The California Beach Guide
From Malibu's golden sand to Big Sur's purple coves — the definitive guide to California's best beaches along 840 miles of Pacific coastline.
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California's coastline is absurdly diverse. You can bodysurf warm waves at Huntington Beach in the morning, drive two hours north to watch purple sand glow at Pfeiffer Beach by sunset, and wake up the next day at Stinson Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge in view. Southern California delivers the classic sun-and-sand experience, the Central Coast is all dramatic cliffs and hidden coves, and Northern California feels wild and untouched. I've traveled coastlines all over the world, and nothing matches the variety packed into California's 840 miles of Pacific shoreline.
— Scott
This is your region-by-region guide to California's best beaches. We've organized them across three regions — Southern California, Central Coast, and Northern California. Click any beach to explore the destination where it's located.
Southern California
Sun-drenched shores, legendary surf breaks, and golden sand from Malibu to Coronado
5 beachesSanta Monica State Beach
Free · Parking $8–20/dayLos Angeles
Iconic 3.5-mile beach anchored by the famous Santa Monica Pier with its Ferris wheel, arcade, and street performers. Wide golden sand, calm waves for swimming, and the best people-watching in LA. Bike the Marvin Braude path south to Venice Beach for a quintessential SoCal day.
Explore Los Angeles →Malibu (Zuma Beach)
Free · Parking $8–15Malibu
A mile and a half of wide, pristine sand on the Malibu coast — one of LA's cleanest and most beautiful beaches. Great swimming, bodyboarding, and volleyball. Less crowded than Santa Monica on weekdays, with mountain views behind and open Pacific in front.
Explore Malibu →Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)
Free · Parking $15–20/dayOrange County
Home of the US Open of Surfing and one of the most consistent surf breaks in California. Ten miles of uninterrupted sand, a lively pier with restaurants, and a beach culture that defines Southern California. Firepits are first-come-first-served and fill up fast on weekends.
Explore Orange County →Coronado Beach
Free · Free street parkingSan Diego
Wide, flat, glittering sand backed by the iconic Hotel del Coronado. Consistently rated one of America's best beaches. Gentle waves, mild water temperatures, and spectacular sunsets over the Pacific. The sand sparkles thanks to mica mineral deposits — it's not your imagination.
Explore San Diego →Laguna Beach
Free · Metered parking $2–3/hrOrange County
A string of dramatic coves and tide pools carved into sandstone bluffs along the Orange County coast. Thousand Steps Beach and Victoria Beach are hidden gems, while Main Beach offers easy access and great swimming. The art colony vibe and coastal trail make this more than just a beach town.
Explore Orange County →Central Coast
Rugged cliffs, purple-sand coves, and the most dramatic coastline on the Pacific
4 beachesPfeiffer Beach
$12/car day-use feeBig Sur
Purple sand, a keyhole rock arch that frames the sunset, and crashing waves against dramatic sea stacks — this is Big Sur's most photographed beach. The sand gets its purple hue from manganese garnet washed down from the hillside. Not a swimming beach, but one of the most stunning landscapes on the California coast.
Explore Big Sur →Pismo Beach
Free · Free parking availableSan Luis Obispo County
A classic Central Coast beach town with a long pier, clam chowder shacks, and wide sandy beach. Vehicles are allowed on the Oceano Dunes section — one of the last places in California you can drive on the sand. Monarch butterflies overwinter nearby from November through February.
Explore San Luis Obispo County →Moonstone Beach
Free · Free parking lotCambria
A boardwalk-lined bluff trail leads to rocky coves full of polished moonstones, jade, and agates. Sea otters float just offshore, and elephant seals haul out at nearby Piedras Blancas. The beach itself is pebbly rather than sandy, but the coastal scenery and wildlife make it unforgettable.
Explore Cambria →Carmel Beach
Free · Free street parkingCarmel-by-the-Sea
White sand against a backdrop of Monterey cypress trees — one of the most picturesque beaches on the West Coast. Dogs run off-leash, surfers ride the consistent point break at the south end, and sunset bonfires are a nightly tradition. The charming village of Carmel is a two-minute walk up the hill.
Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea →Northern California
Wild surf, fog-draped bluffs, towering redwoods meeting the sea, and rugged solitude
4 beachesStinson Beach
Free · Free parking lot (fills early)Marin County
The Bay Area's best swimming beach — a 3.5-mile stretch of sand at the base of Mount Tamalpais with views of the Marin Headlands and San Francisco on clear days. Water is cold (mid-50s°F) but calm enough for swimming on sunny days. Come early on weekends — the parking lot fills by 11 AM.
Explore Marin County →Baker Beach
Free · Free parking lotSan Francisco
A mile-long beach in the Presidio with the most dramatic urban backdrop in America — the Golden Gate Bridge looming overhead against the Marin Headlands. Strong currents and cold water make this a walking-and-watching beach, not a swimming one. Sunset here with the bridge silhouetted is unforgettable.
Explore San Francisco →Glass Beach
Free · $8 state park parkingFort Bragg, Mendocino
Decades of dumped glass bottles were tumbled smooth by the Pacific into colorful sea glass pebbles that cover the shoreline. What was once a dump is now a unique and beautiful beach. Please look but don't take — collecting sea glass is prohibited to preserve the beach for future visitors.
Explore Fort Bragg, Mendocino →Trinidad State Beach
Free · $8 state park parkingHumboldt County
Dramatic sea stacks, tide pools teeming with starfish and anemones, and towering redwoods right down to the shoreline. The small fishing village of Trinidad above is one of the most charming on the North Coast. Rarely crowded — you may have the entire beach to yourself on a weekday.
Explore Humboldt County →Plan Your Beach Trip
Tell our AI planner which beaches you want to visit and it will build a PCH road trip itinerary — with the best surf breaks, hidden coves, and sunset spots along the coast.
Start Planning →Frequently Asked Questions
California is a year-round beach destination, but conditions vary by region. Southern California (LA to San Diego) is warmest from June through October with water temperatures reaching 68-72°F. The Central Coast stays cooler year-round. Northern California beaches are best visited July through September when fog clears and temperatures peak. 'June Gloom' brings overcast mornings to SoCal beaches in May-June, but skies usually clear by noon.
It depends on what you want. Southern California has the warmest water, widest sand, and most classic beach culture — Coronado, Huntington, and Santa Monica are world-famous. The Central Coast (Big Sur, Carmel) has the most dramatic scenery. Northern California beaches are the wildest and least crowded — perfect for solitude and dramatic landscapes, though the water is cold.
Most Southern California beaches are safe for swimming with lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Water temperatures range from 58°F in winter to 72°F in summer south of Point Conception. North of San Francisco, water temperatures stay in the low-to-mid 50s year-round with strong currents and sneaker waves — swimming is not recommended without a wetsuit. Always check posted conditions and swim near lifeguard towers.
No. The California Coastal Act guarantees free public access to all beaches below the mean high tide line. However, parking fees are common — state beach parking runs $8-20 per day, and some popular beaches have metered street parking at $2-3 per hour. Free parking options exist at most beaches if you're willing to walk a bit farther.
Sunscreen (SPF 30+), a wetsuit or rash guard if you plan to surf or swim (water is cold even in SoCal), reef-safe sunscreen for marine areas, layers for afternoon wind, and a beach blanket or low chair. A wetsuit is essential for anything north of Santa Barbara. Bring cash for parking meters, and leave valuables locked in your trunk — car break-ins happen at beach lots.
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur is unlike anything else on the coast — purple sand (from manganese garnet), a keyhole rock arch that frames the sunset, and crashing waves against towering sea stacks. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is also one-of-a-kind — a former dump where decades of ocean tumbling turned broken bottles into smooth, colorful sea glass pebbles.