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There's a certain point when you're driving south on Hwy One and realize there's no such thing as a wrong turn when it comes to the series of sequential beaches south of Half Moon Bay.This one is about twenty minutes away between the San Gregorio and Pescadero State Beaches. Like San Gregorio, Pomponio has a wide beach, a small lagoon, a picnic area, restrooms (thank goodness), and a large escarpment with a trail that really leads nowhere. At San Gregorio, it ends at a chainlink fence because the beach abuts private property. At Pomponio, it simply stops at a cliff where you can see San Gregorio in the distance. But you don't come here to hike, at least on the bluffs.You come to see the Pacific roll in between your toes. Did you know the beach was named after an insurrectionist from a couple of centuries back? Makes the mind reel, doesn't it? Parking costs $8 which is pretty standard. RELATED - Going to a beach? Here's a collection of beaches I've visited, reviewed, and photographed: https://bit.ly/3rMOJ7b
Doing a little beach hopping, we stopped by Pomponio State Beach on a Tuesday afternoon. Having just paid the entrance fee at Butano State Park all remaining state parks would be free for the day; there was a ranger at the entrance in spite of it being a weekday. My wife was tired and took a nap in the backseat, so I sauntered along the sandy beach for a while. It's a pretty beach, and bigger than it looks from the parking lot, as it stretches out along the coast. All was quiet on this weekday afternoon: a couple fisherman, a few other people, and that was it. I came back to the car and gave my wife a few more minutes. Then a funny thing happened: a middle-aged man that had been relaxing on the picnic tables with his wife came up to our open window and said "Excuse me. I just wanted to say I love the color of your car! My wife and I were debating the color; she thought it was burnt orange but I disagreed". We had just purchased a used RAV4 a few weeks earlier, and I told him the color was "Hot Lava" - it was one of the main reasons we picked this one. He seemed pleased and wandered off, and my wife and I had a good laugh about it later.
11/14/2022: Pompano State Beach is the location where I celebrated my high school prom night due to the inability splurging on a prom dress; as a result, I drove to Pomponio with some classmates, I lit a bonfire, and drank cheap wine. That's my prom night in a nutshell . . . Oh, btw~Since I'm camping at Half Moon Bay State Park, i.e., HMB, I just place my Campsite's tag on my windshield equating, I don't have to pay! Schweet, eh?
We escaped to the beach in a HOT day in Concord. Have to admit, it was a bit cooler than I expected (and of course I didn't have a sweatshirt) and the traffic getting there was terrible (full disclosure, the Bay Area temps were +100° AND it was Labor Day weekend). But enough about non-beach things. This beach was PERFECT!! We arrived a little before noon and the parking lot was already full (see comment above about temps and day we were there). They let us drop our stuff and recommended we park up at the top of the hill to the left of the parking lot (parking is $8 cash). The beach itself was clean of trash but lots of beach/ocean debris that you would expect. It was actually pretty cool to see a bunch of Dungeness crab legs and bodies everywhere (I was a little jealous the birds got them before me - lol). There are two restrooms which were pretty gross smelling but clean. We didn't think the beach was busy at all but listening to a family nearby, I heard them say they haven't seen it this full in a long time. We will definitely be going back!
Yes, I love this beach. What I love is the access from parking to the sand. Stellar! Never crowded on the weekdays. Quiet Safe And you can sleep on the clean sand ;)
If you love long walks on the beach and watching sunrises/sunsets, this is the beach for you. As a native New Yorker where you better watch your step in the sand (glass shards and empty beer cans) on the beach, this oceanic heaven was an upstanding paradise. Right by Highway 1, the place has all-day parking for $8. There were still empty spots on New Year's Day, and the beach is very accessible from the parking lot. There are cliffs that you can easily walk up as well to get stellar views of the Pacific. Definitely recommend staying until sunset, you will not regret it!
I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at Pomponio State Beach. All I did was sit there by the seashore and wait. Patiently listening for the ripples in the water and within 20 mins, a whole & beautiful sand dollar washes up ashore. I quickly picked up the sand dollar and called it a day :) Sand dollars are a symbol of peace and it looks like an Easter lily with a star in the middle which serves as a reminder of the birth of Christ.
What: - Beach - Birds - Lagoon More Info: - $8 car parking fee (applicable to all the state beaches along CA-1 S for that day) - Restrooms - BBQ pits - Plenty of parking spaces Honestly, the Pomponio State Beach was not too different from the San Gregorio State Beach (http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-gregorio-state-beach-san-gregorio#hrid:HnUK8XcpNiIF3A5s7GIR8w). The shallow lagoon serves as a good playtime for the kids. We spent a few minutes here and took off. It looked like every beach along this coast had barbecue pits for those interested to have a ducky lunch along the shores on a beautiful sunny day. Pomponio State Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jBIhtsdowiW2DZU8OJwdcA?select=vr2Nvd7y0E-2OYtSD0aoHA#9YjtvTY15fy-p7WCOMtJAA
What a hidden gem! My friends and I came here on a Saturday afternoon (around 2pm-ish) and it wasn't packed at all! I kind of really like the seclusion you get from this beach because this beach is not too well-known and it's kind of underrated. The parking is pretty bad though, but you can drive up a bit and park on the right side of the road, like everyone else! You save on the parking fee from that, too! The drive here isn't all that bad, coming from Fremont at least. You do go through the hills and the windy roads, but it's actually pretty okay. I usually get car sick during these long drives down Highway 1 or just windy roads, but I was completely fine this time! Aside from that, the beach was beautiful! We went on a pretty sunny day but it had a nice breeze. The sand was soft and the water was really nice (and not too cold). There was also a small lagoon where all the kids were playing in. To be honest, I wouldn't want to go in there because it looked pretty dirty. Overall, this is definitely one of the lesser known beaches in the area. I love beaches in all shapes and sizes, so this is no exception. You should definitely check this beach out if you're looking for a new place to explore!
What an awesome beach! My beach partner and I live near San Jose and wanted to find a beach that wouldn't be super crowded on Memorial Day--seems impossible, right? This place was perfect. We walked about 50 yards and were away from virtually everyone! Super calm and quiet. Great weather at the end of May. Clear and warm but not super hot with a nice breeze. The only thing I didn't like about it seems to be a symptom of all nearby beaches: Those little cricket-like bugs that hop around under the sand. We did a bit of digging near the water and the bugs are enormous! Like horrible sand roaches! Luckily the bigger ones stay burrowed in the sand. Yech. Once you see San Gregorio State Beach lot the Pomponio lot is just another minute or two South. $8 parking fee, probably because of the holiday.
Pomponio is one of our favorite beach along Highway 1. One of the main reason is the lagoon for kids to swim in the shallow and not so cold water. The beach is not huge with white sands but it has many little things which make it perfect for the families: - Maybe 6-8 benches with BBQ pit - 2 clean restrooms but no water - Easy access to the beaches - Plenty of parking spaces (people come and go) - Small lagoon for kids to swim - A small nearby cave for you to explore - Friendly park ranger It would have been a perfect 5 stars if they have provided water at the restroom for you to wash your hand or feet. It cost $8 to park at the State beach but you can use it for any state beach along highway 1.
6 months ago
accessible since it is not too steep but ground is uneven. As of March 2026 there are so many tree branches and trunks all over the sand, just an FYI. The sand area is huge so there's plenty of space for people to set up their space. There is also a beautiful shallow river connecting to the ocean which is perfect for the kiddos. Beautiful beach with many beautiful finds! There are bathrooms on site but they are DISGUSTING, so come prepared. read more
Love, love, love this beach!!! The walk from the parking lot 2 the water isn't 2 far. The beach is clean & there's picnic tables by the parking lot as well as bbqs. I live over 2 hrs away, but I don't care. When I want a beach day, this is where I wanna gooooo!!! And today, there was plenty of sun 2 enjoy!!! read more
2 years ago
We did a family beach day here and actually enjoyed it. Parking costs $7 so be prepared to pay the attendant or out the money in the box ( I'm not sure how the box system works ) We set up or food at the top picnic table and set up tents, chairs and toys just below so the kids could play and we would run to the water every now and then. The beach is very quiet, clean and has a small parking lot. It is right off the highway so be aware when leaving to pull back into traffic. Don't rush it My only gripe is the bathroom situation! I'm not sure there is much that can be done being the location is a beach but make sure you are prepared with tons of sanitizing stuff. It's a outhouse/portable I'm not sure what time make of it read more
There's a certain point when you're driving south on Hwy One and realize there's no such thing as a wrong turn when it comes to the series of sequential beaches south of Half Moon Bay.This one is about twenty minutes away between the San Gregorio and Pescadero State Beaches. Like San Gregorio, Pomponio has a wide beach, a small lagoon, a picnic area, restrooms (thank goodness), and a large escarpment with a trail that really leads nowhere. At San Gregorio, it ends at a chainlink fence because the beach abuts private property. At Pomponio, it simply stops at a cliff where you can see San Gregorio in the distance. But you don't come here to hike, at least on the bluffs.You come to see the Pacific roll in between your toes. Did you know the beach was named after an insurrectionist from a couple of centuries back? Makes the mind reel, doesn't it? Parking costs $8 which is pretty standard. RELATED - Going to a beach? Here's a collection of beaches I've visited, reviewed, and photographed: https://bit.ly/3rMOJ7b read more
Doing a little beach hopping, we stopped by Pomponio State Beach on a Tuesday afternoon. Having just paid the entrance fee at Butano State Park all remaining state parks would be free for the day; there was a ranger at the entrance in spite of it being a weekday. My wife was tired and took a nap in the backseat, so I sauntered along the sandy beach for a while. It's a pretty beach, and bigger than it looks from the parking lot, as it stretches out along the coast. All was quiet on this weekday afternoon: a couple fisherman, a few other people, and that was it. I came back to the car and gave my wife a few more minutes. Then a funny thing happened: a middle-aged man that had been relaxing on the picnic tables with his wife came up to our open window and said "Excuse me. I just wanted to say I love the color of your car! My wife and I were debating the color; she thought it was burnt orange but I disagreed". We had just purchased a used RAV4 a few weeks earlier, and I told him the color was "Hot Lava" - it was one of the main reasons we picked this one. He seemed pleased and wandered off, and my wife and I had a good laugh about it later. read more
4 years ago
11/14/2022: Pompano State Beach is the location where I celebrated my high school prom night due to the inability splurging on a prom dress; as a result, I drove to Pomponio with some classmates, I lit a bonfire, and drank cheap wine. That's my prom night in a nutshell . . . Oh, btw~Since I'm camping at Half Moon Bay State Park, i.e., HMB, I just place my Campsite's tag on my windshield equating, I don't have to pay! Schweet, eh? read more
3 years ago
We escaped to the beach in a HOT day in Concord. Have to admit, it was a bit cooler than I expected (and of course I didn't have a sweatshirt) and the traffic getting there was terrible (full disclosure, the Bay Area temps were +100° AND it was Labor Day weekend). But enough about non-beach things. This beach was PERFECT!! We arrived a little before noon and the parking lot was already full (see comment above about temps and day we were there). They let us drop our stuff and recommended we park up at the top of the hill to the left of the parking lot (parking is $8 cash). The beach itself was clean of trash but lots of beach/ocean debris that you would expect. It was actually pretty cool to see a bunch of Dungeness crab legs and bodies everywhere (I was a little jealous the birds got them before me - lol). There are two restrooms which were pretty gross smelling but clean. We didn't think the beach was busy at all but listening to a family nearby, I heard them say they haven't seen it this full in a long time. We will definitely be going back! read more
8 years ago
Yes, I love this beach. What I love is the access from parking to the sand. Stellar! Never crowded on the weekdays. Quiet Safe And you can sleep on the clean sand ;) read more
8 years ago
If you love long walks on the beach and watching sunrises/sunsets, this is the beach for you. As a native New Yorker where you better watch your step in the sand (glass shards and empty beer cans) on the beach, this oceanic heaven was an upstanding paradise. Right by Highway 1, the place has all-day parking for $8. There were still empty spots on New Year's Day, and the beach is very accessible from the parking lot. There are cliffs that you can easily walk up as well to get stellar views of the Pacific. Definitely recommend staying until sunset, you will not regret it! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
12 years ago
I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at Pomponio State Beach. All I did was sit there by the seashore and wait. Patiently listening for the ripples in the water and within 20 mins, a whole & beautiful sand dollar washes up ashore. I quickly picked up the sand dollar and called it a day :) Sand dollars are a symbol of peace and it looks like an Easter lily with a star in the middle which serves as a reminder of the birth of Christ. read more
What: - Beach - Birds - Lagoon More Info: - $8 car parking fee (applicable to all the state beaches along CA-1 S for that day) - Restrooms - BBQ pits - Plenty of parking spaces Honestly, the Pomponio State Beach was not too different from the San Gregorio State Beach (http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-gregorio-state-beach-san-gregorio#hrid:HnUK8XcpNiIF3A5s7GIR8w). The shallow lagoon serves as a good playtime for the kids. We spent a few minutes here and took off. It looked like every beach along this coast had barbecue pits for those interested to have a ducky lunch along the shores on a beautiful sunny day. Pomponio State Beach - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jBIhtsdowiW2DZU8OJwdcA?select=vr2Nvd7y0E-2OYtSD0aoHA#9YjtvTY15fy-p7WCOMtJAA read more
5 years ago
Great quiet beach but cold here. We came at 2 pm. Bring jackets, prepare for temperature change. We left at 5 pm and it became very cold. read more
11 years ago
What a hidden gem! My friends and I came here on a Saturday afternoon (around 2pm-ish) and it wasn't packed at all! I kind of really like the seclusion you get from this beach because this beach is not too well-known and it's kind of underrated. The parking is pretty bad though, but you can drive up a bit and park on the right side of the road, like everyone else! You save on the parking fee from that, too! The drive here isn't all that bad, coming from Fremont at least. You do go through the hills and the windy roads, but it's actually pretty okay. I usually get car sick during these long drives down Highway 1 or just windy roads, but I was completely fine this time! Aside from that, the beach was beautiful! We went on a pretty sunny day but it had a nice breeze. The sand was soft and the water was really nice (and not too cold). There was also a small lagoon where all the kids were playing in. To be honest, I wouldn't want to go in there because it looked pretty dirty. Overall, this is definitely one of the lesser known beaches in the area. I love beaches in all shapes and sizes, so this is no exception. You should definitely check this beach out if you're looking for a new place to explore! read more
What an awesome beach! My beach partner and I live near San Jose and wanted to find a beach that wouldn't be super crowded on Memorial Day--seems impossible, right? This place was perfect. We walked about 50 yards and were away from virtually everyone! Super calm and quiet. Great weather at the end of May. Clear and warm but not super hot with a nice breeze. The only thing I didn't like about it seems to be a symptom of all nearby beaches: Those little cricket-like bugs that hop around under the sand. We did a bit of digging near the water and the bugs are enormous! Like horrible sand roaches! Luckily the bigger ones stay burrowed in the sand. Yech. Once you see San Gregorio State Beach lot the Pomponio lot is just another minute or two South. $8 parking fee, probably because of the holiday. read more
6 years ago
5 years ago
Pomponio is one of our favorite beach along Highway 1. One of the main reason is the lagoon for kids to swim in the shallow and not so cold water. The beach is not huge with white sands but it has many little things which make it perfect for the families: - Maybe 6-8 benches with BBQ pit - 2 clean restrooms but no water - Easy access to the beaches - Plenty of parking spaces (people come and go) - Small lagoon for kids to swim - A small nearby cave for you to explore - Friendly park ranger It would have been a perfect 5 stars if they have provided water at the restroom for you to wash your hand or feet. It cost $8 to park at the State beach but you can use it for any state beach along highway 1. read more
The bf and I played hooky on Tuesday when the weather was scorching and I wanted to go to the beach! Since we live in Pacifica, I suggested we get on Hwy 1 and commanded the bf to just DRIVE...hence we ended up here. It's about 10 miles past half moon bay and a cool, relaxing drive along the coast. We had our nifty beach chairs WITH built in canopies ( gotta love Costco!) We set up our chairs and proceeded to CHILL! What a fun way to spend a Tues afternoon!! They have tables and bbq pits also if you're inclined.. read more
9 years ago
Very beautiful beach. Fun to find shells and driftwood. This little beach cave was a hidden gem. $8 parking. read more
9 years ago
Stopped by here during a leisurely drive down the coast one weekday. It was a perfectly clear day which is a rarity for the area. It wasn't crowded and we were able to easily get parked and take a short stroll down the beach. read more
12 years ago
This beach is beautiful! It's located in Halfmoon Bay, about five miles from intersection of highway 84 and highway 1. Pomponio state beach is not as hilly as the other beaches in Halfmoon bay, so its easier to get around . There are picnic tables and bbq pits along the parking lot. Also, there's an accessible bathroom. The entrance fee is $8.00. The park ranger comes over to collect the fee or you can pay it at Gregorio Beach that has an assigned park ranger. To sum it up, Pomponio beach is beautiful, clean, and family friendly. read more
17 years ago
17 years ago
I was married on this beach almost one year ago and it will forever hold a very special place in my heart. Dark and stormy or bright & sunny this beach is GORGEOUS. Perfect for a run or to sit and relax. My suggestion: go to Duarte's Tavern before grab some Artichoke soup and sip it on Pomponio beach while watching the waves. read more
19 years ago
I think this is one of the best beaches within two hours of SF. There was enough parking on a Sunday ($8), and it wasn't overly crowded. A ten minute walk from the parking area provides enough solitude to clear your head. read more
Just down the way from San Gregorio State Beach....this is a nice beach that has a lagoon area. Easy access from the parking lot to the beach. On 4th of July this year, the weather was sooo nice. Bring a jacket just in case. read more
11 years ago
8 years ago
10 years ago
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