Best Beaches along California's Central Coast

Santa Cruz Beach, Santa Crus County, California
Santa Cruz Beach, Santa Crus County, California

Best Beaches along California's Central Coast


San Francisco County Beaches

sandcastle

San Francisco Beaches

  • Marshall Beach
  • Baker Beach
  • China Beach
  • Marshall Beach
  • Burton Beach
  • Thornton Beach

Ocean Beach


San Mateo County Beaches

Pacifica Beaches

  • Sharp Park
  • Rockaway Beach
  • Pacifica (Linda Mar) Beach

girl on beach

Montara Beaches

  • Gray Whale Cove Beach
  • Montara Beach
  • Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Half Moon Bay Beaches

  • Roosevelt Beach
  • Dunes Beach
  • Venice Beach
  • Francis Beach
  • Cowell Ranch Beach

San Mateo Beaches

  • San Gregorio Beach
  • Pomponio Beach
  • Pescadero Beach
  • Pebble Beach
  • Bean Hollow Beach

Ano Nuevo State Park


Santa Cruz County Beaches

Waddell Beach

Davenport Beaches

  • Scott Creek Beach
  • Davenport Landing Beach
  • Davenport Beach
  • Shark Fin Cove

lighthouse

Coast Dairies Beaches

  • Bonny Doon Beach
  • Yellowbank/ Panther Beach
  • Hole in the Wall
  • Laguna Creek

Wilder Ranch Beaches

  • 4 Mile Beach
  • 3 Mile Beach
  • Strawberry Beach
  • Sand Plant Beach
  • Fern Grotto
  • Wilder Beach

Natural Bridges Beach

Santa Cruz Beaches

  • Cowell Beach
  • Santa Cruz Beach

Twin Lakes Beach   Capitola Beach

New Brighton Beach

Seacliff Beach   Manresa Beach   Sunset Beach


N. Monterey County Beaches

Monterey Dunes Beaches

  • Zmudowski Beach
  • Moss Landing Beach
  • Salinas River Beach
  • Marina Beach

sea otter

Monterey Beaches

  • Ford Ord Dunes Beach
  • Monterey Beach
  • Del Monte Beach

Asilomar Beach

Carmel Beaches

  • Carmel Beach
  • Carmel River Beach
  • Monastery Beach

Point Lobos

  • Point Lobos
  • Soberanes Point
  • Garrapata Beach

S. Monterey County Beaches

Big Sur Beaches

  • Andrew Molera State Park Beach
  • Pfeiffer Beach

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Southern Big Sur Beaches

  • Limekiln Beach
  • Kirk Creek Beach
  • Mill Creek Beach
  • Sand Dollar Beach
  • Jade Cove
  • Willow Creek Beach

San Luis Obispo County Beaches

Avila Beach

  • Avila Beach
  • Olde Port San Luis Beach
  • Fisherman's Beach
  • Pirate's Cove

Morro Rock

Pismo Beach

  • Pismo Beach
  • Shell Beach
  • Oceano SVRA Beach

Wm. R. Hearst Beach

  • Wm. R. Hearst Memorial State Beach
  • Piedras Blancas

Hearst San Simeon State Park

  • San Simeon Beach
  • Leffingwell Landing
  • Moonstone Beach

Morro Bay Beaches

  • Morro Rock Beach
  • Sandspit Beach
  • Coleman Beach
  • Spooner's Cove
  • Morro Strand Beach
  • Cayucos Beach
windsuring at Hearst Beach, San Luis Obispo County, California


Sun Shade





Pier Fishing in California





California Central Coast Beaches Index



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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety