Fantastic beach for younger kids, and a great option for East Bay residents who aren't up for the trek 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. read more

In The Teen and I's new Friday ritual of water watching before we head home, we stopped by Crown Memorial before heading through the tunnel to let traffic die down a bit.. This was definitely the place to be back in the day! Parking was a snap and we found a bench to sit on starting the water watching. The view was awesome and the sun was shining just like Bob Marley said. There were people, young and old playing in the sand, lots of bike riders, and of course, those dog walkers. The Teen put the phone down and ventured out and some sand, touching and driftwood drifting.. Definitely, we will be back when it gets warmer with hopes of finding front row parking again! read more

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Be very careful parking at 1 crown East Bay parks at the Alameda Beach. On 24 May 2026 officer Lesworth badge #224, gave out over 31 violations to people in that parking lot. There was no parking attendant at the kiosk and no visible sign telling you that you had to actually pay for parking on a Sunday through some kind of an app. as you can see he even gave me a ticket for not having a plate on the front of my 12-year-old car. altogether $86! I took my pregnant fiancé to the beach because we don't have enough money with a new baby coming to even go to the movies. the car he gave tickets to I have to sell so I can have money for the baby. as we all know Gas is six dollars a gallon and that money is hard to come by, yet this officer make six figures to drive around parking lots and give people tickets. I've been coming to this park since 1989 now when I show up, there's homeless people who occupy the bathrooms sometimes intoxicated people are on the beach yet. I never see the office or doing anything about that. They'll tell you to call the local law-enforcement for Alameda PD to handle that. Officer Ledsworth is simply there (with a badge and a gun) taxing people on Sunday,like a Pharisees from the Bible! So we taxpayers are paying his salary to simply hurt us. I will try to contest this ticket, but we all know how that will go absolutely nowhere. The sergeant in charge that day did tell me there were 31 citations and that he would take a look at the parking lot to see if maybe something could be done to improve visibility but that doesn't change the fact that I'm out $86 for no reason at all. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Parking ticket - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

Great family beach! Lots of things to see and do here if you crave that low key beach life. read more

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Last weekend in March, a Saturday afternoon 2 ish, not crowded. Easily found a spot not too close to others. What a great beach for children! No need to worry about large waves. The water was no higher than my teens knees, after he walked 5 minutes into the ocean. My toddler enjoyed sitting in the water playing with his bucket and shovel. Around 5pm the tides were slowly rising. Very calming to watch. My toddler and I enjoyed walking through the mini waves. Bathroom nearby no shower at this one, but still crowded. We were in the middle part of the beach. Wish they had more bathrooms with showers around to rinse off. But we made it work. We still made family memories and enjoyed a day at the beach. Will definitely be back. read more

This was a really nice and clean beach. A couple of friends and I came out here just to toss a football and sit at the park benches and just look out into the water. I had such a wonderful time just relaxing and loved that the ice cream mane came by. I really enjoyed myself here and would totally come back here if I was ever in the area. read more

Man! If you would like to experience the sunset vibe even if by yourself or a companion this is the place to be. It has a huge parking area which is good for gathering of two to a hundred, you have to pay minimal for the parking though. You can do parasurfing, kayaking, kite surfing or just take a stroll, it has a 11 mile back and forth flat surface, fun to take a run or ride a bicycle. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Serene ocean view - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

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There's a small parking lot at the Crab Cove Visitor Center, but I found street parking right next to it, no problem. Crab Cove is lovely, surrounded by grassy fields and plenty of grazing geese, with the rocky seashore creating a soothing atmosphere and wonderful views along the water. There's a concrete trail leading to sandier shores where a sand castle and sculpture contest was taking place this past weekend. I passed several reservable picnic areas with tables and seating, on the walk over. Then laid my mat on the smooth sand while viewing the neverending row of creations. Nothing too fancy, but families and participants of all ages seemed to be just having a good time. A beautiful beach for relaxing while enjoying the entertainment on a sunny and breezy Saturday morning. read more

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Nestled away behind a quiet neighborhood, this is such a gorgeous spot to watch the sun go down. You almost forget you're in California! Tons of wildlife to watch, from the crabs scuttling under rocks to the ducks, geese, and tiny little sandpipers. Take your date here, come for an impromptu photoshoot, or just enjoy the fresh air. You can park at the Crab Cove entrance! read more

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The Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach is operated by the Park District, which is named in memory of State Assemblyman Robert W. Crown. The park has mile long beach, with sand dunes bordering a bicycle trail, which is a great achievement of landscaping and engineering. It's a chill and cozy place for locals to relax and exercise here. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

Typically, I only review restaurants/businesses but I found Yelp was very helpful for finding a good beach as well. This beach is a great choice for anyone looking for a picnic style of trip. There was ample available benches to sit on and even though the beach was highly attended there was plenty of room to set up. Great views for sunset, which sets over San Francisco. This is a very family friendly beach in a good part of town, that felt very safe to attend, even though we were there around sunset. Parking was also plentiful and getting there was an ease. As far as the beach itself goes, the water is not that cold and the beach itself is fairly clean. Downsides: The sand itself is in a sort of mound, so if you're looking for good castle building terrain you may want to opt for a place such as Santa Cruz. The other downside is that it can, at times, smell like bird poop which is unfortunate. To me it wasn't a huge deal but for others it may detract from the experience read more

Date: 6/4/2022 Time: 9:35 AM 63° Cloudy It has been several years since I have been to this beach. The purpose of my visit was to register to do a brief walkathon with the Hearing Loss Association of America. I met my cousin and one of my sisters for this event. This is part of the beach I have never visited in all my years living in Alameda. My husband dropped me off in their parking area. Surprisingly, it was not crowded and there were plenty of parking spaces. Perhaps the cloudy weather, and it was early, had something to do with the beach being visited just by the HLAA. Our group did see a few families along our walk on Shoreline Drive from the beach to Grand Avenue and return. The one thing I like about the beach, I have a good view of the city across the bay, Twin Peaks (Sutra Tower) and the cargo ships. I don't know when I will visit the beach again. Living in Alameda for over 33 years, I take it for granted that there is a beach in town. read more

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So grateful to be sharing this review... I will start by saying I have been coming to this beach for possibly 20 years or beyond. Our last visit is the reason for the praise. My family met here with a group of local homeschoolers to celebrate Summer Solstice, Cancer season, and overall life. The meeting coordinates were on the far right of the beach, which I was unfamiliar with later associated with "crab cove" area. This location was great for many reasons. * the large restroom & changing room were right behind us * rinse station & trash cans also right behind us *paved paths leads you there (perfect for wagon & strollers) * near grassy area & grills * easy parking when lot isn't full A few more honorable mentions would be, the extremely shallow tide for kids to play with minimal worries. And the sand on this end was much more pleasant. Overall, Alameda Beach was giving real beach vibes and for that I am grateful. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Shallow blue tide - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** And she'll have fun fun fun 'Til her daddy takes the T-bird away (Fun fun fun 'til her daddy takes the T-bird away) Alameda is about the closest the Bay Area gets to a SoCal beach town vibe where you could possibly run into Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, dance the watusi, and hang ten on a fluorescent surfboard. OK, there aren't any curls in the bay, so forget the surfboard. But there is a rainbow of power kites at a concession stand on this beach, and the more adventurous thrill seekers may want to brave the cold bay waters. Me? No way. I'm more like Annette in her fishnet one-piece. I sit on the beach and look pretty making sure my hair doesn't get wet. I think most of the non-thrill seeking beachcombers feel the same way judging from all the bodies lying prone on the sand. Otherwise you'll be walking up and down the Shore Line Drive sidewalk between Crab Cove and Park Street where the bird sanctuary starts to take over. Look at the Big Kahuna ride that curl. Surf's up! But you can come along with me 'Cause we gotta a lot of things to do now And we'll have fun fun fun now that Daddy took the T-bird away! RELATED - Exploring Alameda? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2Ik8mky read more

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(Review during Covid-19 shutdown, Dec 2020) It's 41*F in Alameda, does that mean you stay in your warm bed? NO! You suit up and go for a walk on the beach! I live in Alameda's Southshore, so that means the Jewel of the Eastbay Park System is only blocks way. To stay healthy, both mentally and physically, you need some exercise. Just bring a mask and practice social distancing. Crown beach offers lots paved pathways and not so perfect landscapes. On a chilly morning, there will always be seagulls and Canadian geese around. The morning sun gently rises over wet lawns, so most people stay on the paths. Plenty of parking. If they close the lots, just park on the street. Call it crazy, but the best time to go is early in the morning. The air is fresh, there's maybe a dozen people in the park, and everyone else is going to work. Hey, I live on an island! read more

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It will be interesting to look back on 2020 reviews and see the time capsule of perspective preserved by Yelp for us to relive hopefully from a different less constrained and more peaceful vantage point some time in the not too distant future. Please let it be in the not too distant future. After exercise in the gym became no longer an option and after a couple of weeks of chores and inside exercise bc in March and April it was still kind of damp and cold after that I started to look for outside places to get my fit on. May and June I lived at Lake Merritt not literally in the bushes like many do but figuratively going every day to walk laps upon laps taking in the wildlife and happy people on the grass with blankets and music and sometimes stands with commerce and cops on horses and dirty masks all over the ground and all in all it was a decent balance until the Troubles. Then the Lake got a different kind of vibe and it wasn't nearly as welcoming. And after trying a couple of different spots a light bulb went off in my head and I ventured through the tube and voila. I love Lake Merritt, what it is and what it could be. But. I don't think I'll be a regular there anymore. Because. I will be here. The stretch of Crown strand that extends from the park down south towards the airport is kind of narrow. Like Waikiki. Which is pretty much where the Waikiki analogy ends but still. It is a beach. It is kind of skinny. Put a billboard of Diamond Head at its end and you could be in Hawaii. Tons of kite surfers and a faraway view of the SF skyline and beach grass on the small dunes and a comfortable breeze on warm days especially if the marine layer is flowing over Sutro and all in all it's really pleasant here. At the southern end if you keep walking there's a little path through grasses and ice plants past the houses that I could live in if I made better decisions as a younger man and if you walk past all these you'll be at the bridge that takes you to Bay Farm and on the other side another path and you can walk for miles and miles. And in the park at the northern end of the skinny beach by the softball field where I played in a different life there's a little fit station for upper body work to balance what three months of six plus miles a day does to the legs. No more stick man. And ... afterwards Webster is a short few blocks away and you can pick up supper without having to make much of a second stop and arrive home salty with food and feeling pretty darn good. Even in the midst of these unusual times. And that, my friends, is saying something. To your health, to your wealth, and I hope to toast you in a more traditional way very soon. Until then, I can see you here. The Doctor is in. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

It's like the gem for East bay folks so we don't have to drive up all the way to San Francisco or half moon bay, I Suppose. This place had ample parking, wasn't too crowded, everyone socially distanced themselves while on the beach and the folks on the trail running or walking always had masks on, most of the time! Plenty of picnic tables and group areas. This time around the public grills were locked as you would expect but the tables are still available. It does get windy after 4 pm as you would guess but it's still mostly a good day anytime of the year. read more

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Convenient beach in the middle of the bay area, however it is bay water rather than the ocean. Great views of city skylines though. The sand strip is narrow so you don't have to worry about making a long trek to reach the water. The area is also flat and the sand is comfortable (no twigs and rocks everywhere) so it's especially perfect for little ones. Restrooms and a sand rinse off area is available here. Plenty of space for picnicking as well. Parking is a bit tricky. The lots fill up quickly so be prepared for a walk from street parking further away if you're not able to snag a spot in the lots. read more

BEACH: we came to enjoy a few hours at the beach . Truly. needed. the Sun, the fresh air the tranquility and mostly to see families , couples , human beings spend time together in a positive way after all that's has transpired in the last week . #blm #moreloveneededinthisworld We took our beach chairs, and had our water for true hydration it was a hot day! We ended up there for almost 4 hours just relaxing sun bathing and people watching. Of course we had stopped to get our sushi as well so we were nice and full. Everyone was social distancing and kids and adults were playing in the water and overall everyone was just having an amazing time. Will be back soon. Good ole fun and much much healing. Nature is our playground let's focus on positivity at this time. Crown beach really has a great view of The bay and San Fran. Highly recommend it . Was hardly any wind too. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

This a lovely small beach that sits on the west side of the Alameda Island. Parking - Even on the busiest summer day, parking is easy. There is a huge parking lot and always spaces available. Bathrooms - The beach has a few porta-potty style "shack" bathrooms, and a larger set of bathrooms at the main building that sits between the beach and the parking lot. As to be expected with any public bathroom, they are not clean. The East Bay Parks staff do come by and tend to them once a day. They usually have TP, but there is no place to wash your hands. Tides - This is a relatively flat beach, so the tides take the waterline far out. You can walk on the ocean floor so-to-speak when its low tide. Great for kids you like to pick through the shells and seaweed. Wind - The wind is a bit stronger here than other areas of Alameda. If you are bringing some sort of umbrella shade, consider that it will need to be tied down somehow or it will blow away. Overall - Solid beach! read more

Not a dog friendly beach. Not sure why it's labeled that way. It's listed on yelp and multiple sites as dog friendly but it's not at all

Great Location, Junky Facilities. Although this beach is maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District, for some reason, this park seems less maintained than other parks on the East Bay. The facilities just don't seem to be up to the same standard as other parks. On the other hand, It's a wonderful location, and I enjoyed walking around, enjoying the clean air. The day that I visited, there were lots of walkers, joggers and bikers. And of course, there is the outstanding bird sanctuary. That is definitely worth a visit. The restrooms are dilapidated. read more

It's nice to have a Beach near by. There was no cost to park (there was a booth, so maybe they sometimes charge a fee) and plenty of parking. A great deal of families brought tents with them. It was nice seeing so many people enjoy the sun, the outdoors. It was also peaceful for me to watch the ships come in to port, which is across the way from the beach. It was a calm water day, not great for surfboarding, but I did see a few surfers who were overly optimistic. read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

What's not to love about this Beach!! Plenty of areas for picnics or BBQs, a nice sized grassy area where people play soccer or volleyball. A paved path for bicycle riders, runners or walkers. This Beach stretches from Crab Cove to the Alameda Beach. Great views of the SF skyline can be seen from here also. The waves here are pretty small, but some days the wind really picks up here. A beach that's close, but has a far away feel. They charge for parking in the main lot when the attendant is there, $5, but there's plenty of free parking nearby. I always enjoy coming to this Beach!! read more

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Crown Beach is one of the best spots in East Bay to take a walk, relax, and get away from it all. During COVID, it's especially important to remain physically active and get outside for fresh air. Everyone wears masks. The pathways are narrow so it's hard to socially distance, which is the only downside here. There are also a lot of bikers, both child and adult, using the pathways, so there's a lot of dodging that goes on. The views here are exceptional. There's a nice view of the bay and city here, especially at sunset. People can be seen sprawled out for a picnic and chillaxing, doing water sports, resting at the beach, and biking of course. read more

Inside San Francisco Bay west of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is only one beach and it's located in Alameda. Robert Crown Memorial State Beach is part of the East Bay Regional Park District and includes Crab Cove Visitor's Center and open grass areas on the north section and the beach, which extends 2.5 miles down Shoreline Drive. Parking is available in a lot in the north section and along the Shoreline Drive and side streets. There's a walkway that's popular for walkers and joggers and a pathway on the street for bicyclists. The beach is not a pristine beach you might find in paradise, but it is a nice city beach with views of the San Francisco skyline. On hot days, the beach can get pretty crowded, but otherwise, it is pretty mellow. You might see kite boarders as the beach can get windy. On the south end of the beach, there is a fenced-in bird sanctuary. If you want to be at the beach and don't want to venture out to the beaches along the Pacific shoreline, check out Alameda's Robert Crown Beach. read more

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Great spot to visit during the work week. Place was almost a ghost town. On 2/16 (Tues), the restrooms were locked so luckily I didnt need to go skinny dipping for relief! The beach was clean, the walking path was nice, enjoyed seeing the snowy plover birds roaming along the waters edge. It wasnt perfectly clear out and you could still see Sutro Tower and the SF Skyline. Very peaceful and tranquil for a 2 mile stroll! read more

It's amazing what you can find right in your own backyard. Crown Memorial State Beach is one of those wonderful local gems that I've been missing out on for quite sometime now. It's just a hop and a skip away, right outside of the quaint little island of Alameda. The waves are short and brisk but still offer so much serenity. It's really peaceful here. There was virtually nobody else around when I went, so I practically had this little beach all to myself. The views are really amazing as well. You'll get an incredible view of downtown San Francisco and beyond. And of course, the sunsets. Nope, I can't forget about those! If you know me, you know that I live for beautiful sunsets. Caught a stunning one here the last time that I came. There's a wonderful little garden right near the entrance that's filled with the most colorful flowers. Perhaps one of the most attractive elements about this beach is its' beachside walking and running trail. I didn't walk the entire trail, but it meanders through the park and runs alongside the beach. So much to do here! There's a $5 fee to park if you come during regular business hours. I came around 8:00 at night and there wasn't an attendant in sight, so I didn't have to pay. There are lots of restrooms located near the entrance and a small picnic area with tables and bbq pits. It's truly a nice little slice of local heaven. Far less traveled, yet so close. If you're thinking about coming out to this beach, do it! This is a gem that's worth your time. read more

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This by no means is a pristine, isolated beach. This is a city beach on the bay with views of the city. You can expect a crowd on a beautiful weekend day, but on a sunny, albeit very windy Monday, it was empty. It was also very windy. Plenty of parking, and during non-COVID times, it's a huge park with lots of open green space and picnic areas that leads to the beach. So many kite boarders, and some kids splashing in the water, but we just hung out on our blanket and trying for it not to blow away. Again, a fun and beachy urban respite for a city bay beach. read more

We came here Sunday Morning for a grueling two hour workout with the Mongolian Judo team from Berkeley. Those kids are in amazing shape. It's actually quite a pretty beach end though quite a few people strolling up and down, the Sandy part was deserted. There is plenty of street parking here. read more

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What a neat hidden gym in the East Bay! Beaches are notoriously packed all the time, but this one seems to be off the radar for most people. It has a really chill vibe and everyone seems to be there to relax, exercise, or enjoy the ocean breeze. I first discovered this place because I work nearby sometimes; out of curiosity, I walked over on my lunch to check it out. What a beautiful place, and with so much to offer the locals! It seems safe enough during the day time to walk alone and there are a good amount of people still on the trails and beach. You can even see some people wind surfing off in the distance! Would definitely recommend this as a fun date spot; as there are many places to sit and watch the beautiful sunset! read more

I only go there to watch the sunset when I'm in town, however it could be a nice spot for picnics too.

This beach is awesome! Like others have said, it's not one of those glamorous tropical beaches or even a SoCal beach, but it's a really great local urban beach. It's especially good for families with small children because the waves are super gentle and the water is quite shallow. I never worry about my kids' safety in the water when we're here! My only complaint is the wind, but hey welcome to the Bay Area! I wouldn't really bother putting up a tent (we tried), but other than that, the weather is usually perfect on any spring/summer/autumn day. There are showers to rinse off, but no "real" restrooms. It's just a shack with a toilet and no sink, so you have to wash your hands with the shower or on the water fountain right next to the restroom. Love this beach! It's on our go-to list! read more

Wonderful place to visit during this lockdown. Kid friendly since it's a backwater beach with slow and soothing waves . Kids had real fun here Hidden gem in a residential area. Safe and fun place to visit Sun rise and sunset could be better enjoyed here read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Slow waves in this backwater beach is so much fun - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

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I love coming here for my daily walk. I walk two blocks to get here and go all the way around the dog park and back around. Along the way I get to see the beautiful view into the water and and there's a lovely pond so cute right now they have baby ducklings and Canadian geese all around. At the moment no Gatherings are allowed + there is the rule to stay 6 feet apart read more

Crown Memorial State Beach - Pond - Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

Who doesn't love a beach? This beach has ample parking, lots of space to spread out, and is peaceful during the week. Weekends and summers can get crowded and loud (can someone please tell the dude with the radio that nobody wants to listen to his music besides him?!). We like coming here for picnics on the off-season, and always try to clean up the trash people leave behind. I wouldn't necessarily recommend swimming in the water on days you can see sludge, but the sand is a great place to play and build sandcastles! There are a few local places to get iced coffee and ice cream for the kids, too. read more

My 7 yo D favorite place on the planet - discover the pond, walk the flat safe paths, sit on drift wood, admire kite surfing prouesses, use the bathrooms, cycle up to the Marina, hop on the rocks. What a gem. read more

Great local beach. They have showers and bathrooms during the summer season. They aren't open year round. There is plenty of free street parking and they also have a lot that you can pay to park in. (If you are one of those people who don't want to walk far get there early. This is a very popular Beach and people are coming and going all day, but if you have a favorite parking space you will need to arrive in the morning before it's taken. We get there in the afternoon and pull in as someone is pulling out and have never had an issue.) If you park father from the main beach you can just walk on the path and experience a different part of the beach. If you are looking for shells, you can find them mostly in the fall and winter. This place has a very long beach ensuring people don't get all bunched up. There are also picnic benches on the grass closer to the softball fields. Check out the Nature center to learn more about the habitat. If you are looking to learn to kite surf or for other rentals they have a little shack that has everything you'll need including instructors. Make sure you check the water quality before you enter the water. During different times of the year it's not safe to swim. read more

$5 cash only per car to enter beach parking lot. Clean and beautiful beach. There is 1 bathroom stall and 2 porta potty. Use at your own risk. Best time come before 12pm on Saturday for good beach spot. Bring your canopy, tents or tables to set up. Plenty of garbage cans so please clean up after yourself. Come and enjoy this beautiful beach with your friends and family. read more

Amazing! This state beach have everything you can ask for! Picnic area, barbecue grills, dog park, little lake, shower and a little garden! It was such a nice walk on a Saturday afternoon. No wind, warm sand and cool water! The perfect combination that makes me excited for the summer! Parking can be touch but they have a large lot on the other end and street parking near crab cove side. I'll definitely be coming here more often as it was very relaxing and just nice to be out. Highly recommend paying this beach a visit! read more