Motel Inverness

The Motel Inverness is a great place if you want to get away. Off the beaten path, away from the crowds at Point Reyes Station. But only a 5 – 7 minute drive away from great restaurants, and breathtaking views. We have stayed here 4 times already and each time it seems to get better and better. Everytime we go, we get to know the area better and we are starting to get to know the owners of the establishment. They are very honest and humble folks. They understand hospitality and it really shows. The rooms are always clean and well maintained. And they provide a coffee maker in every room… a definite plus for those of you who wake up early. It is always well stocked with regular or decaf, cream and tons of sugar.
The main lodge is nice and cozy. Fireplace, pool table, mini fridge, board games, magazines and comfortable couches. Great for a family vacation. You can also bird watch here. The back patio leads to the marshlands. Take the narrow wooden pathway to the end and enjoy the birds.
Caution– it gets very dark early in this area. The roads are dark and you could miss the motel very easily while driving at night. I highly suggest that you arrive in the day time and get to know the surrounding area. I have missed the entrance to the motel a few times and U turns are not really an option on these roads.
Marin Sun Farms is only a 5 minute drive away. The have the best burgers!

Had a great stay here, it was definitely the best deal around the area and was very comfortable. The patio out back has a great view and the concierge/​front desk was really helpful with recommendations on where to go. We had to check-​in after hours because we did the night kayak bioluminescent tour, but they seem to get visitors like that pretty frequently and were very accommodating about our late check-​in.
Loved our cozy little stay here!

We love this place. The rooms are very clean and decent. The managers of the motel, Michael and Janice, are very friendly and welcoming. The location is great (very close to Pt Reyes National Seashore and the town of Pt Reyes Station). The surroundings are very beautiful and peaceful. Coming here is like being in paradise. The room rates are very reasonable for the area. We love this place!

Our first time here and we were totally pleased. Michael and Janice were terrific hosts. The Main room with fireplace, pool table and extra comfy chairs, telescope and great coffee was such an extra benefit. The grounds including the walk out to the bay for bird watching, plus the Japanese garden in the front (all the grounds for that matter), were just delightful. So nice to sit out on the deck and have wine and cheese. We even met some really nice people who were also staying there for the first time. We are definitely going back. Next time however we will go for the larger room. Ours was quite small but since we were out and about most of the time, no problem. Very clean and all nicely decorated. First class.

Pretty cool little place. Room was pretty tiny but it was super cute and cozy. Conveniently located near Point Reyes Station & all the hiking. The bed wasn’t very comfy (not terrible tho) and it woulda been nice to have a minifridge. But… it was affordable and the people running it were friendly. We would stay here again.

Not great

First time at Motel Inverness. It is a very clean and wonderfully located motel right on the bay estuary. I love all the birds around the motel and in the saltwater marsh. It’s very quiet although you can here your neighbors time to time in the patio. We are in room 2. In the back is a grass area that also functions as the septic. The only criticism I would have at this hotel would be the hint of septic occasionally. Otherwise, the negatives are far outweighed by the sounds of morning doves, silhouettes of ghostly cranes and herons, and cool offshore breezes. Very relaxing here.

Fantastic! this place was majestic and a perfect place to relax and be in nature. The rooms were great, everyone has a perfect view. the lodge was comfy and inviting. i had great coffee and tea. we played pool, sat by the fireplace and bird watched. What i loved about the place was the peacefulness. its like your own private oasis. it was an ideal place to enjoy our anniversary!

Stayed here for a weekend and had an amazing time. Perfect for a quick romantic getaway. I can’t wait to come back!

My husband and I were fortunate to get a room here for two nights. Our room was small, charming, clean and a very good value. The oversized and comfortable lobby and patio are a great place to relax after a day spent hiking or birdwatching. Shannon, the innkeeper is gracious and knowledgeable about the area. She pointed us to an amazing hike where we saw lots of elk and views of both the Pacific and the bay.

Beware: No wi-​fi here.
Other than that, this place is exactly what is needed for someone on a budget who’s looking to spend some time in the Point Reyes area. We stayed for two nights mid-​week to attend an impromptu wedding at the lighthouse. The innkeepers were very warm and welcoming; we even «borrowed» some cuttings from the beautiful and well-​kept garden to make the boutonnieres and coursages – no problem when we asked.
The rooms are small, bathrooms small, walls are very thin (you can almost hear conversations among other guests). This is not the place to go if you are looking for a high-​end romantic and secluded getaway – thankfully we were more interested in making the wedding and not breaking the bank. BUT for the price, kind service, clean rooms, and overall hospitality coupled with the views and duck blind out in to the middle of Tomales Bay, we were very happy campers.
Beware also of the Quail Room – we loved it EXCEPT for the skylight window, which shone very bright light very early in the morning (we have blackout curtains at home… it was… jarring).

I’m sad to write that Motel Inverness used to be much better.
The hotel isn’t aging well, and many important things are worn out or dirty. The once-​comfy common room chairs are now misshapen & grungy, the mattresses are overdue for replacement, the bathroom lights are rusting, the night stands are chipped, the bird watching shed is filled with cobwebs and debris … etc.
The staff continues to be sweet and considerate, so thanks for that at least. Good location, right up the street from Blue Waters Kayaks and the ever-​delicious Saltwater.
Finally, as a small, but important, aside — the common room kitchen really should offer local products instead of Costco-​ish snacks. In an area with an embarrassment of fantastic creameries and bakeries, it’s awfully sad to find Yoplait and infinite-​shelf-​life biscotti. Local businesses should support each other, not big box retailers, especially in a place like Point Reyes!

Don’t be fooled by the rustic exterior of the motel. Our room, the California Quail Suite, room 5, was a modern delight at a reasonable price. The ceilings were tall with a skylight. The bathroom was very modern with beautiful granite or slate tiled floors. The back door led to a patio furnished with a couple chairs for the great view of the bay. Staff, both at check in and check out were truly friendly and helpful. Complimentary coffee, tea and biscotti await in the lobby /​common area. A small boardwalk /​pier over the bay ends at a small bird watching shelter… love. If I can find anything wrong with the place, it would be walls on the slightly thin side. No biggie as long as your temporary neighbors show some awareness and consideration. We love this place!

Judging by the outside, it looks rather old and gloomy.
But then again, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
Motel Inverness was a fantastic place to stay. The rooms were very well furnished with a modern touch. Everything was very clean. Customer service was top notch and very accommodating. The common room was exemplary and I loved the fact we had access to it all night.
Simply fantastic. Highly recommended, and worth the money.

I heart Motel Inverness, and I almost hesitate to leave my review because I don’t want it to be full next time we venture up to Point Reyes.
The view is amazing, the common room is gorgeous, the fire is roaring, the rooms are super comfy, the coffee is strong, and the prices are right (especially for Inverness).
I love Point Reyes, and Motel Inverness will always and forever be our go-​to choice for lodging.

Pros: beautiful location, friendly staff, very clean, no pets, towel warming rack in the bathroom
Cons: the room was small, the toilet seats were an uncomfortable shape
Overall, it’s a wonderful place to stay. We say hummingbirds, egrets, quail, etc. right out the little backdoor.

I was fortunate enough to celebrate my birthday at the Motel Inverness with my sweetheart boyfriend that surprised me with a weekend trip to Point Reyes.
Motel Inverness was everything we could ask for and more. Lynn was charming and helpful in showing us what to see, where to eat, and other helpful tips. What we especially loved was how guests are allowed access and use of the common area anytime during their stay. We spent such fun nights grilling oysters, playing pool, and watching t.v. on the comfy couches.
Our room was perfect. We stayed in the Great Egret Suite. It had its own darling kitchen equipped with all the utensils, pots, pans, and anything else you’d ever need (more than I have at my own house to be honest). What made it even more amazing was that the back kitchen door led to the back of the property that consisted of a patio, deck, grassy area, and led right to the edge of the marsh wetlands.
We plan on returning as quick as we can. Not only did we fall in love with Motel Inverness, but with Point Reyes. A weekend full of hiking, horse-​back riding, local delicious foods, elk sightings, and breathtaking beaches? Um YES.
Best. Birthday. Ever.