 How to get here...
Tomales Bay is located on the central California coast approximately 40 miles northwest of San Francisco, with the east side of the bay along a stretch of Highway 1. Below are driving directions to either the ease or west side of Tomales Bay. For convenience, choose from the nearest point you will be traveling to Tomales Bay from:
From San Francisco:
To the East Side - Follow Highway 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Highway signs will read "Greenbrae/Corte Madera". Just past the mall area, look for a sign on the right side of the road that says "San Anselmo".
Take the right exit to San Anselmo and look immediately for a sign saying "Sir Francis Drake Highway", this road will curve left back under the free way. Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway through several towns San Anselmo, Fairfax etc. (approximately 20 miles). It will end in the town of Olema where there will be a stop sign and flashing red light.
Turn to the right. At this point, Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake Highway are the same road for approximately 3 miles between Olema and Point Reyes.
Continuing right/north on this road will bring you to Point Reyes Station and you can continue north to Millerton Point (Tomales Bay State Park); Marshall, Miller County Boat Launch (Nick's Cove) and the towns at the northern tip of the bay, Dillons Beach and Tomales.
To the West Side - Follow the directions to Olema as above. After making the right turn at Olema, continue along Highway1/Sir Francis Drake Highway for three miles until you see a green bridge. Just before the green bridge, turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Highway (here it splits off from Highway 1).
Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway, You will pass White House Pool and then come through the town of Inverness. Chicken Ranch Beach is along Sir Francis Drake though it is not marked. As you leave the Inverness area, and drive up a steep hill, signs for "Tomales Bay State Park" appear on the right side of the road.
Take the right turn towards Tomales Bay State Park - you leave Sir Francis Drake Highway and turn onto "Pierce Point Road". Along Pierce Point Road is the entrance to Tomales Bay State Park on the right and the turn off to "L Ranch" Road which provides access to the Marshall Beach trailhead.
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From the East Bay:
To the East Side - Cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (Highway 880)
As you exit the bridge, a right hand sign for "Sir Francis Drake Highway" appears - take this exit. Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway through several towns San Anselmo, Fairfax etc. (approximately 20 miles). It will end in the town of Olema where there will be a stop sign and flashing red light.
To the West Side - Follow the directions to Olema as above. After making the right turn at Olema, continue along Highway1/Sir Francis Drake Highway for three miles until you see a green bridge. Just before the green bridge, turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Highway (here it splits off from Highway 1).
Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway, You will pass White House Pool and then come through the town of Inverness. Chicken Ranch Beach is along Sir Francis Drake though it is not marked. As you leave the Inverness area, and drive up a steep hill, signs for "Tomales Bay State Park" appear on the right side of the road.
Take the right turn towards Tomales Bay State Park, Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway, You will pass White House Pool (on the right) and then come through the town of Inverness. Chicken Ranch Beach is along Sir Francis Drake though it is not marked. As you leave the Inverness area, and drive up a steep hill, signs for "Tomales Bay State Park" appear on the right side of the road.
Take the right turn towards Tomales Bay State Park - you leave Sir Francis Drake Highway and turn onto "Pierce Point Road". Along Pierce Point Road is the entrance to Tomales Bay State Park on the right and the turn off to "L Ranch" Road which provides access to the Marshall Beach trailhead.
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From Petaluma/Highway 101 southbound:
To the East Side - Traveling on Highway 101, take the "East Washington Exit" which is on the right side of the freeway for southbound travelers/left side for northbound travelers. Follow East Washington west for approximately 3 miles until crossing a bridge and coming to a stoplight. At the stoplight, turn left into Petaluma Boulevard. Follow Petaluma Boulevard approximately 3 miles and look for a Chevron Station on the right, one block past the station is "D Street". Turn right onto "D Street" before the small city park.
Follow D Street approximately 20 miles. As it leaves the town of Petaluma it is called "Point Reyes Petaluma Road" . This road ends at Highway 1 at a stop sign. Turn to the right at the stop sign to continue north on Highway 1.
Continuing right/north on this road will bring you to Point Reyes Station and you can continue north to Millerton Point (Tomales Bay State Park), Marshall, Miller County Boat Launch (Nick's Cove) and the towns at the northern tip of the bay, Dillons Beach and Tomales.
To the West Side - Follow all the above directions. At the stop sign, turn left and travel south through the town of Point Reyes Station continuing through the town.
You will cross a green bridge. Immediately after the bridge is a sharp right turn which brings you onto Sir Francis Drake Highway. Continue along Sir Francis Drake Highway, You will pass White House Pool and then come through the town of Inverness. Chicken Ranch Beach is along Sir Francis Drake though it is not marked. As you leave the Inverness area, and drive up a steep hill, signs for "Tomales Bay State Park" appear on the right side of the road.
Take the right turn towards Tomales Bay State Park - you leave Sir Francis Drake Highway and turn onto "Pierce Point Road". Along Pierce Point Road is the entrance to Tomales Bay State Park on the right and the turn off to "L Ranch" Road which provides access to the Marshall Beach trailhead.
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