thriving arts community with many galleries featuring local and international artists. It’s also known for its great farm-to-table restaurants & cafes as well as famous wineries.
Things to do in Healdsburg
- Healdsburg Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Guided Walking Tour
- Icon Wine & Food Pairing Experience at Williamson Wines in Healdsburg
- Guided Healdsburg Wine Country Bike and Wine Tasting Tour with lunch
View this tour to see Wine Country and the Muir Woods in One Day
9. Berkeley
Located just 20 minutes east of San Francisco, Berkeley is a quaint college town worth exploring. This vibrant destination offers activities such as grabbing lunch at eclectic college spots, browsing boutique shops, taking in the Bay views, and strolling around the UC Berkeley campus. With its distinctive personality, Berkeley proves to be an excellent area for a memorable day trip in Northern California.
Top things to do in Berkeley:
- Tour UC Berkeley
- Walk to the top of the Sather Tower
- Go on a North Berkeley Food Tour
- Go Hiking at Grizzly Peak
- Eat and Shop on Telegraph Avenue
10. Los Gatos
When I lived in the Bay Area, Los Gatos was one of my favorite places to visit. Less than an hour’s south drive from San Francisco, Los Gatos offers beautiful hiking, quaint wineries, and a cute little downtown with lots of shopping and restaurants. Los Gatos is a unique boutique small town in the Santa Cruz mountains and an amazing day trip in Northern California.
Things to do in Los Gatos:
- Go hiking at Castle Rock State Park
- Tour the Regale Winery & Vineyards
- Tour the Loma Prieta Winery
- Hike on the Limekiln Trail
- Shop and Eat in Downtown Los Gatos
11. Marin County
Located approximately an hour north of San Francisco, Marin County is a beautiful coastal area with several great towns, including Tiburon, San Anselmo, Point Reyes, San Rafael, and Corte Madera. The region is surrounded by natural beauty, offering stunning beach views and Redwood forests, making it an ideal destination for exploration.
The Point Reyes National Seashore in particular, is great for nature lovers, offering a unique blend of coastal beauty, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. It’s a designated wilderness area and a popular destination for those seeking an unspoiled natural environment. Many hiking trails vary in length and difficulty. Whether you’re interested in a short nature walk or a challenging backcountry hike, there are options for all levels of hikers. Additionally, the Cypress Tree Tunnel is a popular scenic spot. A row of Monterey cypress trees creates a really cool tunnel along the road leading to the Point Reyes Lighthouse.
Things to do in Marin County
- Visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse and Seashore
- Hike at Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Explore Stinson Beach
- Tour the Muir Woods National Monument
- Check out the Views at the Marin Headlands
12. Tour Silicon Valley
Located in Silicon Valley, Stanford University is meaningful to me, marking the start of my marketing career. It was where I first worked out in the Bay Area and I loved every minute of it. The campus is exceptionally beautiful and warrants a visit. Silicon Valley, housing tech giants like Google, Apple, and Meta, offers insightful tours to explore the origins of these industry leaders.
Check out these Day Tours in Silicon Valley
- Silicon Valley Private Tour
- Silicon Valley Private 2-Hour Driving Tour
- Private Silicon Valley Tour from San Francisco
13. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a slightly more extended day trip from San Francisco, taking just over 3 hours but is a largely popular spot. There are plenty of day tour options available from San Francisco. These day tours allow you to explore the incredible sights Yosemite has to offer, including Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, Valley View, and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Below are day tours to Yosemite National Park
San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour
- Yosemite National Park – Full Day Tour from San Francisco
- Yosemite Valley Discovery Walk
- Private Family Hike in Yosemite
San Francisco to Yosemite One-Way Transfer
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