Muir Woods requires a reservation for every vehicle and every shuttle rider, seven days a week, all year. Visitors on foot, by bicycle, or on a commercial tour bus do not need a reservation, but everyone arriving by car or on the official shuttle must have one.

There is no cell service or public WiFi at the monument, so you cannot buy a reservation on site National Park Service. Staff verify a barcode pass before you enter the parking area or board the shuttle, and cars without a reservation are turned away. All fees are booked through the single official site at GoMuirWoods.com with phone backup at 1-800-410-2419.

Muir Woods Reservation Quotas: How the 90 Day and 3 Day Release Works

Quotas are released on a rolling clock to balance planners and last minute travelers.

How the Muir Woods quota release actually works:

• Standard, Accessible and Electric Vehicle spots plus Shuttle seats: vast majority released 90 days in advance at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, limited top up released 3 days in advance
• Medium and Large Vehicle spots: exactly 50 percent released 90 days in advance, 50 percent released 3 days in advance
• Shuttle tickets: only bookable for dates the shuttle is scheduled to run, which is weekends and holidays from March through October

Booking early is the only reliable strategy. The 3 day pool is intentionally small and sells out fast on sunny weekends and summer holidays. Set a calendar reminder for 9 a.m. Pacific Time on your 90 day date.

Also read – Why 78% of Travelers Continue Researching After Booking?

Muir Woods Parking and Shuttle Fees: What You Will Actually Pay

Parking or shuttle reservation fees are separate from the park entrance fee. You pay both.

Additional notes that catch visitors off guard: shuttle riders under 16 still need a free reservation to hold a seat but pay no shuttle fee, and every visitor 16 and older needs an entrance pass whether bought in advance with the reservation or at the Visitor Center National Park Service. The America the Beautiful Pass, Senior, Military, Access and 4th Grade passes are accepted for entrance, but they do not cover the parking or shuttle reservation fee. Parking at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal is free on weekends and holidays, but $2 if you arrive before 1 p.m. on other shuttle days.

Parking fees for standard vehicles rise by 50 cents every two years and shuttle fees by 25 cents on the same cycle, so use the site total at checkout as final.

Which Muir Woods Parking Reservation Type Should You Book

Choose strictly by vehicle length and need. Booking the wrong category can void your pass at entry.

• Standard: Car, small SUV, any vehicle 17 feet and shorter. Valid until end of regular park hours on your reservation day. Arrival window is 30 minutes.
• Electric Vehicle: Same stay length as Standard but guarantees a charging space. Book this only if you need to charge while hiking.
• Accessible: For placard holders or vans needing accessible space. Same all day stay as Standard.
• Medium: Over 17 feet to under 22 feet. Fixed 1 hour 45 minute stay. You must arrive and depart inside that timed slot.
• Large: 22 feet to 35 feet. Same fixed 1 hour 45 minute stay. Vehicles over 35 feet are not allowed in the Muir Woods lots at all and must use the shuttle or a smaller car.

Measure with roof racks and hitch carriers included. Rangers check length at the entrance lot.

How to Book Muir Woods Parking or Shuttle Tickets Without Getting Shut Out

The official booking time is the biggest predictor of success.

5 steps that actually secure a Muir Woods reservation:

1. Count back 90 days from your visit date and set an alarm for 8:55 a.m. Pacific Time. Log into GoMuirWoods.com early, have your license plate and card ready, and refresh right at 9 a.m.
2. Book parking and entrance together. You can pre purchase the $15 entrance pass with your reservation to avoid the Visitor Center line.
3. Download the barcode pass before you drive. You will get an email confirmation with a unique barcode. Save it to your phone wallet or print it. No signal at Muir Woods means no last minute email retrieval.
4. If 90 day slots are gone, target the 3 day release. The same 9 a.m. Pacific Time drop applies three days before your target date. Weekday mornings have better odds than Saturday.
5. Have a shuttle backup plan. If parking sells out, book the shuttle from Larkspur Ferry Terminal or Sausalito. You still need a shuttle seat reservation, but it is often available when lots are full.

Insider flow tip: Standard reservations allow you to stay until closing even if you arrive late in your 30 minute window. For the best quiet experience, book an early 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. arrival, walk the Main Trail Loop before crowds peak around 10:30 a.m., then linger for the Hillside or Fern Creek trails without rushing.

Visiting Muir Woods Without a Car Reservation: Shuttle, Walk and Bike Options

Muir Woods shuttle riders must also reserve in advance, and the schedule is seasonal. The shuttle operates on weekends and holidays from March through October, with more frequent runs in peak summer National Park Service. You can only book a shuttle seat for an operating day, and the system blocks non service dates automatically.

If you arrive on foot or by bicycle from Mill Valley via Camino del Canyon, no parking or shuttle reservation is needed, only the entrance pass. Tour buses are exempt from the reservation quota but must use designated drop zones.

For current hours, trail closures, and entrance pass options, check the authoritative National Park Service plan your visit page before you finalize travel.

Common Mistakes That Get Visitors Turned Away at Muir Woods

Planning errors at Muir Woods have immediate consequences because there is no standby line.

• Driving to Muir Woods to look for an empty space does not work. Parking is only by reservation and not sold on site.
• Trying to make a phone or web booking from the parking entrance fails due to no cell reception.
• Booking a Standard pass for a 19 foot van creates a denial at the lot. Length is enforced.
• Forgetting that the $15 entrance fee is extra leads to a second payment at the Visitor Center.
• Assuming the shuttle runs daily year round leads to a missed trip. It is weekends and holidays only, March to October.