Directions and Map of Mendocino Area
From the Bay Area/San Francisco: Route Option #1 - For a spectacular coastal tour of Northern California north from San Francisco, take Highway 1 to Mendocino, and follow the direction at the end of Route Option #2. Travel time: 4-5 hours, but a trip worthy of the extra time. Route Option #2 - Take Highway 101 north from San Francisco, through Santa Rosa, and continue to the North Cloverdale exit (Highway 128 west). Take 128 (through the Anderson and Redwood Valley wine country) until you reach the ocean (Highway 128 and 1 merge). Follow Highway 1 past Mendocino (2.4 miles) and you will see a two signs "Russian Gulch State Park" and "Point Cabrillo Light Station and Preserve", and a left turn lane. Turn left and take an immediate right onto Point Cabrillo Drive. Go 2.4 miles to the Point Cabrillo Light Station entrance. Proceed south across the parking lot turn right onto the road going down to the Light Station. Follow Lighthouse Road until you see a restroom sign, turn right and proceed to the parking area behind the Head Lightkeepers House (the Middle and largest of three houses). Park you car in any parking spot and come to the front door for a hearty welcome.
From the East/Sacramento Valley: Take I-5 to Williams, and take Highway 20 through beautiful lakes of Lake County. Take Highway 101 north to Willits. Take Highway 20 west to Fort Bragg. Turn left onto Highway 1 for approximately 6 miles. Turn right on Point Cabrillo Drive, and follow the road around Caspar Beach and through the South Caspar residential area, until you reach the Point Cabrillo Light Station and Preserve entrance (right turn). Proceed south across the parking lot turn right onto the road going down to the Light Station. Follow Lighthouse Road until you see a restroom sign, turn right and proceed to the parking area behind the Head Lightkeepers House (the Middle and largest of three houses). Park you car in any parking spot and come to the front door for a hearty welcome.
From the North: Take Highway 101 through the Redwoods to Highway 1 (to Fort Bragg/Mendocino). Continue on Highway 1 through Fort Bragg and for approximately 6 miles. Turn right on Point Cabrillo Drive, and follow the road around Caspar Beach and through the South Caspar residential area, until you reach the Point Cabrillo Light Station and Preserve entrance (right turn). Proceed south across the parking lot turn right onto the road going down to the Light Station. Follow Lighthouse Road until you see a restroom sign, turn right and proceed to the parking area behind the Head Lightkeepers House (the Middle and largest of three houses). Park you car in any parking spot and come to the front door for a hearty welcome.
