The Perfect Point Reyes Day Trip: A Complete Itinerary with Must-See Stops

The Ultimate Day Trip to Point Reyes National Seashore & the Surrounding Area 

This day trip itinerary is designed to hit the best things to do in Point Reyes with a limited amount of time! 

After a quick stop for breakfast, you’ll start off exploring Point Reyes National Seashore, giving you a chance to see the most famous attractions along this coastal region. From there, you’ll make your way back towards Point Reyes Station for a relaxed afternoon seeing the sights in and around town. 

Get Breakfast & Coffee in Point Reyes Station

Start your day trip with a quick breakfast in Point Reyes Station before heading over to Point Reyes National Seashore. I recommend grabbing a pastry and coffee at either Bovine Bakery (I love their muffins and vegan scones!) or Brickmaiden Breads. 

If the weather is nice, you might want to pick up lunch for later at Inverness Park Market (located in Inverness, which you’ll pass through on your way to the next stop) and enjoy it later at Drake’s Beach! Otherwise, you can get lunch later in the day. You’ll find my other lunch recommendations in the itinerary.  

Drive to Point Reyes National Seashore & Hike the Chimney Rock Trail

After breakfast, take the scenic drive along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard out to Point Reyes National Seashore. The first stop will be the Chimney Rock Trail, which is about a 35-minute drive from Point Reyes Station. 

Quick note: you don’t need to pay any fees to enter or park in Point Reyes National Seashore! 

This easy, 1.8-mile out-and-back hike takes you along a peninsula, where you get dramatic coastal views on both sides. You’ll see the Historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station on the Drakes Bay side of the peninsula. There’s also a good chance you’ll spot elephant seals, deer, and other wildlife! 

Note that, once you turn off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard onto Chimney Rock Road, the road does get narrow. You will need to be wary of cars coming in the opposite direction. 

Stop at the South Beach Overlook (One of the Most Famous Point Reyes Viewpoints!) 

A Point Reyes itinerary isn’t complete without a stop at the South Beach Overlook, where you get a spectacular view of (the incredibly expansive!) Point Reyes Beach from above. 

The parking lot for this overlook is about a 5-minute drive from the Chimney Rock Trailhead. You can see the long stretch of sandy beach from the viewing point right off the parking lot, but for a closer look, I recommend taking the 0.2-mile trail down to the official overlook spot. 

Take the Stairs Down to the Point Reyes Lighthouse (Or Admire it From Above)

After taking in the view, you can walk over to the Point Reyes Vista Point, which is about a 0.5-mile walk from the parking lot. This is where you’ll get an incredible view of the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which dates back to 1870 (and was retired from service in 1975). There is also a small visitors center right next to this vista point where you can learn more about the lighthouse. 

If you’d like, you can take the 313 steps down to the lighthouse (and actually go inside!). There are a couple resting points along the stairs if you need to take a break. 

If you brought lunch with you, this would be a good time to make a detour down to Drakes Beach and enjoy it there! Otherwise, continue on to the next stop and get lunch later. 

Walk Through the Cypress Tree Tunnel

The last stop in Point Reyes National Seashore is the famous Cypress Tree Tunnel, which is one of the most photographed spots in the area. As the name suggests, this road is lined by Monterey cypress trees, which were planted in the 1930s. The “tunnel” leads to the art deco-style KPH Marine Radio Station building, which dates back to the late 1920s/early 1930s. This station provided communications to ships in the 20th century. 

The tree tunnel is right off the road, so no hiking is required. Street parking is available right on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.  

Head to Inverness and See the Point Reyes Shipwreck 

Next, make the drive back over towards Inverness for a quick stop at the Point Reyes Shipwreck, also known as the Tomales Bay Shipwreck. Named the S.S. Point Reyes, this fishing boat was originally built in the 1940s to be used as a World War II launch vessel, and has been beached since the 1990s. 

Today, the deteriorated vessel is a popular landmark for a quick visit while exploring the area. It may be removed at some point in the near future, so it’s worth visiting while you can!

Street parking is available. You’ll find the path to the shipwreck right behind The Inverness Store (you’ll walk through their parking lot to access it). Note that the walking path to the shipwreck can be muddy, so be sure to wear appropriate shoes. 

Stop for Lunch 

Next, stop in either Inverness or Point Reyes Station for lunch. Here are two restaurants I enjoy and recommend: 

• Inverness Park Market – this small market in Inverness has a deli counter offering sandwiches, bowls, burgers, and more (including vegan and vegetarian options). I like their veggie burger! Note that seating is limited. 
• Side Street Kitchen – this charming casual eatery in Point Reyes Station serves fresh and seasonal farm-to-table dishes. I love their vegetarian cassoulet!

If you’re a seafood fan, you may consider taking a detour out to The Marshall Store, a popular oyster bar on the opposite side of Tomales Bay (about a 15-minute drive from Point Reyes Station). 

Explore Point Reyes Station

Spend a bit of time exploring Point Reyes Station after lunch. This small town is the hub of the area, and there are plenty of fun shops to explore,

I highly recommend stopping inside the Cowgirl Barn, which is home to the West Marin Culture Shop. This gourmet grocery store has a range of packaged and fresh foods, as well as other goods like cookware, books, and more. People also love their fermented floats and sodas! 

Some other cool stores in town worth checking out include Point Reyes Books and Vita Collage (an eclectic gift shop). 

Choose Your Adventure: Do a Tasting at Heidrun Meadery or Visit Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. 

Next, it’s time to choose between visiting Heidrun Meadery or Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.

Heidrun Meadery (just a quick drive outside of Point Reyes Station) produces sparkling mead, a type of wine made from honey. Visitors can explore the property and choose from their tasting flight offerings. As someone who loves a good wine tasting, I really enjoyed getting to try a few meads from their essential tasting flight!

Reservations are not required for tastings. For a more extensive experience, you can book a meadery tour and tasting on their website. 

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. is a great place to visit if you want to experience the area’s dairy industry! The creamery offers a variety of different tasting and tour options. This includes a self-guided tour and table reservation where you can enjoy a prepared cheese board on the property. Some tasting offerings include lunch, so you can even stop here for a meal!

Note that all tastings and tours are by appointment only, so you’ll need to make your reservation online in advance. 

Get Dinner in Point Reyes Station 

End your day trip to Point Reyes with dinner in town! Here are a couple spots I recommend:

• Cafe Reyes – this is one of my favorite restaurants in the area! Cafe Reyes is a casual eatery serving super high-quality wood-fired pizzas (I love their marinara pizza), as well as other delicious sides. Note that they don’t take reservations, so there may be a wait. 
• Station House Cafe – this farm-to-table restaurant is another great option in town. The menu changes seasonally, but I really enjoyed their seared corn and braised greens. They take reservations. 

Additional Things to do in Point Reyes & the Surrounding Area 

Of course, there is plenty more you can do in the area. If you’d like to adjust the above itinerary, here are a few additional things to do in and around Point Reyes:

• See the Tule Elk at Tomales Point: This is one of the best places to see Tule Elk in Point Reyes! There is a 9.6-mile out-and-back trail that goes all the way out to the point, but you can see tule elk (and other wildlife!) without doing the full trail. 
• Visit the Local Beaches: In addition to Drakes Beach, some popular beaches on the National Seashore include Limantour Beach and Kehoe Beach. Just note that swimming is not recommended at most beaches in Point Reyes, due to strong currents and surf. If you want to swim, try beaches along Tomales Bay, such as Shell Beach (just note that it is a half mile walk from the parking lot!).
• Hike to Alamere Falls: If you are a more experienced hiker seeking an all-day hiking excursion, try the challenging, 13-mile Alamere Falls Hike. The out-and-back trail takes you out to the bottom of the beach waterfall, and offers incredible views along the way.