On A mini vacation to Cambria with my family. This was a beautiful walk on the boardwalk. Great views of the ocean and surroundings. Easy pathway for everyone, even good for strollers and wheelchairs. The beach has stone sand and it so colorful. Beautiful pieces to look at. I had lots of fun walking on the beach and looking at the stones. It's a lovely place to be. Part of why I love living in California. So many beautiful beaches and small towns. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

My family loves this beach. The parking lot is small, but we usually are able to find a spot. There's a public restroom connected to the parking lot. I've never needed it, but I'm glad it is there. Beach access is down some stairs that can be hard if you have mobility or balance issues. They are sturdy, and if you are able to navigate them slowly, it is worth it. The beach itself has driftwood that has washed up, and other beach-goers have fashioned into makeshift structures that are fun to explore. The sand is soft, and has tons of rocks and pebbles to investigate. As the name suggests, there are moonstones to find, if you have a bit of luck. Several times when I've visited, I've found these transparent clear and purplish/blue velella velella all over the shore. Other wildlife seen at this beach include moon jellyfish, sea lions (off shore), pelicans, seagulls, cormorants, and cottontail bunnies along the cliffs. There is a creek outlet that washes into the sea that can be a bit stinky, and tends to make traversing the beach hard past that point. Also along the water's edge, there can be some unstable sand areas, so tread carefully. This beach tends to have a nice breeze, and is refreshing even on hot days. If you are in the area and you can find parking, check it out! read more

What a lovely beach for a sunset stroll. We enjoyed our short but sweet stay in Cambria a couple of months ago and Moonstone Beach was definitely a highlight. There's a nice boardwalk for you to walk along and enjoy the ocean views. We stayed at a nice inn right across the street from the beach, so when it was approaching golden hour, we just walked out and savored the sun setting. The next morning, we had one more chance to walk along the shore line before we left. If you're near the area, don't miss this. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

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Nothing not to love. Rougher ocean. Windy! Lots of cool wooden trails along the water...tons of sun. Sunsets Not too crowded on off season times. Lots of cute motels nearby. Close to Cambria. Sheer peacefulness. read more

Moonstone Beach - Back again. Calm waters to end the month of March - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

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Ample parking and peaceful. Too a long drive to unwind and found this place. Surrounded by beautiful beaches as well. read more

Moonstone Beach - Beautiful - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

Great little parking lot, decent stairs to walk down and thankfully a restroom. I love coming here to watch the pelicans and see people stack all the drift wood. This beach isn't too far from a few restaurants and the coast line is beautiful. read more

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Nice experience with nature while walking on the boardwalk and getting to view the ocean close to sunset. I couldn't believe how cold and windy it was in the month of July. Four stars! read more

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Lovely well kept trail. The calm ocean waves were relaxing and we saw bunnies, blue jays, squirrels and seals. A nice morning stroll with coffee. read more

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Fun and beautiful area, very walkable. The beach is accessed by stairs though at least where we had parked so it may not be the most accessible but it does have beautiful paths nearby that are. read more

Beautiful Boardwalk. Pet friendly. Lots of places to step off the path and take a break on a bench or head down to the beach. Even in the wind before a storm it was a wonderful, easy walk! read more

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Moonstone Beach is in my top 5 beaches of the Central Coast. This beach is spacious and doesn't draw a lot of tourists typically. I love how clean and walkable it is. If you don't want to get your feet in the sand, they have a nice boardwalk that you can walk on above the cliffs. Moonstone Beach itself is known for their seaglass, aka tiny reflective multicolored glass! Perfect for big groups and families, this beach is wonderful. read more

I'm 57 and I've been vacationing in Cambria since the early 70's. There's just something about this place that's hits different. For a small beach town, there's a surprising amount to do. The BEST thing you can do in Cambria, though, is walk! Just walk and walk and walk. The boardwalk has recently been upgraded and it takes you on a long journey right along the ocean shore which is heavenly. If you're an ocean person like me and need to renew your soul, this is the place to do it. It's ideal for couples and great for families! read more

Lovely beach in Cambria with an easy and accessible boardwalk that runs along the beach. There are convenient access points and parking spots. It's also an easy walk from any of the hotels along Moonstone Beach Drive. While it's an easy relaxing stroll, I'm also perfectly happy sitting on one of the benches and just enjoying the view of the ocean and watching the surfers on the water. I stayed at Cambria Shores Inn, across the street, and loved being able to walk to the beach. It's beautiful in the morning and at sunset. read more

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Definitely stop at Moonstone Bar & Grill for amazing chowder... take in the beautiful views & enjoy the well maintained walking path

This easy access small beach is amazingly beautiful! I like the fact that you can drive and park right next to the boardwalks and within a few minutes you are greeted with some of the most beautiful coastal scenes California has to offer! There are many small hotels and inns near by. Those near the beach may be pricey but a few minutes away in San Simeon you can find places with very reasonable rates. Dog, kids, and Senior friendly -- the boardwalks are safe and easy to walk on. It stretches over 2 miles RT but you can do whatever that suits you. Just a few minutes from Highway 1 and super easy to get to. What a little jewel ! read more

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Few times I have been there have been great! And maybe 5 people at one time. Great metal detecting too

Everything!!! The cool breeze friendly people.. Dog friendly all over.. if you can't find beauty here something is definitely wrong.. I like that everything closes early makes you slow way down and that's what I needed read more

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This was a beautiful place! Love looking at the water. Went here with my sister on vacation last July and it was beautiful.

When feeling the need to get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life, this is the place to escape. While walking along the beach, I felt as if I was in a different world and felt at peace with the beautiful sound of the waves while walking Ali g the wooden boardwalk. I was able to listen to the sounds of the waves while enjoying the plants that hugged the hiking trail. It seemed as if the branches naturally made a tunnel over the wooden boardwalk. I stayed across the street in a hotel room with a fireplace and a view of the ocean. I relaxed upon my comfortable bed while listening to the sounds of the waves from the ocean. I look forward to going to this beach again, soon! read more

It's relaxing calm place to spend a weekend. Great scenery, best food and nice small boutique hotels to spend the night with loved ones , it feels mysterious location more like east coast shore. Vineyards are amazing in the area. And weather is cooler than so cal Overall things are in pricy side here because of location and quality service you may receive. read more

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Moonstone Beach is one of the primary beaches off the northern area of Cambria on Moonstone Beach Drive, which parallels iconic Coast Highway 1. The beach extends from Moonstone Beach Park up to the northern area of Leffingwell Landing, just south of Hearst Beach near Hearst Castle. Unlike the sandy beaches of southern San Luis Obispo County and Southern California, the rugged coastline of this area offers the visitor a mixture of smooth brown pebbles covering the shoreline. After high tide, but especially during the winter months when the waters can be unsettled and very active, the beach can consist of a very colorful array of pebbles of agates, jasper, jade and many other igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. The approximately one-mile long wooden boardwalk spans between the Santa Rosa Creek parking lot along the ridge tops to Leffingwell Landing. Walking the boardwalk offers the viewer unobstructed views of rugged coastal bluffs with many coves & rocky promontories of the area. The ambiance of the expansive views at Moonstone Beach, relaxing sounds of the surf, fresh ocean air and colors induces a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. Relax & enjoy. read more

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Mooning Over This Beautiful Beach Stroll along the boardwalk on the bluffs or brave the sand and descend the stairs to the beach. Moonstone Beach is flatter than most of the ones in Cambria. Scour the shore for colorful moonstones or shells, or gather some driftwood and create an ephemeral structure. There's a huge free parking lot at one end of the beach, or you may find street parking in front of the row of hotels and restaurants along the highway. With or without the moon, this is a magnificent place to enjoy the ocean. read more

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The beach appears to be sand when you are looking down on it. Once on the beach, you can see beautiful colored rocks everywhere. Keep an eye out for moonstones! read more

Had the best service at Moonstone Beach. Food was excellent, especially the sauté mushrooms. Will definitely be returning! read more

Moonstone Beach - Sautéed mushrooms - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

Moonstone beach is a great spot for strolling along and relaxing. I've never been here in the warmest weather so I can't recommend it personally for a day of swimming etc. However recently I did spot a bunch of people surfing (all in wet suits, so I'm guessing the water is a little chilly). I also spotted tons of dolphins which is always my fav! I'm so obsessed with them and wanted to jump in and swim out to them but the weather and this beach just doesn't really scream go out for a swim, to me. If you're dressed appropriately and have beach chairs, a blanket and a book this could be a nice spot for a little bit. I don't believe there are public restrooms here, no lifeguard stations, showers etc. It really is more of a stop by and hang for a bit and leave type place. There's a nice boardwalk for walking along if you don't want to be right down on the sand. Never ever have I actually found any moonstones here, although I always look because I'd totally make some jewelry with my little treasures but zero luck. Nice beach for relaxing and reflecting. read more

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Moonstone Beach is a must stop when you are in or near Cambria, California. It is simply stunning. There are places to walk and a few places that have boarded walk ways for those that need more flat areas and the wheel chair bound. There is plenty of parking and it does not get too crowded. I suggest going at sunset and just take a seat and watch the beautiful sunset over the blue ocean with all the greenery around. Wear shoes. The beach area has a lot of rocks and if your feet are not used to that, well, ouch. It is not usually too warm even in the summer. It tends to be cooler and at sunset you may need a light covering. Strollers are easy on the wooden pathway and you can see everything from there. One way is the beautiful ocean and the other way is filled with flowers, shrubs and greenery. This is really a special place. read more

One of God's greatest creation! After coming to Moonstone Beach for over 40 years we have never left untouched by this small piece of heaven on Earth. It truly is a very special place. Finding a precious moonstone is always fun! read more

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Dog-friendly areas designated on the wooden walkways, and must be on leash. Dogs are not allowed on the sandy areas near the water. Parking - Plenty at 6AM. The view is gorgeous, calming, and a blue-gray color that I don't find in other places. It's more of a beach to view and walk around rather than to have a picnic and sunbathe. read more

Moonstone Beach - 5:30AM - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

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Moonstone Beach is yet another reason why Cambria is such a fantastic coastal town. Located north of the town center (most of Cambria is actually inland), this shorter stretch of walkable beach surrounded by majestic views and deep blue ocean as far as the eye can see is a perfect example of why the Central Coast is one of my favorite parts of California. We stayed in a hotel opposite the beach when visiting town for a few days. The beach was just footsteps from our room, so we spent plenty of time standing on the cliffs and admiring the view, strolling in the sand and soaking in the beauty. The beach itself is in pristine condition, with lots of driftwood and a few shells here and there. It's flanked on all sides by shirt cliff sides and a long walking path that runs for miles. It's best viewed and enjoyed on a sunny day, although sunshine is a totally unpredictable factor round these parts. I'd you do get a spot of sun, bring your picnic gear and consider this as the spot for lunch, sunbathing and playing in the waves. You might even see a surfer or two! read more

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Very beautiful beach with a nice boardwalk next to the beach. Moonstone Beach is a very long beach with many parking available. Easy and connivance access. The beach has some motels nearby but doesn't have a lot of stores like some other beaches in the area. It is very clean and walking on the boardwalk or the beach is comfortable. I did not stay until the sunset, but I am sure this is the perfect location to have a wonderful and romantic view of the sunset. read more

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Was just here and oh man is this place perfect for a COVID-safe beach trip right now. Not a ton of people, very nice place, everyone I passed by was happy to be there. I ended up finding $40 and ran up to the only couple near me, who said they hadn't dropped anything. 'Yours now,' the man said. (Thanks, kind sir!) Only complaint? Wear some shoes of some sort. The pebbles are rough on your feet! But it's worth it, I found a lot of neat little stones and items, even if I was a bit too late in the day to find moonstones. read more

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A very fun way to spend the day collecting pretty rocks. I was skeptical if the images I saw were filtered, but there were tons of pretty rocks to be had. We saw them on other beaches in the area as well. A few tips: 1) There is a wooden path the runs the beach, and there are multiple sets of stairs interspersed. They seem to be around the small parking lots but can be hard to spot unless you're right on top of them. 2) There are tons of rocks to be had. The easiest times to spot them are during low tide as they are at the edge of the water. If you can safely get to the tide pools on the far right of the beach, it's really easy to find lots there. 3) Bring a pail or a bag to collect your loot and watch out for the waves. read more

Moonstone Beach - Photo of the rocks-no filters so they are as they appear. They are wet from the ocean which changes the color. - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

My go-to reading beach! On a foggy morning, watching the surfers curled up with a nice book in a blanket is utter bliss. This beach is my favorite location for my downtime activities. As for facilities, they have plenty of parking on either the side of the road or in the parking lot. There is a restroom available on each end of the beach too! read more

Beautiful boardwalk - we enjoyed a morning stroll on our way back from visiting the elephant seals before making our way to Cambria for a slice of pie! Had I not read about the colorful moonstones I would have completely missed them! From afar you cannot see them, so go down onto the beach and explore! read more

Moonstone Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California

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No dogs allowed on the beach. Dogs are allowed on the nice wooden boardwalk that follows the cliff top and Moonstone Beach Dr. Sometimes you do see people (usually white entitled women aka Karens) with a dog on the beach but most folks obey the rules. There are multiple beaches south of Cambria where dogs are welcome. The parking lot at the south end of the beach has a restroom and is popular with surfers. There are a few benches along the boardwalk for taking in the ocean. Most folks wore masks, only a few idiots without them. Rugged coastal beach with lots of driftwood and often wet sand, with lots of rocks close to shore. read more

It's one of those magical place that you either know about or heard off. I've been here a few times throughout the years and each visit never disappoint. This visit in particular was different from others. It was gloomy and overcast. Not used to it as the last time I was here, it was beautiful and the sunset was amazing. I overheard a couple talking about the sunset last night as they were so excited to catch it but it was so overcast and gloomy that they couldn't see it..... Regardless, it still a beautiful magical place. The boardwalk is a beautiful walk along the coast. Main strip has hotels and lodges with ocean view. When it's not overcast. There's stairways that lead you down to the beach. Which is beautiful. Even when it gloomy, there's something about waking on the strip of beach that's just so peaceful and relaxing. Surfers were in the water catching the early waves before the crowd arrives. There's beautiful tide pools when it's low tides to browses. It's not a long strip of beach, but long enough. Picture perfect all around. It's one of those place that you should make a pit stop when driving though the coastal drive. Very picturesque and just so magical and beautiful. read more

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One of the benefits of moving back to California is the ability to go walking on the beach, and I've been availing myself of that benefit at Moonstone Beach (and many other Central Coast beaches) for the past few months. The last time I visited here I was one of a very small handful of visitors who weren't surfing; the surf was both high and quite lovely, the tide was coming in and there were lots of surfers taking advantage of the surf and sun :-) Tip: The beach here can't be described as pristine; the surf piles the sand up into uneven mounds which make walking challenging, there's quite a lot of sea debris (which often attracts flys), and the sand isn't white like sugar. There are also large pieces of driftwood in the sand. So why do I enjoy coming here? When the water recedes, if you look closely you'll see a number of beautiful transparent/white stones called Moonstones! Combine this unique adornment provided by Mother Nature with some truly spectacular views of the blue ocean on a warm sunny day, and you too will find yourself planning a return visit to Moonstone Beach. read more

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Came out as people talked highly about it and it was on my route during a fam trip to Big Sur. Parking - Large parking lot with a short distance to Moonstone Beach. Beach - Very cold and windy on the day I came and lonely. They do have a large area or rocks for kids to play with and maybe collect some. Overall its a cool spot and worth checking out if you have the time to check it out on a roadtrip. Probably would be better on a warm day when its not as windy. read more

We have always loved this beach. You can either walk along on the boardwalk or the shore. We like to check out the tide pools and look at all of the gorgeous stones. There are usually some pretty cool rock and wood sculptures here as well. read more

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This beach is stunning, and has one of my favorite accessible features: a boardwalk path. Even in the winter, the views and water are stunning. For anyone who struggles with walking in sand, or climbing stairs up/down to the beach, I highly recommend this. There is plenty of seating along the path for breaks as well. read more

Moonstone Beach - Panoramic view of Moonstone Beach from the boardwalk - Beaches Near Me - Cambria, California