Tomales Bay State Park
Also known as Tomales Bay SP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $8 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(415) 669-1140
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Tomales Bay State Park is a 2,474-acre park in Marin County, about 17 miles southwest of Petaluma.
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8AM - SUNSET
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $8 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $8.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: any of the beaches or trails at tomales bay state park; any beaches or trails in this area; the beach.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only at Vista Point Picnic Area. • Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches or trails at Tomales Bay State Park. Except for service animals, dogs are only permitted at the Vista Point picnic area and must remain on leash at all times. Dogs are not permitted on any beaches or trails in this area. Dogs are not permitted on any beaches or trails in this area. Dogs are not permitted on the beach, but are allowed on the loop trail while on leash. Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches or trails at Tomales Bay State Park. Dogs are allowed only at the Vista Point picnic area and must be on leash at all times. If planning a group outing please make sure every member of the group knows about the park's dog policy. Leaving a dog in a vehicle is highly discouraged and may be illegal depending on conditions. If visitors plan to spend most of their time on the beaches or trails, they should consider leaving their dog at home. • Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches or trails at Tomales Bay State Park. Except for service animals, dogs are only permitted at the Vista Point picnic area and must remain on leash at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingHistoric sites and toursRanger and interpretive programsSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Tomales Bay State Park is a quiet 2,000-acre day-use park featuring gently sloping, surf-free beaches, protected from winds by Inverness Ridge. The park is adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore and is accessed from Pierce Point Road, off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Highway 1. Phone (415) 669-1140 for more information.
Picnic Area
Accessible picnicking is available at the Millerton Point Trailhead. Accessible parking and vault restroom are nearby.
Heart’s Desire Beach has one accessibly designed table. The grill is on a grassy surface. Restroom is generally accessible. Routes of travel from parking to the picnic table and restroom are generally accessible.
Trails
The Millerton Point Trail is a 1.18 mile accessible loop trail located off Highway 1 about five miles north of Point Reyes Station. This 1-mile accessible loop trail traverses coastal bluffs with spectacular views of Tomales Bay, Point Reyes, and surrounding coastal hills. The surface is compacted soil. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with one section for 135 feet at 7%. Accessible parking and accessible vault restroom are available at the trailhead.
Read more from the park
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Millerton Point Trail 3% Average 2.3 Average 5 FT Average Soil & Wood
7% Maximum 4% Maximum 5 FT Minimum
Beach/Shore Access
Due to staffing levels, a beach wheelchair is only available from May 1 – Labor Day with advanced notice. Contact the Tomales Bay Ranger Station at (415) 669-1140 to make arrangements.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Important Rules
- Drones are prohibited at Tomales Bay State Park per Superintendents Order.
- Mushroom collecting is not allowed at Tomales Bay State Park.
- Dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches or trails at Tomales Bay State Park. Except for service animals, dogs are only permitted at the Vista Point picnic area and must remain on leash at all times.
- Bicycles are prohibited on all trails at Tomales Bay State Park
Getting there
- Address
- Pierce Point Rd
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 - Nearest town
- Petaluma — about 17 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.1223, -122.8968
- Phone
- (415) 669-1140
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is 40 miles north of San Francisco, adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore. Eight miles from Highway One on the west side of the bay and four miles north of Inverness on Pierce Point Road.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology