Point Reyes Lighthouse: A Pacific-Coast RV Traveler's Guide
PickRV Editorial
The small team behind PickRV
The Point Reyes Lighthouse sits at the windswept tip of the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California, on a rocky ledge high above the Pacific. Built in 1870 and now preserved by the National Park Service within Point Reyes National Seashore, it is one of the most atmospheric stops on the Northern California coast — often wrapped in fog, frequently buffeted by wind, and reached by a long stairway down the headland.
Who manages the Point Reyes Lighthouse and can you visit it?
The National Park Service manages the Point Reyes Lighthouse within Point Reyes National Seashore in California. It is open to visitors, with a visitor center at the top of the headland and 313 stairs down to the lighthouse itself. Check the NPS site for current hours.
- ·Built in 1870; retired from active service in 1975
- ·Reached by 313 stairs below the headland
- ·Lighthouse Visitor Center and Ocean Exploration Center on site
State
California
Managed by
National Park Service (Point Reyes National Seashore)
Built
1870
Retired from service
1975
Access
313 stairs from the headland
Point Reyes is one of the windiest and foggiest points on the Pacific coast, which is exactly why a lighthouse was placed here in 1870 to warn passing ships. The tower served for over a century before the Coast Guard automated the light and the park took over preservation.
From the parking area at the western end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, a short walk leads to the visitor center and the long stairway down to the historic tower. The headland is also a celebrated spot to watch for gray whales during their winter and spring migrations.
Because conditions shift quickly out on the point, confirm current visitor-center hours and stair access on the National Park Service site before you drive out — and base your rig at one of the seashore-area or West Marin campgrounds.
Official sources
Nearby & related
Keep planning California
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of California trip planning.
- California RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- California RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- Campervan & van rentals in CaliforniaVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- RV rentals in CaliforniaPickRV Wiki · 6 min read
- California Pacific Coast Highway 1 RVPickRV Wiki · 12 min read
- National grasslandsWide-open prairie drives
- Sand dunesDune fields worth the climb
- Fossil sitesDeep-time road stops
Planning an RV trip near Point Reyes Lighthouse: A Pacific-Coast RV Traveler's Guide?
Was this guide helpful?