San Francisco, Getting around by car
 

We will be coming into the San Francisco airport on a Saturday morning, renting the car and heading out for Muir Woods. What is the fastest route to take from the airport to Muir Woods? We want to try and beat the crowd!
Thanks so much,
Can't wait for cool weather

I'm guessing you're from Texas (?), so it's probably cooler here than there, but it's close to 80 °F in the city today (and yesterday -- probably when you come, it'll be 58 °F LOL!)

Anyway, there's really only two possible routes to get to the Golden Gate Bridge, and one route from there to Muir Woods.

One choice....Get on 380 West as you exit the car rental facility (you may have to get on 101 N for one exit, not sure about that). Exit 280 North. A few miles from there, get to the left and take the 19th Avenue exit. Follow the signs to 19th Avenue. Stay on 19th Avenue to and through Golden Gate Park (at one point, you can exit to 25th Avenue...don't). When you come out of the GGP, you'll be on Park Presidio Blvd, which continues straight to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Other choice...take 101N from the car rental facility and all the way to the city. Then follow the map, which takes you to South VanNess/VanNess/Lombard/GGB.

Once over the bridge, you exit "Stinson Beach/Mill Valley" to Shoreline Hwy to Panoramic Hwy to Muir Woods.

I usually take 19th ave. to the GG Bridge.

However, if I want to go through the "meat" of the City, I'de take the 101 freeway to where it ends at Octavia, then left on Fell to Stanyon, right on Stanyon (get in the right most lane on Fell to avoid going into GG Park), then left on Fulton (road adjacent to the Park) and then right on Park Presidio & over the Bridge. I'de never to down Van Ness - too slow, congested, and ugly.

We drove past the Muir Woods exit on 101 early on a Saturday about 8 weeks ago, and signs indicated that the Muir Woods parking lot was already full. You won't beat the crowds.

Stu Dudley

Stu is right - a third choice. But like him, I usually take 19th Avenue.

Thanks so much for the info.
We are breaking heat records here in Texas!
It's a bummer about the crowds. We have just discovered that we are going to be there the weekend of the Marathon...Luckily, we are staying through that following Friday!
Any ideas of what to do on that Sunday to stay out of trouble:)? We do have a map of the route they will take.
We are staying at Cow Hollow (thanks to all the tips from Fodors) with our son, daughter-in-law, and 8 year old grandson. We are planning to go to a catholic church service that morning.
Thanks again!

TXJL, on my side porch, in a suburb south of San Francisco, the thermometer read 100 °F when I got home tonight!

I don't know the route of the marathon, but you could do Alcatraz that day (no runners there!). Or if you still have your car, you could head south to Half Moon Bay, or Stanford U., or Santa Cruz (although the boardwalk will likely be closed by then).

Thanks to all! We made it to Muir Woods with no problems! We loved our vacation. My grandson saw the Golden Gate in all ways possible. He and his parents even biked it! We had a rent car but we also bought a City Pass at the Exploratorium using the credit card(We all loved that place!). We tried to get buy the pass downtown but they wanted cash. We used the pass for everything but the modern art museum.
We also ate at the Cliff House on Wednesday to get their special. That was wonderful!
We went to mass at St. Peter and Paul and then brunch at Cafe Divine(We asked some locals where to eat. They said all the places were good! They did point us in the direction of Cafe Divine). We visited with Millie there! I felt so sorry for all the people in line for Mamma's, whcih was halfway around the block. They missed a real treat and great food!

This is so nice you came back to post reviews! Will be helpful for others who search the website, and also acknowledgement for people who posted advices.