Beginning on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Weekends And Holidays
Late December - Mid-April

Winter is an exciting time to visit the park. As the gray whales migrate past and the elephant seals return to the Point Reyes Headlands, so do lots of visitors. This means increased traffic on the narrow roadways and in the small parking lots at the lighthouse and at Chimney Rock-especially on weekends and holidays. In the mid-1990's, the park experimented with a variety of options to meet the increased demand for parking. Options included closing the road, numbering parking spaces, and running van shuttles. Those options, unfortunately, resulted in two hour waits and lines of cars backing up in the South Beach parking lots. The whales were passing by as visitors waited patiently in their cars.

In 1998, to relieve this congestion and eliminate the two-hour waiting period, Point Reyes National Seashore contracted large 40-passenger buses to provide transportation from Drakes Beach to the Headlands. The 1998-1999 lighthouse shuttle bus experiments proved successful, parking lot congestion was relieved and visitors were provided with a comfortable and quick trip to the Headlands. The success of the lighthouse shuttle bus prompted the National Park Service to continue this service.

The lighthouse shuttle bus system usually begins on the last Saturday of December and continues through mid-April. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard will be closed to private vehicles at the South Beach junction from 9:00 a.m. through 5:15 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays when the weather is fair or better. To ensure the safety of bus operators and passengers, we do need to limit private vehicle access on the narrow and curving road while the buses are running. Map of road closure.

NOTE: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from the South Beach junction to the Lighthouse visitor parking lot is open to private vehicles on weekdays, and on weekend days when the shuttle bus system is not operating.

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How it works
Bus service is provided Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Drakes Beach directly to the lighthouse parking lot. Visitors can disembark for whale watching and wildflowers, or they may continue on to Chimney Rock for hiking and seal watching. Visitors may also spend time at the Lighthouse and when ready return to the bus for the additional leg to Chimney Rock. Buses circle from Drakes Beach to the Lighthouse, Chimney Rock and back to Drakes Beach but do not return from Chimney Rock to the Lighthouse.

Tickets must be purchased at the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach. No advance reservations are required. Ticket sales begin at 9:00 a.m. and bus service begins at 9:30 a.m. The charge is $5.00 per person (children 16 and under are free). Fee waivers are not available for recreational use user fees such as bus transportation. However, America the Beautiful Senior, America the Beautiful Access, Golden Age, and Golden Access passes may apply to these fees. Holders of these passes should request information at the time of purchasing bus tickets. Buses run on demand throughout the day, and the average time between buses is 20 minutes. Tickets are sold until 3:00 p.m. with the last bus trip leaving Drakes Beach at 3:30 p.m. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard will remain closed until approximately 5:30 p.m. Shuttle service will not run during stormy or extremely wet weather. Check the telephone weather recording at (415) 464-5100, ext. 2 (then press 1) for updates on whether shuttles are operating.

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Accessibility

Individuals with a Disabled Person parking placard or plate may drive their personal vehicle to the Lighthouse accessible parking lot and the Chimney Rock parking lot during times when the shuttles are operating. When one arrives at the South Beach road junction, they will need to show the parking placard or plate to the traffic control personnel, who will then instruct the driver concerning how to proceed to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock. Be sure to let the traffic control personnel know if you do wish to go to Chimney Rock because there are special instructions for driving on the single-lane Chimney Rock Road while the buses are operating. Inquire at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center if you have more questions.

The National Park Service at Point Reyes appreciates your support of the shuttle service and welcomes your comments. The bus service is the first step toward protecting and managing the fragile Headlands area for visitor enjoyment and safety.

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