How to Bike from San Francisco to Point Reyes for a Weekend Getaway
For many years, I didn’t own a car while living in San Francisco, so most of my weekend getaways were (and still are!) within biking distance of the city. Of course, “biking distance” means different things to different people, but generally anything under 50 miles (one way) has been fair game. One of my favorite destinations for a cycle-friendly getaway has long been the area around Point Reyes and Tomales Bay. This is thanks not just to the excellent food and scenery that I get to enjoy once we’re there, but also because but the road from San Francisco to Point Reyes is a pleasant, though moderately challenging, 40-50 mile bike ride through redwood groves and along craggy coastlines. There are a couple of routes to take, but I generally like to take the inland route up (through Fairfax and Samuel P. Taylor Park) and the coastal road back south (through Stinson Beach).
Want to make your own weekend adventure out of biking to Point Reyes? Use this guide for routes, food and hotel recommendations, and tips to plan your own overnight bike trip to Point Reyes.
Overview of Biking from San Francisco to Point Reyes
Difficulty: Medium-hard
Distance: 30-50 miles one way (from San Francisco)
The route: Ride along coastal Highway 1 through Stinson Beach and Olema, or take an easier route inland through Fairfax and Samuel P Taylor State Park. You can do both routes in reverse for the way back.
Why go: Beautiful views of Tomales Bay and the Pacific Coast, oysters, fresh cheese, great hiking and cycling, elk, and a historic lighthouse.
The Route from San Francisco to Point Reyes
View the full route on Strava.
Early one Friday afternoon, Jon and I set out for Inverness, a cluster of homes and shops too small to be called a town, next to the Point Reyes National Seashore. Our destination: a quirky, rustic bed and breakfast just yards away from Tomales Bay called Manka’s Lodge. (2024 update: it’s currently closed for renovation but there are several great Airbnbs in Inverness). It was long our go-to for getaways in the area, but that’s been changing thanks to a few key openings: The Lodge at Marconi, just across the bay in Marshall, and Olema House about 6 miles south of Inverness.
In the spirit of our laid-back getaway, we opted against the coastal route up Highway 1, which would involve a lot of climbing. Instead, we chose the easier, inland route inland through Fairfax and Samuel P Taylor State Park.
The first dozen or so miles took us through well-beaten paths: over the Golden Gate Bridge, through Sausalito, up Corte Madera, and into a splay of cute, small towns and character-filled neighborhoods. By the time we reached Fairfax, my favorite little hippie outpost in California, I was starving. We stopped at Good Earth Natural Foods to scarf down a slice of pizza before moving on but when we have more time, beer-braut-bike spot Gestalt Haus is a favorite.
Leaving Fairfax means entering the countryside. After 20 or so miles winding through peaceful neighborhoods, it always feels abrupt to climb the hill out of Fairfax and descend into an open sea of green trees and golden grassland. It’s also really fun: after building momentum on the descent, the stretch between Fairfax and Samuel P Taylor is flat and long—perfect for picking up speed.
Eventually, the road curved into the shady, redwood forest in Samuel P Taylor State Park. Depending on our mood, we’ll stick to the smoothly paved road or pop onto a wide, dirt path that runs parallel to the main road.
Emerging from the forest, we faced one last climb: a couple miles of exposed road, inching up and up until finally the world seemed to open. We could finally see what we had been biking for: the seashore. Done with the climb, we cruised down to Olema and hung a right towards Point Reyes Station, the area’s main town. At the first intersection we chose the left towards Inverness (though a right turn would take you through Point Reyes Station and up to Marshall on the other side of the Bay). Either way, from here it’s smooth sailing along the water, and we were happy to chill for the final stretch to our hotel for the night.
Timing your ride
Start your ride from the city. In the summer, it stays light late enough that you could depart in the early afternoon and still arrive at your hotel or Airbnb before dark, for a Friday-Sunday break. In the spring/fall, though, try to take advantage of a long weekend and set out earlier in the day.
Spend Saturday biking around the area
Even though Point Reyes National Seashore is a mere 40 miles north of San Francisco, it can be surprisingly rugged. Most of the “development” in this area has come in the form of farms, creameries, and fisheries.
There’s a lot of natural beauty here. The National Park is home to over 1,500 species of plants and animals, rough coastlines, and open grasslands. Whenever we’re up there, we like to keep an eye out for sea beans (a salty, crunchy, edible plant) and elk. There’s also (of course) miles of bikeable road. Here are a few destinations to plug into your GPS:
Point Reyes Lighthouse: If you bike there, you’ll have to leave your bike at the top of the long flight of stairs that lead down to the lighthouse to explore inside.
Tule Elk Preserve: We once biked here and encountered a herd of elk, but they didn’t run because we were on bikes (and therefore quieter than a car). It was pretty magical.
Inverness to Marshall: If you’re staying on the Inverness side, take a chill ride through town and up to Marshall, where you’ll find most of the area’s oyster farms and eateries. If you want to turn the ride into more of a challenge,
Where to eat in and around Point Reyes
As you might expect, Point Reyes has a bunch of great options for oysters and seafood. Thanks to all the dairies in the area, it’s also a great spot to pick up farm-fresh cheese. Here are our top picks on where to eat in and around Point Reyes:
Inverness Park Tap Room: for beers and sandwiches
On the road between Olema and Inverness, the Inverness Park Delicatessen and Tap Room is hands down the best place for a casual lunch. They have great sandwiches from breakfast onwards and, in the afternoon, their bar opens to serve fresh beer on draft. It’s always a reward to end a ride here before leisurely finishing the final few miles.
Marshall Store: for a seafood lunch
While Hog Island Oysters gets most of the attention, I prefer to head to the more humble Marshall Store in Marshall. Get the half crab / oyster combo and smoked fish to get a sampling of their best. Tomales Bay Oysters is also a great, no-frills, nothing-but-oysters pitstop. Just bring your shucker, because you’ll have to open your own. All of these places are great for lunch.
Saltwater Oyster Depot: for a nice dinner
Saltwater Oyster Depot
If you’re sticking around for dinner, try rustic Saltwater Oyster Depot in Inverness. It’s only one of two restaurants within walking distance of Mankas and any Airbnb in Inverness, but with food so good you won’t be disappointed that it’s essentially your only option. Sidle up to the bar, order a bottle of wine, and warm up with dishes like rabbit cassoulet, seafood chowder, or a full grilled fish. They also serve breakfast and lunch.
Where to stay in and around Point Reyes
Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, there’s are lots of accommodation options in Point Reyes. In addition to Airbnb and Hipcamp, below are our favorite places to stay in Point Reyes:
Olema House - $300+ per night
Olema House is a luxurious, modern hotel and one of the best accommodation options in the area. As the name suggests, it’s located in the tiny “town” of Olema (which is barely more than a few buildings), just near the entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore. It’s a popular spot for cyclists to stop and refill on water, but also a charming and comfortable hotel with a large, bucolic lawn for lounging after a hard days’ ride. With an onsite restaurant and bar, you won’t need to worry about cycling into town for dinner after dark, though Point Reyes Station is only a quick, 2.5-mile bike ride away should you want the option.
Camping in Samuel P Taylor State Park - $35 per night ($7 for bike campers)
Samuel P Taylor State Park is one of the most popular campsites outside of San Francisco, nestled in a cool redwood grove alongside a creek. While car camping sites book up far in advance, the hiker/biker campsites are first come first serve (no need to reserve) and cost about $7 per bike per night. It’s still another 8 or so miles to Point Reyes Station, but this is by far the best campground in the area, and an excellent option for last minute trips.
Sky Campground is another, closer option, but difficult to score a reservation since they don’t offer a first come, first serve option for cyclists.
HI Hostel Point Reyes - $35 per night for a dorm bed
Hosteling International USA has a hostel in the Point Reyes National Seashore. It’s homey, full of books, and totally off the grid (re: no cell phone service). They also give a small discount to cyclists (yay!). Just make sure you have food for the night before arriving—it’s more remote than the other options, and there’s steep climb out of the hostel that you won’t want to do that more times than you have to.
Packing tips for a weekend bike trip to Point Reyes
Point Reyes can be quite windy and foggy. So, while you may still see sunny days (especially in the morning), be prepared for wind, fog, and chilly weather. Be sure to pack:
Your cold weather bike gear (booties, jacket, etc.)
A warm outfit to change into at night
Snacks and plenty of water
For bike camping, a warm sleeping bag is a must even in the summer.
This post was originally published in 2017 and most recently updated in 2024 to include current information.
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