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    Dillon Beach

    4.0 (231 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Dillon Beach Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Dillon Beach

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    Reviews With Photos

    Keeper
    Alan F.

    Great for Dungeness and Rock crab. Camping and RV's Store on the site for bait, snacks, coffee, etc. It's recommended to come early like before 8 a.m., or you'll need to pay $15 to drive in. Plenty of restrooms throughout the park.

    Lots of sand. Very cold and windy
    Helen K.

    Went here because it is touted as an off leash beach, dog friendly etc. First of all the $15 parking fee is outrageous. Lots of beautiful sand marred by piles of dog poop. Most dogs on leash and aggressive. So disappointed. The best part of the drive was the amazing elephant rocks right off of the road.

    Greg D.

    Dillon Beach is one of those rare places that just feels like home. My family has been coming here for years, 87 and counting, and it's become a tradition that means a lot to all of us. The beach itself is beautiful, peaceful, and perfect for families. Whether it's walking along the shore, flying kites, or just sitting back and taking in the views, there's something for everyone. Even with more people discovering it over the years, it still holds that small, relaxed vibe that makes it special. We always rent one of the nearby cabins and love the cozy, laid back atmosphere. It's the kind of place that brings people together and reminds you to slow down and enjoy the moment. If you're looking for a low key coastal getaway, this is it. We'll keep coming back as long as we can.

    Lisa W.

    I haven't been to this beach in years. The parking fees are a tad much (think how much money this family makes each weekend!). Anyway, this is a very popular beach which means lots of people come here. If you wish to be in a more secluded section you need to walk much further down the beach. The sand dunes are pretty & fun to run through. The water is typically not ice cold so nice to get your feet wet. I think the number one attraction to Dillon Beach is the fact that dogs are welcome there and boy are there a lot of dogs. They were actually having an annual pug festival for people from all over the barrier brought their pugs. I was told by my brother-in-law that the men's bathroom looked like it had never ever been cleaned. The woman's was apparently a little better and as I mentioned in my last review, there are no garbage cans or recycling cans anywhere except for right near the parking lot . That's really a shame. One can take nice walks on this beach- you actually can reach where the river comes in to Tomales Bay (about 1.5 miles each way).

    The Beach
    Suzie C.

    Beautiful Beach , Nice scenery route to the beach as well. They had picnic tables so if you want to make a nice lunch or hangout this is a great spot! But come Early so you can get a good spot and parking!

    Living her best life!
    Pamela S.

    This continues to be the best off leash dog beach. The dogs and their owners are friendly and respectful. We brought our new Lab here and she had the best time frolicking through the waves and meeting new friends along the way. It's always a great beach day at Dillon Beach!

    Mary V.

    Dillon Beach is the best off-leash dog-friendly beach! How lucky are we to have this so near?! It was 93 degrees and sunny in Healdsburg today, and 60 and foggy in Dillon Beach. We bundled up and had the best day with our pups. We clocked about 3 miles round trip - our pups clocked more with all their back and forth and in-and-out of the ocean running. Such a peaceful and joyful afternoon! Note: if you do go with pups, bring water lots of water (for humans and pups) and something to hold your dog poo bags - the only trash is near the parking lot. It's a $10 fee to park and it's money well spent. We love Dillon Beach and can't wait to visit again.

    Mirarose's name with my due date in the sand!
    Rachelle P.

    Midnight's first trip to the beach! The water was a bit chilly for our puppy and daddy lol, but puppy got used to it and loved exploring! And of course I had to write Mirarose's name with my due date in the sand, just 5 days away! There's something just so relaxing listening to the sound of waves crashing over the ocean! Don't you agree? I woud HIGHLY recommend one of Marin County's most popular dog-friendly beaches that we'll definitely be returning to! They have picnic benches, restroom and parking is not too expensive. *Song Credit: Shoreline by Rook1e

    Starfish during low tide
    Vanessa C.

    I've already left a review for this beach before and I've been coming here for years but after my last visit I just have to give a shout out to the staff running the parking lot. I came on the 4th of July so my fiancé and I got here early knowing it was going to be packed. But I didn't realize just how packed it would get! We didn't end up bringing towels/beach chairs so we actually had our set up in the car. I have a little crv that we can drop the back seats in and we were parked in the first row up along the sand so we were still right at the beach. (We actually were in the second row but moved up when a car left lol) The staff was on it! They were working really hard getting everyone in and parked. We saw them running around the lot being on top of what spots opened up and getting people in as fast as they could. So many people showed up that the parking lot actually reached capacity and they were getting people in as people were leaving. I really commend them for it because it seriously was a lot of people and I could imagine it was overwhelming but they were doing a really great job and had really good customer service :)

    Cold water
    Tanya W.

    You have to pay $10 to park but it's a great little beach with fun cliffs to climb and explore.

    Paula-Mertha C.

    My family and I decided to go to Dillon beach for a relaxing Saturday afternoon. The beach and beach goers are quite laid back, which I truly appreciate. There were also many people with their dogs here, which maybe our beach adventure even more fun. There are some tables with seating available, however, they do fill up rather quickly. Try to get here early if you want to use them for a picnic on the beach. A paid parking lot is available right next to the beach. The fee is $15, which isn't bad and is convenient if you have kids and a bunch of things to carry.

    Dillon beach
    Tamara P.

    Always stop by this beach when headed to the coast. Nice walking beach as well as hanging out with family. Parking is easy and restrooms close by. There is a store with snacks and drinks up the hill if you forget anything. Lots of locals surf there.

    Dillon beach coastline,
    Sylvia N.

    It was a waste of time and $10. It was so cold and windy with sand flying in your face and eyes. We left after 2minutes because conditions were unbearable and not enjoyable.

    Cottages

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    12 days ago

    Greatful for the parking attendants in the morning! Beautiful spot. So much space and friendly people.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing restaurant location just the best the staff and food were great. I love the casual feel

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Dillon Beach

    Is the beach easy to access for limited mobility older folks?

    It is! Keep in mind that you will have to deal with sand.

    Are there picnic tables? Do they fill up fast?

    There are and depending on the time of week you go they will fill up fast

    Am I able to bring my own portable fire pit?

    Unfortunately, there are no portable fire pits allowed on the beach.

    Does the parking lot fill up on the weekends, if so, by what time?

    Depends on how hot it is in the valley or if it's a 3 day weekend or holiday. Time differ for all occasions

    What is the current weekday charge for the beach parking lot?

    $10. On the weekends it's $20.

    We are planning on getting takeouts from Tomales Oyster. Are we allowed to bring a portable grill on the beach? Assuming shucking and prepping oysters is ok on the beach? Thx!!

    Yes you are allowed to bring a portable grill. Just no open flame pits

    Can we rent the Tiny Houses on Dillon Beach like in the pictures? Do you have the link or website where we can rent it?

    You can totally rent the tiny homes and cabins! They do go quickly, as I believe we're almost totally booked until December, but if you visit www.dillonbeachresort.com/stay there is more information for you there.

    Are there any private parking lots for overnight parking? We are allowed only 2 cars for our rental and will have 3 persons coming from different places.

    There are no options for overnight parking at Dillon Beach, unless you are staying the night in one of the tiny homes or cabins.

    Is beach open on Christmas?

    Yes

    Are bonfires allowed on the beach?

    Yes, definitely saw evidence of them.

    Is parking still cash only?

    No they take debit cards

    Are there spaces for tents?

    Last I went there, there definitely was at Lawson's Landing, though I wouldn't recommend it because it's mostly RVs, 5th wheels and totally cramped spaces. Plus it's pretty flat and windy. If you need to do it as part of a bigger trip then it's fine… 

    Is there a yearly pass, rather than trip by trip?

    You can buy a yearly parking pass, I believe for $120. You just have to buy it at the booth where you pay for daily parking. I had asked if I could use a state park pass and she said no because it is a privately owned beach but you can purchase a… 

    Are there bathrooms at Dillon Beach?

    Yes there are. By the parking lot

    How much is the fee for parking?

    They charged us $15 to park today 😳

    Are there paths or areas for running at Dillon beach?

    On the beach itself, there is no set path, but people run at the edge of the water all the time. It is very relaxed at the beach itself, and there are a few hikes around that you are more than welcome to check out!

    Can you go in the water or does this beach have dangerous rip currents?

    The ocean is always dangerous. Swim at own caution. No lifeguards on duty please don't swim in the ocean if you're not a strong swimmer. Never ever turn your back to the waves. 🙏🏼💕

    Is alcohol allowed at Dillon beach?

    It is if no one knows about it

    Is there restaurants near by? that are dog friendly as well?

    The Dillon Beach Cafe is the closet place to eat but it is not pet friendly

    Do you still have to make reservations for parking?

    At Dillion Beach? No....they have a huge parking lot by the beach, but you do have to pay a fee to there

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    Review Highlights - Dillon Beach

    The dog friendly cafe is only open Thursday to Sunday, so make sure you pack lunch.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Tomales Bay State Park - Paddling done and packing up!

    Tomales Bay State Park

    4.0(55 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    Did a moderate 3 mile hike here in early fall. I've been around this body of water many times but…read moremostly as drives around and maybe an occasional picnic on one of it's corners. You can probably drive around the whole bay from Inverness to Marshall in about 30 minutes. My hike because I went with the gps due to my first time, started in the northern corner of the bay just outside of Inverness, so the road is on top of the hills and you can wind on down to water level. Over by Marshall you will already be at water level. This corner also has a popular beach destination where people can swim, kayak, picnic etc called Heart's Desire Beach. From the highway one up top it'll take about 10 minutes on a windy road to reach the beach. My hike started up on top and worked its way down to the water, mostly on single track trail through heavily brushed forest in the hills. No crazy great views until you get nearer the water when you start to see deep blue hues. Once down at the water I took a break on another, but much smaller beach called Pebble Beach. Just sat on a log and absorbed the peacefulness while I rehydrated. There were no one on this beach but I could see decent activity from Heart's Desire Beach about a quarter mile away. Now that I know the general terrain here, next time I'm going to park at Heart's Desire parking lot and climb up, then descend on the way back. On this trip I went down first then had to climb 700 hundred feet or so, so all the sweating was on the tail end. I prefer the former, and that way when done I can just relax and have a picnic on the beach. Lesson learned. Still a solid 4* outing.

    After a bit of a drive we found this SP to be disappointing. We were looking for hiking trails over…read morebeach access. Unfortunately, we couldn't even find the overgrown trails. Left after getting out of the car in two different areas trying to find a starting point. Save yourself the drive. No attendant to ask for assistance.

    Photos
    Tomales Bay State Park - From the forest to Pebnle Beach.

    From the forest to Pebnle Beach.

    Tomales Bay State Park - Kayak rentals at Hearts Desire Beach

    Kayak rentals at Hearts Desire Beach

    Tomales Bay State Park - The slough area north of the beach

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    The slough area north of the beach

    Lawson's Landing - Campsite 728

    Lawson's Landing

    3.0(274 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    What a wonderful place to unwind and catch some fresh air. Decided to go camping here for the…read moreweekend. This place has RV camping and tent camping. They have tent camping on a grasses area if that's what you are there for. There are a few full hook ups for rv sites as well. You are allowed to make a camp fire for your s'more and to keep yourself warm on those cool nights. It does get a little chilly and cold since you are by the beach so make sure you pack some warm close. If you are into fishing they will take your boat out and launch it for you to. The general store is fully stocked with all your essential needs if you forgot something or if you want to pick up to take home with you for a souvenir. The store also has coffee if you need something to get you going in the morning. The showers are clean and you also need coins to take a shower so make sure you bring some quarters. The beach is a few steps away with a beautiful view. We paid about $68 dollars a night but that is not with full hookups. So if you like camping and want to escape from the heat. Go heck this place out!

    THEFT ALERT - I returned to site 209 from a day trip on the Peninsula and my camp was stolen. I…read moreneatly stacked 7 bundles of firewood under the end of the picnic table and covered with a tarp. I placed 2 camp chairs on the tarp to secure the pile and left some other miscellaneous items to give further evidence the camp was occupied. I returned to camp and everything was gone. Gone! I recognize people are inherently bad, selfish, and entitled (see compliance with beach leash laws as a small example) but flagrantly breaking the unwritten rule of not fucking with other peoples' campsites is a new low. The money is not the issue (~$150 loss), its the evil, selfish behavior that is so shocking and disappointing. I hope the offending party rots in their own selfish delinquency and wish them nothing but the worst. I will not return to Lawson's.

    Photos
    Lawson's Landing - Winner winner, crabby dinner.

    Winner winner, crabby dinner.

    Lawson's Landing - What I love about this place. Park right by the beach area.

    What I love about this place. Park right by the beach area.

    Lawson's Landing - Great place for kite flying.

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    Great place for kite flying.

    Dillon Beach - beaches - Updated August 2026

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