Use GoMuirWoods.com or call 1-800-410-2419 to make your shuttle or parking reservations today. Frequently Asked Questions:Why has the National Park Service implemented a parking and shuttle reservation system at Muir Woods?
Why has the National Park Service implemented a parking and shuttle reservation system at Muir Woods? As visitation to Muir Woods National Monument increases, so do the public safety risks. Limited parking, along with high visitation has led to unsafe illegal parking and foot traffic along narrow roads. The parking and shuttle reservation system better manages visitation levels, allows visitors to plan their trip in advance, and reduces overcrowding. In this way, the system improves the overall visitor experience while also enhancing the protection and preservation of the surrounding natural resources. Who operates the reservation system? Ace Parking Management, Inc. currently operates the reservation system and onsite parking management. Who is required to make a reservation to visit Muir Woods? All vehicles and shuttle passengers arriving to Muir Woods will be subject to the reservation system. How do I make a parking or shuttle reservation? Similar to making a camping reservation, making a parking and shuttle reservation is fast and easy. The system will accommodate advance and day-of reservations (dependent on availability). Commercial carriers will be required to make advance reservations through a separate system managed through recreation.gov. Make your reservations on-line via GoMuirWoods.com ahead of your visit. Please ensure you have a printout or downloaded copy of your parking voucher before arriving. How much do reservations cost? Park Entrance Fee$15.00 per adult (16 years and older) Parking Reservation$9.00 Standard Vehicle$30.00 Medium Vehicle $45.00 Large Vehicle Shuttle Reservation$3.50 per adult round trip ticket (16 years and older) How long does my reservation last? Visitors may stay until the end of regular park hours on the day of their reservation, regardless of their scheduled arrival time. How far in advance do I need to reserve a parking or shuttle spot? Parking and shuttle reservations can be made online or by phone up to 90 days in advance on a rolling basis. A limited number of reservations will be held back and released five (5) days in advance to provide access for visitors who were unable to plan their trip further in advance. Demand for parking and shuttle reservations is expected to be high, so booking a reservation far in advance is recommended. Do ADA spaces require reservations too? Yes, reservations will be required for ADA spaces. There will be eight (8) ADA spaces available, located in the main parking lot. In addition, the reservation website will be designed to comply with Section 508 standards to ensure that it is accessible to users with a variety of abilities. If all of the parking spaces are full, can I just drive to Muir Woods and look for an empty space? No, visitors arriving by privately owned vehicle must have a reservation in advance. Parking reservations will not be sold onsite in the parking areas. However, visitors may purchase reservations on the same day of their visit subject to availability and if done off-site in advance of their arrival. We encourage park visitors to plan ahead. How do I verify that I reserved my parking or shuttle spot? Visitors who make their reservations online will receive an email confirmation, followed by a parking or shuttle pass with a unique barcode. Visitors who make their reservations over the phone will receive a confirmation number and may also have their parking or shuttle pass emailed to them. Parking and shuttle passes will be electronic, but visitors may choose to print them and bring a paper copy. These passes will be verified prior to boarding the shuttle or, if driving in a personal vehicle, prior to entering the parking area at Muir Woods. Download your parking pass in advance as there is no Wi-Fi or cell phone service at or near Muir Woods. Can I cancel a reservation? A full refund will be provided for cancellations made at least 72 hours in advance of the reservation time. Changes to reservations can be made without penalty 72 hours prior to the reservation time. Can I resell my parking or shuttle reservation ticket to someone else? No, you cannot resell your reservation to someone else. What do I do if another car is in my reserved spot? A parking reservation is for a specific time or window of arrival, not a specific parking space. Parking ambassadors will ensure there is available parking for all visitors with a reservation and will guide each vehicle to an available parking space. A parking manager will be on site during operating hours to assist with any questions. Where are the locations to catch the shuttle? The Muir Woods shuttle can be picked up at the Larkspur Landing Ferry Parking Lot and the Sausalito Ferry Terminal. More information on shuttle locations can be found here. Does the shuttle run every day? The shuttle provides seasonal service to Muir Woods National Monument. Visit gomuirwoods.com for up-to-date information. How frequently do shuttles come to the park to pick up passengers? The Muir Woods shuttle, depending on time of year and time of day, may come as frequently as every 10 minutes. A complete schedule can be viewed here. Can you put a bike on the shuttle? Are there racks to lock up my bike while I tour the park? Shuttles are not equipped with bike racks, and bikes are not allowed inside the buses. Bike riding is not allowed within Muir Woods, but bike racks are available outside the park entrance. Biking to Muir Woods is not advised for most visitors as the route is long, steep, and has no shoulders or bike lanes. Is the shuttle ADA accessible? Yes. The shuttle is accessible to anyone who uses a mobility device or has difficulty climbing steps, as each bus contains either a lift or wheelchair ramp and at least two wheelchair positions. Visitors may select an accessible seat when making a shuttle reservation. Will there be security at the shuttle pick up/drop off lots? Visitors riding the shuttle are discouraged from leaving valuables in their cars and in plain sight in the shuttle parking lots. The National Park Service nor its contractors provide security at the off-site Muir Woods shuttle parking lots. How many parking spaces will Muir Woods have after the reservation system is implemented? Under the new reservation system, there will continue to be approximately 232 parking spaces within Muir Woods for privately owned vehicles. Additionally, there are 12 large vehicle parking spaces that will be available to reserve under a separate reservation system managed through recreation.gov for commercial carriers. How will the reservation system manage visitation? In the last decade Muir Woods experienced a significant increase in visitation, growing to 1.1 million in 2016, a 30% increase from the prior decade. The reservation system will limit the number of vehicles and shuttle reservations that are allowed to park at the monument, ensuring less traffic congestion, decreased crowding, and thereby improving the visitor experience. Will paid parking be implemented at all Golden Gate National Recreation Area parking lots (e.g. Crissy Field, Marin Headlands, etc.)? At this time, Muir Woods is the only GGNRA portion of the park with the need to limit/manage vehicle parking due to the high volume of visitors. While we do experience robust vehicle traffic in several other areas of the park, they are currently tied to predictable weekends (e.g. Independence Day, SF Marathon, Fleet Week, etc.), which we manage through contracted parking directors/coordinators and increased law enforcement. GGNRA does have metered paid parking in certain areas of Crissy Field in San Francisco. Are other national parks using reservation systems? Similar programs are in use at Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii, where a reservation must be made to park between 3 am and 7 am for sunrise viewing, and at Yosemite National Park, California, where visitors have the option to reserve a parking spot on four peak weekends. Zion National Park is also considering a similar parking/arrival reservation system. There is a lot construction happening at Muir Woods. Why? Several projects are underway or in planning stages to support trail network improvements, enhance transportation alternatives, improve the visitor experience and protect park resources. More information about these projects can be found here. |
Last updated: June 7, 2022