The Garden is open for visitors seven days a week from 10am - 4pm. The RBG Office is open from 9am - 5pm Monday through Friday. Below is a list of holidays that either the Office or the Garden will be closed.

April 1 - 12 (Office Open, Garden Closed for Spring Preparation)

May 27 (Office Closed, Garden Open)

July 4 (Office & Garden Closed)

September 2 (Office Closed, Garden Open)

October 14 (Office Closed, Garden Open)

October 26 - November 3 (Office Open, Garden Closed for Winter Preparation)

November 28 and 29 (Office & Garden Closed)

December 25 (Office & Garden Closed)

Admission revenue helps to preserve the Garden for the public to enjoy. Your admission fee includes a self-guided tour booklet or a guided Docent tour (see Tours section below).

$10

Ruth Bancroft Garden Members:     

     Become a member here.

Children* (under 12):     

     *Arranged group tours are $5 per child.

Free admission is offered on the first Tuesday of every month and during Plant Sale events.

Other special events have a different pricing scale. Call the Office with any questions (925) 944-9352.

During the week, parking is available at the Office Entrance. For special events, park at the North Entrance. You may also park along the side streets, Stratton Rd. and Banbury Rd. Please be respectful of our neighbors!

At the North Entrance, the gravel area adjacent to Ruth’s Folly (the green gazebo) is usually reserved for handicapped guests. Continue down the driveway and parallel park along the left side of the driveway near the red barn or continue past the barn and park along the edge of the dirt road. The Garden is bordered by private property, so please walk back along the driveway and only enter through Ruth's Folly.

Parking is limited; please carpool or consider public transportation when possible. The Garden is located 1.5 miles from the Pleasant Hill BART Station and only three blocks from The Contra Costa Canal Trail, which can be accessed from the BART Station. The County Connection Bus also stops outside of the Garden during weekday commute hours.

Self-Guided Tours
Self-guided tour books are available every day from 10 am–4 pm. Check in with staff for a self-guided tour book and a brief orientation. If no staff members are available, use the self-pay box on the wooden kiosk to deposit tour fees. 

Docent-Led Walk-in Tours
April to October: Docents are present to offer tours and answer questions at the following times:

Fridays and Saturdays: 10am - 11:30am

Sundays: 11am - 12:30pm

November  to March: Docents are present to offer tours and answer questions once a week:

Saturdays from 10am - 11:30am.

Reservations are not required for walk-in tours. For current tour information, please call the Office at (925) 944-9352 or email info@ruthbancroftgarden.org. Groups of ten or more should schedule a Group Tour (see information below).

Group and Special Interest Tours

Docent-led group tours for groups of 10 or more should be scheduled at least 6 weeks prior to your visit. Please download our Group Tour Reservation Form (PDF / Word Doc) and email to: tours@ruthbancroftgarden.org  We will contact you shortly after receiving your email.

Schedule a Children's Tour by contacting our Education Director. Learn more about these kid-friendly and hands-on tours here.

Classes, Groups, and Clubs may make appointments to visit the Garden by calling the Office at

(925) 944-9352.

Horticultural Classes

Professors are welcome to schedule class visits to RBG. A Docent or our Garden Curator can be on hand to assist with plant identifications. Call ahead to make an appointment and discuss the best options for your horticultural students.

Painting/Artist Visits

Call ahead to make an appointment. Office staff can help you plan your visit to avoid group tours, special events, children’s tours, major garden renovation work, loud machinery, etc.  The regular admission fee applies.

Photographers

Please refer to our Photos tab.

Where should I park?

How long does a tour take?

What sorts of plants do you have for sale?

The answers to these questions and more can be found on our FAQ page!