Angel Island State Park

Angel Island sits in the middle of the northern bay, just off the Tiburon Peninsula and a short boat ride from the San Francisco waterfront. The Huimen people of the Coast Miwok used it as a seasonal hunting and gathering site for thousands of years. Juan Manuel de Ayala anchored in the cove that bears his name in 1775 while mapping the bay. After that the island became a military post from the Civil War to the Cold War and, from 1910 to 1940, the West Coast's main immigration station. It became a state park in stages from 1954 and the last military units left in the early 1960s.

Today it is a car-free island of grassy hills, eucalyptus and oak woodland with a paved road around its edge and views of the Golden Gate, both bay bridges and the city skyline. It is a great day for families and history buffs alike. The one thing you need to plan carefully is the boat. This guide covers both ferry routes as they are scheduled for late 2026, the Immigration Station and how to get around the island on foot, by bike or by tram.

Getting there from Palo Alto

You have two routes. Which one makes sense depends on the day of the week and whether you have a car.

Via San Francisco, car-free

Take Caltrain from Palo Alto to San Francisco, about 40 to 50 minutes on a weekday express or local and longer on weekends. From the Caltrain station at Fourth and King, the waterfront is a short Muni ride or a 30-minute walk along the Embarcadero. Golden Gate Ferry runs the San Francisco service to the island. Check its Angel Island page for the departure terminal and the timetable for your date, since sailings change by season and by day of the week.

Via Tiburon, by car

Tiburon is about 55 miles from Palo Alto through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge, then east on Tiburon Boulevard from US 101. Allow about 1.5 hours. The Angel Island Tiburon Ferry leaves from 21 Main Street and the crossing is short. Downtown Tiburon has paid public lots near the dock. The bridge toll is charged southbound, on your way home. If you need wheels for the day, you can compare rental cars from Palo Alto or SFO.

Ferry schedules and fares for late 2026

This is the part that trips people up. Service drops sharply after October and neither ferry sells return tickets on the island, so buy a round trip.

According to the Tiburon ferry schedule, the November and December weekend pattern also applies on Veterans Day (November 11) and on the day after Thanksgiving (November 27). A 3 p.m. Tiburon departure runs for campers only. The 2027 schedule was listed as coming soon. Golden Gate Ferry's fare page says tickets bought in advance are good for 90 days, bikes and e-bikes ride free on a first-come basis and Blue and Gold tickets are no longer accepted. Be at the dock about 15 minutes early, especially for the last boat off the island.

The Alcatraz and Angel Island combination tour is sold through City Experiences. Alcatraz itself closed on October 26, 2026 for dock repairs and was expected back by mid-November, so confirm before booking. Other San Francisco Bay cruises pass the island without landing.

The U.S. Immigration Station

From 1910 to 1940 the station on the island's north shore processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Most were Chinese, held for weeks or months under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 while officials questioned them about family ties. Many carved poems into the wooden barrack walls. During World War II the station held Japanese and German prisoners of war and Japanese immigrants from Hawaii before they were sent inland. Our page on Palo Alto's Japanese American community covers the wartime story closer to home.

The State Parks historic sites page lists three stops:

• Detention Barracks Museum: the original carved poems and drawings, with rooms staged to show detention conditions. $5 adults, $3 ages 5 to 17, free under 5.
• World War II Mess Hall: an exhibit on the island's role in wartime internment, included with barracks entry.
• Angel Island Immigration Museum: the restored hospital, with exhibits on immigration past and present. Free.

The museums list hours of 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, but State Parks says hours change with the ferry schedules, so contact staff before a winter visit. The grounds are open sunrise to sunset.

Getting there from the ferry

Ferries land at Ayala Cove. The shortest walk to the station is a hilly mile with 140 stair steps, about 40 minutes. A 1.5-mile route avoids the stairs and takes about an hour on foot or 20 minutes by bike. Bikes must be left at the top of the hill above the site.

Bikes, trams and hiking

The island has no private cars, so you explore by foot, bike or the concession tram.

• Perimeter Road. A paved road of about 5 miles loops the island past Camp Reynolds, Fort McDowell and the Immigration Station. It has a few climbs but suits most riders and walkers.
• Bike rentals. Angel Island Company rents adult bikes seasonally. You can also bring your own on either ferry. Riders under 18 must wear helmets. Balance bikes, scooters and skateboards are not allowed.
• Tram tours. The same company runs open-air tram tours with narration on the island's history, plus a shuttle to the Immigration Station.
• Mount Livermore. Trails climb to the 788-foot summit for a 360-degree view of the bay. Allow about two hours round trip from Ayala Cove.

The company's services are seasonal. For November 2026 it lists Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through November 28. It may close early in bad weather. In winter State Parks says the Immigration Station shuttle runs only as a charter for groups of 25 or more booked three weeks ahead. Park staff can help a few visitors with mobility needs if asked at least a week in advance. Our biking guide covers rides closer to home.

Camp Reynolds and Fort McDowell

Camp Reynolds, the West Garrison, dates to the Civil War, when the Army fortified the island to guard the bay. Its row of officers' houses faces Raccoon Strait and volunteers sometimes run living history days. On the east side, Fort McDowell processed thousands of troops heading to and returning from both world wars. Higher up are the fenced remains of a Cold War Nike missile site.

State Parks noted in late October 2026 that water is not available in the Camp Reynolds area or along Perimeter Road between Camp Reynolds and Four Corners until about December 1. Carry your own.

Food, camping and rules

The cafe at Ayala Cove follows the concession's seasonal hours, so bring a picnic in winter. Ayala Cove has a lawn, picnic tables and restrooms. Campsites around the island book through ReserveCalifornia up to six months ahead. They are popular for a one-night trip. Our guide to camping near Palo Alto lists other options.

• No dogs except service animals.
• No wood fires. Charcoal grills and camp stoves are allowed at campsites.
• No drones without a permit and no collecting, including mushrooms.
• Night travel is not allowed at historic sites after sunset.

Tours and activities

Hotels on a map

Frequently asked questions