Seating at Cushing Memorial Ampitheatre
Most of the ampitheatre is General Seating (i.e., First Come, First Served, or Unassigned): Claim Your Rocks for they day! The Ampitheatre Opens at 9 am each performance day.
Its “On The ROCKS!” The stone seats are a special feature of the Amphitheatre. Bring a blanket or a cushion, sit right on the rocks, or rent a stadium seat and enjoy our awesome serpentine stones while you watch the show.
Hike, Bike, Bus, or Drive to the Mountain Play
Take advantage of the ecologically friendly transportation
ROUND TRIP SHUTTLE BUS PRICES:
Adults: $10
Youth ages 4-25: $5
Round-trip bus fare is paid when you board in the morning. Please note: Shuttles do not stop between the amphitheater and shuttle parking lots.
Mountain Play shuttles leave roughly every 15 minutes from 10:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. on play dates from two locations in Mill Valley. At the show’s end, you will hop in the Exit Line to board a bus going back to both parking lots.
Parking is free at either location:
- UPDATED 5/19: SHORELINE PARKING LOT will be the primary lot due to the construction at the Manzanita Park and Ride. We encourage all users to be aware of the general guidelines: do not block access to stalls, bike lockers, transit buses, or load zones; do not park in red zones; abide by lot signage; and be aware that users use the lot at their own risk. California Highway Patrol provides parking enforcement and will ticket & tow if the guidelines are violated.
NOTE: There is no security, and the lot is subject to flooding. Patrons park at their own risk. Vehicles cannot be parked for more than 24 hours. Vehicles may be ticketed or towed by law enforcement for not obeying traffic laws & parking restrictions, such as no parking along red zones or at no parking signs, blocking transit or other vehicles.
- Tamalpais High School, opposite the Safeway on Miller Avenue.
For those athletic patrons who want to take the traditional route to or from the theatre, hiking is an attractive option. Please research the way on your own before you leave in the morning. Consider buying a map of the mountain. A great map is “Trails of Mount Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands,” available at Amazon. You can also visit OneTam.Org to find a free downloadable map.
Traditional Hike Down
Many Mountain Play hikers take the bus up to the theatre and then hike down after the show. Your hike down is made easier because the Mountain Play transports your ice chests and other bulky items back to Mill Valley.
We offer a mid-way point pickup, so you can stop there if you’re tired when you get to the Mountain Home Inn. Refresh yourself with some beverages or a snack, and then catch our Midway shuttle back to your car at 6: 30, 6:50, or 7:10 P.M. If you’re feeling good and want to walk to Mill Valley, go for it!
Once you reach Mill Valley, pick up your gear and hop on a shuttle back to your parked car at Tamalpais High or Manzanita Park and Ride. Enjoy dinner in charming downtown Mill Valley while you wait. The last shuttle from downtown Mill Valley to the parking lots leaves at 9:00 P.M. You can take a taxi (at your expense) to the parking area if you miss the last shuttle.
Mountain Play: Hike Down Map
Mountain Play: Hike Down Guide
While more manageable than the hike up to the theatre, it is still 7 miles and will take 2-2 1/2 hours. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring plenty of water.
Biking to the Mountain Play is a fun way to get to the show. You can road cycle or mountain bike. Either way, please be sure to stay safe! Wear your helmet, and bring lots of water, snacks, and a map. See the links below for advice and directions from the pros around the Bay Area. For a fantastic biking map, check out the Marin Bike Coalition map.
Bike parking is FREE and available in the amphitheater.
If you choose to drive, please understand that parking on Mount Tamalpais is minimal. Reserved Parking Spaces at the Air Force Base Parking Lot are $40 when purchased online or $50 at the lot gate; however, it is subject to availability. There are fewer than 200 spaces for each performance date.
ADA Parking is Limited and only available by reservation.
Please note that the amphitheater has no street address within Mount Tamalpais State Park. CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE MAPS. You can also follow the directions below if you cannot access Google Maps.
Safety Protocols
Infection Prevention
We are lucky to perform outdoors, where we don’t have to worry about ventilation for our audience or staff.
Protocols for other circumstances. These guidelines are for the safety of our audiences, volunteers, and employees. Thank you for your continued understanding.
Currently – The Mountain Play updates all COVID protocols based on current local, state, federal, and CDC Guidelines and may continue to change at any time. For last-minute performance updates, check the home page before leaving your home on the day of the show.
Food & Drinks
You can pack a gourmet picnic, choose the Dining in the Woods experience before walking to your seats, or enjoy the food and drink options from our Theatre Village
On Sale at the Theatre
If you’d like to take a relaxing ride up and not carry a cooler, the following options are available in the Theatre Village Area:
- Mountain Play Café serves a selection of BBQ items from Pitmaster Forrest Murray, Jr.
- Mill Valley Rotary Club offers hot beverages & cold beverages, ice cream desserts, and snacks for your picnic. Proceeds go toward the Rotary’s selected charity.
- Sno-cones enjoy an icy sno-cone treat and support the Mountain Play (Cash Only)
- Mountain Play Tamalpais Tavern offers refreshing adult libations. Our friends from at Lagunitas Brewery Company donate these beverages. All proceeds benefit the Mountain Play Association. (Cash or Credit)

RESERVED SEATING & DINING IN THE WOODS
Enjoy the rustic elegance of our intimate dining experience in a private grove – an excellent benefit of our Patron Circle Reserved Seating Package. Preview the 2023 Menu Here. Dining In The Woods is Available on Sundays Only.
BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC
There’s nothing like a picnic on a mountaintop! Start your picnic tradition.
Please drink responsibly and keep hydrated. Consider packing a State Park-friendly picnic: low waste and green!
PICNIC CONTEST: June 18! Closing Day- Special Judge to be Announced!
Festival Activities
There’s plenty to do and see once you arrive on the Mountain!
Visit Vendors & Booths! – You can get sno-cones to beat the heat, a Mountain Play T-shirt to remember the experience, and much more!
Previous Vendors have included: Friends of Mount Tamalpais, Conservation Corps North Bay, & Stephan Hill Jewelers.
Look Out for our Raffle Sellers and the list of Prizes! – Each Raffle ticket purchase supports Mountain Play & our Community Partner of the day. Prize Drawing on Closing Day!
Hiking – Check out the Friends of Mt. Tamalpais booth to help find you the best hiking around the amphitheatre.
Watch Pre-Show Entertainment – 12:30 on the stage, listen to the sounds of local artists, and enjoy the show before the show!
Observing the Wildlife & The View – Whether the lizards scurrying between the seats or the birds flying overhead, there are plenty of non-human friends to see before the show. Speaking of seeing, on clear days, several Bay Area Landmarks are visible from your seats! See if you can spot your home from up there.
Remember to Bring These With You
Because the Mountain Play experience is much more than a day at the theatre, we’ll help you plan it out.
Cell Phones – Service is inconsistent and varies between carriers; please plan accordingly.
Improving Access
American Sign Language Interpretation
The JUNE 10 & 11 Performances will be Sign Interpereted.
More details are to be announced.
Platform Seating Section
For guests in a wheelchair or who need more accessible seating, we reserve seating on a shaded platform. It can seat up to 8 wheelchairs with one companion each for every performance. Due to limited space, platform seating is available only for guests with reduced mobility and one companion. Additional members of the party can find seating nearby.
We also have seating for guests with reduced mobility, not in a wheelchair. This seating section is situated directly below the platform, also in the shade. Space is limited in this row and is only available by reservation or for medical emergencies.
Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis and must be made before the Friday at 5 P.M. of each performance weekend.
Please call (415) 383-1100 to make your reservation.
Altered Vehicle Parking
Madrone Grove parking is only available to wheelchair users who drive their own specially equipped/altered vehicles and for vans carrying multiple wheelchair patrons. This small lot is located inside the theater and is close to the wheelchair platform. We only have space for fewer than six vehicles, and it is accessible only to patrons who have received a Mountain Play parking permit. Please call to make a reservation early in the season if you need to use these parking spots.
For regular ADA Accessible Parking – Please Call 415 383-1100 for a reserved space in the Rock Spring Lot details about drop off and pick up can be discussed then.
Golf Cart Shuttle
Once at the front gate of the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, we will have a golf cart available between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. It shuttles patrons with physical limitations to the head a short flat trail that leads to the wheelchair platform or nearby seating. Even if you are not in a wheelchair but need some help getting around, this is a great option. You will be taken to the middle of the theatre, making access to seating much easier.
After the performance, the Golf Cart Shuttle, patrons can be driven back from the trailhead to the front gate. From there, patrons are either picked up by their ride or board the bus home. Depending on the number of patrons wanting a ride, there can be a bit of a wait. Patience is appreciated.
No reservations are required for Golf Cart Transportation. It is available upon request on the day of the performance, with special thanks to the Kaliski family and Harbor Point Tennis Club!