1. Alameda Beach

0

Alameda, CA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Alameda Beach

4.0 (168 reviews)

Alameda Beach Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Alameda Beach

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Edwin R.

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!

After run watching the sun set...
Phil A.

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!!

Tiffany S.

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.

Mom with all the poppy blooming
Karina J.

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.

Public Bathroom
Dale S.

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.

Maruko X.

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.

So cute! 1.4.2023
Yvette F.

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!

Glimpse of San Francisco
Binh T.

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.

Beautiful sunset
Joyce T.

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.

Tiffany A.

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.

cool garden near parking lot
Jay P.

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.

Montage of images from Alameda Beach
Ed U.

** 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

Beaching at 8 months!

See all

Reviews are generally positive. People highlight the calm, family-friendly atmosphere, clean sand and water, ample parking, and beautiful bay views.

Read the full review summary in the app

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Chris S.
483
11
1

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Esca N.
125
78
1

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Gianna G.
281
76
168

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

15 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kaire P.
218
21
46

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tony B.
62
575
11451

11 years ago

Helpful 14
Thanks 0
Love this 16
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 10
Oh no 0

15 years ago

Helpful 11
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Asha S.
1532
823
2121

12 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of John F.
16
224
116

14 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

17 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark S.
31
24
3

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

This beach is very nice but just windy, it was pretty cold. But its very big and nice to tan on a hot day!

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jacob F.
124
26
59

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Brad S.
61
121
36

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bryan W.
1395
1300
3837

8 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Dennis d.
642
228
693

16 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ctk L.
2
46
5

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Preet N.
32
17
10

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Coryann E.
139
140
98

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa W.
2108
138
3465

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

15 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Infodiva B.
1866
888
806

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Greg L.
46
56
154

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Anne R.
5001
1234
500

10 years ago

Helpful 22
Thanks 0
Love this 21
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 18
Oh no 0

Page 2 of 5

Ask the Community - Alameda Beach

Is bonfire allowed?

No fires or personal bbq

Are there bbq or places to sit? What street is the best to turn on?

Yes, there are benches and some picnic spots along the beach. If you're interested in BBQ pits, there are some at Washington Park adjacent to the beach. Best route is down Webster, turn left on Central, and right on 8th. There's a large parking lot… 

Are bathrooms open and maintained during the pandemic?

Yes, the one in the parking lot was open and clean

During Covid time, can we just walk on the beach, or the beach entirely closed off? Thanks.

You can definitely walk on the beach now

Can you BBQ at Alameda Beach?

Only at the reservation only picnic tables

Are there any other beaches that allow dogs??? As this beach sucks and doesn't ;-/ I Will have to find a beach to go too? Any recommendations will be helpful ... TIA

San Leandro Marina Park at Monarch Bay is a dog-friendly area. You can walk along the shoreline with your dogs, plus on the other side of the area there is a dog park! Check it out!

Is the water warm enough to take a dip?

Yes

Are dogs allowed?

No. They are not.

Can I light fireworks and make a bonfire here?

I believe the answer is no to both, fireworks are definitely not allowed, I doubt that bonfires are also, sorry!!!

View All 16 Questions

Review Highlights - Alameda Beach

“This is a cool beach with great views of the bay (when conditions are right you can see SF) Family friendly.”

Mentioned in 21 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Beaches 4,592 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Crown Memorial State Beach - Crown Memorial Beach near Crab Cove

Crown Memorial State Beach

4.3(172 reviews)
1.4 mi

Fantastic beach for younger kids, and a great option for East Bay residents who aren't up for the…read moretrek into the city or the even longer drive to Santa Cruz. The beach is clean and has useful amenities, including outdoor showers, picnic tables, and restrooms. I haven't actually used the restrooms, so I can't speak to their condition, but I can say I've never noticed trash on the beach, even on busy days. The crowd is generally respectful, which goes a long way. The downside is that the water isn't exactly pristine by appearance, smell, or feel...but you can't have everything. My favorite thing about this beach, aside from the fact that the water isn't freezing, is how shallow it stays. I can wade out with my kid what feels like half a mile and still not feel like we're anywhere close to being too far from shore. P.S. Do NOT forget to pay for parking if you're in the lot. It's yellow, located at the far end, the fee is 5 dollars and it's easy to miss. Also, they don't accept Discover debit.

I absolutely loved cycling along Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach. One of the best features is…read morethe dedicated two-way bike lane along Shore Line Drive. The lane is clearly marked in green and separated with protective barriers, which made me feel safe and comfortable throughout the ride. It's mostly flat, well-paved, and perfect for cyclists of all skill levels. I'm not exactly sure of the distance, but it felt like about 2.5 miles each way, or roughly 5 miles round trip along the beach. The weather was beautiful on a Sunday afternoon, and it was wonderful seeing families, beachgoers, walkers, runners, and fellow cyclists all enjoying the shoreline. There are multiple beach access points, volleyball courts, and plenty of spots to stop and take in the beautiful bay views. One thing to note for dog owners: dogs are not permitted on the beach itself. However, you can still enjoy the area with your pup by walking along the adjacent sidewalk and pathway next to the sandy beach. It's a great way to take in the scenery while following the park rules. The riders I encountered were respectful, and the overall atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing. If you're looking for a safe, scenic, and enjoyable ride in Alameda, I highly recommend this route. Whether you're cycling, walking, running, or simply enjoying a day by the water, this is a fantastic place to spend time outdoors. Cheers!

Photos
Crown Memorial State Beach
Crown Memorial State Beach
Crown Memorial State Beach

See all

Ballena Bay - Entrance.....turn here

Ballena Bay

4.3(4 reviews)
2.1 mi

Ballena Bay is a delightful little neighborhood on the south coast of Alameda. Its actually an…read moreisland that has a curved shape. The curve curves away from the Bay, so you get sweeping views of the SF Peninsula. The marina is upscale and has some big beautiful boats. There are over 500 slips, so its a sizeable marina. There is a walking path that curves around the outer edge of the island. Its a great walk with a dog around sunset. You can walk all the way out to the tip of the island then head back on the other side. PRO-TIP: The Bay side of Ballena gets much colder (maybe 5-10 degrees F) than the inner marina side. Recommend bringing a jacket!

Before you move in, be aware that the management leadership team is tremendously flawed. There are…read moremany benefits in the office staff, but unfortunately an environmental policies are on their boss. She tends to neglect major problems listed below, and nitpicks behaviors that generally go unchecked (Parking, smoking, non-leashed animals, pool behaviors, laundry services running into quiet hours, and littering). Unfortunately this hurts the neighborhood. Everyone I have met is kind, and very inviting. This includes other on-site office staff members, as they conduct themselves with grace and respect for the environment. There are experiences with newer staff members touching , moving, or rearranging things while conducting their housing checks. Which is a minor discrepancy that has and can cause some problems. Senior management doesn't enforce lease violations, allowing malpractice to slip through the cracks from both the staff and inhabitants of the village. Whether it is rude neighbors and toxic residents, or unhealthy uses of power from staff. This creates tension residents and staff. This is the toughest part, of a fantastic place to live. That has hosting capabilities, a pool, a basketball court, and beach access. Although like gristle you learn to live with it, or can't stand the thought of eating anymore.

Photos
Ballena Bay - View of SF Bay and USS Hornet (R)

View of SF Bay and USS Hornet (R)

Ballena Bay
Ballena Bay - Kayaking at Ballena Bay - this is our view

See all

Kayaking at Ballena Bay - this is our view

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park - Port of Oakland

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

4.3(101 reviews)
5.3 mi•West Oakland

Massive urban park with public shoreline and unobstructed, panoramic views of the SF skyline and…read morebeyond. It may feel a bit desolate and empty but it is a well maintained park with benches, trails, restroom, and an observation tower. There was a security car patrolling around, which made this urban area feel more safe to wander solo, but still recommend staying alert and leaving no trace of belongings in your parked vehicle. The views are amazing here! Truly a photographer's paradise. You can walk right up to the shoreline and watch the sunset. There's a lot of ducks, geese, and pelicans which I enjoyed bird watching before sunset :). It gets really windy here and some seating areas (picnic tables and benches) can be found tucked into little areas with wonderful views. You can watch the huge shipping containers being unloaded/ loaded on at the port of Oakland. Great spot to spend a few hours and admire the views.

Unique park with sunning San Francisco skyline views. Lots of parking and places to sit and eat but…read moreI feel the land is not being utilized very well at all. The park needs more. For such a beautiful place I feel it is a total waste of resources and land. Nobody is here. It feels like a spooky ghost town. The unusual location near the shipping docks is probably part of the reason why but still - I would rather see this luxury piece of land better used. How could it be used? I'm not a developer - I don't know the limitations and zoning - but if maybe housing could be built or community space or business I would be pleased. Right now the only business here is goose business and it is all over. The geese can take their business elsewhere. Lets get this set up for humans to enjoy. And housing will always be needed unless humans stop reproducing - and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Photos
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park - The Bay..

The Bay..

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park - San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

See all

Alameda Beach - beaches - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...