Mendocino from the Golden Gate Bridge

Bay Area traffic can be slow. Morning departures are best; leaving SFO by 1-2:00 PM is usually ok; otherwise, Joan and Jeff leave after 6:00 PM.

Drive North on Highway 101, through Marin and Sonoma Counties until the last exit to Cloverdale - Highway 128.

Exit and follow Highway 128 north through the coastal range into Anderson Valley. Continue north past the wineries and into the Navarro redwoods.

Highway 128 merges with Coast Highway at the mouth of the Navarro River. Continue north for 10 miles until you see Mendocino Village stretched out on the Headlands.

Look for the Comptche Ukiah Road and turn right. The main driveway to the inn is the second to your left. (Normally three hours)

Mendocino Coast Route

Stunning views but can be slow - up to twice the time as the inland route, particularly with R.V.'s. Exit Mill Valley Highway 1 and follow north through Marin, Sonoma and southern Mendocino Counties. (Normally five hours)

Mendocino from Napa Valley

This route is rarely congested and is stunning. Take Highway 29 north to Calistoga where it will intersect Highway 128. Turn left at the intersection and follow 128 northwest into Sonoma Country and the Alexander Valley. The road skirts the northern edge of the valley. At Geyserville, 128 merges with Highway 101. Follow Highway 101 (and 128) north to Cloverdale and exit onto Highway 128 and continue as above. (Normally two hours from St. Helena)

Mendocino from the Oregon Coast, Eureka

Follow Highway 101 South until Leggett and the intersection of Highway 1. Exit and follow Highway 1 south to the Mendocino Coast. Continue south through Westport and Fort Bragg. Mendocino is 10 miles south of Fort Bragg. Continue south past the single lighted intersection in Mendocino, Cross Big River and take the first left turn onto Comptche Ukiah Road. We are the northeast corner of the intersection and border the south of the mouth of Big River. (Normally three hours from Eureka/Arcata)

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A word about the roads ...

Mendocino County Roads are among the most beautiful in the United States. Most of our roads were originally animal paths traversing the ridges and valleys. Pomos followed and connected many of these trails and they were in turn followed by the first European settlers who created what are today's roads.

Significantly beautiful roads include Highway 128, which winds from Cloverdale in Sonoma County over ridges to the Yorkville Highlands wine country and then down into Anderson Valley and the towns of Boonville and Philo. From Philo, the highway drops into the Navarro River Valley and the redwood forest.

Another stunning drive is along Comptche-Ukiah - Orr Springs Road. Connecting Mendocino and Ukiah, the road follows ridges most of the way to the deep valley which is Ukiah. Along the route is Montgomery Woods containing the worlds tallest tree and Orr Springs, a once famous hot springs resort. Just west of Ukiah the mountains afford views over coastal ridges to the Pacific more than 40 miles away.