NOTE: Wet winter conditions frequently create road obstacles that require alternative routes to Bodega Marine Laboratory, particularly the road between Petaluma and Bodega Bay, please call Sonoma County Road Closure Hotline: (707) 565-2237 or see Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works and listen to KSRO – 1350 AM for updates.
Directions from Petaluma (alternate directions for foul weather and road closures)
- Take the Washington Avenue/Central Petaluma exit from 101
- Turn left at the off-ramp on the Washington Avenue
- Washington Avenue becomes Bodega Avenue and then becomes Valley Ford Road
- If at any point Bodega Avenue/Valley Ford Road is flooded turn around and go to Tomales/Petaluma Road, turn right
- Follow Tomales/Petaluma Road to Shoreline Highway 1
- Turn right at Highway 1
- From Highway 1 turn left onto Dillon Beach Road
- Continue on Dillon Beach Rd to Valley Ford Franklin School Rd, where the road forks stay to the RIGHT - UP the hill
- Road will become Valley Ford Estero Rd
- Turn right to stay on Valley Ford Estero Rd
- Take the 1st left to stay on Valley Ford Estero Rd
- Turn left on Highway 1/Valley Ford Rd
- Continue on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay
- In Bodega Bay you will drive past the Tides Restaurant and through a sharp hairpin turn.
- After the hairpin turn you will come to an intersection with Eastshore Road, you will see a sign for Bodega Head, Marinas, and Westside Park turn left onto Eastshore Road.
- Drive down a steep hill on Eastshore Road, at the bottom turn right onto Bay Flat Road.
- Drive around Bodega Harbor on Bay Flat Road and continue straight on Westshore Road, past Spud Point Marina and Westside Park.
- BML Housing is about 1/4 mile beyond Westside Park, on the right.
- The main gate to BML is about 1/4 mile further along Westshore Road. There is a large University of California sign and a card-controlled gate. The lab is about 1/2 mile beyond the gate.
Directions from Santa Rosa/Sebastopol (alternate directions for foul weather and road closures)
- Highway 12 West
- Turn right at Fulton Road
- Turn left at Occidental Road
- Follow Occidental Road to town of Occidental
- Turn left onto Bohemian Highway
- Bohemian Highway to Highway 12- Turn right on Highway 12
- Follow Highway 12 to Highway 1- Turn right on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay
- In Bodega Bay you will drive past the Tides Restaurant and through a sharp hairpin turn.
- After the hairpin turn you will come to an intersection with Eastshore Road, you will see a sign for Bodega Head, Marinas, and Westside Park turn left onto Eastshore Road.
- Drive down a steep hill on Eastshore Road, at the bottom turn right onto Bay Flat Road.
- Drive around Bodega Harbor on Bay Flat Road and continue straight on Westshore Road, past Spud Point Marina and Westside Park.
- BML Housing is about 1/4 mile beyond Westside Park, on the right.
- The main gate to BML is about 1/4 mile further along Westshore Road. There is a large University of California sign and a card-controlled gate. The lab is about 1/2 mile beyond the gate.
Directions from Jenner (alternate directions for foul weather and road closures)
- If Highway 1 is closed, take Highway 116 to Bohemian Highway
- Turn right on Bohemian Highway
- Follow Bohemian Highway to Highway 12
- Turn right on Highway 12
- Highway 12 to Highway 1
- Turn right on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay
- In Bodega Bay you will drive past the Tides Restaurant and through a sharp hairpin turn.
- After the hairpin turn you will come to an intersection with Eastshore Road, you will see a sign for Bodega Head, Marinas, and Westside Park turn left onto Eastshore Road.
- Drive down a steep hill on Eastshore Road, at the bottom turn right onto Bay Flat Road.
- Drive around Bodega Harbor on Bay Flat Road and continue straight on Westshore Road, past Spud Point Marina and Westside Park.
- BML Housing is about 1/4 mile beyond Westside Park, on the right.
- The main gate to BML is about 1/4 mile further along Westshore Road. There is a large University of California sign and a card-controlled gate. The lab is about 1/2 mile beyond the gate.