This beach is very nice absolutely no garbage any where, beautiful water color for pictures, clean bathrooms, lots of parking close to the water, surfers in the water to watch, great place to take your kids. I have a 1 1/2 year old who loved it! Many shells to pick up in the sand. This place is booming with life. Really beautiful drive to the beach as well. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Great weather and a very cute baby! - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Gorgeous beach, it does get busy, parking can be hard, we have been coming to this beach over a few years, though haven't been back in the last couple of years, can't wait to come back. Its fun to see a lot of birds there, the water is cold as always, but its a solid beach read more

See all

Half Moon Bay State Beach is an easy 20-25 minute drive from the Peninsula on a weekday, which makes it a great low-effort escape. It's one of those places I keep coming back to without much planning (like yesterday!). Wide, clean, and perfect for long walks, quiet conversations, and just letting the sound of the waves do their thing. There are picnic tables, BBQ areas, restrooms with running water, and a beautiful coastal trail for walking or biking with ocean views the entire way. Parking is $10 in the lot, though free street parking is possible if you don't mind walking (and reading the signs). Weekends can feel chaotic and crowded, but on weekdays it's calm, spacious, and grounding -- the kind of place that resets you without trying too hard. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I had a blast here. My stay here was very peaceful and relaxing. I definitely recommend this spot for a day of relaxing. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Enjoying the view of Pacific Ocean - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Still a beautiful place to come for the day. Very clean and a lot of staff working to keep it safe and clean. You can camp there with a RV. We did go on a busy weekend and it was packed. My issue was, people these day do not respect personal space. We had and I seen, people walking right through areas people had set up. We had a family walk in between where we sat and the bbq where I was cooking. Like brushing our shoulders going by. There is a TON of space to walk there. Seen people set up right on top of a family having a party for a kid. One os them Must had said something because they moved.. a little. Walk around people who got there before you. They got there early to have a spot, you should have too. read more

Campground was good but if you leave the campground it takes 20 minutes to get back in. They close one side so you have one person to sell tickets for the parking Iot. $10 to park and we saw about 6 cars turn around and leave. They need 2 people or 1 that can do more then 1 thing at a time. read more

I love the ocean, the quiet, calm waves, quiet my soul and make me reflect on the beauty of life read more

See all

This beach is beautiful! It's sort of in a "cove" of sorts like a large curve on the seashore so it's not too windy, the sand is that (mostly) small nice sand that feels good on your bare feet. Appeared to be pretty popular and not much close parking so if you get one the parking gods were definitely on your side! There's a lifeguard at this beach as they do regular patrols. Very reassuring. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Went to San Francisco to visit my sister and stay in Half moon bay .So enjoyed the partly paved coastal trial where you can take great picks. Lot of great places for tray picks , and benches to sit to just take it all in. The trail may have people on Bikes strollers or people waking . The trail is 7.5 miles so great for joggers , people who just to to walk. People ride their horses so be careful!! The trail ends at the Ritz Carlton-- an absolutely beautiful hotel. This is a state park.The gates to enter the park were open, we went during the week and no park ranger collecting money. So not sure if there is an entrance fee. Would definitely come here again. So beautiful. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beautiful ocean views - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Great vibes had a phenomenal time and then we were harassed by a white couple with three boys. We were minding our own business having the best time in the world. We pick the spot on the beach that was superduper far from everybody and they went out of their way to just stand in front of us Act like they were taking pictures and then the wife turned around and mocked me. The full video is on TikTok and it's already cured and 100,000 views. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Prejudice man - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

On a recent trip to California, I was driving down the coast from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Being an upstate New Yorker, I wanted to make the most of my time and stopped a number of times along the way to see the Pacific Ocean and enjoy such a different view. My firsts stop along the way was at the Beach at Half Moon Bay. I paid the $10 for parking knowing that I wasn't going to be staying long. But it was worth it for me to be able to see it. The park was filled with people - lots of families having barbeques and children running along the beach. Even on a grey afternoon, people were enjoying being outside. There are public restrooms, but they weren't particularly clean - definitely overused, so be prepared! read more

Once a year we end up here on the same beach . My family does a family reunion each year in August. We all gather and have an amazing time with family . The parking is $10 for the day . I seen they have a camping ground for over night I'm not to sure the information on that but I did see families in RV's and someone said they do overnights . This beach is so clean and pretty it is always overcast and windy so bring a sweater . I like how there is space above the beach for cooking . My aunt reserves the space for all of us and we BBQ and play corn hole . It is such a fun time . We look forward to it once a year . read more

See all

I never get tired of Half Moon Bay State Beach. It's what we create out of those precious times out here on sunny days at the beach. Their lovely sand at beach is quite comfortable and clean to sit on. I always come prepared. The natural beauty of high and low tides can always be spotted and wind picks up. If you come here by 11:30 AM on weekdays, free street parking nearby is still available at a walking distance. Not far from main street shops and restaurants. Must love that this beach has good grocery stores nearby. They have public restrooms as well as BBQ/picnic tables. Toss your own trash and keep it clean. This place is always clean and organized. Love bike trails and walking paths. Californians should really come outside to the coastal beaches more often. It's not as crowded as it used to be. Pandemic really made life more quiet out here, but still enjoyable. I absolutely enjoy having lunch outside at the beaches. This is definitely one of my favorite spots to visit. Mindfulness and wellness are priorities. Bring your hats/sunglasses/umbrellas/mats/blankets/etc., and make the beach experiences wonderful again. Love beach vibes. read more

See all

Three stars because the beach has a split in it that I couldn't walk across. I like hours of a sandy beach to walk on but this one with the split was only about an hour. Still a beautuful beach and a great place for photos. However, I prefer Moss beach. If I remember correctly I believe that is a longer beach. read more

See all

I'd come back here! It was super open, easy access, and there were bathrooms! If you wanted to stay longer there is a campground & to park here is $10 fee till sunset. The view... stunning at sunset as well. This is a great place for family, friends, dates, and all the above. It does get cold quick so I'd also recommend bringing a windproof jacket or bundling up in general. I mean EXTRA BUNDLE b/c I was freezing. Overall, 9/10 for beach quality, accessibility, and ease of pathways to the it. read more

11/14/2022: Half Moon Bay State Beach at sunset . . . GORGEOUS; however, the weather is becoming bitterly freezing so, camping in a tent isn't a pleasurable experience. Ironically, during the day, the temperature elevated into the 70's to low 80's BUT, camping at night~ fogeddabouddit! Seriously, freezing while camping isn't ideal but, I shall endure and quit whining . . . read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - 11/14/2022: Half Moon Bay State Beach at sunset . . . GORGEOUS! - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Took the Golden Girls here to see the ocean. Beautiful brisk day. Very relaxing. We just walked for a little bit. Would be great for a picnic or with your love. Memorable Day read more

See all

Beautiful beach. Very clean, not filled with seaweed. There are open bathrooms. No dogs, firework, or campfires allowed on the beach.

I thought the waves were beautiful here! The area near the parking lot is kind of crowded, but if you walk a little further away, the other parts of the beach are not as crowded. It's easy to park, but you do have to pay. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The sand definitely is not super soft, but parking was readily available, so that was nice! We went in the late afternoon (around 3-4pm) and it wasn't super crowded, which was nice. read more

Often confused as solely Francis Beach, Half Moon Bay State Beach is actually a state park that encompasses a cluster of beaches located along highway 1 in Half Moon Bay. Francis Beach is the most popular and the most crowded beach of the bunch. You can find the park visitor's center as well as campgrounds at the Francis Beach entrance. Day use parking is available for a $10 fee (or you can always park on the street and trek it there). Francis Beach is quite stunning. Beautiful white sand, clean restrooms, outdoor showers, bbq grills, and plenty of picnic tables await you here. This beach stretches pretty far and the Half Moon Bay Coastal trail also runs through the park, so there's lots of room to go around. If a visit to Francis Beach doesn't really sound like your thing, you can always visit one of the less popular beaches in the park. Roosevelt Beach, Venice Beach, and Dunes Beach are the other three beaches that make up Half Moon Bay State Beach. There are also several smaller walking paths and mild hiking trails that interconnect through the park. I haven't yet explored all of the beaches and trails here, but they're all definitely on my list of places to check out and explore. If all else fails, I can always just chill on the busy but beautiful Francis Beach with the other beachgoers. read more

See all

HEAT WAVE - 111 degrees Fahrenheit at home so we headed to the beach ! It took double the time because we were not the only ones with this bright idea!!! 30 minutes just go enter the parking lot ! $10 to park but such a great and wide and spacious beach ! Truly remarkable view with the coastal bluffs. We also had picnic baskets and lounge chairs! Great vibes and so many families and really worth the drive ! Water was freezing but very refreshing !! Will be back ! read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beach day - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Half Moon Bay State Beach is a state park made up of four beaches: Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. The parking area takes you directly to Francis Beach. As you move north it's Dunes, Venice and Roosevelt. They are all connected. They have lots of picnic tables, grassy areas and places for fishing and swimming (that is if you can handle the very cold water). Honestly, I find this beach really crowded most of the time but that is not why I come here. I come here for the amazing views, bluffs and sandy hikes. If you take the main paved path south, it's a fantastic hike that takes you from paved areas to rocky bluffs. It's got amazing views and you can walk as little as a mile or a 4 mile bluff hike to the outskirts of the the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. It's worth checking out in the spring when flowers are blooming. Morning hikes are my favorite because that is when the pelicans, seagulls and hawks are out. It's really beautiful to be part of nature and starting the day with the birds. read more

Lots of parking space available for $10. Before you get to the booth there's free parking on the street that's about a 5-10min walking distance from the beach. That's another option too of you don't want to pay. It's not that far at all. There are restrooms available. Lots of picnic benches with small charcoal grill on the side...so yes you can come out and grill. Nice beach to be at to just relax...fishy smell though...duhh it's the beach. One thing I did hate was the amount of bees there were...if you bring any kind of food...the bees WILL gravitate to you. So don't eat if you hate bees. read more

See all

beautiful Half Moon Bay State Beach. It was clean and beautiful. However, we only stayed there for a short time because we didn't bring our swim wear and it was pretty cool there. The temperature at Half Moon Bay was like 10 degrees lower than San Jose. We snapped some photos at the beach after we walked around on Main Street in Half Moon Bay. read more

See all

Seems this beach NEVER gets raked sad! Bathrooms are as good as can be for beach restrooms. Careful if you leave to run and go to store they will say you can't come back in but do it anyway people always leaving . read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This is one of my Favorite beach! We have been here too many times! we usually came to this beach for a nice lunch usually some delicious seafood, a simple beautiful drive or a nice walk along the shore. The Coastside trail lead to Pilllar Point, most of the largest waves of Mavericks, Which is a popular surfing location! It is absolutely a Gorgeous Getaway for me and my love since we both truly loves the Oceans. We have eaten at most of the restaurants here includes: Flying Fish Bar and Grill, Miramar Beach, Half Moon Bay Brewing, Barbara's Fishtrap, and Moss Beach Distillery. My favorites are Miramar Beach Restaurant and Moss Beach Distillery so far because of the Gorgeous breathtaking views overlooking the Water. read more

See all

One of my most favorite beach to visit. Wonderfully natural as much as possible. Usually here taking long walks on the sweat Coast Trails that goes through a number of cities. The trail is above the beach and above the sand. Wonderful nature, ocean sounds and view, relaxing. The beach is clean and there are public restrooms available. Camp here a few days three years ago and it was great. read more

See all

I used to be a regular at this beach back in 2016. Now I no longer go because inflation and the pandemic has caused me to stop. Back then this was the second nearest beach I go to if my family doesn't want to go to Santa Cruz. This beach is very large because it stretches all the way to where the fish and chips restaurant are in a small town called Princeton-by-the-sea. If you are a long distance walker this is your beach because it's so long. Only key is to find where you are parked or where is your starting beach is. This beach is not only really clean but a huge hit among families from both San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The only issue I have here is that on some summer days it can be really cold so please do not just come here with a t-shirt, shorts and swimsuit. It will be really tough if you do so. read more

Family is in town and really wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. I had to warn them half moon beach is not like SoCal sunny beaches but I think it has some interesting characteristics even though it's not warm and sunny. I loved the dunes and greenery growing so close to the shoreline which you don't see at other beaches. The trails are actually nice as well and we probably spent just as much time walking on them as we did on the beach. We did dress for winter and it was fine early in the morning. We saw some people in t shirts which seemed pretty crazy considering the weather! read more

See all

500TH YELP REVIEW - BEACH BBQ Almost 10 years ago my first Yelp review was of my friend's masseuse business. What jump-started my reviews on Yelp was reviewing the places during my cousin's bachelor party at San Diego in 2012. After San Diego I admitted I thought I would stop writing Yelp reviews. However I started writing more, but I was selective of only write reviews that I feel were important whether they're positive or negative. Most of my reviews have been on eateries. Occasionally there have been non-eatery places I visited that I write reviews. This review represents one of those reviews on Yelp. Prior to the time period of 2019 BC, which is Before Covid, I would drive to Half Moon Bay to boogie board in the cold water. Participating in this activity would relax my body and mind. When I would go to Half Moon Bay I would drive to a local surf shop to rent body suits. During the pandemic the place I would go to rent body suits was not allowing customers to come inside to rent; you had to buy the wet suit and pick it up curbside. When I would boogie board at Half Moon Bay I would go to one beach. I had to find other beaches in Half Moon Bay. This past year I would go to multiple beaches to relax. There is one that was a pleasant surprise. The Half Moon Bay State Beach is known to locals, but I was unaware of this beach. I found this beach by accident. One day I was driving south on Highway 1 then noticed a sign of this beach where I made a right turn on Kelly Avenue. A couple of minutes later I arrived at this beach. I was lucky because at that time I didn't have to pay for parking. (After my first visit I ended paying the $10 entrance and parking fee.) What stood out was the picnic tables and grills. They really enticed me as I found other ways to enjoy and relax at the beach. You can have a picnic then walk down the trail to the beach. The benefit of outdoor grills on a beach site is that you do not have to bring a charcoal grill. Seeing the outdoor grills inspired me come back here to grill meat - that I did when I came back to this beach. On the last Friday of July I took a day off from work and drove to this beach. With my chimney charcoal starter, lighter, lump charcoals, hickory wood chunks, meat, spice rub, and tongs I set up an area where I can have a great view of the ocean. Before going to this beach I thought boogie boarding in the waters of Half Moon Bay was the only thing therapeutic. Having a breeze on your face, the smell of meat over hot charcoal, and view of the ocean are also therapeutic. Here are some tips before you visit Half Moon Bay State Beach. Go number "2" before going to this beach. The bathrooms are nasty. If I could give a negative stars for the bathrooms I would. Another tip is no dogs are allowed on this beach. Sorry about that dog lovers you have to leave your dog home. Maybe there was one good thing about the pandemic - if not for it I would have never discovered Half Moon Bay State Beach. read more

See all

Beautiful and clean beach! We saw a a pod of dolphins playing which was so special. It was $10 to park with in/out privileges (as long as the parking lot wasn't full). read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Senior portrait shoot...perfect weather and amazing views. - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Beautiful beach in half moon bay with a nice walking path on a cliff, nice picnic areas and some benches towards one end. There is a huge parking lot with paid parking, but you can also try to find some street parking and walk to the beach. Have never been inside the ocean, it gets quite cold and wavy so I mostly stay on the walking path. Make sure to check the weather and especially the wind before going there - it does get cloudy and windy more often in Half Moon Bay. read more

See all

Large beach area along the coast. There's a nice trail nearby to walk or bike ride. Very close to other beaches and half moon bay. read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

This beach is pretty nice. You have to pay $10 for parking because it is a state beach but I want to pay 10 bucks you can go to any other state park for that day. Of course you have to walk out there and set up there is not a lot of people here so it is work going to.This place is nice because you can spread out since a lot of people are not here. But it does say you cannot bring dogs that is a downer. Other than that this is a nice place to be read more

See all

This beach is really nice and clean. Parking is $10 but it's worth it to have bathrooms and a clean beach. Getting down to the beach is a steep slope that was challenging with my wagon. Other than that it was. Great experience. read more

Walking trails, beaches, campgrounds too ! Town is great for browsing the shops and walking the back roads . read more

I love this place!! This is our go-to place for camping. We can always get a spot close to the beach. Friendly campground hosts. Fire pits for a welcome evening fire if it gets chilly. Incredible sunsets. Safeway is close by. Tres amigos Mexican restaurants with fish tacos at the beginning of Kelly Ave. is a must-try. Clean restrooms, power hookups and 4 tent-only sites. Lots of dogs here but dogs have to stay off beach. Public lot can get busy but people don't bother the campers too much. Check the weather before you go - it can get windy here and cold even in the summer. If you get there on a perfect day, I have found no other place as nice as this one in this part of California. read more

See all

Pros Brilliant and absolutely stunning views of the pacific ! I've been fortunate to be able to capture some great pictures from this beach Huge walking space and huge parking lot Really well maintained beach Cons It can get really cold and windy here read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Serene. That's what I felt about this beach. It was a foggy day when we visited. But the beach was so calm, great view and some occasional high waves. It was so peaceful to spend some time there. While we waited for the fog to clear up, the kids had great fun playing on the beach. Everything about this place is very good. Plenty of parking. It wasn't crowded either. Bathrooms are clean and well maintained. Plenty of picnic benches too. Loved the time we spent there. It was a bliss! read more

Half Moon Bay State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all