The Golden Gate Larkspur Ferry Terminal main and overflow parking lots often fill to capacity by 9 a.m., especially after the recent loss of the upper overflow lot to SMART for construction of the last southern segment to link the Marin train service with ferry service to San Francisco.
The parking lots at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal are often filled to capacity by 9 a.m. on weekdays. Photo courtesy of Golden Gate Ferry
BC STAFF REPORT
Published: February, 2018
The Golden Gate Larkspur Ferry Terminal main and overflow parking lots often fill to capacity by 9 a.m., especially after the recent loss of the upper overflow lot to SMART for construction of the last southern segment to link the Marin train service with ferry service to San Francisco. In response to customer requests for transit and travel alternatives, Golden Gate Transit has compiled a list of alternatives to driving and parking at the Larkspur Terminal and alternatives to commuting to San Francisco from the North Bay.
Also in response to customer feedback, ferry customers can now get real-time updates when the Larkspur Terminal parking lots are at capacity by using Twitter (@GoldenGateFerry). Staff will tweet out alerts when the main Larkspur lot is full and when the overflow lot is full. In general, parking spaces start becoming available again around 1 p.m. due to returning passengers.
Alternatives to driving and parking at the Larkspur Terminal:
• Take a shuttle to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Larkspur Ferry shuttle Routes 25 and 31 are free for Larkspur Ferry customers, and they drop off and pick up inside the terminal in front of the fare gate and ticket machines. Route 25 operates during weekday morning and afternoon commutes along Sir Francis Drake Blvd to and from Fairfax/Manor (serving several park and ride lots too). Route 31 operates daily to and from the San Rafael Transit Center/SMART Station. Visit the bus schedules page at goldengatetransit.org for ferry shuttle timetables.
• Ride Marin Transit to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Marin Transit Route 29 operates weekday commute periods only between San Rafael and Marin General Hospital. Marin Transit Route 228 operates daily between the San Rafael Transit Center and Fairfax/Manor. Both routes drop off and pick up at the bus stop along Sir Francis Drake Blvd in front of the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Visit marintransit.org for timetables and maps.
• Park at a park and ride lot and ride a bus to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. There are park and ride lots within a mile of the Larkspur Ferry Terminal that are served by bus/shuttle Routes 24, 25, 29, and 228—at Drakes Landing Office Park (with capacity for 50 vehicles) and at the northwest corner of the Bon Air Shopping Center (with capacity for 70 vehicles). Golden Gate Transit Route 24 and Marin Transit Routes 29 and 228 serve both park and ride lots; ferry shuttle Route 25 serves the Bon Air lot. There are also several park and ride lots under Highway 101 in central San Rafael, with capacity for almost 200 vehicles; Routes 29, 31, and 228 provide connecting service to the Larkspur Terminal. Visit goldengatetransit.org/services/parkride.php for more information.
• Ride the SMART Train and transfer to a bus to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. The SMART train operates daily between northern Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael, with stops in downtown Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, downtown Petaluma, Novato/Atherton, Novato/Hamilton, Marin Civic Center and the San Rafael Transit Center. Connecting bus service is available from the transit center on ferry shuttle Route 31 and Marin Transit Routes 29 and 228. Visit sonomamarintrain.org for station locations, fares and schedules.
• Bike to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Bicycles are welcome on board all Golden Gate Ferry vessels on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the Larkspur Terminal has bike parking for up 140 bikes, including 80 secure bike spaces inside the paid waiting area and 60 bike spaces outside the waiting area.
• Walk to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. The Larkspur Terminal is within walking distance of several Greenbrae, Corte Madera and Larkspur neighborhoods. Walking eliminates stress associated with driving and road congestion.
• Carpool to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Carpool spaces at the Larkspur Terminal are located in Rows F and G and along the inner perimeter lane adjacent to motorcycle parking. A carpool is defined as a driver and at least one passenger. These spaces are subject to the parking fee.
• Use a rideshare. 511’s RideMatch system matches drivers and riders to share rides and the cost. It’s easy to use and you can learn more at ridematch.511.org. Other rideshare services like Lyft, Lyft Line and Uber connect drivers with riders, sometimes even connecting a rider with other riders going the same route or to the same location.
Alternatives to getting to San Francisco from the North Bay:
• Ride Golden Gate Transit to San Francisco. Golden Gate operates frequent commute service from most North Bay communities and park and ride lots for a one-seat ride to San Francisco. Golden Gate also operates midday service every hour from southern Marin on Route 4 and San Rafael on Route 27. Visit goldengatetransit.org for timetables and the park and ride page for lot locations and connecting routes.
• Ride the SMART Train and connect to a Golden Gate Bus. Many North Bay commuters are choosing to ride the SMART train to San Rafael and transferring to Golden Gate Transit for connecting bus service to downtown San Francisco. Visit sonomamarintrain.org for station locations, fares and schedules.
• Ride a Tiburon or Sausalito Ferry. Tiburon Ferry operates during weekday commute periods only. Parking is available at several downtown Tiburon lots for a fee. Sausalito Ferry operates daily, all-day service. There are for-pay public parking lots adjacent to the Sausalito Ferry Landing and metered parking on local streets. Visit goldengatetransit.org for timetables. Blue & Gold Fleet also runs ferry service to San Francisco (Pier 41) from both Tiburon and Sausalito. Visit blueandgoldfleet.com for timetables and fare information.
If you need help, there are knowledgeable customer service assistants available to answer your transit questions and assist with your trip planning needs. Call 511 or (415) 455-2000 or email customerservice@goldengate.org. And there is a customer service center open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the San Rafael Transit Center on Platform D.
