Stinson Beach — Attraction in Mill Valley

Sorry for the 1-star review of a beautiful place but I have no choice. It’s especially hard because I consider myself an environmentalist and a person who knows gas vehicles are not making this world a cleaner place to live but until we all can afford electric vehicles, every other town in America has at least one gas station, so when we drive 12 hours in a day and you have 50 miles of gas left and you expect that last destination up ahead will be the place to fill up, you need to have a damn gas station ...or there need to be 1,000 massive billboards with flashing lights on every road and in every town for a 200 mile radius saying STINSON BEACH DOES NOT HAVE GASOLINE ANYWHERE WITHIN 50 MILES. I didn’t see one sign passing Bolinas turn off or anywhere else, saying Stinson has no place to fill up. We were driving the PCH and were down to 25 miles left to empty. Got to Stinson and found out there is not a single place to fill up. Gas light had been on 10 miles already. It put us in a very scary position. My wife had a panic attack we’d get stuck on the serpentine road over the mountain to Mission Hill. We had like 3 estimated miles left in tank after we gambled to make that over the mountain drive and it took forever to actually find a gas station in MH because there is no cell service for hours so no way to map the closest station. I’m sure there are ppl who’d say they want to keep that town clean because it’s close to SF etc BUT EVERY CAR THERE WAS THERE FUELED BY GAS THEY GOT SOMEWHERE ELSE, so until YOU build an affordable electric infrastructure for this world trying to convert to clean energy, YOU NEED A GAS STATION IN THIS TOWN SO PEOPLE DON’T LITERALLY DIE. Think I’m exaggerating? My wife was in such a panic she almost made me run the car off the cliff with my 12 year old daughter in the back seat. All bcz you don’t want a gas station in your town. Get rid of ALL gas stations in ALL towns in ALL of America and then you can feel good about yourself. You literally almost killed me, my wife and my daughter because you don’t want to have a gas station in your town. It would have been attempted manslaughter. I wonder how many people have died driving their cars off the cliff running out of gas driving over...

One of the most iconic beaches along the California coast. It’s a very long beach about 30-min to walk from one end to the other. The sand here is very fine and nice to walk on along the wet sand area following waterline. Parking is very difficult on hot sunny weekends/holiday. You need to arrive by 10 am to secure a parking spot adjacent to the main accesses to the beach. Look out for seagulls that wait to raid your sandwiches, bag of chips & cookies. Once you leave your site to the water, they will come and start grabbing whatever they see from your open bags and containers. We even seen a seagull opening a messenger bag flap to grab a deli sandwich inside. They all know which bags to look for and what type of package related to which content. And they patiently waits near your picnic site until you get up and walk towards the water facing your back to your beach chairs. Never leave your picnic blanket with bags of food items without someone. Not even 2 minutes. Must have your food in the zippered bags. Because no public notices of the seagulls behavior, I see their brazenness worsening every year. Beach goers must aware of this particular behavior of seagulls and must do your best to avoid to be a victim. And they litter so much after poking the packages with their beaks and leaving wraps at the beach. We see every time our neighboring beach goers (likely new to Stinson) leave their site to dip in the ocean, we often ended up shooing seagulls away from their unattended food by...

Stinson Beach is one of those rare gems that perfectly balances natural beauty, accessibility, and a laid-back coastal vibe. Nestled just north of San Francisco along the scenic Highway 1, it’s a must-visit for anyone seeking a peaceful escape from city life. The drive alone is worth the trip—winding through redwood forests and offering jaw-dropping views of the Pacific.

The beach itself is clean, spacious, and incredibly picturesque. There’s plenty of soft sand to spread out on, and even on busier weekends, it never feels overly crowded. Families, surfers, solo travelers, and dog-walkers all seem to coexist in a relaxed, respectful way. The waves are gentle enough for wading or beginner bodyboarding, yet there’s enough surf for more experienced riders at the right spots.

I especially appreciate how easy it is to access: there’s a well-maintained parking area, public restrooms, and picnic tables. And just a short walk from the shore, you’ll find charming local restaurants like Parkside Café, where you can grab a fresh meal or coffee after a day in the sun.

Whether you’re looking to unwind with a book, explore the nearby hiking trails, or just watch the sunset, Stinson Beach delivers. Highly recommended for a peaceful, scenic...