Boat-in Camping at Point Reyes National Seashore

Miller Boat Launch is a popular site from which to launch boats and kayaks.

NPS / A. Kopshever

Point Reyes National Seashore offers year-round boat-in camping on the west shore of Tomales Bay. Because of its location near the Metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, the campsites at Point Reyes are in great demand. You must reserve a permit through Recreation.gov in advance of arrival. Permits may be—and frequently are—reserved three months to the day in advance, so it's best to plan your trip well in advance.

The Tomales Bay boat-in sites may only be accessed by kayak, canoe, small motorboat, small sailboat, or other small vessel; personal watercraft (e.g., jet skis) are prohibited on Tomales Bay.

Be sure to visit the park's A Guide to Low Impact Boat Camping page for more detailed information about overnight kayaking and boating on Tomales Bay.

Camping rules and regulations must be observed.

Please visit our Leave No Trace page to learn how you can help leave the backcountry in a better condition than you found it.

Where to Launch

There are three locations at which watercraft may be launched onto Tomales Bay and overnight parking is permitted:

Tomales Bay Resort

415-669-1389
Geographic Coordinates: 38.1071, -122.8629
Tomales Bay Resort is a private resort on Tomales Bay 1.5 km (0.9 miles) north of Inverness. It is the only location along the west shore of Tomales Bay that provides overnight parking for boat-in campers. There is an overnight parking fee.

Miller Boat Launch

415-499-6387
Geographic Coordinates: 38.2, -122.9215
Marin County Parks' Miller Boat Launch is located on the east side of Tomales Bay along Highway 1 just north of Nick's Cove, which is ~6.5 km (~4 mi) north of the town of Marshall. This Marin County park has a public boat launch with a cement ramp into the water, in addition to a pier and restrooms. Overnight parking is permitted in the upper lot, to the right/north as you pull in; a printout of your confirmation notice from Recreation.gov must be displayed on the dashboard of every vehicle associated with your group. No overnight camping or beach fires.

Lawson's Landing

707-878-2443
Geographic Coordinates: 38.2322, -122.9683
Lawson's Landing campground and boat launch are located in Dillon Beach with direct access to the north end of Tomales Bay. The boat ramp is a sand-bottomed ramp and Lawson's Landing uses a fork lift to move boats onto the water. Or if you have 4 wheel drive, they allow you to use it to put your boat into the water. There is a dump station and boat rentals. Restrooms and water available. There is a day-use fee and overnight parking requires purchasing a Lawson's Landing campsite.

Where to Camp

Overnight boat-in camping is permitted on a number of the beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay within Point Reyes National Seashore. (Download the Tomales Bay Boat-in Camping Map. [2,632 KB PDF]) Open up the "Location" collapsible panel below for more details.

Backcountry Office Contact Information

For non-emergency, park-specific camping questions, please send an email to our Camping Desk.

To make, change, or cancel your camping reservations, log in to Recreation.gov, or call the Recreation.gov call center at 1-877-444-6777. Call center staff are available every day of the year from 7 am to 9 pm PT, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Details

Duration

2-5 Days

Camping is limited to four nights per visit, with a maximum of thirty nights per year.

Activity

Camping

Age(s)

All ages. The minimum age of any camper is eighteen unless accompanied by an adult. Permits are not issued to children seventeen years of age or younger; an adult must reserve the permit and camp with the youth.

Pets Allowed

No

As of May 30, 2023, pets are not allowed on any of Point Reyes National Seashore's beaches along Tomales Bay.

Activity Fee

Yes

• $30/night/site for 1- to 6-person permits
• $60/night/site for 7- to 14-person permits
• $90/night/site for 15- to 25-person permits

Individuals who have an Interagency Senior Pass, an Interagency Access Pass, a Golden Age, or a Golden Access Pass are eligible for a 50% discount on the camping fee for an individual site; discounts are not available for group site fees. 

Location

Various beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay within Point Reyes National Seashore.

Where to Camp

Overnight boat-in camping is permitted on a number of the beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay within Point Reyes National Seashore. (Download the Tomales Bay Boat-in Camping Map. [2,632 KB PDF])

Did you reserve a Marshall Beach Group or the Tomales Beach Group permit?

If you reserved the Marshall Beach Group 1, Marshall Beach Group 2, or Tomales Beach Group permit, you are required to camp on the beach specified by your permit, e.g., Marshall Beach or Tomales Beach.

Did you reserve a 1–6-person or a 7–14-person permit and do you have a portable toilet?

Yes.

If you reserved a 1–6-person or a 7–14-person permit, you get to choose to camp on any of the beaches marked on the map as open for camping, e.g., "Boat-in camping permitted"—if you have a portable toilet (see the Sanitation section on the park's A Guide to Low Impact Boat Camping page). The beaches are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind that many of the beaches are large enough for multiple parties, so you aren't guaranteed to have a beach all to yourself. However, if there is already a party camping on a small beach, please do not crowd them by coming ashore and setting up camp—keep paddling until you find a larger or unoccupied beach.

No.

If you do not have a portable toilet, you are required to camp at Marshall or Tomales Beach, where there are vault toilets that you will need to use.

Tomals Bay Beaches

Some of the Tomales Bay beaches that are open for overnight camping to those who have a current and valid permit are (listed from south to north; GC = geographic coordinates):

• Kilkenny Beach (GC: 38.1456, -122.9037)
• Long Cove Beach (GC: 38.1521, -122.9108)
• Marshall Beach (GC: 38.1631, -122.9155) - On the west side of Tomales Bay, almost due west from the Hog Island Oyster Company. Vault toilets are available.
• No Name Beach (GC: 38.1692, -122.9214)
• Tomales Beach (GC: 38.1739, -122.9236) - Look for a long sandy beach with vault toilets.
• Elk Fence South Beach (GC: 38.1763, -122.9269)
• Elk Fence North Beach (GC: 38.1808, -122.9305)
• Pelican North Beach (GC: 38.1889, -122.9367)
• Wall Beach (GC: 38.1924, -122.9413)
• White Gulch Beach (GC: 38.1935, -122.9465)
• Pita Beach (GC: 38.203, -122.9503)
• Jacks Beach (GC: 38.2098, -122.9599) - closed to camping as of March 21, 2018, per the Superintendents Compendium
• Blue Gum Beach (GC: 38.2264, -122.977) - Tides and currents in this area can be very strong.
• Avalis Beach (GC: 38.2303, -122.9807) - closed to boats and other vessels, and therefore to camping, as of May 30, 2023, per the Superintendents Compendium
• Duck Beach (GC: 38.2351, -122.985) - closed to boats and other vessels, and therefore to camping, as of May 30, 2023, per the Superintendents Compendium

Map of Tomales Bay Boat-in Campsites (2,632 KB PDF)

Reservations

Yes

Reserving a Permit

There is a fee and permit system for overnight camping within Point Reyes National Seashore, including camping on the beaches on the westside of Tomales Bay north of Tomales Bay State Park's northern boundary. Overnight beach camping is not permitted anywhere else on Tomales Bay or elsewhere within Point Reyes National Seashore.

Advance Reservations

Reservations may be made online at Recreation.gov. Reservations may also be made by phone by calling toll free 877-444-6777 (TDD: 877-833-6777).

Until further notice, Point Reyes National Seashore no longer has any permits that will be sold on a first-come, first-served, same-day basis. All camping permits must be reserved online through Recreation.gov in advance of arrival. All available campsites will be shown as reservable on Recreation.gov. Do not arrive or camp at Point Reyes National Seashore without a reservation.

Party Size

• If your party size is one to six people, you will need to reserve a "BOAT A, 1-6 people" permit.
• If your party size is 7 to 14 people, you will need to reserve a "BOAT B, 7-14 people."
• If your party size is 15 to 25 people, you will need to reserve a "Marshall Beach Group 1," "Marshall Beach Group 2," or "Tomales Beach Group" permit.
  Be aware that if you reserve the "Marshall Beach Group 1" or "Marshall Beach Group 2" permit, you will be required to camp at Marshall Beach. Similarly, if you reserve the "Tomales Beach Group" permit, you will be required to camp as Tomales Beach.

We do not allow groups of more than six people to purchase multiple "BOAT A, 1-6 people" permit. Nor may parties of six or fewer people reserve "BOAT B, 7-14 people," "Marshall Beach Group 1," "Marshall Beach Group 2," or "Tomales Beach Group" permits.

Season

Year Round

Winter

The heaviest rainfall occurs in the winter months. Come prepared for rain and drizzle to possibly last for several days. In between winter rains, it is often sunny, calm, and cool.

Spring

Most spring days are windy and this area frequently experiences fresh to strong breezes. Expect cool temperatures in March. By late May and early June, temperatures can be quite pleasant, even warm.

Summer

Although there is very little rain during summer months, there is often dense fog throughout the day in July, August and September with temperatures often 20 degrees cooler than at Bear Valley.

Fall

The coastal areas of Point Reyes experience some of the clearest days in late September, October and early November. The occasional storm will start rolling through in late October, bringing clouds, wind, and rain. The strongest winds occur in November and December during occasional southerly gales.

Time of Day

Any Time

• "Check-in": Campers do not need to stop by the Bear Valley Visitor Center on their arrival date to check in. Print your Recreation.gov confirmation email and be prepared to show it to park rangers on Tomales Bay and at your camp on a beach. You may also want to download and store an electronic copy of the confirmation email on your phone or tablet. Campers are allowed to arrive at their "campsite" any time after 6 am on their day of arrival. Please keep in mind that the campers from the previous night are not required to depart until noon.
• Check-out: Campers must vacate their "campsite" by noon on their day of departure. For Tomales Bay beaches, that essentially means having everything packed up, but campers are welcome to continue exploring Tomales Bay and its beaches, as well as other areas of Point Reyes National Seashore, after noon. Campers do not need to return to the Bear Valley Visitor Center in order to check out.
• Quiet hours are from sundown to sunrise.

Accessibility Information

Boat-in camping along Tomales Bay is not considered to be accessible. One would need to arrive at the beaches by boat, but there are no dock or ramps at the beaches for people in wheelchairs. The beaches are composed of loose sand and not suitable for most wheelchairs. The vault toilets are not accessible.