Overview
The Angel Island–Tiburon Ferry is the fastest, cheapest, and least chaotic way to reach Angel Island — a 12-minute crossing from downtown Tiburon compared to the longer Golden Gate Ferry route from SF. The Tiburon departure is also dramatically easier for families: you can park in town, walk to the pier, and avoid the Embarcadero crowds entirely. The ferry itself is half the fun for young kids — the bay crossing offers direct views of the SF skyline, Marin headlands, and on clear days, Mount Tamalpais.
How to Do It
The ferry terminal is at 21 Main Street in downtown Tiburon. The Main Street Parking Lot directly adjacent to the ferry terminal is the closest option; it's paid parking and fills quickly on summer weekends. Tiburon Boulevard has additional lots with rates around $5 for all-day parking. There is free street parking for up to two hours throughout downtown, and a free lot at Lyford Drive and Tiburon Boulevard that is about a 12-minute walk from the dock. Come early on weekends — spots near the ferry are gone by 10 AM in summer. Bikes are allowed on board for $1 extra each.
Weekday service does not run on a fixed schedule (it is added based on group demand), so this is primarily a weekend activity for most families. Saturday and Sunday departures typically run at 10 AM, 11 AM, and 1 PM, with return trips at 10:20 AM, 11:20 AM, 1:20 PM, and 3:20 PM — but verify current schedules at angelislandferry.com before you go, as times shift by season. The ferry lands at Ayala Cove, where the visitor center, café, main picnic area, restrooms, and the small beach are all clustered together. That is your base for the day.
Tips & Tricks
The 10 AM departure is the right call for families. You'll get maximum time on the island and avoid the crunch at the 3:20 PM return boat, which can be crowded. The last return ferry is the one you absolutely cannot miss — late arrivals have to arrange private water transport, which is expensive and complicated. Set a phone alarm for 45 minutes before your return departure and start heading back to Ayala Cove.
Charcoal for the Ayala Cove grills is not sold on the island — if you want to grill, bring it from home. The Angel Island Café is open daily in summer from 10 AM to 3 PM and serves sandwiches, burgers, soups, and Hog Island oysters, but it is priced accordingly. Packing your own lunch and using the picnic tables overlooking the cove is the better move for families, and there's plenty of shade in the Ayala Cove area.
No dogs are allowed on Angel Island (service animals excepted). No skates, skateboards, or scooters. Bikes can be rented on the island at the cove — mountain bikes run $16/hour or $64/day, electric bikes $26/hour or $99/day — but rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis only, so don't count on availability in peak season.
A December 2024 landslide on the Perimeter Road knocked out the section near the Nike Missile Site on the south side of the island, so tram tour routes have been adjusted. Check angelisland.com for the current tram routing before committing to it as a primary plan.
Planning
Round-trip ferry fares from Tiburon (current rates): adults 13+ $18, seniors 65+ $16, children 6–12 $15, small children 3–5 $6, toddlers 2 and under free. Book online at angelislandferry.com — walk-up tickets are usually available but advance booking avoids the dock scramble. Tram tours are $18 adults, $17 seniors, $12 children 5–12, free for lap children; tickets can be purchased on the island. The Detention Barracks Museum has a separate fee of $5 adults, $3 youth 5–17, free under 5. The Immigration Station museum is free. Park admission is included with your ferry ticket — no separate state park fee.
Bring layers regardless of season: the bay and island can be 15 degrees colder and windier than wherever you parked your car in Tiburon. Sunscreen matters more than most parents expect because the Perimeter Road and higher trails are largely unshaded. Most of the fire roads on the island are wide enough for a sturdy all-terrain stroller. Best months are April–October; July and August are peak season but also peak fog — cold and sometimes socked in. May and September are the sweet spots for weather. The tram tour is the right call for kids under 5 or families with a mix of ages; the 5-mile Perimeter Road loop is better for kids 6 and up who can sustain a multi-hour hike.