Trails out your front door
The Dipsea, Steep Ravine, and Cascade Falls start in town, and Baltimore Canyon, Blithedale Summit, and Old Mill Park put redwood forest within walking distance of many homes.
Marin County
Mill Valley
The redwood town at the foot of Mount Tamalpais
Mill Valley is Marin's iconic redwood town: downtown sits in a canyon at the base of Mount Tamalpais, old-growth redwoods shade whole neighborhoods, and trails start at the end of city streets. For buyers it offers a classic small-town downtown, strong schools, and the best access in the county to Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, and the Dipsea Trail.
Why people love it
What to know about Mill Valley
A downtown that feels like a village
Miller Avenue, Throckmorton, and Lytton Square pack independent shops, cafes, and restaurants into a few walkable blocks, with the Depot bookstore and the Sequoia theater as landmarks.
Strong K-8 schools
Mill Valley School District runs five neighborhood elementaries and one middle school, and most high schoolers attend Tamalpais High right in town.
A year of community events
The Mill Valley Film Festival in October, free Concerts in the Plaza all summer, and city-rec traditions like the community campout keep the calendar full.
Local favorites
Where the locals actually go
My favorite way to test a neighborhood is still over coffee and dinner. These are real places in and around Mill Valley that my clients and I keep going back to.
Avatar's Punjabi Burritos
A Mill Valley legend: Indian fillings wrapped burrito-style, made on Madrona Street for decades.
15 Madrona St, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Super Duper Burgers
The Marin-born burger chain's homey Miller Avenue outpost, with garlic fries that have a cult following.
430 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Parks & outdoor spaces
Where Mill Valley gets outside
Mill Valley is where Marin's redwood-country life starts: old-growth groves within city limits, plus the gateway to Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, and the Dipsea Trail.
Old Mill Park
A redwood-grove park in the center of town with the historic Reed Mill, an amphitheater, playground, and picnic areas under the trees.
Old Mill & Cascade Park, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Boyle Park
Wheelchair-accessible community park with tennis courts, ballfields, a playground, and generous lawn on East Blithedale.
E Blithedale Ave at East Dr, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve
A county preserve of redwood canyons just above town, with some of Marin's best easy-to-moderate forest trails.
Upper Mill Valley, CA 94941
Blithedale Summit Open Space Preserve
Ridgeline trails and panoramic views where Mill Valley meets Corte Madera's hills, part of the county preserve network.
Mill Valley-Corte Madera ridge, CA 94941
Muir Woods National Monument
The world-famous old-growth redwood canyon a short drive up the mountain from downtown Mill Valley.
1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Schools
Schools serving Mill Valley
Mill Valley's K-8 district is compact and well regarded: five neighborhood elementaries feed one middle school in town, and most high schoolers go to Tamalpais High in the Tamalpais Union High School District.
Elementary
Edna Maguire Elementary School
A Mill Valley School District elementary in the hills near Cascade Canyon, one of the district's five K-5 campuses.
80 Lomita Dr, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Middle School (6-8)
Mill Valley Middle School
The district's single 6-8 middle school on Summit Avenue, with strong academics and the school's own campus bowl traditions.
425 Summit Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
High School (9-12)
Tamalpais High School
The historic Tamalpais Union High School District campus in Mill Valley, overlooking the bay from its hillside site.
700 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Restaurants & dining
Eating around Mill Valley
Downtown Mill Valley punches above its size for dining: long-running locals' favorites, Pilipino-Indian hybrids, and a Sol Food outpost all within a few blocks of Lytton Square.
Joe's Taco Lounge
Colorful, fun Mexican spot on Miller Avenue with strong margaritas and a lively room.
382 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Playa Mill Valley
Southern Mexican cooking and a big tequila list in a stylish setting steps off Throckmorton.
41 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Sol Food
The Mill Valley outpost of Marin's beloved Puerto Rican kitchen, a short walk from the theater.
401 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Prabh Indian Kitchen
Modern Indian plates on Sunnyside Avenue, with a loyal neighborhood following.
24 Sunnyside Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Lam's Kitchen
Sit-down Chinese favorites on East Blithedale, a dependable family dinner stop.
89 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Shopping & amenities
Everyday errands, close to home
Downtown Mill Valley is small but dense: Mill Valley Market for groceries, Whole Foods and Good Earth for natural foods, and independent shops along Miller Avenue and Lytton Square.
Mill Valley Market
The independent, community-owned grocery and deli in the heart of downtown, a local institution since the 1950s.
12 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Good Earth Natural Foods
The pioneering natural-foods market on Flamingo Road, a Marin original for organic groceries and supplements.
201 Flamingo Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Whole Foods Market
A full-service Whole Foods on East Blithedale, convenient for the south side of town.
731 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Community & events
The rhythm of Mill Valley
Community life in Mill Valley is famously active: the Mill Valley Film Festival each October, free Concerts in the Plaza through the summer, and city-rec traditions like the community campout.
Mill Valley Film Festival
The town's famous October film festival since 1977, screening at the Sequoia and other Marin venues, with filmmakers and stars in attendance.
Sequoia Theater and venues, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Concerts in the Plaza
Free summer evening concerts at Lytton Plaza downtown, the classic Mill Valley way to end a summer day.
Lytton Plaza, Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Home types
What sells around here
Typical range across my markets: $400,000-$4,000,000. From condos to country acreage.
Redwood-shaded single-family homes Hillside homes with ridge views Cottages and bungalows downtown Canyon and terrace properties
Keep exploring
Other areas I cover
Marin County
Novato
Sonoma County
Petaluma East
Sonoma County
Petaluma West
Marin County
Marin County
Sonoma County
Sonoma County
Marin County
Ignacio
Marin County
Terra Linda
Marin County
San Rafael
Marin County
Tiburon
Marin County
Corte Madera
Marin County
Forest Knolls
Marin County
Point Reyes Station
Sonoma County
Cotati
Sonoma County
Penngrove
Sonoma County
Rohnert Park
Sonoma County
Sebastopol
Sonoma County
Santa Rosa
Sonoma County
Windsor
Sonoma County
Healdsburg
Thinking about moving to Mill Valley? Good choice.
I have lived this area my whole life and sold homes here for 21 years. Let's find yours.