The Coast Miwok were the first known inhabitants of the Mill Valley area and all of Marin County and environs about 6,000 years ago. More than 600 village sites of the Native American tribe have been discovered, 14 of them in the Mill Valley area. Before missions settled the area and brought European diseases, the Coast Miwok may have numbered in the thousands, but estimates show the population at 300 in 1848 and 60 by 1880.
As of 2011, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which include both the Coast Miwok and the Southern Pomo, has a population over 1,000. All of these are descendants of the 14 survivors of the original ancestors. Mill Valley has a metal plaque set in the sidewalk on Locust Avenue in an area where historians believe Chief Marin was born in 1871.
What time of year is best to visit Mill Valley, CA?
The best time to visit Mill Valley for comfort and activities is during the warm season, from early June to mid-October. The average high during this period ranges from 69 to 73 degrees. Summers are long, dry, clear, and comfortable. Hotel rates will be at their highest, so book your room early if you're making a trip to Mill Valley during this time.
The cool season goes from early December to early February, with average highs ranging from 54 to 58 degrees and lows from 43 to 45 degrees. Hotel prices are the lowest during this time, so if you like cool temps, winter could be the ideal time for you to visit Mill Valley. You could also save by traveling in spring or late fall, especially as spring leads toward summer and the temperatures start to rise.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Mill Valley, CA:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below we've posted 3 graphs displaying average nightly cost patterns by star rating class in Mill Valley, CA. Analyze these charts to calculate the cheapest months to make a reservation in Mill Valley during the year.
Which hotels in Mill Valley, CA are budget-friendly?
4 Star Average Prices: $362.33
Enjoy a luxurious stay at Cavallo Point in Sausalito's historic district, just four minutes from the San Francisco Bay. The rooms feature fireplaces, LCD televisions, and iPod docking stations. The hotel's full-service spa provides massages, facials, and body treatments. An outdoor pool, spa tub, and sauna provide opportunities for revitalization. Enjoy California cuisine at Murray Circle, or relax in your room and order room service within limited hours. You can get to know some of the other guests at the free reception held each day. A drink at the bar/lounge is a relaxing way to end the day.
Also in Sausalito, Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa is in the business district, five minutes from San Francisco Bay and near most of the places you'll want to see in Sausalito and the surrounding area. You can enjoy a feeling of luxury at the full-service spa, where you can get massages, body treatments, and facials. Your room will feature LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, and free Wi-Fi, and you can get room service delivered during limited hours. The hotel offers a computer station, a fireplace, free newspapers, and event space.
Where are the affordable hotel options in the Mill Valley area?
3 Star Average Prices: $181.86
Travelodge by Wyndham Mill Valley/Sausalito in Mill Valley offers pleasant amenities at budget prices. You'll enjoy flat-screen televisions with digital programming and premium channels, along with free Wi-Fi and free continental breakfasts each day. Guests can dine at India Palace. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, a vending machine, and free newspapers in the lobby. Past guests have complimented the hotel for its customer service and location, just 10 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Travelodge by Wyndham San Rafael in San Rafael puts you five minutes from the San Francisco Bay while still having all the activities of San Rafael and Mill Valley nearby. Rooms have refrigerators, LED televisions, free Wi-Fi, work desks, and coffee/tea makers. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, a vending machine, free continental breakfast, and free newspapers in the lobby.
2 Star Average Prices: $125.01
Where are the best discounts around Mill Valley, CA?
The Acqua Hotel in Mill Valley, located alongside Richardson Bay with stunning water views against nearby Mount Tamalpais, offers discounts for seniors and AAA members. Upscale rooms offer a Zen-like feel, along with a refrigerator, coffee/tea facilities, flat-screen television with cable and HBO, DVD player, and ironing facilities. The hotel is in a quiet location with a terrace and jogging path and features a fitness and health center. At the Acqua, you will be next door to both San Francisco and the vineyards of Sonoma and Napa, as well as the natural wonders of Mount Tamalpais, Point Reyes, and Muir Woods.
The Lodge at Tiburon places guests a five-minute walk away from Tiburon Ferry and an eight-minute stroll from San Francisco Bay. This romantic Tiburon hotel features refrigerators, iPod docking stations, flat-screen televisions with digital programming, wired and wireless internet access, work desks, and designer toiletries. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa tub, and fitness center, as well as a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a limo/town car service. Dine at the on-site Tiburon Tavern, which serves local cuisine, or opt for room service during limited hours. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge as well.
What hotels in Mill Valley, CA are the best value?
Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area in Mill Valley is a great value as a convenient base for you to see all that Mill Valley has to offer. Plus, you can hop over to San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge within just 10 minutes. Rooms feature pillowtop beds with Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforters, private patios, refrigerators, iPod docking stations, free Wi-Fi, and designer toiletries.
Refresh yourself with a dip in the outdoor pool, relax in the spa tub, and work out in the fitness center, and then enjoy the warmth of the fireplace in the lobby. The hotel features a 24-hour business center, free newspapers in the lobby, event space, and free continental breakfast in the mornings.
If you're looking for a quiet spot with great attention to detail and basic amenities near San Francisco and everything Mill Valley has to offer, try Muir Woods Lodge in Mill Valley. You'll have one of only 26 rooms on two floors, and blackout curtains will ensure the sun doesn't get you up too early. The modern, stylish rooms are attractive and welcoming and feature bathrooms with upscale fixtures, flat-screen TVs with cable, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel serves free breakfast and provides coffee and tea in common areas.
Where are the best activities in Mill Valley, CA?
Muir Woods National Monument offers majestic views and incredible hikes amid its old-growth coast redwoods. These trees are the tallest living things in the world. A wide variety of flora and fauna exist in Muir Woods, and educational programs teach both kids and adults more about all you can find there. If hiking is your game, you'll find 6 miles of boardwalks and paved trails, from half-hour loops to longer hikes that enter Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Mount Tamalpais State Park offers deep canyons and sweeping forested hills, including the 2,571-foot-tall Mount Tamalpais. The park offers great hiking opportunities, horseback riding, family programs, swimming and scuba diving, fishing, a visitor center, camping, picnicking, and much more. You'll find 60 miles of hiking trails at the park, with trails connecting to a 200-mile trail system on nearby public lands.
The oldest trail race in the United States, the annual Dipsea Race, covers 7.4 miles on a course that goes over Mount Tamalpais and ends at Stinson Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The race is run on the second Sunday in June.
Mill Valley isn't all about the outdoors. The city has a strong focus on art and culture as well, including film and theatre. The Mill Valley Film Festival is an internationally recognized festival that has been going for more than 41 years. The Mountain Play stages Broadway musicals each June in an outdoor amphitheater in front of thousands of viewers. Marin Theatre Company produces intimate world-class theater experiences for Marin County and communities within the Bay Area.
The First Tuesday Art Walk is held from 6-8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month to display local art. You can view, download, and print an artist listing and gallery map on the Mill Valley Recreation website and then stroll from site to site.
In Lytton Square, located in the center of downtown, you'll find some of the best shopping and dining in the city. Stick to indoor shopping at some lovely boutiques or sit and watch the people pass by. You could even play a game of chess. For nightlife. Sweetwater Music Hall is a nearby hotspot that has hosted Gregg Allman, Huey Lewis, and other music stars.
FAQs about hotels in Mill Valley
How much does a cheap hotel in Mill Valley cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel in Mill Valley can be as cheap as $125.01 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel in Mill Valley cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel in Mill Valley has been $181.86 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a high-end hotel in Mill Valley cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel in Mill Valley has been $362.33 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
Verified reviews of the city: Mill Valley, CA
Below are reviews of the city of Mill Valley, CA from an actual visitor's perspective.
"Mt Tamalpais!"
Score
4.0 / 5
Mt Tamalpais!
Douglas F., from 24-Sep-2024
"Charming Area!"
Score
4.0 / 5
It was a charming area and the shopkeepers were helpful.
Sandra M., from 16-Sep-2024
"Cute City"
Score
4.0 / 5
Cute City!
Brett A., from 19-Aug-2024
"Beautiful Views in Muir Woods"
Score
5.0 / 5
A nice small town. I like the hiking and Muir Woods and the lookouts are beautiful!
Michelle C., from 26-Sep-2023
"We liked Old Mill Park."
Score
4.0 / 5
We liked Old Mill Park.
Joyce M., from 04-Apr-2022
"All Good."
Score
4.0 / 5
Rooms clean. Made up daily. Breakfast adequate. Good booking procedure.
Zenaida Rosario M. R., from 25-Apr-2017
The average traveler rating of the city of Mill Valley, CA shown above is
4.2 out of 5 based on 6 reviews