National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Point Reyes National SeashoreBear Valley Visitor Center
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Point Reyes National Seashore
Directions
 
Point Reyes Area Map

Point Reyes is located approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of San Francisco on Highway 1 along the west coast of California (see Maps). Travelers may approach the park from the winding scenic Highway 1, either northbound or southbound. You can also reach the park via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or the Point Reyes/Petaluma Road.

Public transportation to the Bear Valley Visitor Center is available through the West Marin Stagecoach.

Below are directions for the quickest routes to Point Reyes National Seashore's Bear Valley Visitor Center from the given locations. For directions from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to points of interest and trailheads within Point Reyes National Seashore, please visit our Directions to Park Destinations page.

Road Closures in Point Reyes National Seashore

Directions from San Francisco
Directions from the East Bay
Directions from Sacramento
Directions from Petaluma

Directions Using GPS or Internet Mapping Applications

Top of Page

 

Directions from San Francisco

  • From San Francisco, go north on U.S. Highway 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Follow U.S. 101 about 9 miles (14 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sir Francis Drake-San Anselmo exit, exit 450B.
  • Make sure you are in the lane for San Anselmo (the second lane from the right) and exit onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard heading west.
  • Follow Sir Francis Drake west approximately 21 miles (33 km) - passing through San Anselmo, Fairfax and Samuel P. Taylor State Park - until it intersects with Highway 1 at Olema.
  • Turn right on Highway 1 and proceed north about 100 yards (100 m).
  • Take the first left turn at Bear Valley Road and head west about 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Look for a big red barn on the left and a sign for Seashore information on the right.
  • Turn left past the red barn and proceed up the driveway to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the main park contact station.

Top of Page

 

Directions from the East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)

  • Follow Interstate 580 west across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
  • Shortly after the bridge, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit (the second exit after the bridge).
  • Follow Sir Francis Drake west approximately 22 miles (35 km) - passing through San Anselmo, Fairfax and Samuel P. Taylor State Park - until it intersects with Highway 1 at Olema.
  • Turn right on Highway 1 and proceed north about 100 yards (100 m).
  • Take the first left turn at Bear Valley Road and head west about 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Look for a big red barn on the left and a sign for Seashore information on the right.
  • Turn left past the red barn and proceed up the driveway to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the main park contact station.

Top of Page

 

Directions from Sacramento

  • Follow Interstate 80 about 50 miles (80 km) west to Vallejo.
  • From Vallejo, take California Highway 37 about 21 miles (33 km) west to the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 in Novato.
  • Go north on U.S. Highway 101 about 2.5 miles (4 km)and take the Atherton Avenue-San Marin Drive exit.
  • Turn left onto San Marin Drive and head west for about 2.5 miles (4 km) to the junction with Novato Blvd.
  • Turn right onto Novato Blvd. and proceed west for about 6 miles (10 km) to the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road.
  • Turn left and follow the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road southwest for about 7 miles (11 km) to the junction with Platform Bridge Road.
  • Turn right to stay on the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road and continue west for about 3 miles (5 km) to the junction with California Highway 1 in the town of Point Reyes Station.
  • Turn left onto Highway 1, drive south through Point Reyes Station and continue south on Highway 1 approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) - if you get to a flashing red light, you've gone 100 yards (100 m) too far.
  • Turn right onto Bear Valley Road and head west about 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Look for a big red barn on the left and a sign for Seashore information on the right.
  • Turn left past the red barn and proceed up the driveway to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the main park contact station.

Top of Page

 

Directions from Petaluma

  • From Highway 101 take the East Washington Street exit.
  • Follow Washington Street southwest about 1 mile (1.6 km) to Petaluma Boulevard.
  • Turn left and proceed southeast a few blocks to D Street.
  • Turn right onto D Street, which will become the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, and head southwest for about 15 miles (24 km) to the junction with Platform Bridge Road.
  • Turn right to stay on the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road and continue west for about 3 miles (5 km) to the junction with California Highway 1 in the town of Point Reyes Station.
  • Turn left onto Highway 1, drive south through Point Reyes Station and continue south on Highway 1 approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) - if you get to a flashing red light, you've gone 100 yards (100 m) too far.
  • Turn right onto Bear Valley Road and head west about 1/2 mile (0.8 km). Look for a big red barn on the left and a sign for Seashore information on the right.
  • Turn left past the red barn and proceed up the driveway to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the main park contact station.

Top of Page

Point Reyes National Seashore Area Map
Area Map
46 KB PDF
more...
Point Reyes National Seashore Park Map
Park Map
476 KB PDF
more...
West Marin Stagecoach
West Marin Stagecoach
Bus service between West Marin and East Marin
more...
Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit
Bus service in East Marin County
more...
Tule Elk  

Did You Know?
In the mid-1800s, the tule elk was hunted to the brink of extinction. The last surviving tule elk were discovered and protected in the southern San Joaquin Valley in 1874. In 1978, ten tule elk were reintroduced to Point Reyes, which now has one of California's largest populations, numbering ~500.
more...

Last Updated: September 29, 2008 at 12:46 EST