Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center

About Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center

Located at beautiful Drakes Beach, the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center contains exhibits that focus on maritime exploration in the 1500s, marine fossils, and marine environments. A minke whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling. Allow 20–30 minutes to view exhibits. Park- and ocean-themed books, guides, and postcards, and maps, along with coffee and packaged snacks are for sale in the PRNSA bookstore adjacent to the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center.

How to Get There

From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, head north 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Bear Valley Rd. Turn left and follow Bear Valley Rd. 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwest to Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Turn left and follow Sir Francis Drake Blvd. 13.4 miles (21.4 km) west to Drakes Beach Rd. Tip: Follow road signs for “Lighthouse” until you see a sign for Drakes Beach. Turn left and follow Drakes Beach Rd. 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south to the Drakes Beach parking lot. Allow 30 minutes for the drive from Bear Valley.

Plan Your Visit to Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center

Heading to Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)