Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1
From the Golden Gate to Fort Bragg past redwoods, seal beaches, a Russian fort and a climbable lighthouse on the Mendocino coast.
- Distance
- 280 km (174 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 06 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- CA
- Updated
- July 15, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 280 km (174 mi) with 9 stops, from San Francisco to Fort Bragg. About 3 h 06 min of driving in total.
More road trips in California · More road trips from San Francisco
Route description
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge (the toll is charged southbound only) and turn off for Muir Woods, whose old-growth redwoods need a parking or shuttle reservation. The roads over the hills are narrow and steep, so leave long motorhomes on US-101. Rejoin Highway 1 or follow US-101 north and cut across through Petaluma to Bodega Bay, about two hours from the city.
Bodega Head, at the end of the bay, is a fine walk and a whale-watching point from December to April. North of Bodega Bay the road follows the Sonoma Coast State Park beaches to Jenner, where Goat Rock Beach has harbor seals at the mouth of the Russian River. Beyond Jenner, Highway 1 climbs steep switchbacks with no guardrails; drive slowly, especially in a motorhome.
Fort Ross State Historic Park preserves a Russian trading post from 1812 with a redwood stockade and chapel. The road then winds past Sea Ranch and Gualala to Point Arena, where a side road leads to the 115-foot lighthouse; you can climb it on most days. Point Arena to Mendocino is about an hour through farmland and coastal forest.
Mendocino is a village of water towers and wooden houses on a headland, with trails around its bluffs. Ten miles north, Fort Bragg has supermarkets and fuel, and Glass Beach, where sea glass covers the coves; leave it on the beach. The full drive is about 180 miles and slow, so plan three days. Coastal fog is common in summer; autumn often has clearer skies.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
San Francisco
CA - 224 km
Muir Woods National Monument
NatureMill Valley, CAOld-growth coast redwoods in a narrow canyon below Mount Tamalpais, with flat boardwalk loops. A parking or shuttle reservation is required; the access roads are steep and narrow, so leave large RVs elsewhere.
- 374 km
Bodega Head
ViewsBodega Bay, CAA granite headland at the end of Bodega Bay’s peninsula, part of Sonoma Coast State Park. Walk the cliff trails and watch for gray whales from December to April; parking is free.
- 420 km
Goat Rock Beach
NatureJenner, CAA beach at the mouth of the Russian River, where harbor seals haul out on the sandbar, especially in spring pupping season. Keep your distance from the seals; the surf here is dangerous for swimming.
- 516 km
Fort Ross State Historic Park
HistoryJenner, CAA reconstructed Russian-American Company trading post from 1812, with a redwood stockade, chapel and the original Rotchev House. It sits on a bluff above a cove north of Jenner; day-use fee.
- 678 km
Point Arena Lighthouse
HistoryPoint Arena, CAA 115-foot lighthouse rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, on a narrow point two miles off Highway 1. Visitors can climb the tower on most days; there is a fee and a small museum in the fog signal building.
- 748 km
Mendocino
CA - 819 km
Glass Beach
OdditiesFort Bragg, CACoves in MacKerricher State Park where decades of dumped bottles have been worn into smooth sea glass. The glass is thinning, so look but leave it; the coastal trail runs along the bluffs from the car park.
- 91 km
Fort Bragg
CA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: San Francisco → Bodega Head · 61 mi · 1 h 05 minOn the way: Muir Woods National Monument.Overnight nearby, for example: AutoCamp Sonoma (14 mi); Casini Ranch Family Campground (11 mi).
- Day 2: Bodega Head → Point Arena Lighthouse · 70 mi · 1 h 15 minOn the way: Goat Rock Beach, Fort Ross State Historic Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Gualala Point Camping (18 mi); Paul M. Dimmick Campground (15 mi).
- Day 3: Point Arena Lighthouse → Fort Bragg · 42 mi · 0 h 45 minOn the way: Mendocino, Glass Beach.Overnight nearby, for example: Hidden Pines RV Campground (2 mi); Woodside RV Park & Campground (3 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–April and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1?
3-day road trip of about 280 km (174 mi) with 9 stops, from San Francisco to Fort Bragg. About 3 h 06 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 06 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1 start and end?
It starts in San Francisco and ends in Fort Bragg.
Which states does Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1 pass through?
California.
Where can you camp along Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1?
OpenStreetMap lists 117 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Anthony Chabot Family Campground, AutoCamp Sonoma and Woodside Upper Loop.
When is the best time for Sonoma and Mendocino coast on Highway 1?
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–April and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
