Location and Driving Instructions
Logistics For Residential Retreats
Please consider the following 
information when registering for Spirit Rock events and retreats, as it will guide you in making your plans.
Spirit Rock is located in the Northern California town of Woodacre, in western Marin county, less than an hour's drive north of San Francisco. The Center hosts a full program of ongoing classes and daylong retreats exploring the themes of meditation and its relation to life in modern society. In addition to classes and daylong retreats, residential facilities allow us to offer a schedule of longer retreats for the sustained practice of meditation on the land.
Location and Driving Instructions
Spirit Rock is located at 5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Woodacre, west Marin, California, 45 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
From San Francisco, take 101 North, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the Sir Francis Drake/San Anselmo exit off 101 in Larkspur. Stay on Sir Francis Drake for the next 10 miles, Spirit Rock is at 5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, it is a right turn off the road. There is a sign at the entrance.
From the East Bay, take the Sir Francis Drake exit off 580 immediately after crossing the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Stay on Sir Francis Drake for the next 10 miles, Spirit Rock is at 5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, it is a right turn off the road. There is a sign at the entrance. We are situated on a 400-acre nature preserve.
Carpooling is an important consideration since we have a limited amount of parking space. A $10 per car parking fee is charged only for Monday night sittings (no charge for three in a car). However, we encourage you to carpool whenever possible to Spirit Rock. See Monday Night Carpooling for additional information on carpool lot locations and meeting times.
Carpooling for daylongs
To get telephone numbers of others who are registered from your area, call the front office at 415-488-0164 x234, between 10am - 4pm on the Thursday or Friday prior to the event. If you do not want your name given out, please let us know.
Spirit Rock is wheelchair accessible. If you have other access needs, please call us at 415-488-0164.
Getting to the Retreat by Airplane
Spirit Rock is easily accessible from both the Oakland and San Francisco International Airports. Please allow 2 to 3 hours to get from the airport to Spirit Rock.
The Marin Airporter bus transports passengers between the San Francisco airport and the San Rafael bus station. This bus runs every hour.
The Santa Rosa Airporter transports passengers between the Oakland Airport and the San Rafael bus station. This bus runs every 2 hours.
Local retreatants often offer rides from the San Rafael bus terminal to Spirit Rock. You may request this information from the registrar.
Carpool Arrangements
The registrar will provide you with the names and phone numbers of other retreatants so that you may make carpooling arrangements. To secure carpooling information, please call two weeks in advance. We may not be able to provide you with carpooling information if you are calling less than one week before the retreat begins.
When to Arrive at the Retreat
On-site registration starts at 3pm and ends at 6pm on the day the retreat begins. A light meal is served at 6:30pm. Arriving well before 6pm will give you time to settle in before the opening orientation and talk.
Location of On-Site Registration
If you are arriving by car, you will park in the long-term parking lot when you arrive. Caretakers and volunteers will assist you with your luggage between 3 and 6 pm. Proceed to the Council House for room assignment.
Late Arrivals
If you arrive later than 6pm, you may experience a delay in checking into your room. Please inform the contact person in advance if you plan to arrive late.
Leaving the Retreat
Generally, retreats end before noon on the last day of the retreat. When making plane reservations, schedule flights after 1:00 p.m. On the last day of the retreat, the retreat manager will ask if anyone leaving the retreat by car is willing to offer another retreatant a ride. This usually serves the sangha adequately.
"Know the sweet joy of the way."
