How to Get from Sonoma to the Beach

The breathtaking Pacific Ocean is only about an hour from the charming town of Sonoma, which means the beautiful coast is the perfect place to head for a fun-filled day.

The drive to the beach is full of scenery like redwoods, cliffs, vineyards, orchards, farms, produce stands, and quaint villages. Here are two of the very best routes to take from the town of Sonoma to the coast.

No matter which of these two routes you choose to get to these excellent beach destinations, you will treasure your time exploring the Sonoma Coast and these seaside hamlets that welcome you.

Route to the Fishing Village of Bodega Bay

1. Head out of Sonoma on Highway 12 East (Broadway), continue about 2 miles
2. Turn right onto Watmaugh Road, continue for about 2.5 miles
3. Turn right onto Highway 116 West (Stage Gulch Road), continue for 3.2 miles
4. Turn right on Adobe Road, continue for approximately 4 miles
5. Turn left onto Corona Road, continue for 1.5 miles
6. At the traffic circle, take the second exit and stay on Corona Road, continue less than a mile
7. Continue on Skillman Lane, continue about 2.5 miles
8. Turn right onto Bodega Avenue, continue about 4.5 miles
9. Continue onto Valley Ford Road, continue for 10.5 miles
10. Turn north on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay, continue less than 8 miles

Things to do around Bodega Bay

• Devour fresh crab sandwiches with a view of the boats in Bodega Harbor
• Watch for whales from atop Bodega Head
• Fly a kite along the breezy beach at Doran Regional Park
• Stop at the nearby town of Bodega to visit film scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds‘
• Join a whale-watching cruise or a fishing charter
• Ride horseback along the beach or with incredible bluff-top views
• On Fridays, enjoy a tour of the Bodega Marine Laboratory

Route to Jenner, Where the Russian River Meets the Sea

1. From Sonoma Plaza, turn onto Highway 12 West (West Napa Street), continue less than a mile
2. Turn right onto Highway 12 West (Sonoma Highway), continue approximately 19 miles
3. Stay straight onto Fourth Street in Santa Rosa, continue about one mile
4. Slight right onto College Avenue, continue a bit more than a mile
5. Merge onto US Highway 101 North (Redwood Highway North) toward Eureka, continue nearly four miles
6. Exit River Road (Exit 494) toward Guerneville, continue for a quarter mile
7. Turn left onto Mark West Springs Road, which becomes River Road, continue 15 miles
8. River Road becomes Highway 116 West.
9. Enter the rustic river town of Guerneville
10. Continue on Highway 116 West along the Russian River for 12 miles to the coastal Highway 1

Things to do around Jenner

• Take in the views and beach at Goat Rock
• Have lunch in the charming town of Jenner 
• Step back in time at the fascinating Fort Ross State Historic Park
• Check out the Pygmy Forest at Salt Point State Park
• Hike the public access bluff trails in The Sea Ranch 
• Get a bite to eat in the town of Gualala
• Drive south to Bodega Bay and stop to stroll the beaches of the Sonoma Coast State Park

For more ideas, discover all of Sonoma County’s Coast and Sea Villages.

Don’t miss these helpful safety tips for water activities.

Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez