Very calm and accessible. We parked on the roadside and the beach is right there - miles and miles of shallow water and sand. There are a lot of driftwood and kelp, so it smells fishy. It's still clean enough that we played frisbees without our shoes. We moved onto the Crown Memorial State Beach afterwards. Although that beach had a parking lot and a cleaner beach, we thought the Alameda beach was more chill. Regardless, both had shallow water where it's safe for small children to wade out and play. read more

Alameda beach is one of the few beaches in norcal where you can lounge at. We have been regularly doing our open water swims in the area and the water's always feeling relatively clean and refreshing. There is plenty of parking all along the roads and overall, a great place to reset in the mornings, evenings and on weekends. read more

Love, love this beach! It's a perfect place for toddlers. Easy parking, tjs basically across the street, clean sandy beach and calm waves. Makes for a perfect day in the sun! Its close location is also ideal given that its way closer than any other beach read more

This is the nearest beach I can find living in the East Bay. I decided to walk from the South Shore Center, which is across the street on a sunny day. This is the driest beach I've ever been to; there aren't many people there in the afternoon, but it has a nice view of the Embarcadero in SF. Volleyball nets are available for the public. No dogs allowed. Great temporary beach therapy, but not much shade, and not worth swimming there. read more

See all

Alameda Beach is awesome! Super clean and chill. You can swim, paddle board (even with your dog!), or just hang out. It's free, and you can set up a little day tent for shade or BBQ with friends and family. The view of the Bay and SF skyline is beautiful. One of my favorite spots to relax and enjoy the day! read more

See all

I haven't reviewed this beach in a long time, so I guess I'm due!! This beach is connected to Crown Memorial State Beach by a trail. The trail that runs along the beach is the Shoreline Trail, which is about a mile and a half long. This beach is usually pretty windy late in the day, the windsurfers here love that. You will see plenty of them here. There also plenty of restrooms and water fountains along that 1.5 mile stretch. The parking lot here is huge, and it's no longer free, they put a parking machine here. This is a great beach, been coming here for a long time!! read more

See all

Great spot to take a stroll and chill. Can get really windy sometimes depending on the weather, but it's the bay so dress in layers. The water is really gentle, never see huge surf coming in, and in the summer there's a lot of people in the ocean. read more

See all

First and LAST visit here! Despite my reading up before we came here, NO DOGS on beach SAND including Alameda Beach and Robert Crown Memorial Beach (with a leash). Total waste of $5.00 and our time. read more

Boy has it changed in 40years! The park and beach have really changed. For the better I think.

I really love the alameda beach. It's my favorite part of Alameda. It's free and it beautiful for everyone to enjoy. I love coming for walksin the mornings with my sister and mom. The sunsets are very gorgeous and romantic perfect for a stoll with your significant other. I definitely recommend if you gave some free time to come and enjoy our beach. read more

Alameda Beach - Mom with all the poppy blooming - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

We drove out of our way to check this place out and we were so disappointed. Alameda Beach is long a thin stretch of shoreline that butts up to a sidewalk next to a road. It is very much not dog friendly; there are signs at every entry to the "beach". There are a few spots with volleyball nets set up and they basically extend the full depth of the beach. It was small and a mediocre in my opinion and still quite dirty despite the many many signs of what you can and can't do on this strip of land. We thought about using the restroom before heading to another beach but as we got closer, decided against it as the restroom looked like something out of a horror movie... I'm also still unsure if there is a large unhoused population that lives on the beach or if people just like to set up multiple tents next to each other, as there is not a lot of space on this beach, and hang out. Definitely not our cup of tea but we did see some birders with binoculars at the far end of the beach on our way out and they seemed to be enjoying the view, so there's that. read more

See all

Let's put this in context as I give "relatively high ratings". There is no beach in Northern California that is worth going to compared to those sunny So Cal beaches. With that said, if Alameda ever hits 80+ degrees, this place is 5 star worthy. However, Alameda only gets there when other places hit 110, so very rarely. This place is too windy, almost always requiring a thin sweater. But if you don't live near Santa Cruz, this place does the job, so enjoy. read more

The Alameda beach is a long and narrow beach with great views of mountains and San Francisco landscapes, which is very popular on a hot day, although the water is usually cold there. It's a great sunset observing spot during sunny and not overly cloudy day. read more

Alameda Beach - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

Nothing more relaxing to me than water! I love to drink it. I love to swim in it! I love to sit and read by it! I love water. When my children were little. We would come here and swim for hours. My son God rest his sweet soul! He would go so far out. I'd say boy a shark is going to eat you! He laugh and go farther. I pray bc I would go that far out. Unless I had to go save him!!! My daughter on the other hand. She loved to swim but, when seaweed touched her. She shout seaweed is for eating not to touch me! I had never eaten seaweed! But, bc she attended a private school! She had a pretty good life. I must say. Now I love seaweed. Sorry, back to the beach. Just a day relaxing watching people walk their . A beautiful day! read more

Alameda Beach - So cute! 1.4.2023 - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Bring your jacket, it's was actually pretty windy. I like the security of visible police cars cursing up and down the street. Great biking path, 2 public toilets, quiet, peaceful and nature. I saw some birds, and squirrels eating on the grass. Dog friendly, and all of them were in a leash. I Love that it's close to home, and I didn't had to pay the toll to drive to ocean beach. The view was cloudy, but a beautiful quiet place if you need your own alone time away from the busy city noise. read more

Alameda Beach - Glimpse of San Francisco - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

It is a long beach, not too crowded even on weekend, best for strolling along the beach and enjoying the sunset. The water is very cold, definitely not for swimming, sand is not white nor soft, we prefer to walk on the trail than the sand beach, overall it's nice beach for family and dogs. read more

Alameda Beach - Beautiful sunset - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Love love love Alameda beach. Its at least 2 miles of shoreline available to hang out on. The beach is clean and the water is shallow. You can go out pretty far before it gets deep. read more

Alameda Beach - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Browsing a map and wondering why the closest Bay Area beaches we go to are in HMB or Pacifica, there is so much water in East Bay I thought there might be a hidden gem just North of us so we went exploring. At low tide the water recedes and you can walk far out in the mud, we thought it would be fun for the kids to go crab hunting and run around in the mud but the reality is: -Mud has visible oil/gas run-off, you can see the distinct rainbow shine and a little north of the beach you can see polluted water draining into the ocean. -Wild geese poo all over the mud, they forage at low tide and there is fresh droppings everywhere. -At low tide its not grainy ocean sand but squishy, runny mud. Did not feel pleasant walking on it barefoot and would have enjoyed this better if we wore rainboots. read more

See all

Everything is nice but since it is summer the water and area smells a little off. But hey, as long as me and my bundle of joy are having an amazing weekend. read more

** The following review reflects my delivery experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** A pandemic doesn't afford Jamie W. and me (or most sensible people) the luxury of vacationing on the pristine shores of Hanauma Bay in Oahu...or even Coney Island. Did you know it was called "Coney Island of the West" back around the time of the Sutro Baths? Anyway, we were in the mood for a nearby beach that hasn't been closed for lack of social distancing. That pretty much leaves this beach which borders the parking lot of the South Shore Center. I believe the true name is Crown Memorial State Beach which makes it sound austere and ready for pipeline waves. However, it's really just a calming stretch of kid-friendly shoreline with a distant view of San Francisco.I'm more likely wearing a jacket and tapping my iPhone rather than a pair of Speedos and strumming my ukulele. The fact that there is actual sand here is quite impressive and there are gentle dunes and walkways for meandering. I noticed a volleyball game and even a yoga session, so people are taking advantage of the beach though never to the point where it feels packed, even on weekends. The bird sanctuary and visitor's center are both closed for the obvious reasons. Hey, it ain't Hawaii but it'll do for now. RELATED: Exploring Alameda? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2Ik8mky read more

See all

Closest East Bay Beach and i love the views. Drive 20 mins, parking available everywhere, warm and fine sand, windy but definitely better than San Francisco beaches (always so cold). The crowds are always spread out so you can easily find a nice spot for yourself to spend the day. The food restaurants are 5 mins away too so you can grab from there and have a nice full lunch. San Francisco city is your view for the day! That's the cherry on the top, you don't have to drive and face the chaos to see San Francisco, you can just drive up to Alameda Beach! read more

Alameda Beach - Beaching at 8 months! - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

Beautiful and lots of places to sit, lots of parking if you come early. Great for families of all sizes do enjoy the sand, wind, and waves. Generally very clean too. read more

This is a cool beach with great views of the bay (when conditions are right you can see SF) Family friendly. You see a lot of people flying kites ect The sand is kinda rocky (I'm from Santa Cruz/Monterey bay. Not used to rocky sand) Parking is kinda hard. You basically have to park in the street or a random neighborhood The times I have been to this beach I have seen patrol officers on their 4 wheels making sure everything is ok There is a shopping center near by for snacks and stuff Keep in mind this is Alameda so no matter what it's always rather windy. read more

Alameda Beach - 4th of July. Kite flying enjoying the weather and great friends xoxo - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

Absolutely love this beach!!! May not be to everyone's standards but for me it is perfect because going out to a SF beach is a totally different climate change so it'll be colder out by the beach. Everyone knows that as you get closer to the bay the more the temperature goes down. But this is exactly why I love Alameda beach it's not too far like the other beaches and it's the same temperature as home if not a lil cooler! By far my favorite close by beach and the waves are just perfect, nice claim waves, perfect for the little ones!! Definitely a family beach! read more

Alameda Beach - Beach view - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

Lots of teenage and college years of memories with this beach. A nice beach to take a stroll, jog, ride a bike, have a picnic, or just lay out to relax. Not the cleanest beach but they have done a lot to clean it up the best they can. It is a nice beach. And it does get pretty crowded during the hotter days in the summer. If you go at the right time, you may have the beach to yourself. Or at least your own little area on the sand. If you're looking for a beach that is peaceful with an awesome view, this is the nice gem. read more

The beach isn't "nice" and legend has it that the water gives you bumps but you know what? It's a beach. There are people who literally never seen the ocean so I'm just thankful we even have a beach at our disposal. So yeah it's not giving white Caribbean sand with clear turquoise water but your kids won't know the difference. There's bbq pits and grass and you can do water sports or whatever. I don't personally get in the water but it's cute to walk along the sand or ride your bike along the coast and enjoy the views. read more

This is a nice beach to walk/jog and enjoy nature. It gets super busy on the weekends and long holiday weekends, but on weekdays, it tends to be very private and quiet. Dogs are technically not allowed on the beach, but people tend not to follow the rules, and dogs chill and play on the beach sometimes too. Parking is on the street, which isn't too bad. Sometimes, people get away with parking in the shopping center across the street too (not sure if it's monitored or not). On a clear day, there'll be a wonderful view of the city and the other side of the Bay. In terms of water quality, I typically just dip my feet in. Because it's so close to the Port of Oakland, I'm not sure 100% of the time if the water is okay to swim in, but again, that doesn't stop most people from taking a dip or paddle boarding in the water. One thing to be aware of is it that it can get SUPER windy. If you use tents or canopies, make sure to lock that thing down and make sure it's SECURE! We've witnessed a ton of umbrellas and stuff get taken up into the sky and getting damaged (thankfully no one has gotten hurt). read more

Alameda Beach - Alameda Beach on a long holiday weekend - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

I went for a walk on this beach the other day, and it brought back alot of fond memories. This beach gives you a place to escape. You walk out there at low tide, and you can still forget there's a city around you. There's a special kind of solitude when you walk on a beach. But if you don't like being alone, bring someone else and have a picnic. read more

Alameda Beach - The beach is waiting for you - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

6/26/22 Beautiful Sunny Sunday with a slight breeze! Sorry, I did not take pictures today, as I/we focused on spending time with our friends. Quality/Quantity - Excellent as we were with some of our best friends, who went out of their way to visit us. :) Perfect walk after a GREAT lunch. See website for events. Atmosphere - 2.5 mile on the sandy beach! Parking costs $5 when the kiosk is attended, which it has not been since the pandemic, so FREE parking. No dogs allowed on the beach. Bike friendly. Kid & family friendly. Clean and some brand new restrooms. Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary at the east end harbors - aquatic birds and other salt marsh creatures. Crab Cove at the north end - a marine reserve where all plants and animal life are protected. There are picnic areas nearby; alcoholic beverages are prohibited except with a permit at a reservable picnic area. The water is warm and shallow at Crown Beach. At the west end of the beach is a bathhouse with changing rooms. Swimming is permitted during park hours year round. No lifeguards on duty. There is no boat launch facility. Only sailboards, kayaks, and car-top inflatables are permitted at Crown Beach. Next to the bathhouses are picnic tables, barbecue pits, and lots of lawn area for ball games. Some picnic areas are reservable; call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), press option 2 to make a reservation. Service - N/A Price - Free; $5 parking when staffed. Owner Comment - Thanks for such a GREAT beach. read more

What a great place to spend the day. Have a picnic, walk along the beach, or try your hand at wind surfing. The view is spectacular with San Francisco in the background and ships spread across the water. Parking is really close to the beach and convenient if you have lots to carry. The best part is the parking is free. Come spend the day here, have a picnic, enjoy the view, walk along the beach, or watch the sun set. read more

See all

Found this moment of magic, my toes in the warm sand. It's certainly not tragic, I'm alive and feeling grand. A beach so photographic, once you see you'll understand. read more

No dogs allowed but enjoyed a beautiful sunset here tonight with my furry four legged friend along the public sidewalk. The new San Francisco skyline with Salesforce all finished sure does make things look different. Sometimes I enjoy a view of the city rather than being in it. Usually I get to the beach after the sun is down and its dark and I can't fully appreciate all there is to offer here. The close proximity to SF is something to be enjoyed off in the distance. The bay is sort of swampy - I usually just stay on the sidewalk and you can enjoy all the beach ambiance without getting sand all over the place. Ice rink nearby as are a couple places to eat. Its a great date night read more

Nice place to go for a jog or bike ride. This is one of the more attractive places on the island of Alameda. A lot of people come here to stroll, ride a bike or take a jog. There are several outhouses and picnic areas nearby. There's a fair amount of street parking, but if you can't get a spot you can park in the dilapidated Crown Beach parking lot for free. read more

Truly a hidden gem in the bay area. Whenever it's beach season, beaches are notorious for becoming jam-packed full of people, dogs, bicyclists, traffic and so on -- but not this one. Not nearly as bad as other beaches. Alameda Beach is lined with cute apartments over on Westline, a bike path, pedestrian path and various bathrooms located every mile or so. I love that it has a more "relaxed" vibe and only locals seem to be the people who populate this area. I often come here on my lunch break and walk around. You can see Daly City and San Mateo off in the distance, as well as the notorious skyscrapers of San Francisco. Definitely one of the most beautiful places on the island. You'll see a lot of locals getting their morning jog in here, and when it's warmer, windsurfers! This seems like a great place to picnic as well, as the geese and seagulls don't seem to come by that often (they mainly stay by the park). Beautiful little beach, and probably one of the best-kept secrets as well. If you ever find yourself in Alameda, I would recommend stopping by Alameda Beach and take in the amazing views and beautiful paths. They are very well-maintained by East Bay Regional Parks. read more

I'm not sure if this is the right beach area, but this is the beach by Crab Cove. The entire area stinks like sewage and the water is murky brown. It was low tide and there wasn't really any tidepool activity at least not by Crab Cove. Further down on the beach area the sand was really mucky and extremely potent smelling and black. There were families on the beach with blankets and kids digging into the mucky sand though. read more

Take a stroll down the beach and ease that mind Free parking and sand access Calming to watch the water and clouds float by and staring at the skyline of the bay! People walking their dogs and going for a jog Lovely read more

See all

This is like having a beach in the middle of suburbia, something not very common. The entire beach encompasses a number of other beaches (those have their own reviews). It is also pretty clean as far as I can tell. Worth a visit if already in Alameda. After hours of biking around Alameda anywhere along this beach was a nice rest stop. The openness and lack of a crowd can make it feel calm and serene. The views have a lot to do with it too. read more

See all

Good beach if are just wanting to chill and see the city. I go here mostly at night. It does get crowded in the day. The last time I went it was pretty decently crowded, but I like to go at night because you can see the skyline of the city lights. read more

Review #205 - 2018 I don't go out to the beach often; but lately, I've been trying my best to take the baby out to get some fun in the sun so she can expense all her energy. This beach is one of the closest beach to our house without having to fight that horrendous traffic into San Francisco. There were quite a few people out at the beach with their kids on a Wednesday evening around 5 PM. It was sunny, yet still a little windy evening out. However, it wasn't cold so that was nice. There were plenty of seagulls flying around so my daughter had a great time running after them. My only complaint is that the beach could be a little cleaner, but I guess we can't always get what we want. Although, it does have a pretty awesome view of the Bay Bridge. read more

See all

This is a great local spot if you don't want to drive far for the beach. Parking is reasonable too! Arriving at the beach, lots of parking on the street and the beach stretches on and on. I really enjoyed how wide the beach is. There was so much beach space that you didn't have to really be next to others. You can also see the city and Bay Bridge from the beach too! Something that really irked me here was that some people had the nerve to comment I was sun bathing and in my swimming suit? Um excuse me? There are kids running around in their bathing suits and I'm judged for wearing a bathing suit while sun bathing? Please mind your business at this beach unless: 1) I'm breaking any rules or being inconsiderate 2) I'm not cleaning up after myself For the most part, people mind their business and it's very family oriented. There wasn't noticeable garbage and also bathrooms, though they may be smelly and dirty. You can also buy a soda pop at McDonalds and use their bathroom if you really need to. read more

Alameda Beach - City view! - Beaches Near Me - Alameda, California