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The Secret to Understanding Traffic and Parking at the Sausalito Art Festival
Just one major street runs through our long and narrow town, and the large City parking lots are adjacent to the Sausalito Ferry pier, which is located in downtown Sausalito. The Festival, however, is located about a mile to the north of downtown.
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The result is traffic jams during the Art Festival. That’s why at the bottom of this “Parking Page” we also summarize other ways to get here, so you won’t have to worry about parking or traffic!
Insiders Tip: The best way to avoid the morning traffic is to arrive early. The madness of Bridgeway — our sole big street — will not yet have cranked into full gear. You can then avoid the late afternoon rush by walking to one of the many good places to eat located in the nearby Sausalito neighborhoods of Marinship and Caledonia St. to have dinner, and walk back later for your car.
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The Art Festival parking consists of different lots in northern Sausalito that are dedicated to the event by building owners as a fundraising initiative for local charities. This year all parking is $15 regardless of location.
As you approach the Festival on Bridgeway you’ll see Festival Parking signs pointing left or right. Turn at the selected spot and flaggers from the Sausalito Rotary Club will take your money and guide you to a spot, as well as point out where to catch the shuttle bus if needed.
Insiders Tip: Better yet, use the direct-to-the-festival ferry, or take the regular ferry and the free air conditioned shuttle, or use other mass transit options (see below).
Handicapped Parking is adjacent to the Festival. Turn left off Bridgeway a) at Marinship Way and bear left at the bottom of the hill, or b) at Harbor Dr. and then make an immediate right onto Marinship Way. If the sign says “Lot Full” pull up to the volunteers anyway, because handicapped will still be open and they will happily guide you to the right spot.
Don’t park on the street in the nearby neighborhoods: Residential areas are marked with signs, residents have passes and if you’re in street parking without a pass your odds of getting an expensive ticket are virtually 100%. Besides, it’s not cool to block someone’s driveway, crush what’s left of their lawn or (as has happened to one of our editors) have cars damage your shrubbery.
Sausalito Residents and Marinship Workers
Sausalito Residents: If you live close to the Festival and did not get your residential parking passes email artfestivalparking@hotmail.com or call 415-281-8822. If a Festival visitor has blocked your driveway, parked on your lawn etc. call the Sausalito Police non-emergency number at 415-289-4170.
Sausalito Office Workers: If your office is nearby (as is OurSausalito.com), your building manager will have special parking passes or procedures if you need to work that weekend. Our advice as veterans of many Festivals: if you have to work that day, come in early so the lot isn’t already full when you present your pass.
Also: If you work very close to the Festival watch who parks next to your car during the unloading process. Damage to cars in the lot is not unusual — it’s even happened to us and when we called the moving company they said the driver denied it and blew us off..
Many Ways to Get to the Sausalito Art Festival
You can take a regular Sausalito Ferry from the Ferry Building in San Francisco, or from Pier 41 in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Regular free shuttles bring fair visitors from the downtown ferry pier to the Art Festival grounds.
The direct-to-festival ferries are back this year!
You can take a Golden Gate Transit bus to Sausalito and get off at the “Bridgeway at Easterby” or the “Bridgeway at Nevada” bus stops.
You can drive to the Festival, taking the Sausalito-Marin City exit off highway 101. Be sure to check out our advice about driving and parking above.
You can ride your bike, since there’s free bike valet parking.
You can stay in a Sausalito Hotel downtown, and then take the free shuttle from the ferry pier to the Festival.
If you’re in Mill Valley and are looking for a nice walk or bike ride, you can take the bayside trail that runs from Blithedale near the intersection with Camino Alto and comes all the way down to Sausalito.
