San Rafael is easily reached from San Francisco by public transport. Golden Gate Transit buses run frequently from the Transbay Terminal (Salesforce Transit Center) in San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Rafael; the trip takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. The ferry from Larkspur to the San Francisco Ferry Building is a more scenic alternative — Larkspur is a short bus or taxi ride south of San Rafael.
By car, take US-101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge; San Rafael is about 15 miles north of the bridge. Traffic on 101 is heavy during commuting hours. For reaching Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais from San Rafael, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west toward Fairfax or Highway 1 along the coast.