Homes Near SMART Train Stations and North Bay Ferry Terminals
By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.
The SMART train has 14 stations, running from Windsor in Sonoma County to Larkspur in Marin, and at Larkspur a shuttle connects riders to the Golden Gate Ferry for San Francisco. Golden Gate Ferry also sails from Sausalito and Tiburon, and San Francisco Bay Ferry serves Vallejo for Solano and Napa commuters. If you want a home where you can reach a train or ferry without driving far, those terminals are the places to start your search.
This guide lists every SMART station with its address, parking and bus connections as SMART publishes them, sets out the ferry routes, and dates the status of the Healdsburg and Cloverdale extensions. It describes locations and service only. It doesn’t claim that living near a station changes what a home is worth; that depends on the house, the street and the sale.
SMART stations, north to south
As of October 2026, SMART’s station page lists these 14 stations. Addresses, parking and connections are SMART’s; schedules change, so check the current timetable before you plan a commute.
| Station | Address | Parking | Connections listed by SMART |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | 464 Emily Rose Circle (lot at 8900 Windsor Road) | SMART lot | Sonoma County Transit routes 60, 62 and 66 |
| Sonoma County Airport | 1130 Airport Boulevard | SMART lot; Caltrans park-and-ride about 0.4 miles away (no overnight) | SMART Connect shuttle, Sonoma County Transit, Mendocino Transit |
| Santa Rosa North | 1500 Guerneville Road | No SMART lot listed | Santa Rosa CityBus, Sonoma County Transit |
| Santa Rosa Downtown | 7 4th Street | No SMART lot; hourly public parking, with a city discount permit for transit commuters | Santa Rosa Transit Mall under a quarter mile away |
| Rohnert Park | 900 Enterprise Drive | SMART lot | Sonoma County Transit |
| Cotati | 980 East Cotati Avenue | Park-and-ride lot | Adjacent Sonoma County Transit intermodal facility |
| Petaluma North | 320 Corona Road | SMART lot | Petaluma Transit, Sonoma County Transit |
| Petaluma Downtown | 220 Lakeville Street | SMART lot | Copeland Street Transit Mall |
| Novato San Marin | 7700 Redwood Boulevard | SMART lot | Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit |
| Novato Downtown | 695 Grant Avenue | Free day and overnight parking shared with the city, 72-hour maximum | Novato Transit Center about half a mile away |
| Novato Hamilton | 10 Main Gate Road | SMART lot | Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit |
| Marin Civic Center | 3801 Civic Center Drive | No SMART lot; free street parking on McInnis Parkway and Merrydale Road | Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit, Marin Transit Connect |
| San Rafael | 680 3rd Street | No SMART lot; nearby public parking | Bettini Transit Center, one block away |
| Larkspur | 600 Larkspur Landing Circle | SMART lot | Connect Larkspur shuttle to the Golden Gate Ferry; Marin Transit |
At SMART-run lots, day parking is free from 4:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., and overnight parking is a $5 flat rate paid through the ParkMobile app, for up to five nights. SMART lists bike lockers at every station.
Sonoma County stations and the towns around them
Eight of SMART’s 14 stations are in Sonoma County. For the county as a whole, including the towns off the line, see our Sonoma County real estate guide.
- Windsor is the northern end of the line for now. Our Windsor guide covers the town’s planning around the station.
- Santa Rosa has three stations: Sonoma County Airport on Airport Boulevard, Santa Rosa North on Guerneville Road and Santa Rosa Downtown on 4th Street. Our Santa Rosa guide describes the city’s North Station Area Specific Plan work.
- Rohnert Park and Cotati have adjacent stations a stop apart; see our Rohnert Park and Cotati guides for nearby development proposals and rezoning.
- Petaluma has two: Petaluma North on Corona Road and Petaluma Downtown on Lakeville Street. Our Petaluma guide covers both sides of town.
Towns off the line, including Sonoma, Sebastopol and Healdsburg (until its extension opens), rely on buses and driving. If you’re moving north from San Francisco or the Peninsula, our post on moving to Sonoma from the Bay Area covers the wider trade-offs.
Marin County stations
SMART has stations in three Marin cities: Novato, San Rafael and Larkspur.
- Novato has three: San Marin in the north, Downtown on Grant Avenue and Hamilton in the south. Our Novato guide maps them against the city’s neighborhoods.
- San Rafael has two: Marin Civic Center and Downtown on 3rd Street, a block from the Bettini Transit Center. See our San Rafael guide for downtown housing and the city’s rules.
- Larkspur is the southern end, at Larkspur Landing. The Connect Larkspur shuttle runs between the train and the ferry terminal; our Larkspur guide covers the Landing and the creek-side areas nearby.
Golden Gate Transit and Marin Transit buses serve the Marin stations, which matters for homes beyond walking distance.
Ferries to San Francisco
| Route | Operator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Larkspur to San Francisco | Golden Gate Ferry | Connects with SMART at Larkspur Landing by shuttle |
| Sausalito to San Francisco | Golden Gate Ferry | Leaves from Sausalito; no SMART station in town |
| Tiburon to San Francisco | Golden Gate Ferry | Leaves from Tiburon; no SMART station on the peninsula |
| Vallejo to San Francisco | San Francisco Bay Ferry | Daily service to downtown San Francisco, with select trips to Mare Island; described by the operator as the route for Solano and Napa passengers |
Golden Gate Ferry’s four routes, including a San Francisco to Angel Island State Park run, all show schedules effective April 13, 2026. Check the operator’s timetable for departures and crossing times before you count on a particular boat.
For Marin buyers, the ferry terminals shape the search as much as SMART does: downtown Sausalito and Tiburon homes can be a walk from the boat, while hillside homes usually mean a short drive or bus ride. Our Sausalito and Tiburon guides cover each town, while Vallejo’s terminals serve buyers looking in Solano County or southern Napa.
Where SMART is going next: Healdsburg and Cloverdale
As of October 2026, SMART’s project page says:
- Healdsburg: about nine miles of new track north from Windsor, with $269 million in grants secured. Its key dates show design from September 2025 to December 2026, construction from January 2027 to November 2028, testing in November and December 2028 and service beginning in December 2028. The same page’s FAQ says active construction begins in spring 2027, and SMART was still seeking public input on the station.
- Cloverdale: “not yet fully funded.” SMART’s station page says the Cloverdale station “will be completed when funding becomes available.”
Dates on SMART’s own pages have shifted as the project moved from design to construction, so treat late 2028 as SMART’s current target, not a promise. Our Healdsburg guide follows the station decision.
What to check when buying near a station or ferry
- Walk the route at commute time. Time the walk or bike ride to the platform or terminal, and note crossings, sidewalks and lighting.
- Visit when trains run. Homes beside the tracks hear trains and crossing bells; listen from the bedrooms, not just the street.
- Check parking rules. Station and terminal parking can spill onto nearby streets, and a city may use permit zones. Ask the city.
- Read the station-area plan. Some cities are planning more housing near stations. Ask the planning department what is proposed on nearby parcels, and see our page on SB 79 transit upzoning for the state law.
- Check hazards like any other home. Flood, fire and earthquake zones apply by parcel; the natural hazard disclosure report shows them.
Questions people ask
How many SMART stations are there?
Fourteen, as of October 2026: from Windsor in the north to Larkspur in the south, with planned stations in Healdsburg and, when funded, Cloverdale.
Does SMART go to San Francisco?
Not directly. The line ends at Larkspur, where the Connect Larkspur shuttle links the station to the Golden Gate Ferry to San Francisco.
Is parking free at SMART stations?
Day parking at SMART-run lots is free from 4:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.; overnight parking is a $5 flat rate through ParkMobile. Some stations, such as Santa Rosa Downtown and San Rafael, have no SMART lot.
When will SMART reach Healdsburg?
SMART’s project page lists December 2028 for the start of service, after construction scheduled from January 2027 to November 2028.
Which Marin towns have a ferry to San Francisco?
Larkspur, Sausalito and Tiburon, all on Golden Gate Ferry. From Solano County, San Francisco Bay Ferry runs from Vallejo.
Is there a SMART station in Sonoma, Sebastopol or Sausalito?
No. None of those towns is on the SMART line; Sausalito has its own ferry route instead.
If train or ferry access is high on your list, tell us which station or terminal you’d use and we’ll set up a search around it. Start with our Sonoma County buyer services.
Sources & notes
- SMART: Stations
- SMART: Healdsburg Extension Project
- Golden Gate Ferry: Routes (schedules effective April 13, 2026)
- San Francisco Bay Ferry: Routes and schedules
Schedules, fares and travel times aren’t listed here because they change; check each operator before you rely on a commute.
Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.