Photo: Stepheng3 · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Can you picnic at Doran Regional Park?
Yes — Doran Regional Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: $8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma County Regional Parks members). Wine and other alcohol are allowed (see the rules below).
Photo: Stepheng3 · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Picnic rules at a glance
Picnicking
Picnics welcome
Bring your own food
Allowed
Alcohol
Allowed
Purchase required
No
Reservation
Not required
Fee
$8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma County Regional Parks members); Miwok group picnic site $75 per reservation (1–99 people) plus parking for every car
Groups
Day-use tables are first-come, first-served. The Miwok group picnic site (25–50 guests, about 6 tables, ADA accessible) is reservable online 12 months to 3 days ahead, $75 for 1–99 people (non-refundable, rain or shine); reservations line (707) 565-2267, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m. County Code §20-20 requires a permit for any picnic or gathering of 25 or more people.
Dogs
Leashed dogs (6-ft max leash) allowed in the park, campground and on the beach; stay out of fenced snowy plover nesting areas.
Kids
The calmer, bay-facing surf makes it the Sonoma Coast's most family-friendly beach; free beach wheelchairs and Freedom Trax rentals are offered.
Hours
Daily 7 a.m. to sunset
Season
Open year-round. On summer weekends and holidays the entrance closes once the lots fill, so arrive by mid-morning.
House rules
Alcohol: Allowed. Doran is not on Sonoma County Regional Parks' list of parks that ban alcohol (that list covers only certain Russian River beaches, Larson Park and Maxwell Farms). Under Sonoma County Code §20-13, drinking is banned only where the park authority orders it and posts a notice. No glass-container rule was found. Grills: charcoal and wood BBQs are allowed only in provided grills and designated areas, and are banned during Red Flag Warnings, high-wind advisories and Spare the Air days. All fires and BBQs are prohibited on the beach itself; gas stoves are OK unless posted. No amplified music, no smoking or vaping, pack out your trash. Winter storms bring sleeper waves and rip currents.
What the picnic area is like
A 2-mile, south-facing sand beach on Bodega Bay backed by low dunes, with picnic tables in two day-use areas: the Cypress area and the Jetty area by the rock jetty at the west end. Stands of Monterey pine and cypress give some shelter from the coastal wind, and the bay-facing surf is noticeably gentler than on the open Sonoma Coast.
Picnic tables
Restrooms
Parking
BBQ grills
Hiking trails
Shade trees
Wheelchair accessible
Good for: Families · Groups · Dogs · Budget-friendly · Views
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About Doran Regional Park
Sonoma County's first regional park is a long, sheltered strand of sand on Bodega Bay. It's the easiest Sonoma Coast beach for a relaxed family picnic, with tables, restrooms, a dune boardwalk and a reservable group site, and it's minutes from Bodega Bay's restaurants and shops if you need supplies.
2-mile south-facing beach with calmer waves than the open coast
Picnic tables at the Cypress and Jetty day-use areas
Reservable Miwok group site for 25–50 people ($75)
Leashed dogs allowed on the beach
Alcohol permitted (no posted ban); no fires on the sand
Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK
The rocky headland at the mouth of Bodega Harbor is the Sonoma Coast's classic whale-watching lookout, and it's free. Pack a windproof layer, claim a table at the west lot, then walk the 1.9-mile Bodega Head loop for views over Bodega Bay and the open ocean.
Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK
One of the longest, most popular sandy beaches on the Sonoma Coast, a short drive north of Bodega Bay. State Parks itself recommends a day of fishing and picnicking here. Bring a blanket for a free beach picnic from the Salmon Creek lots, or pay the day-use fee at Bodega Dunes for tables and restrooms.
Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK
A little-known county beach on the Sonoma Coast where a tidal creek meets the surf, popular for blanket picnics and wave watching. It's free and dog-friendly, but there are no facilities.
Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK
A tiny, free history stop on the Bodega Highway where you can eat at a picnic table next to a Gold Rush–era schoolhouse. It's a useful break on the drive between Sebastopol and the coast.
Yes — Doran Regional Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: $8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma County Regional Parks members). Wine and other alcohol are allowed (see the rules below).
Can you bring your own food to Doran Regional Park?▾
Yes. Outside food is allowed at Doran Regional Park.
Can you drink wine at Doran Regional Park?▾
Yes, alcohol is allowed at Doran Regional Park. Alcohol: Allowed. Doran is not on Sonoma County Regional Parks' list of parks that ban alcohol (that list covers only certain Russian River beaches, Larson Park and Maxwell Farms). Under Sonoma County Code §20-13, drinking is banned only where the park authority orders it and posts a notice. No glass-container rule was found. Grills: charcoal and wood BBQs are allowed only in provided grills and designated areas, and are banned during Red Flag Warnings, high-wind advisories and Spare the Air days. All fires and BBQs are prohibited on the beach itself; gas stoves are OK unless posted. No amplified music, no smoking or vaping, pack out your trash. Winter storms bring sleeper waves and rip currents.
Do you need a reservation to picnic at Doran Regional Park?▾
No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. Day-use tables are first-come, first-served. The Miwok group picnic site (25–50 guests, about 6 tables, ADA accessible) is reservable online 12 months to 3 days ahead, $75 for 1–99 people (non-refundable, rain or shine); reservations line (707) 565-2267, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m. County Code §20-20 requires a permit for any picnic or gathering of 25 or more people.
Is there a fee to picnic at Doran Regional Park?▾
$8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma County Regional Parks members); Miwok group picnic site $75 per reservation (1–99 people) plus parking for every car.
Are dogs allowed at Doran Regional Park?▾
Leashed dogs (6-ft max leash) allowed in the park, campground and on the beach; stay out of fenced snowy plover nesting areas.
Is Doran Regional Park good for kids?▾
The calmer, bay-facing surf makes it the Sonoma Coast's most family-friendly beach; free beach wheelchairs and Freedom Trax rentals are offered.
Sources & accuracy
We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Park page live Sept 2026 (lists Sept–Oct 2026 events); brochure/map v46 dated 11/6/24; County Code Ch. 20 codified through Ord. 6535 (Nov 2025)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Doran Regional Park before you go. How we verify.
Picnic rules at a glance
What the picnic area is like
About Doran Regional Park
Make a day of it
Pick up picnic food nearby
More picnic spots nearby
Frequently asked questions
Sources & accuracy