San Francisco to Bodega Bay Day Trip

Experience northern California’s rich farmlands and wild, dramatic coastline on a one-day visit to Bodega Bay, in beautiful Sonoma County. Located slightly more than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Bodega Bay blends the relaxed Wine Country lifestyle with the wondrous power and superb natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean coastline. And the drive there takes you through the pasturelands and rolling hills of Sonoma County’s lush farm belt.

Whether you choose to relax on a sandy beach, explore tide pools, hike bluff-top trails, savor premium wine and cuisine, or simply enjoy amazing view after amazing view driving along the famous Coast Highway 1, it will be a day to remember.

Morning

From the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise Highway 101 North to the town of Petaluma, and take the Highway 116/Lakeville Street exit. The off-ramp makes a U turn; at the end go right (west) on Lakeville Street, crossing under Highway 101. Take a left on East Washington Street, which (after it crosses Howard Street) becomes Bodega Avenue, and heads toward the coast.

The buildings and homes lining this two-lane roadway gradually give way to weathered barns and sheds, neat farmhouses, gentle hillsides, and pastures filled with cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Enjoy the views around each bend and, when there’s a Y in the road, go right on Valley Ford Road, which eventually blends into Highway 1, known on this particular stretch as the Shoreline Highway.

If you have the time, stop in tiny Valley Ford (pop. 147), a collection of buildings that includes several popular restaurants, a few shops, the Valley Ford Hotel (built in 1864), and the family owned Valley Ford Market, a farmers’ and ranchers’ grocery store that also caters to tourists.

Continue on your way on the Shoreline Highway. In slightly more than three miles, take a right on the Bodega Highway for a quick stop in the village of Bodega. At least two of the buildings in this tiny town will be familiar to film buffs, because they served as locations for director Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1963 thriller movie, ‘The Birds.’

Just off the highway (up Bodega Lane), you’ll see the St. Teresa of Avila Church, made famous by a 1953 Ansel Adams photograph and later glimpsed briefly on film during The Birds. You’ll also find the old Potter School House, the setting for much on-screen running, screaming, and pecking during The Birds.

The two buildings also prettied up the opening credits of Fred Astaire and Petula Clark’s 1968 musical Finian’s Rainbow. Feel free to snap as many pictures as you’d like in front of both buildings, but do note that the Potter School House is now a private residence. 

Park the car and stretch your legs a bit. It’s fun to browse this small town’s diverse mix of shops and businesses, offering gifts, antiques, Peruvian fabrics, surfing equipment, fine art, fresh-roasted coffee, local crafts, yoga classes, massage, and skin care.

Then it’s on to our destination. Retrace your route the short distance on the Bodega Highway back to Highway 1, turn right, and it’s just a bit more than five miles to Bodega Bay, a shallow, rocky inlet about five miles wide on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

On the north end of this bay, the fishing village of Bodega Bay (pop. 1,077) hugs the hillside in a protected harbor. This small community offers a delightful mix of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and multiple ways to explore the stunning natural beauty of this amazing area.

Start by getting your feet in the sand on the beautiful beach at Doran Regional Park, a perfect spot for beachcombing, picnicking, fishing, building a sand castle, or just sitting back and enjoying the day. Or scramble over the rock jetty at the harbor mouth and explore pools of sea life.

If it’s slightly breezy, Doran is a wonderful place to fly a kite, so you might want to stop at one of the two kite stores in town  — Candy & Kites or Second Wind — to buy a kite or two before settling in to spend time on the beach at Doran.

If stretching out on a sandy beach isn’t what you’re looking for, or if you’re simply ready to explore further so you don’t miss any of the natural wonders of this beautiful area, head north once again on Highway 1.

Take a left onto Eastshore road, right onto Bay Flat Road, and then continue straight on Westshore Road, to the parking lot for Bodega Head.

A rocky peninsula about four miles long and one mile wide, Bodega Head shelters the town of Bodega Bay from the mighty Pacific Ocean. Trails to the north and south offer dazzling ocean and bay views, as well as access down to small beaches.

Or just stand on the bluffs next to the parking lot, and chances are you’ll spot seals playing in the water, or whales cruising by. If you have binoculars, they’ll come in handy. You can see whales off the coast all year long, but your chances are best during the primary migration seasons (the whales pass by heading south from October through February, and going north from February to April).

For an even closer view of whales, or to simply get out on the ocean to fish, with advance reservations a number of charter companies offer whale watching, fishing, or sightseeing boat trips out of Bodega Harbor. For an active adventure, take the four-hour guided Bodega Bay Bike & Hike Tour by Ace It Bike Tours, exploring the Bodega Head area on foot and on two wheels while learning about local wildlife and history.

Afternoon

It’s undoubtedly time for a bit of lunch. If you’re up for something rustic but delicious, on your way to Bodega Head you passed the family run Spud Point Crab Company; the family also owns two fishing boats, so you know the seafood is fresh. Fans rave about their clam chowder and crab sandwiches, which you can enjoy on the picnic tables out front, or take to the beach for a picnic. If you eat at the crab shack, you’ll enjoy a great view of the neat rows of fishing and crab boats docked at the Spud Point Marina, directly across the street.

In addition to selling fresh seafood, the Fishetarian Fish Market on Highway 1 features a menu of fish and chips, clam chowder, grilled fish tacos, and more, with gluten-free and vegetarian options, all using organic, locally-grown ingredients, and made in the healthiest way possible.

Enjoy stunning views of Bodega Bay along with juicy and tender meats from the indoor and outdoor smokers at Ginochio’s Kitchen, including the Moo Sandwich that features 14 hour-smoked beef brisket or beef tri-tip on a toasted French roll. Both indoor and outdoor seating available.

Or stop by the Tides Wharf, which offers a snack bar, a gourmet market, a gift shop, and a great restaurant serving fresh local seafood and American cuisine; film buffs will recognize that the restaurant served as a backdrop for Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds.’ For more lunchtime options, check our listings of Bodega Bay restaurants.

At this point you have a decision to make: do you want to push onward, driving along the coast and taking in the spectacular views? Or would you rather stay in Bodega for a more hands-on experience of this gorgeous spot?

Option 1: Head Farther North

It’s less than 11 miles from Bodega Bay to the coastal community of Jenner (pop. 136), but you’ll want to take it slow and easy, and stop often to enjoy the view. The two-lane highway meanders inland here and there, but generally hugs the hillside coastline, winding in and out, and giving you an endlessly changing panorama of ocean, sky, rugged bluffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves.

Take advantage of turnouts, vista points, and beaches whenever possible. This area is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park, which stretches for 17 miles along the coast from Bodega Bay to north of Jenner. It offers picnic areas, stunning scenic overlooks, and miles of trails (but no swimming due to strong currents).

Immediately north of Bodega Bay on Highway 1, the long, scenic sandy beach at Salmon Creek Beach makes it a great spot for beachcombing and picnicking; the area north of the creek is popular with surfers when the waves are good.

Wright’s Beach offers a day-use picnic area with access to a two-mile-long sandy beach. Or you can hike part or all of the Kortum Trail, an easy, relatively flat, bluff-top pathway that’s about five miles round trip, connecting Wright’s Beach to Shell Beach, Blind Beach, and Goat Rock Beach. Sonoma Coast State Park provides a brochure with a trail map.

Goat Rock Beach at the mouth of the Russian River is known for the massive rock that gives the place its name, its easily accessible sandy beach, and the colony of harbor seals that make their home on the far end of the beach. (Please stay 50 yards from the seals, especially during pupping season, March to August).

This brings you to the coastal village of Jenner, which perches on a bluff high above where the river meets the sea, offering spectacular scenery in every direction, and truly stunning sunsets. It’s a great place to stop for a romantic dinner in the small and intimate dining room at River’s End Restaurant & Inn, offering wonderful food, superb yet unpretentious service, and captivating views from every table.

If you’re ready to call it a day, head east on Highway 116 and River Road back to Highway 101, then south to San Francisco. If you decide to extend your visit, River’s End offers six view cabins ‘designed for couples looking to rejuvenate,’ where you can settle in for the night.

Option 2: Have Fun in Bodega Bay

If you prefer to spend more time exploring the natural wonders of Bodega Bay first hand, there are many choices. The beach or the tide pools may beckon, for an afternoon of relaxation or exploration.

To explore on four legs, there are two local options, Chanslor Stables and Horse N Around Trail Rides. Both offer a variety of guided trail rides (public or private) with breathtaking coastal views, through sand dunes, or along the beach.  

If the water is calling your name, Bodega Bay Kayak rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and offers lesson and customized guided tours on the ocean, bay, river, or estuary. Rentals include all equipment, wetsuit, life vest, and 20 minutes of safety instruction before heading out.

For surfers, both Bodega Bay Surf Shack and Northern Light Surf Shop rent a variety of styles of surfboards, as well as wetsuits, skim boards, body boards, and booties. Bodega Bay Surf Shack offers private lessons for beginners.

Combine the best of the coast and Wine Country at Gourmet au Bay, a waterside wine bar and tasting room in Bodega Bay featuring small-production, award-winning wines and coastal-inspired gifts. Enjoy the view as you sip a flight of wines served on a mini-surfboard.

When it’s dinnertime, there are (once again) many choices. The Terrapin Creek Café won national acclaim for its cuisine made with the finest, freshest ingredients in inventive pairings, with an emphasis on simplicity and in a casual neighborly atmosphere. The Drakes Sonoma Coast restaurant inside the Bodega Bay Lodge offers an ultra-local, seasonally changing menu that can include delights like Dungeness crab cakes with tomato ginger chutney and smoked paprika aioli, or Madras curry-dusted local petrale sole. For more dining options, check our listings of Bodega Bay restaurants.

After dinner, you can retrace your steps and drive back to San Francisco. Or if you decide you just can’t bear to leave Bodega Bay and want to spend the night, options include the Bodega Bay Lodge, a luxurious retreat with ocean views from every room; Inn at the Tides, with elegant guest lodges nestled among secluded, natural surroundings, with sweeping views of Bodega Bay; or check our listings of coastal hotels and B&Bs.

See Sonoma County’s safety tips for water activities here.

Written by Sonoma Insider Patricia Lynn Henley.