San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city of 60,433 people in Marin County, California.
Why visit San Rafael
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 84 parks and trails, 190 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 22 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include East Brother Island Light, Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, Alexander-Acacia Bridge and Bradford House.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; December lows average 42°F.
Weather in San Rafael
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About San Rafael
San Rafael ( SAN rə-FEL; Spanish for "St. Raphael", Spanish pronunciation: [san rafaˈel]) is a city in and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2020 census, San Rafael had a population of 61,271.
From the Wikipedia article San Rafael, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do22
East Brother Island Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
Bridge · 4.5 mi
Bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay in Marin and Contra Costa counties in California, United States
Cinemark Century Larkspur
Cinema and theater · 2.3 mi
500 Larkspur Landing Circle
10 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks22
Alexander-Acacia Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Road bridge in Larkspur, United States of America
Bradford House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
House in San Rafael, California
China Camp State Park
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Museum and state park in San Rafael, California
Dixie Schoolhouse
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Museum in California, United States of America
Larkspur Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic district in California, United States
Marin County Civic Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Building in California, designed by F.L.Wright
Robert Dollar House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house in San Rafael, California, United States
San Rafael Improvement Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic building in San Rafael, California, United States
Winehaven
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Human settlement in California, United States of America
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum · 5.3 mi
Contemporary art museum in California, U.S.
Museum of International Propaganda
Museum · 1.2 mi
Non-profit institution located in San Rafael, California
Triangle Marsh
Monument and historic site · 4.1 mi
Archaeological site in California, United States of America
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds84
Gerstle Park
Park · 1.9 mi
Gerstle Park features picnic tables, barbeques, multiple group picnic areas (capacity up to 100), a basketball court, a tennis court,...
72 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes190
DJ's Chinese Cuisine
Restaurant · Chinese · 3.6 mi
435 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur
Tu-Sa 11:30-14:30,16:30-21:00; Su 16:30-21:00
Falafel Hut
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.3 mi
1115 Fourth Street, San Rafael
Tu-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
Hog island oyster
Restaurant · Seafood · 2.4 mi
2401 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
Mo-Fr 11:30-20:00; Sa,Su 11:00-20:00
La Hacienda
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
3815 Redwood Highway, San Rafael
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00, Sa-Su 10:00-21:00
Las Flores Cafe
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.8 mi
2104 Redwood Highway, Greenbrae
Mo-Fr 06:00-19:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
178 more on the map.
History
San Rafael was once the site of several Coast Miwok villages: Awani-wi, near downtown San Rafael; Ewu, near Terra Linda; and Shotomko-cha, in Marinwood.
From the History section of San Rafael, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Courtyard San Francisco Larkspur Landing/Marin County
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
2500 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Rafael Marin County
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael
Extended Stay America
Motel and hotel · 2.4 mi
1775 Francisco Boulevard East, San Rafael
Churches and places of worship20
Trinity Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 1.6 mi
333 Woodland Avenue, San Rafael
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 1.5 mi
1510 5th Avenue, San Rafael
Valley Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.7 mi
3 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael
Shopping65
Gas and EV charging35
Schools, colleges and libraries89
Healthcare14
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Park Medical Offices
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.4 mi
1650 Los Gamos Drive, San Rafael
Marin Health Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
4000 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael
Passport Health San Rafael Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.0 mi
28 Mitchell Boulevard, San Rafael
Map of San Rafael
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 43°F | 7.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 44°F | 6.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 46°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 51°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 65°F | 46°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 57°F | 42°F | 7.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Rafael Civic Ctr (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Marin County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-05-17: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
San Rafael Airport (SRF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Santa Venetia 2 mi north, about 3 min by car
- Larkspur 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- San Anselmo 3 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Corte Madera 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Ross 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Kentfield 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Fairfax 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Sleepy Hollow 5 mi northwest, about 8 min by car
- Mill Valley 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Lucas Valley-Marinwood 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Saint Raphael Church San Rafael CA, Xyrrus 05:39, 19 May 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Meadowlands Hall, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Guzman Hall, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Angelico Hall, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Dominican Sisters Center, San Rafael, Mx. Granger, CC0
- San Rafael Paloma Ave rail crossing facing south 20260912, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Rafael Paloma Avenue rail crossing facing north 20260912, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Larkspur City Hall 400 Magnolia Ave Larkspur CA 3-21-2010 1-56-19 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bradford House 333 G St San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-15-00 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- China Camp 247 N San Pedro Rd San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 4-39-54 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dixie Schoolhouse 2255 Las Gallinas Ave San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 5-15-53 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- East Brother Light on an early morning in March, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Robert Dollar House 115 J St San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-36-55 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marin Civic Center, Fizbin at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Alexander Avenue Bridge - View from Below, Marthature, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Rafael Improvement Club 1801 5th Ave San Rafael CA 3-21-2010 3-29-02 PM, Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Winehaven Bldg 1, Robert Hicks, Public domain
- Dominican U Caleruega 3609, Stepheng3, Public domain
- Lactarius resimus 12426812, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426819, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426827, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426828, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426823, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426817, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426821, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lactarius resimus 12426825, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Guzman Hall front entrance, Dominican University Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Dominican U Meadowlands 3606, Stepheng3, Public domain
- Guzman Hall (left) and Ralph Minor Hall (right), Dominican University Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Allen Athletics Complex, Conlan Center, Dominican University Sept 2025, E bailey, CC0
- Marin Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (before the show), Mx. Granger, CC0
- Stereum hirsutum 110959256, Sterling Sheehy, CC BY 4.0
- Stereum hirsutum 110959165, Sterling Sheehy, CC BY 4.0
- Stereum hirsutum 110959185, Sterling Sheehy, CC BY 4.0
- Stereum hirsutum 110959211, Sterling Sheehy, CC BY 4.0
- Coleman Elementary School, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Highway 101 south from Belle Avenue footbridge, December 2019, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Highway 101 north from Belle Avenue footbridge, December 2019, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Belle Avenue footbridge over Highway 101, December 2019, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Psathyrella bipellis 17276617, Kingman Bond-Graham, CC BY-SA 4.0
_and_Ralph_Minor_Hall_(right),_Dominican_University_Sept_2025.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.