Day Trip to Bodega Bay From San Francisco

Bodega Bay’s small coastal town is probably best known for its cinematic past, which has been engulfed in Hitchcock horror. Still, this pleasant town on the Sonoma coast offers a lot more and is the perfect destination for a romantic weekend or family day trip.

Clamming, camping, sailing, a walk on the beach, golf, a hot air balloon ride, horseback riding, and bike tours await just across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Filmed in 1963, Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller “The Birds” was shot in Bodega Bay and its smaller cousin, Bodega, five miles inland, and for 50 years, Hitchcock fans have flocked to the area to see the spots connected with the silver-screen classic.

And while the local visitors center can direct you to the film locations, including Saint Theresa de Avila Church, there is more to this sleepy little jewel on the water than the filming of Hitchcock’s early ’60s classic.

With its seemingly endless miles of pristine beaches to explore, fresh seafood, and beautiful coastal scenery, Bodega Bay is less than a 70-mile drive north of San Francisco on Highway 101, yet it feels a world away.

The drive takes travelers through rolling hills and tranquil family-run dairy farms, where cows dot the green hillsides with room to roam, before coming to a turn marked with a Bodega Bay sign where the ocean comes into view. Travelers will know they are there, as they cannot go any further.

Known for its relaxing atmosphere, the two most important things to do in Bodega Bay are enjoying the ocean and eating clam chowder. While there are many dining choices in the area, one of the most popular is the Spud Point Crab Company on Bodega Harbor.

Spud Point Crab Company

A stop at the Spud Point Crab Company will provide visitors with the best bowl of hot steaming clam chowder on a patio overlooking the Spud Point Marina. Crab cakes are also available on the weekends during the crab season.  Nothing fancy here, just great seafood you can enjoy sitting at the picnic tables. Address 1860 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, California.

The Tides Restaurant Bodega Bay

For a cozier dining experience, the Tides Wharf Restaurant features large windows overlooking the bay. Tides Wharf serves up plenty of fresh seafood along with tasty clam chowder. Tides Wharf Restaurant is located at 835 Bay Hwy, Bodega Bay, California.

After lunch, visitors want to head out to one of the area’s many beaches, with ample parking and easy walking paths.

The little town of Bodega Bay has three art galleries, one antique store, five gift stores, two kite stores, a surf shop, and two grocery stores to stock on provisions for your return trip. Additionally, the nearby town of Valley Ford also has a few shops to visit. The area’s most famous beach — Doran (County) Regional Beach — is situated next to The Links at Bodega Harbor.

Links at Bodega Harbor

One of Northern California’s most impressive and affordable coastal golf courses, The Links is an 18-hole actual Scottish-style golf course with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean from rolling fairways, undulating greens, and native coastal rough.

Doran Regional Beach

Doran Beach below is clean and uncrowded, with many water run-offs traveling through to the ocean, which is great for kids to play in the sand. People ride horses, and kids run in the surf here, but the half-moon-shaped soft sand beach is big enough for a long walk and large enough to find privacy. Doran Regional Park also features 120 year-round campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs. Address 201 Doran Beach Road. Website.

There are many other beaches in the area, too, including Salmon Creek, a vast expanse of beach that provides an excellent spot for surfing and skimboarding; Goat Rock, with its iconic landmark which juts out from the ocean floor; and Portuguese Beach, which is one of the Sonoma Coast’s most expansive beaches located three miles north of Bodega Bay on Highway 1.

Bodega Marine Laboratory

Bodega Head provides fantastic views and is an excellent place to picnic. Nearby is the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

The laboratory has been open for public tours since 1976. It is led by volunteer docents, who provide interpretive tours for all ages, which feature numerous marine aquarium displays, including a 24-foot-long production containing many colorful local fish and invertebrates and a small kelp forest.

Getting To Bodega Bay from San Francisco

A trip to Bodega Bay starts with a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. Then continues north on US-101 for 40 miles to Petaluma. Take the East Washington Street exit and continue west for 30 miles, following signs to Bodega Bay. The actual driving miles from San Francisco is 74 miles.

California North Coast Day Trips

Sunset beach Camping

Sonoma Coast State Park