Best National Parks Near San Francisco

In and around San Francisco, California, you can visit multiple national parks that are preserved as a great natural reserve, open for people like you and me to visit them. This is one of the essential things to see and do in San Francisco.

This is an adventure to do with family, friends and even with the little ones. Parks like Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park await you on your visit to San Francisco. Read on to find out more about other natural destinations you can visit near the city.

This is without a doubt the most popular national park located near San Francisco. I even think it is the most important park in all of California. Most of its attraction is the large number of sequoias. It is also the first national park in the nation to be designated as such. It was given that name in 1890 and has since laid the foundation for future national parks.

Yosemite National Park is a place for fun and recreation for all visitors. If you go to this national park you will see countless natural attractions that are worth visiting again and again. The best time to visit this majestic park is in spring, when you can see the Yosemite waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in North America and is at its most beautiful when the snow melts over it in spring.

You can't miss the opportunity to visit the 7-mile canyon also within the protected natural complex, and the main destination for rock climbing which is the granite monolith located in the park. This is a favourite place for hiking and for you to attend with your whole family. It is one of the activities I would definitely recommend among the things to do in San Francisco with kids.

Details of interest

• How to get there: By car only via US-101 S.
• Distance from San Francisco: 268.76 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 3 hours and 16 minutes.

If there is one thing that identifies San Francisco, beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, it is its large number of sequoias, these trees of great size and dimensions that also have the reputation of being the most voluminous in the world. In Redwood National Park you have the opportunity to see a large number of them, as this nature reserve is also known as the redwood forest.

Knowing this, it is obviously a must-see place to visit, also because it is very close to the city and can be reached in a few minutes by private car. This park is part of a nature complex that also includes Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast and Prairie Creek.

Interesting details

• How to get there: By car is the easiest way to get here. By bus it can take up to an hour and 20 minutes.
• Distance from San Francisco: 48.44 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 37 minutes.

If what you want is a quiet and serene walk to appreciate the majesty of nature, don't hesitate to take a trip to Sausalito and Muir Woods from San Francisco. I assure you that the experience of hiking and getting in direct contact with nature and the imposing redwoods is an activity you'll want to repeat on your next visits to the city.

It's a park that stretches along the Pacific coast and was named after the father of national parks, John Muir. You can hike up into the mountains via the hiking trails that stretch throughout Muir Woods Parking.

Interesting details

• How to get there: By private car is the best way to get there. By bus you should take route 130 and it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Distance from San Francisco: 16.40 miles.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 36 minutes.

The park, commonly known as the San Francisco Maritime Museum, ceased to be called that in 1951 when it was acquired by the National Parks Association and has since been called a national park. Whatever the case, this is a must-see if you are a history buff and especially interested in the history of men at sea.

It is a space entirely dedicated to telling the story of the Pacific Coast and how the US Navy has been a part of that history. The national park includes the National History Museum and the Aquatic Park Historic District. Inside you'll see six historic ships as well as Navy artifacts that saw the most important moments in history.

Details of interest

• How to get there: The best way to get there is by private car. By bus it would take approximately 32 minutes.
• Distance from San Francisco: 4.5 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 13 minutes

If you are looking for the best views of San Francisco and the entire bay, you definitely have to visit Angel Island. It is the most secluded island in the San Francisco Bay, so you can enjoy 360 degree views of the city.

It is one of the things to do and see in San Francisco at night. Of course, when the sun goes down, the lights of San Francisco illuminate the scene, and what better place to see the spectacle than from Angel Island?

Besides all that, it's a place rich in history, where you can learn a little more about the contemporary history of the United States. Among the historical stories you'll find on the island are those from the Civil War that took the lives of thousands of Americans.

Interesting details

• How to get there: Get to the pier by bus on Route F and take a ferry to Angel Island.
• Distance from San Francisco: 8.70 kilometres by water.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 1 hour and 50 minutes.

An interesting place to visit and admire is the Pinnacles National Park. It is a place that has been sculpted by the volcanic nature of the land. It is made up of hundreds of structures that are actually remnants of an ancient volcanic eruption that happened here millions of years ago.

Among the attractions to see in the national park are its vertical walls, towers and monoliths. It is a place you have to see especially in spring, when the flowers of its prolific vegetation open. It is an enchanting landscape and a real gem for those who study the terrain and the history of the soil.

This national park, which was designated as such in 2013 by then US President Barack Obama, is criss-crossed in its entirety by around 30 trails. These trails will make it much easier for you to overlook the monoliths that are arranged throughout the site.

Details of interest

• How to get there: You can only get there by car via US-101 S. You can park on site.
• Distance from San Francisco: 197.94 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 2 hours and 14 minutes.

This is one of the largest parks in all of Southern California. It is not so close to San Francisco, but you can get there by bus, train or private car. You can even take a guided tour to the park. It's a place of great diversity and lots of things to see. If you love nature, this is the kind of place you'd love to go to in San Francisco in the summer.

This is the best time of the year to appreciate all the splendour of Andrew Molera Park. On your walk, you'll see plenty of coastline, redwood forests, meadows and meandering trails that will lead you through the national park, taking you to some of the most beautiful places it has to offer.

In the summer you can enjoy the coastline, which is suitable for surfing and a variety of recreational activities to cool off. If, on the other hand, you prefer to include a visit to the park among the things to see and do in San Francisco in winter, you' ll love camping outdoors and hiking trails, taking advantage of the fact that winter in this area is not as hostile as in other parts of the United States.

Details of interest

• How to get there: Only by private car via US-101 S. You can park on site.
• Distance from San Francisco: 231.74 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 2 hours and 33 minutes.

Since 1916 Lassen Volcanic has been a national park. It is located in the northernmost part of the state of California, a bit removed from San Francisco but definitely a place worth visiting if you are passing through that city. The park's highlights are its peaceful forest and truly wild nature.

It is a place with a high level of volcanic activity, as well as different waterfalls and wildflower-covered meadows that give it a particular charm. It is definitely a place for a full-day visit. If you have time left on your itinerary of things to see and do in San Francisco in five days, this is definitely a trip you have to make at least one of those days.

Although it is not currently an active volcanic site, it was once an active volcanic site, and some of its distinctive remnants can be seen throughout the land that shows how volcanoes did their part in ancient times to shape the earth into the form it has today.

Interesting details

• How to get there: Only by car via US-101 S/Central Fwy.
• Distance from San Francisco: 379.80 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 4 hours.

King's Canyon is part of Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park, although both have a boundary that ultimately differentiates them from each other. In King's Canyon, you'll find giant sequoias and a pleasant climate, as well as trails and hiking trails throughout the park. This national park was designated as such in 1940.

As part of the Sierra Nevada, like Sequoia National Park, it's an ideal winter landscape. If you enjoy hiking and spending time with your family or kids, this is the perfect place to do it. It's also right next to Sequoia National Park, which you can also visit on the same day you take a day trip to King's Canyon.

Interesting details

• How to get there: By car only via US-101 S/Central Fwy.
• Distance from San Francisco: 383.02 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 4 hours and 3 minutes.

Part of a vast wilderness complex in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sequoia National Park stretches for thousands of miles and is home to a vast array of wildlife endemic to the area. Within the park is the highest mountain formation of any state in the nation, Mount Witney, at just over 14,000 feet.

In addition to the immensity of the Sierra Nevada, the national park also consists of a treasure within the earth, composed of multiple marble caves. This is the second oldest national park in the United States having been established in 1890 like its peer, Yosemite National Park.

It is an attraction not to be missed at any time of the year. Of course, part of what you will see on your visit to this interesting park is the wonder of the giant sequoias that are found throughout Sequoia National Park.

The number of different ecosystems that can be seen in every part of the park make it a unique place for explorers and nature lovers. Above all, it is a place for reflection and family enjoyment. Children love to visit the park and marvel at the impressive redwoods that can be seen throughout the park.

Interesting details

• How to get there: By car only via US-101 S/Central Fwy.
• Distance from San Francisco: 421.64 kilometres.
• Estimated time from San Francisco: 4 hours and 14 minutes.