Where are the best beaches near Half Moon Bay and Pacifica? Here are five to try!
Everyone has their own ideas about what makes a beach good or bad. It could be the texture of the sand or how clean the bathrooms are or if there are any bathrooms at all. Is there food nearby? Are dogs allowed? Can I take all my clothes off without people calling the police? It’s just personal preference.
My criteria for what makes a good beach are pretty simple. The beach has to be clean, not too crowded, have a more fine grain sand vs the tiny little rocks that some beaches have and a reasonable bathroom somewhere nearby. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a beach that fronts a boardwalk or busy beach town but I prefer beaches that are a bit out of the way. Not so far out of the way that the locals will beat you up for skim boarding on their turf but more off the beaten path than the obvious tourist beaches.
That being said, I’m going to start this list with an incredibly popular and well known beach: Pacifica.
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Beaches Near Half Moon Bay: Pacifica State Beach
Honestly, I don’t love this beach. It violates every single one of my criteria. This beach gets super littered with trash and seaweed and not everyone cleans up after their dogs. The sand is grainy. It’s a busy surf spot and right off an intersection on a major freeway so there is a constant stream of people in and out. However, I’m including it because this is a great option for parents looking for an easy beach to take the kiddos.
Parking is a breeze. There is a huge lot and there are always empty spaces. It’s pretty sunny most of the time.
You don’t have to pack food because there is an actual Taco Bell sitting on the beach (thus the litter).
There are real bathrooms instead of port-o-potties.
It’s flat, easy to keep an eye on the kids and a great digging beach (once you’ve checked your digging area for trash). If you love surf watching this is the beach for you.
5000 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacifica, CA
Beaches Near Half Moon Bay: Montara State Beach
Montara is one of our absolute favorite beaches in Northern California and the beach we visit more often than any other by a wide margin.
From Highway 1 turn off at La Costanera in Montara. There is parking along the road and at the restaurant. There are a couple of paths down to the beach – including a rather hairy trail at the northern end of the strand but the easiest way down is via the staircase behind La Costanera.
The beach is flat and white and never crowded. The weather here can be pretty changeable. It’s often sunny and warm but even in the summer it can be overcast and freezing. Pack for both eventualities.
Take in your own snacks and drinks, there is absolutely nothing here but beach and the ceviche at La Costanera. Unfortunately, the bathroom situation is not great. As with many many state beaches your only option is a bank of port-o-potties at the south end of the beach parking. They can be super disgusting. If you are traveling with small children I highly suggest keeping one of these and some plastic trash liners in your car.
2nd St and Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA
Honorable Mention: Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Gray Whale Cove is another beautiful, un-crowded state beach just about a mile up the road from Montara. It didn’t quite make my list for a couple of reasons.
One, parking is across the street. Which means you have to park and then dart across the Cabrillo Highway without getting run over in order to enjoy this gorgeous beach.
Two, this is a well known spot for nude sunbathers. It’s really not a big deal, the clothing optional folks keep to one end of the beach and if you are toward the other end of the beach your kids won’t notice the naked people but it can be surprising if you aren’t expecting nudity.
All that aside, this is a fantastic beach and if you don’t mind running in traffic and possibly seeing naked people then by all means check it out.
Beaches Near Half Moon Bay: Pelican Point aka Manhattan Beach
This is the beach that is below the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay.
It’s very easy to find if you know the turnoff. As you are driving through Half Moon Bay, heading south on the Cabrillo Highway, look for the Ritz Carlton sign and turn right. Just past the Pelican Point RV Park you’ll see a small parking lot on the left. This is the parking for Manhattan Beach.
This is also the only downside to visiting this beach. The parking lot is tiny, it fills up fast and street parking is forbidden. I don’t know how often it happens that people parked on the street are ticketed or towed but it could happen and I can’t recommend parking illegally under any circumstances. However, if you are able to find parking this is a fantastic beach.
Follow the pathway from the parking lot to the staircase down to the sand. This is a super clean, white sand beach, and it is never crowded when we visit. If the weather isn’t nice this beach is miserable so definitely save this one up for a sunny day. The bathrooms are, again, port-o-potties, but they are kept up a little better than other beach port-o-potties we’ve had the misfortune to use.
A great alternative to rolling the dice on the tiny parking lot is to valet at the Ritz Carlton. Eat breakfast or lunch at one of the hotel restaurants and then hit the beach for a couple of hours.
1001 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, CA
Beaches Near Half Moon Bay: Bean Hollow State Beach
Bean Hollow is about 20 minutes outside of Half Moon Bay as you make your way toward Santa Cruz. This pretty little cove is easily seen from the highway and the parking lot is easy to find.
This is a great beach near Half Moon Bay for kids like to explore tide pools. We like this low key beach for days when we want a little more beach experience than just sitting in a folding chair enjoying the sun. The south end of the mile long beach is the more traditional, sandy beach while the north end, with its own parking lot, is a rocky, pebble collecting beach. It’s an easy walk to go between the two and there is enough here to keep both kids and adults happy. This beach is clean and generally not too crowded, especially on weekdays.
Be aware that this isn’t a swimming beach. It’s too cold and the surf is dangerous.
There are restrooms in the form of port-o-potties and parking requires a day use permit.
Beaches Near Half Moon Bay: Manresa State Beach
This one is a bit of a drive from Half Moon Bay, but it’s our favorite beach when we’re near Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz. Drive about 12 miles past Santa Cruz and Capitola on Highway 1 and take San Andreas Road. Follow the signs to the beach parking lot.
Manresa State Beach is a clean, large, sandy white beach that is generally sunny and warm. Even on busy days Manresa’s size keeps it from feeling crowded.
There is plenty of parking and real bathrooms, plus coin operated showers.
This is a pretty popular surf spot but watch your kids closely in the water – this isn’t a good swimming beach due to riptides and cold temperatures.
This beach is a great option if you’re visiting Santa Cruz or doing a Santa Cruz to Monterey trip.
$10 day use pass required for parking.
Whatever beach you choose make sure you show it some love. Pack out your trash, follow the rules with regard to dogs and campfires and leave the wildlife alone.
More California beaches:
Why Stop in San Luis Obispo on Your California Road Trip?
11 Pismo Beach Hotels You Should Consider For Your Next Beach Getaway
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