San Francisco to Bodega Bay Day Trip

Experience Northern California’s dramatic coastline on a visit to Bodega Bay. Just over an hour’s drive from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge through the rolling hills and pasturelands of Sonoma County’s lush farm belt, Bodega Bay is a seaside village in scenic Sonoma Wine Country.

Whether you relax on a sandy beach, explore tide pools, hike bluff-top trails, savor premium wine and cuisine, or enjoy the amazing views along the famous highway, here is your handy guide to a memorable day in Bodega Bay.

Morning

From the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise Highway 101 toward the charming town of Petaluma. As you head towards the coast, buildings and homes gradually give way to weathered barns and sheds, neat farmhouses, gentle hillsides, and pastures with cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Enjoy the views around each bend.

If you have the time, stop in tiny Valley Ford (pop. 147). Discover a small collection of popular restaurants and shops, as well as the historic Valley Ford Hotel (built in 1864), and the family-owned Valley Ford Market, a farmers’ and ranchers’ grocery store with plenty to offer visitors.

Continuing on the Shoreline Highway, take a quick stop in the village of Bodega. Film buffs will enjoy the scenery, which includes the landmark buildings director Alfred Hitchcock showcased in his classic 1963 thriller movie, ‘The Birds.’

St. Teresa of Avila Church appeared in the film, but was made more famous by a 1953 photograph by Ansel Adams. You can also spot the old Potter School House, the setting for much on-screen running, screaming, and pecking in The Birds. These two buildings also prettied up the opening credits of Fred Astaire and Petula Clark’s 1968 musical Finian’s Rainbow. Feel free to snap pictures, but know that the Potter School House is a private residence. 

Stretch your legs a bit by browsing this small town’s mix of shops and businesses, which offer gifts, antiques, fresh-roasted coffee, fine art, local crafts, surfing equipment, and massage and skin care.

Now it’s just about five miles to your destination, the fishing village of Bodega Bay (pop. 1,077), which hugs the hillside in a protected harbor. This small community offers a delightful mix of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wonderful ways to explore the stunning natural beauty. Stop at Candy & Kites for a colorful kite or two before you hit the beach.

Start by getting your feet in the sand at Doran Regional Park, a perfect spot for beachcombing, picnicking, fishing, building a sand castle, or sitting back to enjoy the day. Scramble over the rock jetty at the harbor mouth and explore pools of sea life.

To explore the natural wonders of this area, head to Bodega Head, a rocky peninsula that shelters the town of Bodega Bay from the mighty Pacific Ocean. Here you’ll find trails that offer dazzling ocean and bay views, as well as access to small beaches.

Or stand on the bluffs next to the parking lot for a chance to spot seals playing in the water, or migrating whales along the Sonoma County coast. You can see whales off the coast all year long, but your chances are best from October through April. If you have binoculars, they’ll come in handy.

To get out on the ocean, a number of Bodega Harbor charter companies offer whale watching, fishing, or sightseeing boat trips with advance reservations.

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

When it’s time for lunch, enjoy fresh, rustic favorites at Spud Point Crab Company. This family-run crab shack operates fishing boats that bring in seasonal seafood. Fans rave about their clam chowder and crab sandwiches, which you can take to the beach for a picnic or enjoy on the picnic tables out front with a view of the boats docked at the Spud Point Marina.

In addition to selling fresh seafood, Fishetarian Fish Market serves fish and chips, clam chowder, grilled fish tacos, and more, including gluten-free and vegetarian options, all using organic, locally grown ingredients.

Enjoy stunning views of Bodega Bay along with juicy and tender meats from the smokers at Ginochio’s Kitchen. Savor 14-hour-smoked beef brisket or beef tri-tip on a toasted French roll. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

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 like to know the restaurant served as a backdrop for Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds.’

Sample what Sonoma Wine Country is famous for at Gourmet au Bay, a waterside wine bar and tasting room in Bodega Bay featuring small-production, award-winning wines. Enjoy the view as you sip a flight of wines served on a mini-surfboard.

Adventure in Bodega Bay

Explore the natural wonders of Bodega Bay firsthand. Nothing beats touring this rugged coastal beauty like a horseback riding experience. Five Brooks at Bodega Bay and Horse N Around Trail Rides offer a variety of guided trail rides for every experience level to see breathtaking views along the sand dunes, hills, or beach. 

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

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

Evening

Dinner in Bodega Bay

The Terrapin Creek Café has won national acclaim for its cuisine, made with the finest, freshest ingredients in inventive pairings. Settle into this inviting, neighborly place where the dishes dazzle.

The Drakes Sonoma Coast restaurant inside the Lodge at Bodega Bay offers an ultra-local, seasonally changing menu that can include delights like Dungeness crab cakes with tomato ginger, or curry-dusted local petrale sole.

For more dining options, check our listings of Bodega Bay restaurants.

After dinner, you can drive home, or if you can’t bear to leave just yet, here are a few overnight options.

• The Lodge at Bodega Bay is a luxurious retreat with ocean views from every room.
• Inn at the Tides offers elegant guest lodges nestled among secluded, natural surroundings, with sweeping views.

Cruise North for More Fun

From Bodega Bay, cruise less than 11 miles to the coastal community of Jenner (pop. 136). Stop often to enjoy the scenic overlooks, trails, beaches, and picnic areas that make up the Sonoma Coast State Park, stretching for 17 miles along the coast. (Note: there is no swimming due to strong currents.)

The long sandy beach at Salmon Creek Beach is great for beachcombing and picnicking. The area north of the creek is popular with surfers when the waves are good.

You can hike part or all of the Kortum Trail, an easy, relatively flat, bluff-top path that’s about five miles round trip, connecting Wright’s Beach to Shell Beach, Blind Beach, and Goat Rock Beach. Wright’s Beach offers a day-use picnic area with access to a two-mile-long sandy beach.

Goat Rock Beach, at the mouth of the Russian River, is named for the massive rock at this scenic place. Explore the easily accessible sandy beach and watch the colony of harbor seals on the far end of the beach. (Please stay 50 yards away, especially from March to August during pupping season.)

In the coastal village of Jenner, perched on a bluff high above where the river meets the sea, you’ll find spectacular scenery in every direction and truly stunning sunsets.

A great place for a romantic dinner is 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 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. 

See Sonoma County’s safety tips for water activities.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Patricia Lynn Henley