Sausalito Ferry Info & Tips

Find tips for taking the Sausalito Ferry, one of the most popular San Francisco Ferries. Find info including the Sausalito Ferry Schedule, where to pick up this ferry and more.

This is the most well known San Francisco ferry. When you read about ferries in the San Francisco area, most of them are referring to this ferry ride across the bay. It’s a beautiful ride past Alcatraz Island with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge on the horizon.

Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry

There are two Sausalito Ferries to and from San Francisco. The first one is run by the Blue and Gold Fleet of ferries and picks up ferry passengers at Pier 41 in Fishermans Wharf near the famed Pier 39 San Francisco.

The Sausalito ferry schedule for this company runs four times a day. The first ferry leaves for Sausalito at around 10:30 in the morning. The last ferry back on weekdays is at around 2:30.

On weekends, the last ferry leaves Sausalito at around 3:15. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the restaurants and shops along the waterfront in Sausalito.

This ferry takes about 40 minutes to cross the bay. It drops off just a few minute’s walk away from the shopping and restaurants in downtown Sausalito.

The cost is $10 per adult, one way. The cost is $5.75 one way for both seniors and children ages 5 – 11.

If you decide to stay the night in Sausalito, you can take the ferry back the next day. Your other option for getting back to San Francisco is to take a bus back. They run a little later than the ferries, so it gives you a little more time if you want to stay a little longer.

Golden Gate Ferry

The second ferry is operated by Golden Gate Ferry. This ferry picks up and drops off passengers at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. This building is located on the Embarcadero near downtown San Francisco.

The Sausalito ferry schedule for this ferry is that it offers nine trips a day on weekdays from around 7:30 am to around 8 pm. There are six trips a day on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to around 6 pm.

The cost for this ferry is $8.25 per adult for a one way ticket. It is $4.10 for Children ages 6 – 10, Seniors and Disabled customers per person for a one way ticket. The ferry is free for children 5 and under.

This ferry takes about 30 minutes for a one way trip. It also drops off near the shops and restaurants in downtown Sausalito. They are only a quick 5 minute walk away.

You can also do a round trip ticket with this San Francisco ferry, stay the night or take a bus back to the city. There are a number of options, so you won’t get stuck away from the city if that is where you are staying.

Tips for Taking the Sausalito Ferry

The Sausalito ferry schedule changes at times, so I’d highly recommend that you check out the latest schedule when booking your ticket. You can either book your ticket online through the Blue and Gold Ferry Fleet or Golden Gate Ferry. You can also buy a ticket when you arrive.

If you buy your ticket online, make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. The time on your ticket is the time the ferry pulls away from the dock, so if you arrive right on time, you still might miss your ferry. Leave plenty of time to get on the ferry before it departs.

Also, it is pretty chilly along the bay as you are traveling on the Sausalito ferry between San Francisco and Sausalito. You aren’t guaranteed a spot inside, so make sure you bring a few layers of clothes to stay warm. It is also fun to sit outside as you get a better view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Overall, I’d recommend taking the Sausalito ferry over to Sausalito for the day. It’s a fun and easy day trip, even if you head over just for a few hours.

Find out more about the other ferries in San Francisco:

• Tiburon Ferry Info & Tips
• Angel Island Ferry Info & Tips
• San Francisco Ferry Options: Schedules, Pricing and More