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Doran Beach
Categories: Active Life Parks Hotels & Travel Campgrounds Active Life Beaches Parks, Campgrounds, Beaches [Edit]
201 Doran Beach RdBodega Bay, CA 94923
(707) 875-3540
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
23 reviews for Doran Beach
23 reviews in English
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Review from Jaime R.
Modesto, CA
2/7/2011
For the family this beach was perfect. Easy to find and easy to park.
It is a flat beach with small breaking waves, perfect for chilling or just playing. Animal friendly, yet clean. Limited picnic tables and BBQ areas.
If your kids like to run and build sandcastles, it's a great beach. -
Review from Sara B.
Sebastopol, CA
2/17/2012
I'll keep it short and not so sweet. I have NOOOO idea what the hypes all about with this "beach"??? if you can call it that. Yes, there's sand and water that resembles the ocean...that's probably the only thing this place does have going for it. Water!
It's cold and windy and windy and cold...why???? There are NO beautiful cliffs. When I go to the north pacific coast that's what I want to see all around me...near me...touch me! Cliffs...and lot's of them...there are plenty of beaches where you can take babies & small children & climb to get down is small...there's a huge perk and this is not getting sand in your eyes every two seconds and freezing your arse off the entire time.
The scenic pleasure of RV's were to be admired as we drove through the parking lot looking for a space. Our food was flying off of our plates, not because we were eating so fast but because the wind factor was out of control. We couldn't enjoy the "picnic benches" or "BBQ's" that we paid $6 bucks for regardless.
Just a weird, strange place...it's not a beach...it's more like a lake I once went to in Northern Cali and never went back because it was so dreadful! The weather is NEVER nice.
If you want a beautiful place for the kid's to swim in calm waters, for you to run along the beach or have fun in some waves, have a picnic, a place where it's warm and not so windy, where the scene is actually oceanic, with the backdrop of a small little ocean town go to Salmon Creek Beach, for crying out loud!
Sorry, but Doran Beach a little too white trash for me! The only way I'd ever step foot back at that place is in an RV where I'd be the Davy Jones's locker blocker! Yep...I could have my own view of the water and whenever the cold or wind got to me I could hide in my hideout. -
Review from Little O.
Danville, CA
2/3/2012
Found this beach as I was driving around Sonoma county one day with the dogs It's a great spot but my major complaint is they don't allow dogs off leash on the beach That is the main reason I probably wouldn't return. What's the point of going to the beach to let the dogs run when they have to stay on leash? And EVERYONE abided by the rules and kept their dogs leashed. The beach was very clean and full of people kayaking out to set crab traps- which was very cool! There is a really nice looking campground right on the beach pretty much- I would probably stay there sometime.
The beach is very long and not too crowded. Lots of family, dogs and even saw horses on the beach! You have to pay $6 to get in and parking was easy to find. Overall this beach was very pretty and I love the East Coast crab/fishing vibe! -
Review from Victor W.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Who could ask for a better Beach? This place is a great weekend get away. For those who say it can be windy, what do you ecpect its Bodega.
I have used the day use are several times and even had a birthday there. In the summer make sure to get there early since the tables can get taken really fast.
As far as camping goes, I have stayed here twice and it has always been great. You need to bring a tent that can hold up in the wind, or otherwise you may lose it or it may take a beating. Some may complain about the Fog horn, but I think it adds a great coastal touch.
I love this place and will always be back. -
Review from Rat a tat R.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2011
I enjoyed my weekend in Bodega Bay, but I wasn't overwhelmed by this beach. I liked it fine, but in terms of the various beaches I've been to I'd put it somewhere in the middle. After the way it'd been hyped up to me I admit I was a tad disappointed.
The good: this beach is picturesque. It's got gorgeous views, so bring your camera (if you have a safe place to keep it of course). It's a really nice beach to go for a walk or run by the ocean. At least one of the beaches has a starry plover habitat, so you can see this rare bird if you come at the right season. There's also picnic tables near the beach where you can grab lunch.
Not as good: this beach is FREEZING! It was a warm day, but with the wind I was really cold in my suit. You have to come here in real clothes, which can defeat the point of the beach. The water is also way too cold and dangerous for swimming, even moreso than the sf beaches. The beach was full of huge pieces of kelp that kind of smelled bad. Finally, the fact that you have to pay for the day (unless you're camping) is a little crazy to me. I've never had to pay for a beach in CA before.
Would I return? Yes, but with adjusted expectations -
Review from Corey G.
10/13/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I am a being of the water. I don't know if it's my birthright, or I simply decreed it myself, but I am most at peace near water. Like a hypnotizing campfire, being in the presence of water is primal.
Sitting on the sand, watching the water, listening to the waves, and smelling the salt. All of this can put me calmly to sleep or awake all of my senses in an overloaded burst.
Doran Beach isn't the best beach I've been to, but it will do. It will do.
It's far enough away from the big city to offer some seclusion. There are several access points to the beach. We rented a house near the golf course south of the main Doran Beach Access areas, but we had a nice trail (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) which put us right on the beach. In this area the beach was a bit rocky, but after a little hike "north" you are on the long sandy stretch of Doran Beach. Here you can run like you were Rocky or Apollo Creed (in Rocky III) for miles.Listed in: Outdoor Adventures
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Review from Chris H.
Napa, CA
12/26/2010
Doran Beach is one of those all around nice beaches. Yes, there are definitely beaches with bigger waves, less people, and more amenities. But if you want a nice beach within a short drive of the Bay Area that has a little something for everyone, this is it.
This is not the steep beach with crashing saves setting that you find a little further to the north. The beach itself is very gradual and the waves are small(even too small for any serious boogie boarding) which makes a perfect spot for wading and swimming. For parents, this is a great spot to let kids play in the water without being fearful of them being hit by a big wave out of nowhere. For those who are interested, the jetty at the end of the beach is a great spot to go crabbing or fish for a variety of species like halibut, leopard sharks, and bat rays. The beaches themselves are a great spot to try fishing for surfperch as well.
The beach can definitely be crowded. On a holiday weekend during the summer, the rangers will have to turn beachgoers away because the place will be an absolute zoo. But if you do get in and want a little peace and quiet, park in the day use sites close to the ranger kiosk and walk south along the beach until the crowd thins. On most weekends, a quick quarter-mile walk will leave you with a nice stretch of beach all to yourself.
The camping is, well, as camping at an unprotected beach usually is ... potentially difficult. The campsites are nice, a mix of concrete parking area and open sandy areas between the brush and cypress trees. While not uncomfortably close to your neighbor, the sites are snug but that's often part of the charm when camping at the beach. If you catch the weather right, the wind will stay down and you'll fall asleep to nothing but the sound of breaking waves, the wail of the foghorn, and the distant dinging of buoys in the bay. If the wind is up, you may spend the night battened down in you sleeping bag questioning whether you drove your tent stakes into the ground firmly as firmly as you should have. I have awoken several times here to either a flipped over or collapsed tent.
All in all, a great little beach that feels like a little bit of coastal Massachusetts nestled away in northern California. -
Review from Vanessa J.
Sacramento, CA
8/21/2011
Best beach for swimming that I've yet to find in california! The waves are a bit more docile, and great for swimming in. The water temperature seems to be a bit more warmer here as well! Also no dangerous rocks in the way. Great for boogey boarding and those who are new to the ocean! My dog also loved it here! Lots of friendly people and other dogs willing to give her lots of attention! Overall, great place!
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Review from Kiwi L.
Santa Clara, CA
1/12/2011
I'm an avid researcher when it comes to a new destination. Unfortunately, I didn't research Doran Beach before my crabbing adventure (I just drove up on a whim). So I was praying that they allowed dogs. Luckily, dogs are allowed but on leash only.
I was invited crabbing during the Thanksgiving weekend. I usually get bored fast while fishing so I thought crabbing might be better. The concept of throwing a glow in the dark bait box intrigues me. And the dangers of climbing and sitting on a jetty wall scares me.
I was surprised to see a lot of people and boaters out on an extremely windy and rainy day. The jetty wall was packed with everyone (kids too). The ranger was walking around every so often checking crab sizes. And an extremely large seal was in the water near us wrestling with a large fish.
I find Doran Beach to be a great spot. Camping seemed to be full of RVs. The surrounding fields are full of jack rabbits, and the seagulls are not scared to approach you. Thank God this place isn't commercialized like some spots along the coast. I would definitely return. -
Review from Brandi G.
Alameda, CA
11/22/2010
In drenching rain, hail the size of gumdrops, and thunderstorms on the horizon, my friend Corinne and I set out to Doran Beach to exercise our hunter-gatherer skills. We were attempting to accomplish a task that would make a bona fide fashionista and extreme vegan shriek in revulsion.
We were going crab fishing while sporting the latest fashion of......garbage bags!
Armed with our poles, bucket, squid bait, and donning garbage bags courtesy of Glad™, we climbed up and over slimy rocks on the jetty searching for the perfect place to post up. As we climbed the rocks, we noticed a huge spotted seal hanging out to the left of us eyeing our lavish garbage bag coats. He gave permission to proceed after noticing we weren't wearing any of his cousins. Finally, after slipping and sliding over the lichen-covered rocks, we found our home sweet home.
The wind and rain was intense, but that didn't stop these novice crabbers. After a few hours of "Hook, Line, and Sink," we were saturated, snot nosed, and numb. If it weren't for our bucket of crustaceous-clawed bounty, we would have just looked like a pair of crazy city slickers wearing garbage bags. Fortunately, we were crazy city slickers with a bucket of delicious crab!
Doran Beach, in all of its picturesque splendor, is worth every penny of its $6 day use fee. Even, in the pouring rain. -
Review from nellie t.
8/2/2010
Recently spent the weekend at Bodega Bay--what a lovely area!
Doran Beach was walking distance from the house we rented, so we spent A LOT of time here.
Yes, it was overcast when we were there, so it was a little chilly, for sure. Weather aside, it was a lovely place to spend most of our afternoons. Not only was the beach dog friendly, it was also not very crowded. Fantastic! (Growing up, we would always go to Jersey Shore, and I learned to hate crowds.)
One afternoon, we even spotted dolphins about 50-60 ft away in the water, splashing about. It was crazy amazing. Bodega Bay boasted a lot of wildlife, and this was just one of the many examples. There were also lots of crabs and egrets on the walk into the beach; simply fantastic to see all these creatures in their natural habitats.
I think parking at the beach costs $6/car, but I'm not 100% since we walked in all the time. I would totally recommend this--park outside for the Bird Walk (Watch?) trail, and walk the .3 miles or so into the beach. Great exercise and fantastic views.Listed in: Hanging out with a furry…
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Review from Amy J.
Alameda, CA
1/8/2007 3 photos
Almost perfect campground- scenic beaches, nice facilities, friendly rangers, reasonable rates for overnight or day use, 2 free beach modded wheel chairs. Some sites require reservations (some first come first served), and there are group sites as well . We didn't have a reservation, but like most campgrounds in the off season, it was not a problem.
Total of one star off for a gazillion cartoon potholes along main road, aggressive shore birds (watch your chips!!) and the relentless sound of the fog horn... every 10 seconds... 24/7. -
Review from Shannan W.
Sacramento, CA
7/23/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I heart Doran Beach!
Pros:
- Beautiful views!
- Parking is easy, on paved lots adjacent to beach access
- Beach access is relatively flat, which makes hauling your chairs and cooler easy
- Dog friendly
- You can find sea shells on the beach. I found a perfect sand dollar!
- The drive in is pretty but not full of crazy switchbacks or anything
- Toilet and shower facilities - though I haven't used them to tell you whether they are gross or not
Cons:
- It gets cold there when it's overcast, and I understand it is overcast there a lot. If you come prepared though, this isn't really a con.
- The camping fills up fast, so if you choose to camp, make reservations early. (This may not be a fair "con" though because this tends to be true of all beach-adjacent campgrounds.)
Really, this is one of my favorite beaches due to its convenience and views. If you aren't hoping to work on your tan and don't mind bringing something with light sleeves, this is a fantastic place to find peace at the ocean! -
Review from Paul M.
11/19/2008
I am not sure if it was that this spot was unexpected to us, we just wanted to see the Pacific. I am not sure if it was the early morning light, the unseasonably warm temperatures, the advancing tide, the seals or the surfers - or heck, even the bloody seagulls as big as a medium sized dog. But this place is absolutely gorgeous.
The whole span of the bay, the Pacific Ocean, the waves, a couple of 1970s Oldsmobile station wagons with the boards on the roof. I have always looked at RVs with nothing but disdain - but you see the RVs parked here, you see the owners sipping their coffee and looking out at the ocean, and you start to think to yourself - shit, how much is it to rent one of those yokes? I could just stay here for weeks on end just sitting and gazing and thinking and drinking. You just want to walk on the beach and follow the seals along. Look at the massive driftwood sculptures. Not a lot of people seem to know about this place or come here. After a few minutes even the incessant foghorn seems to be soothing and part of the charm, part of the beauty, a reminder that of course the sea is beautiful, and dangerous. And not just the sea.
One seal was pretty close to the shore, so we walked over towards him. He saw us and retreated, then he came in again, closer, checking us out the same way we were checking him out. Us, the seal, a deserted beach in early morning light and the Pacific Ocean. -
Review from Tori E.
Napa, CA
9/18/2009
Absolutely beautiful beach, always fairly clean. When the weather is nice this place if FULL of families. I think its $5 or $6 to park your car for the day and I cant exactly remember how much it is to camp overnight.... but both are great ideas. They have some good spots for just picnics too, with wind barricades and large tables for big families. Bathrooms and outdoor showers in several locations.
And PS I love the sound of the relentless fog horn ;) -
Review from Liz C.
Vacaville, CA
1/12/2012 6 photos
I went to Doran Beach to spend 2 nights tent camping in October. I highly recommend site J for tent camping. It is the best site, because there are trees around it that give you some privacy from the other tent sites. You park in the parking lot and have to unload your stuff about 50 to 100 hundred feet away.(sorry not good with estimating measurements) But once you get all set up it is totally worth it. You are right there on the beach. When we got there it was beautiful and sunny, about 70 degrees. The bathrooms were pretty clean and the showers too (coin operated). Just your basic campground bathroom. Unfortunately the weather changed over night, which it does on the coast. It rained all night and all the next day...so we spent the whole day in our tent. But not much you can do when the weather changes unexpectedly. It is also a dog friendly place. We brought our little shih-tzu and she had fun running up and down the beach. It is a great place to sit and watch the waves. Very family friendly. I would love to go back when the weather is better. I will definitely give it another try. I would also recommend visiting here during the week. We came over on a Sunday afternoon and stayed until Tuesday. There weren't very many people around.
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Review from John K.
Virginia Beach, VA
6/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ehh..Ive been to much better beaches...not here in California tho. I think its pretty shitty that you have to pay $6 just to go hang out by some free water. Never heard of that til I moved here.
The beach its self was nice, the water on the other hand was nasty. The parking was shitty too. I got a nice tan and got to people watch so I guess it was worth paying. -
Review from Victoria V.
Sebastopol, CA
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the best beach in Bodega Bay! Great place to take the dogs and the kids. Clean bathrooms too!
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Review from Cynthia D.
Los Gatos, CA
Beautiful! Great walk, dog friendly, and if you like birds there are plenty. I like the fact there are benches randomly around so you can sit and enjoy the scenery.
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Review from Scott F.
Auburn, CA
This is a great family beach. Could be windy at times.
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Review from shesaid t.
Bay Area
4/27/2010
This is one of our favorite beaches to go to in Bodega. The water is a lot more calm, and it just feels safer. It's usually packed on a nice day, especially the weekends. Expect it to be windy and cold unless you really luck out! Bring a picnic. They have tables or camp out on the beach for the day. Great place to fly kites.
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Review from Kathy K.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/29/2010
We did a drivethrough of this beach and campground last week just to see what was there. We paid $6 to get in, but afterward a park ranger told us that if we told them we only wanted a 10-minute drivethrough, they would have let us in for free. Oh well.
Doran Park is on a long, narrow finger of land that separates the bay from the Pacific ocean. The beach looked pretty nice - wide, flat, fine-grain sand, flush toilets and showers you can use, picnic tables, nice views of the Pacific and the cliffs along the coastline looking south. It was crowded, and there were tons of families with kids and dogs (leashed) when we were there, and parking was a little bit scarce in some of the lots, but there are several to choose from. I think it's one of the few beaches in the area where you can actually swim without getting sucked under by a vicious undertow, so it's got that going for it(, although I think the water may be freezing). We also saw some wind and kite surfers. Most people just seemed to be sitting on the beach in chairs or on blankets, and it was warm and sunny when we were there, although it's often foggy, windy, and cold in Bodega Bay. The beach was okay, but I personally prefer some of the more dramatic beaches with steep cliffs, exciting rock formations, and fewer people that are a few miles north. We stopped at most of the beaches for a 10-mile stretch, and our favorite was Wright's Beach, which was also a pay beach where we happened to be camping. We also liked Goat Rock beach, which has amazing scenery. Bodega Head has a small beach, great whale watching, and amazing hiking trails.
As far as the campgrounds at Doran Park go, I was not terribly impressed with them. It seemed mostly like RV camping with fairly small camping sites, lots of concrete, not much to see, not much shade, pretty crowded, and you will hear the foghorn which sounds constantly, although the flush toilets and showers are nice amenities, and the park is very close to the main section of town with all the restaurants, etc.. I much preferred our campground at Wright's Beach, but Doran Park is probably a good option for families with RV's and children or dogs as long as they can handle the foghorn. -
Review from Peter Y.
CA
8/8/2010
It's worth the $6... it's a nice relatively calm, very clean beach (compared to free access to other beaches further north). The weather may be overcast but if the wind isn't too strong/cool, the sun is still trying to burn through. 5-10 minutes east towards Bodega and you're in sun so jump in and enjoy the Pacific and then head East for some sun and good food in Bodega (check out Casino for BBQ oysters on the weekend). Yeah the fog horn can be distracting at first but if you spend time watching the birds diving for fish and enjoying the light surf crashing it fades into the background.
