Plan your visit

Visiting Hours & Ticket Info

The Gardens is open daily during the hours listed below, with the exception of the first Saturday in September, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Hours and admission prices will vary during Festival of Lights and on the first weekend in August for our annual summer fundraiser, Art in the Gardens.

SUMMER HOURS (April - October):
9:00am to 5:00pm daily

WINTER HOURS (November - March):
9:00am to 4:00pm daily
with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Map of the Gardens | Mapa de los Jardines en Español

VISITING INFO & GUIDELINES

We ask our guests to follow these simple guidelines to ensure that everyone at this garden by the sea has an enjoyable experience.

For daily admission, you can purchase tickets online or at the door. We strongly encourage you to purchase tickets in advance if you plan to attend one of our special events, workshops, or walks. Discounted tickets for guests of MCBG Members can be purchased in person at the Gardens.
The Garden Store and Nursery are open daily. Rhody's Garden Café is open seasonally from April through October. There is never an admission charge to shop or dine.
The Gardens is dog-friendly with the exception of a handful of special events. Please check event guidelines prior to bringing your pup. Dogs are not allowed at our annual summer fundraiser, Art in the Gardens, or our holiday event, Festival of Lights. Please clean up after your dog and keep them leashed and close to you at all times. Please read and follow our Canine Guest Policy to ensure a safe visit for your dogs. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times!
Plan for at least a 1.5-hour visit if you want to see the entire 47-acre botanical garden. The Gardens feature over 4 miles (6.44 km) of trails made of hard-packed fine gravel. The main pathways are approximately 4 feet wide, with some narrower secondary trails branching off. Please note that garden trails may have uneven surfaces. View more details on Access California. It's about a half-mile walk to the ocean and a half-mile walk back from the ocean to the main entrance. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing reusable water bottles to make the most of your visit.
To enjoy a more relaxed and less crowded experience, consider arriving before 11AM or after 2PM.
Parking is free but limited. Please carpool if possible! Riding to the Gardens? Bike racks are available outside the main entrance. The Gardens does not have Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, there are several options nearby – EV Charging near MCBG.
AHS Reciprocal Garden Network and ROAM Reciprocal Members receive free admissions with proof of current membership. Benefits vary during special events, please read event details for specifics. For our major annual fundraisers Art in the Gardens and Festival of Lights, we do require that AHS and ROAM Members, purchase special event tickets (member discounts do not apply).
The Museums for All discount provides individuals and families presenting an EBT or WIC card with deeply discounted admission – $2 per guest for up to 4 guests per card.
Groups visiting with 15 or more guests must schedule a visit at least 3 weeks in advance. Please read the Group Visit Guidelines and complete a request form to schedule your visit.
To ensure guest safety and preserve the tranquility of the Gardens, we enforce a no-drone policy. However, during select major events, a licensed drone pilot contracted by MCBG may capture images for the nonprofit’s promotional use.
Smoking is not allowed at the Gardens. For the comfort and safety of all guests, smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property—thank you for respecting this policy.
We have a number of electric carts for guests with mobility issues. They are available to rent ($10 rental; free for members) on a first-come-first-served basis and are not available by reservation. For your safety, electric carts are not available on wet/rainy days. Weight capacity is 400 lbs. A cart rental agreement must be signed in order to rent an electric cart.
Regular admission and entry procedures apply for non-commercial filming/photography that is intended for private use as long as the session does not impact the grounds or visitors. Examples include but are not limited to, garden/nature and portrait photography. Please complete our Photography/Filming Request form prior to your visit. Commercial sessions, including amateur or professional images that will be sold or used in promotional material, must email marketing@gardenbythesea.org to schedule a session.

ADMISSION

Admission tickets are available online or at the main entrance. All tickets are non-refundable. Proceeds directly support our nonprofit botanical garden, whose mission is to engage and enrich lives by showcasing and conserving plants in harmony with our Northern California coastal ecosystems, while preserving public access to the coast.

Get Tickets

General Admission Rates*
$23.00 Adult (18 and older)
$18.00 Seniors (65 and older)
$8.00 Juniors (age 6 to 17)
FREE Children (age 5 and younger)

Discounted Admission Rates*
FREE Members of the Gardens
$10.00 Member's Guest – MCBG member must be present
$10.00 Local – Residents of the MCRPD district
$12.00 Military – present Military ID
$2.00 Museums for All Program– present EBT or WIC card
FREE Educational Organization Group Admission (must schedule in advance)
FREE AHS Reciprocal Members – present proof of current membership
FREE ROAM Reciprocal Members – present proof of current membership

*Fees apply when paying with credit card.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens gives you free admission to the Gardens for individuals or the household (depending on membership level), discounted admission for guests of members, discounts on workshops, discounts in The Garden Store and Nursery, invitations to special member events, free or discounted admission at more than 360 other public gardens (find participating gardens), and more.

Renew your Membership . Purchase a new Membership

Gift Certificates

HOW TO GET HERE

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is located on the west side of State Highway One at 18220 North Highway 1 between Fort Bragg, California and Mendocino, California.
Parking is free, but limited, please plan to carpool. Overflow parking is available for RVs and oversized vehicles just south of the main entrance. You will see signs directing you to the overflow lot off of Ocean Drive.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is centrally located with a variety of unique accommodations nearby. Learn more...

GROUPS, TOURS, & WEDDINGS

Group Visits: Groups visiting with 15 or more guests must schedule a visit at least 3 weeks in advance. Please read the Group Visit Guidelines and complete a request form to schedule your visit. For more information about scheduling a visit, please call 707-964-4352 ext. 113 or email administration@gardenbythesea.org.
Educational Organization Group Visits: Educational/student groups of all ages receive free admission if scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance. Please complete this questionnaire to submit your group's visit request. For more information about scheduling a visit, please call 707-964-4352 ext. 113 or email administration@gardenbythesea.org.
Private Events: The natural splendor of our coastal botanical garden offers a gorgeous backdrop for special occasions, whether you are celebrating an anniversary or throwing a company picnic. For more information about hosting a private event at one of the Gardens' outdoor sites, please complete our Weddings & Private Events Questionnaire to provide our Event Coordinator with the necessary details.
Wedding Ceremonies: We are here to make your day special. We encourage you to take a tour of the Gardens and discover the variety of sites available for wedding ceremonies. Please take a look at our Wedding Packet and complete our Weddings & Private Events Questionnaire to determine availability and receive details.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about visiting the Gardens call us at 707-964-4352 ext 101 or email info@gardenbythesea.org.