PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
S
Destinations
Home›Destinations›San Rafael
North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia

San Rafael

California, United States · North America

About San Rafael

San Rafael works well as a base: 10 minutes from Larkspur, 10km from Muir Woods National Monument.

San Rafael is a town located in California, United States. With a population of 59,162, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, San Rafael sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Los Angeles time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add San Rafael to your route.

About San Rafael

The San Rafael Fire Department (SRFD) provides fire and emergency medical services to the City of San Rafael, California. The San Rafael Fire Department serves an estimated population of 72,000 people with approximately 70 firefighting and emergency medical field personnel. The ISO Class 1 department responds to, on

Read more average, approximately 9,000 emergency calls annually, with about 70% being emergency medical calls. EMS patients are transported to the hospital of their choice, unless the call is urgent. The department staffs six stations with 23 personnel daily. Strategically located throughout the city are six frontline Type 1 engines, two brush engines an aerial ladder truck, two frontline ambulances, and a battalion chief each shift. An additional engine is cross-staffed by the crew of the frontline truck, and two additional ambulances and are cross-staffed by the crews of an Engine 55 and Engine 56. County wide mutual aid provides relief and additional support during large scale incidents and during high call volume. Because the majority (70%) of calls are EMS related, a paramedic is onboard all engines. Also, one additional ambulance is stored at Station 55 (Medic 55) and another at Station 56 (Medic 56). While these units are not staffed full-time, they are cross-staffed by the crew of the engine companies and can respond if Medic 52 and Medic 57 are committed to other calls. In 2021, the department responded to 9,088 total calls, up from 7,041 in 2012.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in San Rafael

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in San Rafael.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near San Rafael.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in San Rafael?

San Rafael offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to San Rafael?

Plan your road trip to San Rafael with Plan Your Road Trips! Add San Rafael as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is San Rafael located?

San Rafael is located in California, United States, North America. The coordinates are 37.9735 latitude, -122.5311 longitude.

What is the population of San Rafael?

San Rafael has a population of approximately 59,162 people, making it a town in United States.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with San Rafael as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near San Rafael. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
59,162
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
California
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates
37.9735, -122.5311

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTown

Worth the detour from San Rafael

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

national park

Muir Woods National Monument

An ancient old-growth coast redwood forest just north of San Francisco, offering peaceful trails beneath towering thousand-year-old trees.

10 km · about 20 min drive

bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

The Art Deco suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait in famous International Orange; drive, cycle, or walk it, with classic viewpoints at Battery Spencer and Fort Point.

18 km · about 20 min drive

landmark

Alcatraz Island

Notorious former federal penitentiary on a rocky island in San Francisco Bay that once held America's most dangerous criminals.

19 km · about 20 min drive

museum

Exploratorium

A pioneering hands-on science museum on San Francisco's waterfront that inspired interactive museums worldwide.

22 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Coit Tower

Art Deco observation tower on Telegraph Hill offering 360-degree views of San Francisco, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

22 km · about 25 min drive

racetrack

Sonoma Raceway

A challenging road course set among the rolling hills of California wine country, hosting NASCAR and IndyCar events.

22 km · about 25 min drive

museum

California Academy of Sciences

A unique museum combining an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum under a living green roof in Golden Gate Park.

23 km · about 25 min drive

natural wonder

Point Reyes National Seashore

A windswept peninsula north of San Francisco with dramatic sea cliffs, a historic lighthouse, elk herds, and pristine beaches.

32 km · about 35 min drive

Driving roads near San Rafael

  • 18 kmGolden Gate BridgeThe Art Deco suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait in famous International Orange; drive, cycle, or walk it, with classic viewpoints at Battery Spencer and Fort Point.
  • 44 kmTom Lantos Tunnels (Devil's Slide)Twin highway tunnels that bypass the notorious Devil's Slide cliffs on Highway 1 south of Pacifica; the old clifftop roadbed is now a spectacular coastal trail.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near San Rafael.

Ross

🇺🇸 United States

2 km awayPop. 2,479

San Anselmo

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 12,653

Santa Venetia

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 4,292

Kentfield

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 6,485

Larkspur

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 12,417

Fairfax

🇺🇸 United States

5 km awayPop. 7,626

Corte Madera

🇺🇸 United States

5 km awayPop. 9,901

Sleepy Hollow

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 2,384

Plan a trip around San Rafael

North America road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from San Rafael

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence