Discover Dillon Beach

A quiet coastal village 90 minutes north of San Francisco

Plan Your Visit
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From San Francisco 90 Minutes
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Population 246
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Coastline Miles of Pristine Shore
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Climate Year-Round Mild Weather

Things to Do

Waves, trails, oysters, and wide-open shoreline.

Dillon Beach sunset with surfers in the water

Beach & Surfing

A mile of sand with consistent surf breaks and a sheltered south end for swimming.

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Coastal hiking trail overlooking Dillon Beach

Hiking & Trails

Tomales Point Trail: cliffside views, spring wildflowers, and tule elk year-round.

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Kayaker paddling Tomales Bay near Dillon Beach

Kayaking & Water Sports

Calm Tomales Bay paddling with harbor seals. Rentals available in Marshall and Inverness.

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Colorful tide pools at Dillon Beach

Tide Pooling

Sea stars, anemones, and hermit crabs in the rocky outcroppings at low tide.

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Fresh oysters and seafood platter

Dining & Oysters

Tomales Bay oysters at Hog Island, wood-fired pizza in Tomales, farm-to-table in Point Reyes.

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Shorebirds along the Dillon Beach coast

Wildlife Watching

Gray whales in winter, harbor seals year-round, 490+ bird species at Point Reyes.

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A Place Time Forgot to Ruin

Dillon Beach sits at the mouth of Tomales Bay where the Pacific meets the rolling hills of West Marin County. No traffic lights, no chain restaurants, no crowds — just a mile of wide sandy beach backed by rugged bluffs. The San Andreas Fault runs right through Tomales Bay, which is how you got this dramatic meeting of land and sea in the first place.

Named for George Dillon, an Irish immigrant who settled here in 1860, the village has stayed small and unchanged for over 160 years. It's one of the last undeveloped stretches of Northern California coastline — a place where the dairy ranches still outnumber the houses, and the biggest traffic jam is a line of cows crossing the road.

The community here is close-knit but welcoming. Visitors often say the village feels like stepping back in time — not in a kitschy, manufactured way, but in the way that matters. The air smells like salt and eucalyptus. The nights are genuinely dark. And the horizon line, where the Pacific meets the sky, is uninterrupted for as far as you can see.

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Aerial view of Dillon Beach and Tomales Bay

Quick Facts About Dillon Beach

Everything you need to know before you go.

Tiny & Proud of It

About 250 year-round residents call Dillon Beach home. There are no traffic lights, no chain restaurants, and no crowds. The village general store doubles as the social hub, and most locals know each other by name. It's the kind of place where people wave from their cars and leave their doors unlocked.

Where Exactly?

Dillon Beach sits on the Sonoma Coast, about 90 minutes north of San Francisco. It's perched at the mouth of Tomales Bay where the bay meets the Pacific Ocean — a geography that gives you both sheltered water and open-ocean coastline within walking distance. The nearest town is Tomales, a few miles inland.

What It's Known For

Incredible tide pools teeming with sea stars and anemones. Calm-water kayaking on Tomales Bay. Some of the best oysters on the planet from farms just down the road. And beaches that stay uncrowded even on the nicest days — because most people still don't know this little stretch of coast exists. That's part of what makes it special.

The Weather (Bring Layers)

Summer highs hover between 60–70°F. That's not a typo. Coastal fog rolls in most mornings and burns off by midday — or sometimes doesn't. The upside: you'll never fight for a patch of sand. Pack a windbreaker, a hoodie, and sunscreen. You'll probably use all three in the same afternoon.

The Vibe

Dillon Beach isn't a resort town. There's no boardwalk, no souvenir shops, no nightlife to speak of. What you get instead is space and quiet. The sound of waves. A sky full of stars at night. A pace that makes you realize how fast you've been moving everywhere else. People come here to slow down, and it works.

Good to Know

Cell service is spotty — consider it a feature. The nearest gas station is in Tomales. Grocery runs mean Valley Ford or Point Reyes Station. Bring what you need, and you'll find that needing less is part of the charm. The general store has the essentials plus surprisingly good coffee.

Seasonal Highlights

Every season has a reason to visit. The coast changes character month by month, and honestly, we can't pick a favorite.

Spring (March – May)

Wildflowers explode across Tomales Point in carpets of lupine, poppy, and buttercup. Gray whales finish their northward migration, often visible from the bluffs with binoculars. The beaches are empty on weekdays — you might have the entire shoreline to yourself. Temperatures are cool but comfortable, and the light is gorgeous for photography. It's the locals' favorite time of year, if they're being honest.

Summer (June – August)

The warmest months, though "warm" here means 65°F and sunny by noon. This is prime kayaking season on Tomales Bay — glassy water, harbor seals popping up to say hello, and views of the Point Reyes peninsula from the water. Beach days are best in the afternoon once the fog lifts. Evening bonfires on the sand are a Dillon Beach tradition. Book your stay early; summer fills up fast.

Fall (September – November)

The clearest skies of the year. September and October often bring the warmest days — the coast's version of an Indian summer. Oyster season kicks into high gear at the farms along Tomales Bay. Nearby vineyards in the Petaluma Gap are in harvest mode, and the roads are blissfully empty. Fall is when Dillon Beach feels the most like a secret.

Winter (December – February)

Dramatic storms roll in off the Pacific and put on a show. The surf gets big. Elephant seals haul out at Point Reyes National Seashore, just a short drive south — hundreds of them, with pups born in January. It's cozy-cottage season: light the fire, open some local wine, listen to the rain. Winter visitors tend to come back every year. There's something about this coast in a storm that gets under your skin.

Plan Your Trip

We've pulled together everything you need to make the most of your visit. Whether you've got a day or a long weekend, start here.

Things to Do

Surfing, tide pooling, hiking, kayaking, oyster tasting — there's more here than you'd expect from a village this small.

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Beaches & Conditions

Tide charts, water temps, surf conditions, and beach access info so you can pick the right day and the right spot.

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Where to Eat

From oysters shucked at the farm to wood-fired pizza in Tomales, the food scene punches way above its weight class.

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Getting Here

Routes from San Francisco, the East Bay, and Sonoma County. Plus parking tips and what to know about the drive.

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Where to Stay

Beach cottages, vacation rentals, and the local resort. Options for every budget, all within walking distance of the water.

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The Blog

Local tips, seasonal guides, hidden spots, and stories from people who know this stretch of coast inside and out.

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Getting Here

Just 90 minutes north of San Francisco — an easy day trip or weekend escape.

Dillon Beach is tucked into the northwest corner of Marin County, California. The drive from San Francisco is one of the best parts — you'll wind through rolling dairy farmland, past the tiny town of Tomales (population 200), and down a two-lane road that dead-ends at the ocean.

  1. Take US-101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge.
  2. Exit at Sir Francis Drake Blvd or Lucas Valley Road and head west.
  3. Follow signs through Nicasio and Tomales to Dillon Beach Road.
  4. Turn right on Dillon Beach Road and follow it to the coast.

Free street parking is available throughout the village. The Dillon Beach Resort offers paid beach parking during peak season. There's no public transit to Dillon Beach, so you'll need a car — but the drive itself is half the fun. Roll the windows down once you hit the coast road.

Full Directions & Map

Blog

Local tips, seasonal guides, and stories from the coast. Blog coming soon.

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