Point Reyes National Seashore is a truly unique place to visit. Even though it’s located in California an hour north of San Francisco, it doesn’t feel like California at all!
The amazing beaches, coastal bluffs, and abundant wildlife provide a ton of fantastic photo opportunities to enjoy the protected shoreline.
It is also really easy to plan a Point Reyes day trip from San Francisco or Sacramento. You can also incorporate a day trip here while on a longer, northern California road trip (what we did).
The unique scenery here blew my expectations out of the water.
A day trip to Point Reyes is an unforgettable experience and a must-see for any California bucket list!
This post is all about how to have the ultimate Point Reyes day trip, including the best places to see, where to stay, and more!
(And if you plan to visit Point Reyes on a longer road trip and are looking for the ultimate 7-day northern California road trip itinerary, check out this post too!)
The Best Time to Visit Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is pleasant to visit year-round, and each season brings unique pros and cons.
Spring and late summer/early fall bring the warmest temperatures and less fog. Spring is a great time to see wildflowers and fall is a great time to spot tule elk.
I would avoid visiting Point Reyes in the middle of summer because that is when the fog is heaviest and the peak summer crowds are out!
The rainy season is from December-March, but you can also see migrating whales and elephant seals in December, January, and mid-March so it is still a great time to visit.
In short, if you’re visiting Point Reyes for the scenery, I’d recommend spring or early fall (we still saw a few elephant seals and elk in early September when we visited!).
If whale watching is your thing, visit in the winter.
How to Get to Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is located about an hour north of San Francisco and 2 hours west of Sacramento.
If you’re coming from San Francisco, you’ll drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and have 2 route options: The 1 up the coast, or The 101.
The 1 will add about 20 minutes to your drive, but you’ll drive up the coast and see some fantastic scenery and small coastal towns. This road is a bit twisty, so keep that in mind if you’re prone to carsickness!
If you’re not from California (like me), and will need to fly to get anywhere close to northern California, I recommend flying into San Francisco or Sacramento.
You will also need to rent a car for this Point Reyes day trip, as there aren’t any park shuttles or good public transportation to help you get around!
Related: 7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary for Hikers (Seashore, Redwoods, & Volcano Edition!)
Where to Stay at Point Reyes
If you’re just doing a day trip to Point Reyes, you might not need to stay overnight (which is totally fine!).
But if you do plan to stay overnight because you’re on a longer California road trip, here are a few highly-rated places to stay:
- Olema Cottages: peaceful, adorable cottages with a great location near Point Reyes
- Point Reyes Station Inn: romantic bed and breakfast within walking distance of the shops and restaurants in Point Reyes Station
- Inn at Roundstone Farm: serene bed and breakfast with a full country breakfast every morning
Helpful Tips for a Point Reyes Day Trip
The weather at Point Reyes National Seashore is very unpredictable, so pack layers. You could be blessed with amazing sunny weather, or have a foggy, rainy, or windy day. It’s best to be prepared for anything!
You also won’t have much cell signal at Point Reyes, so download any maps ahead of time!
There is also no entrance fee to get into Point Reyes National Seashore.
Point Reyes Day Trip Itinerary
Stop 1: Bear Valley Visitor’s Center
The first stop on your Point Reyes day trip is the Bear Valley Visitor’s Center, just south of Point Reyes Station. Grab a park map and take a quick bathroom break if you need one.
Depending on what time you arrive, you might also want to grab lunch in Point Reyes Station or Inverness before exploring. There aren’t any options for food once you pass Inverness.
If you’re not hungry now, you can always grab supplies for a picnic lunch later!
At Point Reyes Station, turn onto Sir Francis Drake Road. This is the main road through Point Reyes National Seashore, and you’ll drive it all the way down to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula.
Stop 2: Point Reyes Shipwreck
Your next stop is the Point Reyes Shipwreck (also known as the S.S. Point Reyes or Inverness Shipwreck).
It’s located right behind the Inverness Store and is just a quick walk down to the shore.
The original owner of the boat dragged it around as he planned to fix it up. He never got around to it, leaving the boat to decay on the shore. The boat was planned to be removed when the land was taken over by a wetlands restoration firm, but local photographers prevented that from happening.
The Point Reyes Shipwreck remains as a famous photography spot for people to enjoy!
I am so sad that we didn’t learn about this until after our trip. We literally stopped at the Inverness Store for snacks but missed the shipwreck! Learn from my mistake and don’t miss it on your trip!
Stop 3: Cypress Tree Tunnel
The next stop on your Point Reyes day trip is the Cypress Tree Tunnel. This will be on your right as you drive down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
Cars aren’t allowed on the road with the cypress trees, so you’ll have to park on the street. Take a nice stroll among the unique trees and grab some amazing photographs.
If you walk all the way to the end of the road, you’ll end up at the historic KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station. This was the last maritime Morse Code station in the world!
You can tour the station on most Saturdays between noon and 4pm.
Stop 5: Chimney Rock Trail
If you only have time to do one thing at Point Reyes National Seashore, make it the Chimney Rock Trail.
This easy, 1.9-mile trail gives some of the best scenery I’ve seen in my whole life. You hike through the Point Reyes Headlands over spectacular coastal grasslands. The sheer cliff drop offs are mesmerizing.
You’ll hike out on a peninsula off the “main” Point Reyes peninsula (hopefully that makes sense). On one side, you have the Drakes Bay with a super cute historic boathouse, and the other side is the Gulf of the Farallones.
And if the scenery isn’t cool enough (photos from here make an excellent work desktop background), you’ll also have the opportunity to view elephant seals! The Elephant Seal Overlook is located 0.3 miles into the Chimney Rock Trail, so be sure not to miss it.
The parking lot at this trailhead is pretty small, so it can get full on weekend afternoons. We were there late afternoon on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and didn’t have any issues, but earlier in the day would have been busy I’m sure!
Stop 6: South Beach Overlook
For the next stop on your Point Reyes day trip, make your way to the Point Reyes Lighthouse and South Beach Overlook.
You’ll find the overlook at the parking lot for the lighthouse. This is a beautiful view of the uninterrupted coastline.
Stop 7: Point Reyes Lighthouse
Your final stop on this Point Reyes day trip is what Point Reyes is most famous for: the lighthouse!
The Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn mariners about the Point Reyes Headlands as they were traveling north from the San Francisco Bay. It was retired in 1975 when the US Coast Guard installed an automatic light just below the historic lighthouse.
You’ll walk slightly uphill for 0.5 miles on a paved path to get to the Lighthouse Visitor’s Center and observation deck. You can also walk down 313 stairs to the actual lighthouse on the cliff.
The stairs down to the lighthouse are only open from 10am – 4:30pm Friday through Monday, but the Visitor’s Center and Observation Deck is open 7 days a week.
If you’re visiting in the winter, the lighthouse is the best place to look for whales migrating in the Pacific Ocean!
Other Attractions Near Point Reyes National Seashore
Tule Elk Preserve & Tomales Point
The northernmost tip of the Point Reyes peninsula is the Tule Elk Preserve. You can hike to Tomales Point in the preserve and see dozens of elk, especially in the late summer/early fall season.
This is also a great hike to see wildflowers and for birdwatching. The Tomales Point Trail is 9.4 miles with 1200 feet of elevation gain, so it will take you a solid 4 hours to complete.
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods is located just 16 miles north of San Francisco and 25 miles south of Point Reyes Station.
It protects one of the last remaining old-growth coastal redwood tree groves. Some of the redwoods are almost 100 years old and stand 250+ feet tall.
Redwood National and State Parks
Similar to Muir Woods, Redwood National and State Parks preserve the tallest trees in the world.
This area commonly referred to as “Redwood National Park,” actually encompasses the National Park with 3 California State Parks as a joint effort.
Redwood National Park is a good 5 hours north of Point Reyes, but it makes a great stop on a northern California coast road trip. Check out my post on how to spend 1 epic day in Redwood National Park here!
Napa Valley
Of course if you’re a wine connoisseur, Napa Valley is located about an hour east of Point Reyes Station.
Take an afternoon to drive through the valley and stop at wineries for wine tasting, appetizers, and beautiful scenery.
What are you looking forward to most on your Point Reyes day trip? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information on Northern California
Check out my other posts on northern California to make the most of your trip!
- 7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary for Hikers (Seashore, Redwoods, & Volcano Edition!)
- 1-Day Redwood National Park Itinerary & Guide
- The Ultimate 1-3 Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
- 7 Best Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park (2023 Update)
- 13 Fantastic Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
