Larkspur Golden Gate Ferry Terminal

Was going to try and take the ferry more often into the city from Marin to avoid driving. It was a real turn off to try to work the ticket machine. And no– I don’t want a clipper card. Would’t use it enough to justify it.
If your bills are too old, the machine rejects them. On the way back from S.F., the sun was beating down on the ticket machine and we could barely read it and couldn’t even see the button to push so we could pay.
Totally ridiculous. I felt sorry for the poor woman who worked there at the ticket camera machine where you tap your ticket to get through the gate.
Everyone was asking her questions on how to work the ticket machine.
Anyone who didn’t speak or read English had an even harder time trying to figure it out and they had my sympathies.
Whoever thought these machines could replace the ticket takers are very, very wrong. I will not be taking the ferry again.

I commute on the ferry and it is very unreliable as it often fills up! Morning and evening! This is very disappointing! If the need is there then they need bigger or more boats! Ridiculous!

What kind of ferry terminal customer service they have. After being only 10 minutes away from San Franscico they tell us sorry technical difficulties we have to go back to larkspur. Everyone on the boat asked if we were getting a refund or something for the inconvenience. One worker screamed in my face saying get off if you want your money back if not go sit down now. The people around were just mortified by the way she treated myself and the other concerned passengers. Seriously it took us about 2 hours to get to San Francisco after the ferry breaking down. What kind of dammmm service is this to be insulted and humiliated in front of everyone. They made it seem like it was the passengers fault that the ferry broke down.

$ 2 parking? Awesome. Can easily be paid via app for frequent users who don’t need a monthly permit. And parking is free after 3pm.
If you’re a commuter, it’s best to arrive by 7:45am. I’ve never had a challenge parking. The evening crush does require 5 – 10 minutes to clear the light at the single exit. Overall, very safe, adequate schedule during the work week and much better than city living, for me.

There is nothing more relaxing then riding the ferry into work.
Well, except for the getting on the ferry especially if you have a bike. Its seriously crazy in the mornings these days. Everyone is avoiding driving into the city and the ferry is where its at. I think its wonderful and I really do enjoy getting on the boat with a coffee and getting though all my email in the morning. Then when heading home enjoying a beer and a game. It really is great if you can find a nice seat, but that has been the problem lately. Its always full and the bike rack is a mess. Didn’t even mention the lack of parking yet either.
Now, this is very important. the hours are not even close to being practical and that is defiantly one of the reasons why they lose a star. The last ferry back is 9:35pm which makes it impossible to use after a business dinner. The last ferry back on the weekend is even earlier! Like why? If there was one thing I would improve about the ferry is their last boat. It really does need to be much later.
If you work in the city, I really recommend taking the ferry in. You will love it and probably make some nice friends over the years. If you ride a bike, its the only game in town but be warned and get there super early!

It’s nice to not deal with driving into the city, saves time and money in my opinion. They have snacks you can buy on board, pretty comfy seats indoors as well. :)

Great service but two complaints. I wish they had a later ferry service on weekends and the parking system they use SUCKS! I spent 30 minutes between having to slowly download the flunky app, creating an acct, having to start over b/​c the app logged me out b/​c I had to switch screens at one point and finally pay for parking! No alternate payment options given for those without a mobile phone. I couldn’t stand next to my car the entire time since I had to catch a ferry, I can only hope I didn’t get a ticket due to this hassle.

On time, dependable, quick, easy, and safe. I love all types of public transportation, but the Ferry is the best. I have always had a positive experience, the crew treats you right and everyone seems to honestly enjoy their work.
It is easy to pay if you have a clipper card, if not I think you buy a ticket before you board, then give it to the skipper when you disembark. Children 5 and under are free!
The only potential problem is that the parking lot might fill up. I don’t usually travel during commute hours or during Giants baseball games, but it seems like the parking lot is too small. I think there is a shuttle bus from a park-​and-​ride lot, but I don’t have any details on that.
In the winter the views are usually better due to less fog, but even in the summer it is always an enjoyable ride.

The ferry was fun and fast but the service, at the Larkspur Terminal, was awful.
The parking at the terminal is non-​existent during the day but not as non-​existent as the manners and customer service of the ticket person at the entrance. Spoke to me, my wife and, in particular, my children like we were naughty and in a very condescending manner — wholly unacceptable. We even did this funny one minute clear-​out the terminal exercise because he messed up count! Hilarious.
Could I recommend it? Only if the company adhered to its charter that is in the main building… I can assure you it failed in this.
As it stood we had a great time in the city of SF but will drive in next time without a doubt. Shame really.

Not sure why there isn’t a Unilocal page for just the Giants Ferry, as it literally drops you off at the ballpark. The regular ferry drops you off at the Ferry Building, which is a 20-​minute walk to AT&T Park.
The Giants Ferry is a great option if you don’t mind leaving the game early; otherwise, you better spend the night should the games go into extra innings. I do have more cons than pros unfortunately.
PROS:
— Gorgeous views of the Bay while taking the ferry over.
— Hassle-​free parking if lot is available.
— Take this ferry to special events like concerts to AT&T Park, but check calendar for fine print.
CONS:
— Not any cheaper than driving to SF, as the tickets are $ 12 each way, easily $ 120 for family of five. Be sure to purchase both ways, unless you plan on staying over in the city. I’d rather drive & pay for parking. This way, I can leave whenever I want.
— Tickets must be purchased in advance, not available @ GGF terminals & non-​refundable.
— Must print tickets at home, $ 2 fee applies if mailed, option not available within 10 days of game.
— More headaches during day games, as GGF limits # of tickets sold to the ballpark due to limited # of parking spaces in their terminal & overflow lots.
— Clipper cards not accepted on Giants Ferry.
— Vessel departs 30 mins after last out, so if the game goes beyond the 9^th inning, you’re SOL j/​k. You must catch the last ferry home, can’t stay for nail biter — boo!

Always a nice way to go to the city. Whether the slow or fast boat, the views are beautiful and the ride pleasant. Save for the snack bar, which tends to have grumpy cashiers who seem bothered to do their job, this is the way to go! No worry over parking or parking fees that are crazy high in SF. Plus, the ferry terminal at SF when you arrive has lots of edible options to enjoy.

If you’re someone that doesn’t like driving to the city (like me) then you’ll definitely enjoy the ferry. As soon as I bought my ticket a gentlemen that works there was just so helpful and friendly, we arrived a bit early and only left after 3 so he advised to not pay for parking since it’s free after 3pm and guided us since it was our first time. The ferry itself is well kept and it’s a pleasant way to go to the city. I know it was seem like a great idea to sit outside because the view is beautiful on a nice day, but unless you hair a hair tie, jacket and possibly an umbrella, don’t do it! You’ll get wet. Go inside, have a seat and a beer. I’d give this place 5 stars if it wasn’t for someone dooring my car in 3 different places, even my mirror was completely out of place. Great place, but be cautious where you park.

We took the ferry to one of the Giants games but took it early so it wouldn’t be packed.
The ride to SF was really quick and the ferry was moving along. There were lots of seats inside and outside. There was a snack bar and some of the seating had tables.
The ferry looked a bit newer and the seats were nice.
The way back wasn’t as fun. The ferry went much slower. It was probably because there were so many people on it and it couldn’t go as fast. This was an older looking ferry that didn’t have as good of a seating arrangement as the one we arrived did.
Not bad though.
For 10 – 12 $ I’d say it’s worth it to not have to fight traffic and deal with finding parking in the city.

We took the Larkspur ferry a couple of weeks ago forgetting completely that it was the Saturday of the St Patrick’s Day parade. Only a bit crowded going to but returning… YIKES!
We hadn’t ridden the ferry for years. We used our Clipper cards which made it easy to board. Those without clipper cards can purchase tickets at the terminal.
There were staff members guiding people to either the ticket windows or ticket machines and the line for clipper card users.
There was only a small area on the outside deck – I thought I remember it being larger. We barely got seats.
The trip was uneventful — hard to see very much but it was still fun riding the ferry.
The return trip was kind of a nightmare due to hoards of high school students and especially a few individuals. As we were standing in line to board the return ferry to Larkspur, dozens and dozens of high school kids kept cutting in line – I’m not talking about 2 or 3 teens but 12 – 20 at a time. The ferry security guards put up metal bar gates and told the students to not cut in line and to go to the end of the line. Many students complied but there were some obnoxious ones who deliberately taunted the officers and kept cutting in line. (So disrespect is cool)?
Okay I know teens will be teens but these teens were so disrespectful it made everyone in line angry. I may have been able to let go of this but as the line moved forward some of them started loudly chanting, «We like Black people!
We like Black people…» Then as people started boarding the ferry several teens lay down on the benches and wouldn’t move even when people POLITELY asked them to move over. C’mnon —-rude and disrespectful again?
I know this is a rant but if any of these kids’ parents are reading this I hope it’s not too late for some of you to instill the concept of respect for others.
I hope these teens will grow out of this disrespectful «stage»
btw I’m someone who always defends teens but not this time
The ferry staff and security guards did a wonderful job in controlling the unruly who created an unpleasant situation for many.

Easy transportation into the city. The ride is smooth and the ferrys are clean. It’s nice to have a drink on the ferry after a long day of work :)
Public transportation is not my thing… but parking in the city is so expensive! This is probably the most affordable way into the city and they have a ferry that leaves every 30 min.

Unreliable for commuting. Great views, expensive, and a nice ride when you get on it but nothing ruins your evening like poor scheduling that results in overbooking. The inconsistency and unreliability make this service untenable as a commuting option.
Lastly, they seem to be getting worse, not better. Fine as a tourist option during weekdays but don’t plan or rely on it.

I don’t mind paying two dollars for all day parking. There are few places in this country where ferry is a choice of transportation and the views on the way are breathtaking. Snack bar is a little pricey and crowded but decent selection. Crew is courteous.

What an amazing way to start the day! Take a deep breath and enjoy the spectacular views as you head from Larkspur to SF on the morning commute ferry. No matter how many times you make the crossing, the first sight of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge will always take your breath away. Not that everybody notices. Most passengers are buried in their iPhones or busy on their laptops. Hey, guys, work can wait! Look around. World-​class views all the way.
Tips for a successful ferry ride:
–Arrive at least 5 – 10 minutes before departure (otherwise the ferry could hit capacity)
–Buy a Clipper Card (it’s $ 3 at any Walgreens and will save you lots). It’s a $ 6.50 one way ride with the card versus $ 10 without one.
–Download the ParkMobile app for the Larkspur ferry parking lot ($ 2 a day or $ 20 a month to park).

Taking the ferry to the Giants game beats driving any day. It is cheaper (about $ 25 per person, round trip), less stressful and there is (almost) always parking available.
The only two downers are around timing. If you go for a giveaway day, you will almost certainly get there too late to get the goodie — it arrives about 20 minutes before game time.
Also, the ferry waits for the game to end before leaving, which is usually not a problem, unless it is a night game that goes 17 innings. :)

From a value perspective, for the short ferry ride in to Embarcadero, this ticket is pricey!
Was showing an out-​of-​town friend the view of the water and around Tiburon. Can get so windy when out on deck. But the ability to take another mode in to SF, and spying the wonderful mansions dotted along Tiburon, as well as a «unique» view of San Quentin, made it a novel experience.
What is priceless: avoiding the hassle of taking a car in and dealing with not only parking price poaching, but the mayhem of finding a spot in the first place.