Most of these guides end with a drive out of town. This one does not. Seaplane Adventures flies scenic floatplane tours right over San Francisco Bay, taking off from the water near Sausalito, about 20 minutes from downtown across the Golden Gate Bridge. One operator runs the flights, in a vintage six-seat floatplane with a guaranteed window for every passenger. Below is the full flight menu with 2026 prices, what each route flies over, and the weight and check-in rules, taken from the operator's site in June 2026.
The Bay Area's seaplane operator
Seaplane Adventures
Checks in at the Mill Valley seabase, 242 Redwood Highway Frontage Road, with takeoff from Richardson Bay in Sausalito, about 20 minutes from downtown San Francisco. It flies a vintage De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, a classic six-seat floatplane, and every passenger gets a window seat. The Sausalito seabase has run since 1946, and the company bills itself as the only seaplane tour operator in the Bay Area. Flights are pilot-guided, so the landmarks get narrated as you pass them. Phone: 415-332-4843.
Seaplane flights and 2026 prices
| Flight | In the air | Price / person | What you fly over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcatraz & City Sites | 15 to 20 min | $263.94 | Alcatraz, the waterfront, the downtown skyline |
| Golden Gate Tour (most popular) | 25 to 30 min | $316.94 | Golden Gate Bridge, downtown, Alcatraz, Angel Island, Bay Bridge, Baker Beach |
| Greater Bay Area Tour | 40 to 45 min | $369.94 | the Golden Gate route plus Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, and the coast |
| Sunset Champagne Tour | 35 to 40 min | $412.34 | the Greater Bay Area route at sunset, with a glass of champagne or cider |
| NorCal Coastal Tour | 55 to 60 min | $422.94 | out to Tomales Bay, the Point Reyes Lighthouse, and Highway 1 |
Two land-and-air combos round out the menu: a Muir Woods and seaplane day at about $556 per person, and a GoCar plus seaplane outing at about $918 per couple. Private charters around the bay and up to Napa and Sonoma wine country are quoted on request.
What to know before you fly
- Age. No minimum. Infants 0 to 2 fly free on a parent's lap; children 3 and up pay the full fare.
- Weight. 260 pounds per seat. Every passenger is weighed at check-in, an FAA rule for small aircraft. Over 260 pounds you may need to buy a second seat, so call ahead.
- Seat belts. The plane carries no seat belt extensions, so bring your own if you need one. Service dogs are welcome.
- Check-in. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your flight time at the Mill Valley seabase.
- Cancellation. Bookings can be refunded up to 48 hours out; same-day bookings are final. Weather cancellations rebook within a year.
Flights run year-round, weather permitting, and every seat is a window seat. The Sunset Champagne tour goes out in the late afternoon and early evening only.
Seaplane vs. paragliding
| Tandem Paragliding | Seaplane Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Time in the air | Typically 20 to 30 minutes | 15 to 60 minutes by route |
| Where | Mussel Rock, 15 minutes from SF | Sausalito, about 20 minutes from SF |
| Price (June 2026) | $189 flat | $264 to $423 per person by route |
| What you fly over | the Pacific surf and coastal cliffs | the Golden Gate, the skyline, Alcatraz, the bay |
| The feel | open-air soaring with the pilot at the brakes | enclosed cabin, engine power, a window for everyone |
Both put you over the water minutes from the city. A seaplane is powered flight in an enclosed cabin, smooth and high, with a pilot narrating the landmarks and a guaranteed window seat. Paragliding is open-air and quiet, your feet hanging over the surf, with the pilot working the wing by hand and often letting you steer. The seaplane covers more ground and shows you the bridge from above; we trade altitude for the feel of actually flying. Many visitors do both on the same trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a seaplane ride in San Francisco?
How much does a seaplane tour cost in 2026?
Where do the flights leave from, and how do I get there?
Is there a weight limit?
How long is a seaplane flight?
Do they fly year-round?
Should I take a seaplane tour or go paragliding?
The open-air version, 15 minutes away
Tandem paragliding over the Pacific, $189 per person. No experience needed, ages 4 to 97. We fly 7 days a week from noon to sunset, 15 minutes from San Francisco.
Book a Tandem Flight OnlineFlight options and prices on this page were checked against the operator in June 2026 and can change. Confirm at booking.
More Bay Area adventure guides
Hero photo courtesy of Seaplane Adventures.