Once a 19th-century summer vacation spot for wealthy San Franciscans, the historic town of Larkspur is now home to Bay Area commuters drawn by natural scenery and some of Marin's County's highest rated schools. Mount Tamalpais (locally known as Mt. Tam), hills and redwood trees serve as the backdrop for Larkspur's million-dollar homes and century-old downtown buildings, while San Francisco is 16 miles away via Highway 101 or the Larkspur Ferry. “Like a lot of the cities in Marin, Larkspur’s got a small-town feel and is super close to San Francisco, but because it’s right on the 101, the commute is even more convenient than areas that are closer like Mill Valley,” explains Keith Offord, a former Larkspur resident and experienced Realtor with Ross Valley Real Estate. “Larkspur’s also one of the oldest cities in Marin, and consequently has a lot older homes with character. In areas like Madrone Canyon , you get to live among all these redwoods and even the occasional palm tree.”
Baltimore Canyon runs through Larkspur providing homes in the lush redwood forest.
Mt Tam can be seen in the distance overlooking Larkspur.
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Century-old cottages, hillside marvels and midcentury modern homes
As of early 2025, Larkspur’s median home price is $1.9 million, nearly five times higher than the national median and higher than San Francisco’s $1.4 million. Each neighborhood has distinct housing styles and scenery. Centered around the walkable Magnolia Street, Downtown Larkspur features early 20th-century Craftsman cottages and Victorian-style mansions, often carved into condo units. Hillview (or “Chillview” as it’s locally known) is known for its California ranch-style homes, feats of hillside engineering and dense redwood groves. In Creekside and Riviera Circle , midcentury modern homes sit on quiet streets along the Corte Madera Creek.
A renovated contemporary home sits in the hills of Larkspur, CA.
Larkspurs Riviera Circle offers many custom mid-century modern homes to choose from.
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Historic Downtown Larkspur and proximity to malls
Nearby commercial centers have modernized, while Downtown Larkspur has maintained its historic charm with rows of Victorian-style storefronts. “It’s like a small-town set from a movie,” says longtime Bay Area resident Katie Hammel. “There are all these old-timey storefronts along this one street, Magnolia Avenue, and the backdrop is of huge mountains and big, tall trees.” Fashion boutiques and thrift stores are scattered between mainstays like the French brasserie Left Bank, the romantic burger joint Perry’s and the Art Deco cinema The Lark Theater.
Further north, Greenbrae/Larkspur Landing is home to the popular Mollie Stone’s grocery store and Marin County Market, a boutique shopping mall and host of the local Saturday farmers’ market. Additional shopping plazas and malls can be found along Highway 101 and in nearby Corte Madera. “They’re close, but you can’t really see them from Larkspur, so they don’t interfere with the historic feel,” says Offord.
The Lark Theatre in downtown Larkspur offers current movies to watch in Riviera Circle.
Riviera Circle residents head to Downtown Larkspur or Corte Madera to enjoy community gathering spots.
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Marin County's highest rated schools
The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District earns an A-minus from Niche and serves local children from kindergarten through Grade 8. Students can then continue to one of two A-plus-rated high schools, the nearby Tamalpais Union High or the local Redwood High. In 2024, Redwood High was awarded Platinum recognition from the College Board for its expansive AP programs and college-going culture.
Larkspurs Redwood high school is a California distinguished school.
Larkspurs AE Kent Middle School students can play games on the black top with classmates.
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Mount Tamalpais' trails, Larkspur's parks
Set between the San Francisco Bay and Mt. Tam, Larkspur enjoys nearly year-round sunny weather and ample access to outdoor recreation. “Larkspur’s almost perfectly positioned for weather,” Offord says. “It’s warmer than Mill Valley to the south because it’s at a lower elevation, but the morning fogs cool it off more than cities further north in Marin.” Madrone Canyon's Dawn Falls Trail, an area favorite for its namesake waterfalls, runs near downtown. Mountain foothills, redwood groves and multi-use trails of the Baltimore Canyon Preserve border the western edges of the city. The largest of Larkspur's 11 public parks is the 2-acre Piper Park. It has facilities for soccer, tennis and volleyball. Additional mini parks are scattered around town.
A map of the trail system is situated at the Dawn Falls Trailhead in Larkspur.
Larkspurs Shorebird Park offers visitors sitting areas to relax and take in nature.
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Highway 101 and Larkspur Ferry access
Highway 101 (locally known as "the 101") runs beside the bay in Larkspur, leading 16 miles south to San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge. The 101 is heavily congested during morning and evening rush hour, so many folks commute to San Francisco via the Larkspur Ferry, which travels about 45 minutes across the bay to the city's Ferry Building. Within Larkspur, locals can use a network of off-street pathways to walk or bike around town. The town's main hospital is MarinHealth Medical Center, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 27 miles south.
Declining reports of crime in Larkspur
Larkspur is served by the Central Marin Police Department. In 2023, CMPD reported a 2% decline in calls for service, most of which were not related to criminal activity.
Additional writing contributed by Melanie Wynne
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
