Point Reyes to Tomales self-guided audio driving tour: 21 miles

Two women saved this rural paradise from development by inventing a unique idea

A 21-mile self-guided audio driving tour from Point Reyes National Seashore to the town of Tomales takes you through working dairy farms, sheep ranches and oyster operations in West Marin County. You drive your own car and listen to audio narration from local farmers and ranchers who explain how this agricultural community, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, stayed rural instead of becoming suburbs. The VoiceMap app provides offline access to audio, maps and directions. You control the pace and can pause at any stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Self-guided agricultural driving tour

• Start at Bear Valley Visitor Center
• Hear stories of land and farming
• Drive through Point Reyes Station
• Pass Millerton Point
• Pass through Marshall
• End in Tomales with bay views

The experience

The tour starts at Bear Valley Visitor Center in Point Reyes National Seashore and unfolds across 21 miles of back roads through West Marin County. You'll hear from fifth-generation sheep rancher Bill Jensen as he guides lambs through a foot bath, then pass Bob Giacomini's high-tech milking barn a few miles down the road. The route takes you through Point Reyes Station, past Millerton Point and Marshall, and ends in Tomales after following the views along Tomales Bay. Each stop is narrated by the people who work the land: dairy farmers, cattle ranchers and oyster growers who explain what they do and why they stay.

The audio guide runs through the VoiceMap app on your smartphone, which means you download the tour before you leave and never need cell service. Directions to Bear Valley Visitor Center come with your booking so you know exactly where to start. Once you're in the right place, the app begins automatically. You control when you drive and when you stop, so a 21-mile route can take anywhere from about an hour and a half to nearly three hours depending on how long you linger at each point. The app keeps working offline, so you can replay sections or jump between stops without worrying about data.

What makes this tour different is the story behind the land itself. Two women came up with a unique idea that saved this corner of Marin County from the suburban sprawl that surrounds it. The farmers and ranchers you hear from are the ones living that story, and the tour explains how a rural community this close to a major metropolitan area managed to stay agricultural instead of becoming developments. By the time you reach Tomales, where residents "get to know everybody, and everybody gets to know you," you'll understand why they fought to keep it that way.

What’s included

• VoiceMap app with lifetime access to the English-language audio guide.
• offline maps, directions and geodata so the tour works without cell service.
• directions to Bear Valley Visitor Center so you know where to start.

Information

Lasts 1h 20m–2h 40m, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 8.99 per group, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Is this one for you?The tour runs at your own pace. You drive your own car and control when you stop, so it works whether you have 90 minutes or nearly three hours. This is a driving tour, not a walking one, which means the 21 miles stay manageable even if you're not up for a long hike, and you can linger at any stop without holding up a group.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long does the 21-mile driving tour actually take to complete?

The tour takes between 1.3 and 2.7 hours depending on how long you spend at each stop. You control the pace entirely. You can drive straight through or pause to listen to full stories and take photos at any point along the route.

What do I need to bring or have ready to use this tour?

You'll need a smartphone with the VoiceMap app installed and headphones or a speaker to hear the audio narration. The app downloads all audio, maps and directions before you start, so you don't need cell service once you're on the road.

Where exactly does the tour begin and how do I find the starting point?

The tour begins at Bear Valley Visitor Center in Point Reyes National Seashore. Your booking includes directions to get there. Once you arrive and open the app, the audio guide starts automatically.

Can I stop the tour and come back to it later, or do I have to finish it in one drive?

You have lifetime access to the tour after your booking, so you can drive it all at once or break it into multiple trips. The VoiceMap app lets you pause and resume whenever you want, and you can replay any section or jump between stops.

What happens if I miss a turn or want to skip ahead to a different part of the tour?

The offline maps in the VoiceMap app show your location and the route at all times, so you can see where you are and where the next stop is. You can skip ahead to any point on the tour or replay earlier sections using the app controls.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces along the route are accessible, and the driving portions mean you're not walking long distances between stops. Infants and small children can ride in a car seat or stroller, and service animals are allowed.