Tomales Bay

Tomales Bay is about 15 miles long and barely a mile wide, a drowned valley sitting right on the San Andreas Fault. On the west shore, the Point Reyes peninsula rises in bishop pine forest. On the east shore, Highway 1 runs through the tiny town of Marshall, past oyster farms, boat sheds and cafes built on pilings over the water. The bay is shallow and sheltered, which makes it ideal for growing shellfish and for paddling.

Our Point Reyes guide covers the lighthouse, the elk and the national seashore beaches. This page is about the bay itself: which oyster farms you can visit in 2026, how their reservations work, where to kayak, the night bioluminescence tours and a plan that ties it together.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Drive north on Interstate 280 or US 101 through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge. In Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit at Greenbrae and head west through San Anselmo, Fairfax and the redwoods of Samuel P. Taylor State Park to Olema. Turn right on Highway 1 to Point Reyes Station, then continue north along the east shore of the bay to Marshall.

Marshall is about 80 miles from Palo Alto and the drive takes about two hours. The western half of the route is two-lane and winding. Highway 1 along the bay is narrow with few places to pass. Cyclists use it heavily on weekends. Gas up before you leave the 101 corridor, since stations are few in west Marin.

The Golden Gate Bridge toll is charged southbound only, on your way home. It has no cash lanes. From July 1, 2026 a car pays $10.25 with FasTrak. Our bridges and tolls guide explains the other ways to pay.

Oyster farms open in 2026

Tomales Bay is one of California's main oyster-growing waters. Two farms on the east shore welcome visitors and both list current fall hours on their own sites. Tomales Bay Oyster Company's site also announced that the bay was open for shellfish harvesting, which matters, because health officials close harvesting after heavy rain or contamination. If a closure is in place, farms may have no local oysters to sell, so check before you drive.

Hog Island Oyster Farm

Hog Island, at 20215 Shoreline Highway in Marshall, is the best-known farm on the bay. Its Marshall page, updated October 28, 2026, lists:

Tours are land-based only, with no boat trips. They book up to 30 days ahead. The Classic Farm Tour does not include lunch, so book The Boat for afterward. Down the road at 18863 Shoreline Highway, Hog Island also runs Tony's Seafood, a dine-in restaurant over the water that takes reservations. Its posted hours were for summer, through October 31. It lists itself as closed Mondays except on major holidays. Check its winter hours before you go.

Tomales Bay Oyster Company

A few miles south at 15479 Highway One, Tomales Bay Oyster Company sells oysters and shellfish to take away. Its site lists fall and winter hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. It states plainly that there is no picnicking at the farm. Buy a bag, bring a cooler and an oyster knife, then shuck them at a park or beach. Its phone is (415) 663-1243.

New to shucking? Hog Island publishes a how-to guide on its site. Wear a heavy glove or wrap the oyster in a towel. Work the knife into the hinge rather than prying at the side.

Kayaking on the bay

The bay's sheltered water makes it one of California's best places to paddle. Mornings are usually calm. The wind tends to rise in the afternoon, especially from March to June, so plan to paddle out early and let the breeze help bring you back.

Blue Waters Kayaking is the outfitter we confirmed operating in 2026. Its FAQ and rental pages list:

• Take-away rentals from its headquarters in Point Reyes Station, seven days a week. They provide gear to load kayaks on your car, so you can launch at spots such as Chicken Ranch Beach or the Miller Boat Launch. Dogs can come along on these rentals, with doggie life jackets available.
• Heart's Desire Beach rentals in Tomales Bay State Park, weekends only, from $35 for an hour or $75 for a half day. No dogs on these.
• Guided tours to Heart's Desire, Tomales Point and other shores, with public tours on weekends and private tours any day. Public tours are for ages 13 and up.

Expect to get wet, especially your feet and seat. Wear quick-drying layers and bring a dry bag for your phone. Our kayaking and paddling guide covers calmer water closer to Palo Alto.

Bioluminescence tours

On dark nights, tiny plankton in Tomales Bay light up blue when the water moves. Every paddle stroke leaves a glowing swirl. Fish dart through the eelgrass like sparks. Blue Waters runs three-hour guided night tours from the Miller Boat Launch, only when the moon is below the horizon, which works out to about two weeks a month. Public night tours are for ages 13 and up. Private night tours take children 10 and up in a kayak with an adult.

The company says only guided tours paddle the bay at night, because of wind, fog and boat traffic, so do not plan a do-it-yourself night paddle. The tours sell out, especially on weekends, so book well ahead. Winter nights are cold but often clear between storms and crowds are smaller.

Tomales Bay State Park

On the west shore, Tomales Bay State Park protects sheltered coves, small beaches and a forest of bishop pines. Heart's Desire Beach, the main beach, is about four miles north of Inverness on Pierce Point Road. Its water is usually calm and warmer than the open ocean, which makes it the best family swimming spot on the bay in summer. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset with no overnight use. Vehicle day use is $8. Dogs are allowed only at the Vista Point picnic area.

From the park it is a short drive up Pierce Point Road to the Tomales Point trailhead and the tule elk, covered on our Point Reyes page.

Best time to go

Fall is the sweet spot. September and October bring calm, often sunny days and some of the year's warmest water. Oysters are good all year from these farms, despite the old rule about months with an R. Spring is greener but windier. Summer weekends are the busiest, with heavy traffic on Highway 1 and fully booked oyster bars. Winter is quiet, with good birding and bioluminescence between storms. Heavy rain can trigger harvest closures, though, so check a farm's site after a big storm. Our weather guide explains why the coast runs cool.

A sample day

1. 7 a.m. Leave Palo Alto and head north across the Golden Gate Bridge.
2. 9:15 a.m. Coffee in Point Reyes Station and pick up a take-away kayak from Blue Waters.
3. 10 a.m. Paddle from the Miller Boat Launch while the bay is calm.
4. 12:30 p.m. Lunch at The Boat Oyster Bar at Hog Island, booked ahead.
5. 2 p.m. Buy a bag of oysters to go at Tomales Bay Oyster Company for dinner at home.
6. 3 p.m. Drive home before dark, or stay for a night bioluminescence tour and a night in Inverness or Point Reyes Station.

An overnight makes the night tour much easier. You can compare inns in Point Reyes and Inverness. North of the bay, Bodega Bay is less than an hour up Highway 1. Browse all our day trips from Palo Alto for more ideas.

Frequently asked questions