Two blue and yellow passenger ferries docked on San Francisco Bay under a blue sky with white clouds

Commuting From Marin to San Francisco Tech Jobs: Ferry, Bus and Bridge, Town by Town

ByMelissa DiVita

By Melissa DiVita, REALTOR®, Compass · DRE #01387955 · Fourth-generation Marin native, in real estate since 2003 · October 2026

The short answer: if you work in San Francisco’s Financial District or SoMa, the easiest Marin commutes are by Golden Gate Ferry from Tiburon, Sausalito or Larkspur to the Ferry Building, about 30 to 35 minutes on the water, then a short walk. Mill Valley, Sausalito and Strawberry also have direct buses to the Salesforce Transit Center. Driving costs $10.25 in bridge toll with FasTrak, charged only heading into the city.

For a lot of tech buyers, the commute decides the town. Here’s how getting to the city actually works from each part of Marin.

The ferry: the commute people fall in love with

Ferry terminalRide to the Ferry BuildingAdult fare (Clipper)ParkingNearby towns
TiburonAbout 30 min$8.50Paid lots and meters onlyTiburon, Belvedere
SausalitoAbout 30 min$8.50Paid lots and meters onlySausalito, Mill Valley, Strawberry
LarkspurAbout 35 min$9.50About 1,800 spaces; $2 a day on weekday morningsLarkspur, Corte Madera, Kentfield, Greenbrae, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael

Golden Gate Ferry runs all three routes. Fares effective July 1, 2026. Times are from the Golden Gate Ferry timetable effective April 13, 2026; check the current schedule before you rely on a specific trip.

From the Ferry Building, the Financial District is right there, and much of SoMa is a 10 to 15 minute walk. For Mission Bay, Muni’s N Judah runs from Embarcadero station to 4th and King. Ridership is coming back, too: Golden Gate Ferry ridership in June 2026 was 15.5% below pre-pandemic levels, compared with 24.7% below a year earlier.

The bus: direct to the Salesforce Transit Center

  • Route 120 (new in April 2026) runs all day, every day, from Strawberry Village through Marin City and Sausalito to the Civic Center and the Salesforce Transit Center.
  • Route 114 is a weekday commute route from Mill Valley.
  • Route 101 runs all day, with express trips from the San Rafael Transit Center every 15 minutes at peak.
  • Route 132 serves San Anselmo via the Larkspur ferry terminal at commute hours, and Route 154 serves Novato.

Since September 2026, some commute routes (114, 132, 154 and 172) no longer run Friday commute trips, so check the schedule if you go in on Fridays.

Driving: the bridge and Highway 101

  • Toll: $10.25 with FasTrak, $8.25 for carpools, charged only southbound into San Francisco. There are no cash booths.
  • Carpool lanes on 101 in Marin run 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
  • Traffic is lighter than it was. Southbound morning-peak bridge traffic in the first half of 2026 was about 23% below 2019, according to the Golden Gate Bridge District. It still backs up, and city parking is expensive, which is why so many people choose the ferry.

North Marin and the SMART train

From San Rafael and Novato, the SMART train runs to Larkspur, where the ferry terminal is about a 7 to 10 minute walk. The April 2026 schedule added more train-to-ferry connections. One note: the $10 “Sail & Rail” combined ticket is ending, with the last day to use it on November 30, 2026.

Which town fits which commute

  • Want to walk to the ferry? Downtown Tiburon and Sausalito, or Belvedere close to Tiburon.
  • Want a downtown and good bus options? Mill Valley and Strawberry.
  • Want the most ferry parking and more house for the money? Larkspur, Corte Madera and the Ross Valley towns.
  • Want more space and don’t mind a longer ride? San Rafael and Novato, with the bus or SMART to the ferry.

Weather matters too. A house near the Sausalito ferry can sit in the fog much of the summer, while Larkspur is often sunny. I explain why in why the little differences in Marin matter. If you’re new to the Bay Area on a work visa, see my guide to buying on a work visa.

Quick answers

How long is the ferry from Marin to San Francisco?

About 30 minutes from Tiburon or Sausalito and about 35 minutes from Larkspur to the San Francisco Ferry Building, on Golden Gate Ferry’s 2026 schedule. Adult Clipper fares are $8.50 from Tiburon and Sausalito and $9.50 from Larkspur.

What is the best Marin town for commuting to SoMa or the Financial District?

Towns near a ferry terminal: Tiburon, Belvedere, Sausalito and Larkspur. The ferry lands at the Ferry Building, next to the Financial District and a short walk from much of SoMa. Mill Valley and Strawberry also have direct buses to the Salesforce Transit Center.

How much is the Golden Gate Bridge toll?

$10.25 with FasTrak for a car as of July 1, 2026, or $8.25 for carpools. The toll is charged only southbound, into San Francisco.

Sources

About the author: Melissa DiVita grew up in Belvedere, her family has been in Marin for four generations, and she lives in Tiburon. She has been a REALTOR® since 2003 and works with Compass in Tiburon, helping buyers relocate to Marin from San Francisco and beyond.

Starting a job in the city? Send me a note with where you’ll work, and I’ll suggest the towns that make the easiest commute.

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