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 (September 5, 2026), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Hours and admission prices will vary during the Festival of Lights and on the first weekend in August for our annual summer fundraiser, Art in the Gardens (August 1 - 2, 2026).
Plan for at least a 1.5-hour visit if you want to see the entire 47-acre botanical garden. To enjoy a more relaxed and less crowded experience, consider arriving before 11:00 AM or after 2:00 PM.
Please be advised that garden trails contain uneven and natural surfaces. Walk with caution and wear appropriate footwear. By entering the property, visitors assume all risks associated with walking the trails and agree to hold the Gardens harmless from any injury, loss, or damage that may occur.
The Gardens feature over 4 miles (6.44 km) of trails, all main trials are made of hard-packed fine gravel. The main pathways are approximately 4 feet wide, with some narrower secondary trails branching off. 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 bringing reusable water bottles and layers to make the most of your visit. Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.
Winter Hours (November - March): 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily,
with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Summer Hours (April - October):
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
The Garden Store and Nursery are open daily year-round
Rhody's Garden Café is open seasonally, spring through fall – Hours & Menu
There is never an admission charge to shop or dine.
Admission
Admission tickets are available online or at the main entrance. 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. 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.
*All ticket purchases include a service fee. This helps offset processing costs for our nonprofit botanical garden.
General Admission Rates
Member of the Gardens — FREE — Join today!
Adult age 18+ — $24.72 ($23.00 price + $1.72 fee)
Senior age 65+ — $19.57 ($18.00 price + $1.57 fee)
Junior age 6–17 — $9.27 ($8.00 price + $1.27 fee)
Children age 5 and younger — FREE
Discounted Admission Rates
Member’s Guest (MCBG Member must be present) — $11.33 ($10.00 price + $1.33 fee)
Local Resident Local Resident (present proof of Mendocino County residency) — $11.33 ($10.00 price + $1.33 fee)
Military Personnel (present military ID) — $13.39 ($12.00 price + $1.39 service fee)
Museums for All (present EBT or WIC card) — $3.09 ($2.00 price + $1.09 service fee)
AHS Reciprocal Members (present proof of current membership) — FREE
ROAM Reciprocal Members (present proof of current membership) — FREE
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).
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.
Membership
Membership to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens gives you free admission to the Gardens, 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 400 other public gardens (find participating gardens), and more.
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.
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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!
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Parking is free but limited. Please carpool if possible! 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. 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.
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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.
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All forms of smoking are prohibited 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.
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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.
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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.
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Contact us
If you have any questions about visiting the Gardens, call us at 707-964-4352 ext 101 or email info@gardenbythesea.org.