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San Rafael California Map

Explore San Rafael, California, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of San Rafael, California

How to Use This San Rafael, California Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for San Rafael, California. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of California or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to San Rafael.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	San Rafael
State	California (CA)
County	Marin County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles)

Latitude	37.981003
Longitude	-122.50693
Population	61,271
Density	1426.2 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Codes	94901, 94903, 94912, 94913, 94915
Area Code	510
County Seat	San Rafael
School District	San Rafael City High School District

🌦 Goto San Rafael Weather Page: San Rafael, California — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About San Rafael, California

San Rafael is a locality in Marin County, California, United States. It has a population of 61,271. The population density is 1426.2 people per km². San Rafael is located at 37.9810°N, 122.5069°W. It observes the Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) timezone. San Rafael is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 94901, 94903, 94912.

San Rafael emerges from the landscape where the meandering San Rafael Creek carves a path through the valley floor, defining the character of the terrain. It lies 1.7 miles east of San Anselmo, CA (from San Anselmo, CA: bearing 93°T), and is situated 9.5 miles south-southeast of Novato. The environment is shaped by the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, which lies a mere two miles away, casting a cooling influence over the basin of Sun Valley. To the distant horizon, the rugged profile of the Coast Ranges provides a stoic backdrop to the local topography. Residents often find solace at Boyd Memorial Park, a tranquil sanctuary that sits at the center of daily life, while the nearby Forbes Hill Reservoir offers a quiet reflection of the sky. The light here possesses a singular, golden quality at dusk, softening the edges of the earth and illuminating the transition between the developed streets and the wilder, untamed reaches of the land.

Mission San Rafael Arcángel serves as the foundational cornerstone of the settlement, marking the site where early colonial aspirations were first anchored in the soil. The growth of San Rafael followed the rhythms of agricultural expansion and the eventual arrival of the railroad, which transformed the settlement from a quiet outpost into a bustling hub. Over the decades, the architectural evolution of the area has mirrored the shifting needs of its inhabitants, moving from simple mission-era structures to the diverse residential and commercial buildings that now define the streetscape. The history of San Rafael remains a quiet undercurrent to modern life, felt in the preservation of historic sites and the persistent memory of the early settlers who navigated the valley long before the modern grid was laid.

Economic vitality in San Rafael is driven by a diverse array of professional services, specialized industries, and a robust retail sector that sustains the local population. Infrastructure is focused on accessibility, with major transit corridors functioning as the primary arteries for commerce and daily movement across the region. Higher education finds a place here through institutions like the Dominican University of California, which contributes to the intellectual and professional development of the populace. As the local economy matures, the focus remains on balancing industrial growth with the preservation of the surrounding environment, ensuring that the development of San Rafael supports a sustainable future for its workers and families alike.

Cultural life in San Rafael is defined by a vibrant calendar of events, including local festivals that bring the community together to celebrate the unique heritage of the region. Outdoor enthusiasts frequently traverse the Ross Trail, enjoying the natural beauty that extends toward the nearby Simms Island and the shimmering expanse of the coast. For those seeking the drama of falling water, Dawn Falls offers a seasonal spectacle that draws visitors into the deeper, wooded pockets of the landscape. While the area is not defined by major professional sports franchises, the spirit of competition thrives in local schools and recreational leagues. Notable figures, such as the filmmaker George Lucas, have long maintained a significant presence here, further cementing the status of San Rafael as a place where creative vision and the quiet beauty of the Pacific coast intersect.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Harry A Barbier Memorial Park (Local Park) — 0.2 mi, 002° N
San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Marine Protected Area) — 0.7 mi, 060° NE
China Camp State Park (State Park) — 0.8 mi, 056° NE
San Rafael Tidelands (Conservation Area) — 1.0 mi, 141° SE
Boyd Memorial Park (Local Park) — 1.0 mi, 260° W
San Pedro Mountain Open Space Preserve (Local Conservation Area) — 1.0 mi, 335° NW
Nike Missile Site (Attraction) — 1.2 mi, 013° N
Marin County Historical Society Museum (Museum) — 1.3 mi, 252° W
Amphitheater (Theatre) — 1.7 mi, 021° N
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 1.7 mi, 107° E · 598 acres
Marin Islands Ecological Reserve (State Conservation Area) — 1.7 mi, 107° E
Marin Islands State Marine Park (Marine Protected Area) — 1.7 mi, 106° E
San Rafael Open Space (Nature Reserve) — 2.0 mi, 234° SW
Showcase Theatre (Theatre) — 2.1 mi, 319° NW
Bartolini Gallery (Museum) — 2.1 mi, 320° NW
Tamalpais Maiden (Public Artwork) — 2.5 mi, 201° S
San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area (State Conservation Area) — 2.6 mi, 004° N
Giant Picnic Table (Attraction) — 2.8 mi, 190° S
China Camp Historic Area (Attraction) — 2.8 mi, 061° NE
Slide House (Attraction) — 2.8 mi, 191° S
The Rosebowl (Monument) — 3.5 mi, 205° SW
Marcia Lois Grimm (Monument) — 4.5 mi, 360° N
Mayor's Lookout (Viewpoint) — 5.0 mi, 203° SW
Mount Tamalpais State Park (State Park) — 5.2 mi, 226° SW
Sitting Bull Rock and memorial (Monument) — 5.3 mi, 223° SW
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Recreation Area) — 6.5 mi, 198° S · 113k acres
Old Hilary's Botanical Preserve (Nature Reserve) — 7.4 mi, 158° S
Bat House (Historic Ruins) — 7.9 mi, 079° E
Tiburon Playhouse (Cinema) — 7.9 mi, 160° S
Golden State Model Railroad Museum (Museum) — 8.1 mi, 124° SE

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