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Park · Sonoma, Sonoma County

Maxwell Farms Regional Park picnic guide

Picnics welcomeNo alcohol$8/vehicleGroup sites

Can you picnic at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

Yes — Maxwell Farms Regional Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members). Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Checked September 2026 from parks.sonomacounty.ca.govStated on the venue's own website

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking
Picnics welcome
Bring your own food
Allowed
Alcohol
Not allowed
Purchase required
No
Reservation
Not required
Fee
$8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members)
Groups
Picnic tables outside the group area are first-come, first-served. The Maxwell Glen group picnic area (about 13 tables, 25-99 people, ADA accessible, with barbecue grills) must be reserved online through Regional Parks, 3 days to 12 months ahead: $75 for up to 99 people, plus the $8 parking fee for each guest vehicle. One site per group per date. Changes: (707) 565-2041; modifications or disabled-access discount: (707) 565-2267.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed (6-ft leash maximum).
Kids
Large accessible playground; the Macdougald Skateboard Park and the Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club are also in the park.
Hours
Daily 7 a.m. to sunset.
Season
Open year-round; group sites book up in spring and summer.
House rules
Alcohol: Not allowed for ordinary visitors. Regional Parks permits alcohol and open containers at Maxwell Farms only inside the reservable group picnic area with a valid event permit, and it must stay within the permitted space. This is a posted park restriction under Sonoma County Code Sec. 20-13, which otherwise allows alcohol unless the park authority posts a ban. Hosting an event with alcohol in a park that otherwise prohibits it requires a Special Use (Alcohol Use) Permit. Other rules: charcoal and wood BBQs are banned during Red Flag Warnings, high-wind advisories and Spare the Air days (gas BBQs allowed unless noticed), and fires are allowed only in designated BBQs and fire rings; no amplified music or voice; dogs on a 6-ft leash. Tennis/pickleball court 5 is temporarily closed.

What the picnic area is like

An 82-acre community park on the northwest edge of town, recently upgraded with all-weather sports fields, new restroom buildings and a large accessible playground, with several picnic sites around the developed area. Behind it, 40 acres of level creekside backcountry trails wind through meadows, bay and oak shade and the remains of an old plum and apricot orchard along Sonoma Creek.

  • Picnic tables
  • BBQ grills
  • Restrooms
  • Playground
  • Parking
  • Hiking trails
  • Wheelchair accessible

Good for: Families · Groups · Large parties · Dogs · Budget-friendly

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About Maxwell Farms Regional Park

Sonoma's main county park is a practical family picnic stop a few minutes west of the Plaza, with a big accessible playground, flush-toilet restrooms and flat, shaded trails along Sonoma Creek. It's the wrong place for a wine picnic, though: alcohol is allowed only inside the reserved Maxwell Glen group area with a permit.

  • Alcohol only inside the reserved group area, with a permit
  • Maxwell Glen group site: about 13 tables, 25-99 people, $75
  • Large accessible playground and flush-toilet restrooms
  • 2.5 miles of level, shaded trails along Sonoma Creek
  • $8 parking (free for Regional Parks members)

More dog-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore family-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore free spots in Sonoma CountyMore groups spots in Sonoma County

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

  1. Sonoma Market

    Deli & market · Sonoma · about 1.0 mi away

  2. Maxwell Farms Regional Park (this park)

    Park · Sonoma

  3. Ernie Smith Community Park

    Park · Sonoma · about 1.0 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

More picnic spots nearby

Park

Ernie Smith Community Park

Sonoma· 0.7 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A free, low-key county park in the Springs area of Sonoma Valley with an accessible group picnic area, a playground, a dog park and a flat paved loop past a small wetland. It's a practical family stop.

Ernie Smith Community Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Outside
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Sonoma Market · 1.5 mi

Details: Ernie Smith Community Park
General Vallejo's Gothic Revival home behind a white picket fence and garden at Sonoma State Historic Park
Park

Sonoma State Historic Park - General Vallejo's Home (Lachryma Montis)

Sonoma· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

The quiet, shaded picnic grove at General Vallejo's Victorian-era estate is a peaceful escape a short walk or bike ride from the Plaza, paired with a $3 look inside the furnished house. It is strictly a food-only picnic: State Parks prohibits alcohol throughout Sonoma State Historic Park, so save the wine for the Plaza.

Sonoma State Historic Park - General Vallejo's Home (Lachryma Montis)

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Outside
Fee
No fee listed

Nearest picnic food: Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market · 0.3 mi

Details: Sonoma State Historic Park - General Vallejo's Home (Lachryma Montis)
Park

Larson Park

Sonoma· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

A freshly renovated county neighborhood park in the Springs area of Sonoma Valley with picnic areas, a playground and courts along two creeks. Handy for a family lunch, but leave the wine at home unless you've booked the group area with a permit.

Larson Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Sonoma Market · 1.9 mi

Details: Larson Park
Historic Sonoma train depot museum and vintage rail cars beside the lawn and benches of Depot Park
Park

Depot Park

Sonoma· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A relaxed neighborhood park a short walk from the Plaza, with bocce and petanque courts, a playground and public restrooms next to the picnic tables. It's the downtown option for dog owners, since leashed dogs are welcome here but banned from the Plaza, and the same 11:30 a.m.-to-sunset drinking window applies.

Depot Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market · 0.1 mi

Details: Depot Park

All picnic spots in Sonoma Valley →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

Yes — Maxwell Farms Regional Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members). Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Can you bring your own food to Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at Maxwell Farms Regional Park.

Can you drink wine at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

No, alcohol isn't allowed at Maxwell Farms Regional Park.

Do you need a reservation to picnic at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. Picnic tables outside the group area are first-come, first-served. The Maxwell Glen group picnic area (about 13 tables, 25-99 people, ADA accessible, with barbecue grills) must be reserved online through Regional Parks, 3 days to 12 months ahead: $75 for up to 99 people, plus the $8 parking fee for each guest vehicle. One site per group per date. Changes: (707) 565-2041; modifications or disabled-access discount: (707) 565-2267.

Is there a fee to picnic at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

$8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members).

Are dogs allowed at Maxwell Farms Regional Park?

Leashed dogs allowed (6-ft leash maximum).

Is Maxwell Farms Regional Park good for kids?

Large accessible playground; the Macdougald Skateboard Park and the Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club are also in the park.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Live Regional Parks pages checked Sept 2026 (park page mentions EV chargers installed Jan 2024 and a current court closure)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Maxwell Farms Regional Park before you go. How we verify.

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