Whether you prefer the endless expanses of fine, golden sand of Zuma Beach in Malibu, or the purple sands of Pfeiffer Beach in Northern California, you will find your ideal beach in California. There are beaches where people watching is more fun than swimming, like in Santa Monica or Newport Beach in Southern California. There are beaches where families bring kids to play in the sand and warm surf and others where rip currents and underwater reefs make powerful waves only surfers can love.
Best Beaches in California:
1. Huntington State Beach, California
Rating: ★★★★★
Huntington State Beach is located in the City of Huntington Beach, between Santa Ana River in Newport Beach and Beach Boulevard, where the city begins.
Two miles of long sandy beach offers fairly good surfing, fishing, beach volleyball and swimming. I enjoy romantic walks along the beach. It has several basketball courts and fire-rings for evening bonfires. Lifeguards patrol the beach.
Location:
Huntington State Beach, 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, California, USACost:
Day-use parking fee required. Fire rings and courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis.Local tips:
Stay out of posted bird nesting areas to protect local species.Distance:
Located directly on the Pacific Coast Highway.How to Get to Huntington State Beach:
From Beach Boulevard or the Santa Ana River Trail, follow signs to Pacific Coast Highway. Parking lots are available near beach entrances on both ends of the park.2. Mandalay Beach Oxnard - 90-minute drive from LA
A beautiful sandy beach with views of Channel Island National Park, Mandalay Beach Oxnar is a perfect spot for a relaxing weekend in the sun.
You can enjoy sunbathing on the soft sand, kayaking, year-round surfing, beachcombing and fishing.
The 60-acre park consists of sandy dunes, barbecue areas and a fun playground for kids. For the active traveler, facilities include volleyball courts, bike paths and skating.
Mandalay Beach Oxnard is located along the 1,800-mile Pacific Coast Bicycle Route. You will have access to many great restaurants in the area. Cash only parking is affordable, whether you are visiting for an hour or the whole day.
Location:
Mandalay Beach, 1601 S Harbor Blvd, Oxnard, California, USACost:
Affordable cash-only parking available for both short visits and full-day stays.Best time to visit:
Spring through fall for warm sunshine, water sports, and ideal biking weather. Early mornings offer peaceful views and quieter beaches.Local tips:
Bring cash for parking and a camera for sunset views over the dunes. Be mindful of dune restoration areas and help protect the beach’s natural habitat.Distance:
Located in Oxnard along the coast—about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, roughly a 90-minute drive.How to Get to Mandalay Beach:
From Highway 101, exit Victoria Avenue south, then turn west on Wooley Road to S Harbor Blvd. Follow signs to the beach entrance and parking area.Recommended Tour in Oxnard, California:
3. Glass Beach, Fort Bragg - 4-hour drive from San Francisco
For more than a century, people in Mendocino Coast were in the habit of throwing bottles, cars and appliances, into the sea close to the north part of the city.
Instead of getting mad, Mother Nature turned all glass bottles, headlights and other glass into little colorful jewels that washed ashore on three small beaches known today as Glass Beach, a part of MacKerricher State Park.
Hunting for the colorful glass is a popular tourist activity, so much so that the park management had to put a stop to it, asking people to look but not take, or very soon there would be nothing to look at.
Beaches can be reached by foot, following a short but steep trail down the cliff to the edge of the water.
Location:
Glass Beach, Elm Street & Glass Beach Drive, Fort Bragg, Mendocino Coast, California, USACost:
Free public access. Parking available nearby along Elm Street or at the official trailhead.Best time to visit:
Early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting and smallest crowds. Low tide offers better visibility of sea glass and tide pools.Local tips:
Wear sturdy shoes for the short but steep trail down to the beach. Bring a camera or macro lens for close-up shots of the colorful glass.Distance:
Located in Fort Bragg, approximately 180 miles north of San Francisco—about a 3.5 to 4-hour drive via Highway 1 or US-101.How to Get to Glass Beach:
From Main Street in Fort Bragg, turn west onto Elm Street and follow signs to the Glass Beach Trailhead. A short walk leads to the scenic overlook and access path to the beach below.Romantic Beaches in California:
4. Santa Monica Beach
Located not far from downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica beach is a quintessential Southern California beach and one of the most famous beaches in California.
This iconic beach is three and half miles long, with fine, soft, well-maintained sand. It is within walking distance from all major hotels, restaurants and bars.
Divided by the famous Santa Monica Pier, the beach is great for surfing, swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, and all other sports on the sand and in the water.
You can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas at Perry’s at the Beach, a beach equipment rental place and popular restaurant.
The Santa Monica Pier features an aquarium, an amusement park and restaurants. Watching the sunset from the pier is a must. You can bike from Santa Monica Beach all the way to Torrance Country Beach by taking the Strand, a 22-mile-long bike trail.
The best surfing is just off Bay Street, where you can rent equipment and take the surfing lessons you’ve always wanted.
Location:
Santa Monica Beach, Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, California, USACost:
Beach access is free. Paid parking is available at lots along the beach and pier area.Local tips:
Bring a bike or rent one locally to experience The Strand. Stop by Perry’s for equipment and beach bites. Don’t miss the evening light show from the Pacific Wheel on the pier.Distance:
About 15 miles west of downtown Los Angeles—roughly a 30–40 minute drive depending on traffic.How to Get to Santa Monica Beach:
Take I-10 west to the Pacific Coast Highway and follow signs to Santa Monica Pier or beachfront parking lots. The beach is easily walkable from downtown Santa Monica hotels and public transit.5. Carlsbad State Beach - 40-minute drive from San Diego
Carlsbad State Beach, or Tamarack Beach as the locals call it, is a wide sandy beach that stretches between the jetties south of Tamarack Avenue, and Frazee Beach, close to Carlsbad Village Drive.
The beach is popular for swimming, surfing, surf fishing, scuba diving, kayaking and picnicking.
I find it to be a great beach for family outings since there is a picnic area with tables and benches.
The Carlsbad Seawall is four-miles long and has a paved walking path that extends along the coast from Cannon to Carlsbad Village.
The seawall is often busy with bikers, joggers and rollerbladers, and it separates the beach from Coastal Highway 101. The bluff at the end of the beach is a great spot for watching sunsets.
Carlsbad Blvd and Hwy 101, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Location:
Carlsbad State Beach (Tamarack Beach), Carlsbad Blvd & Hwy 101, Carlsbad, California, USACost:
Free beach access; paid parking available at lots and street meters nearby.Local tips:
Bring your bike or rollerblades for the seawall. Arrive early on weekends for better parking and less crowded surf zones. The nearby Carlsbad Village offers great dining options post-beach.Distance:
Located in Carlsbad, about 35 miles north of downtown San Diego—approximately a 40-minute drive via I-5.How to Get to Carlsbad State Beach:
From I-5, exit Carlsbad Village Drive or Tamarack Avenue and head west. Look for parking along Carlsbad Blvd or adjacent streets near the beach access points.Family Beaches in Thailand:
6. Coronado Municipal Beach - 15-minute drive from downtown San Diego
Many consider Coronado Municipal Beach as the most beautiful American beach and one of the best California beaches, for its sparkling sand, soft, warm surf and picturesque surrounds.
The municipal beach actually consists of four beaches: Coronado City Beach, Glorietta Bay Park, Tidelands Park, and Centennial Park. Both Glorietta Bay Park and Tidelands Park have grassy picnic areas and playgrounds for children.
All beaches are famous for their glittery sand, which is the result of the presence of fine mica particles, not bits of gold as many people think. The beaches are washed by calm waves that kids love, and have magnificent sunsets.
Large expanses of sand are perfect for flying a kite, skim boarding, surfing or long walks. The northern part of the beach is dog-friendly.
Location:
Coronado Municipal Beach, Coronado Island, San Diego, California, USACost:
Free beach access. Paid parking available nearby or free residential parking if you arrive early.Local tips:
The shimmer in the sand comes from natural mica, not gold—but it still makes for magical photos! Stop by the Hotel del Coronado for food and history, just steps from the sand.Distance:
About 7 miles from downtown San Diego—approximately a 15-minute drive across the Coronado Bridge.How to Get to Coronado Municipal Beach:
From downtown San Diego, take the Coronado Bridge west to Orange Avenue. Follow signs to any of the four beach access points along the island’s shoreline.7. Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna
Crystal Cove State Park is located in Newport Beach, between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway, north of Laguna Beach.
The park includes three miles of magnificent sandy beach in a lovely cove, coastal cliffs, chaparral canyons inland, quaint beach houses that are part of the Crystal Cove Historic District, and the Marine Conservation Area.
The protected area covers coastal bluffs, the underwater park and inland canyons. The beach is popular with scuba and skin divers, surfers and swimmers.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season and patrol the beach the rest of the year. The beach is wonderful for long walks and exploring fascinating tidal pools.
Horseback riders also enjoy the beach packed sand, and hikers can explore one of 17 trails through the undeveloped woody areas.
Location:
Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California, USACost:
Day-use parking fee required. Additional fees for camping or cottage rentals in the historic district.Local tips:
Book historic cottage rentals well in advance. Pack reef-safe sunscreen and hiking shoes if you plan to explore inland trails or tidepools.Distance:
About 50 miles south of Los Angeles—roughly a 1-hour drive depending on traffic along the Pacific Coast Highway.How to Get to Crystal Cove State Park:
Located off Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Look for signed parking areas with shuttle service to the Historic District and beach access trails.If you are a photographer, don't miss:
8. Dog Beach, San Diego
Dog Beach in San Diego is the first off-leash dog beach in California.
Although dog owners all over the state fought as well and now there are many other beaches where dogs can freely romp in the surf, Dog Beach remains one of the most popular and famous nation-wide.
The wide stretch of sand is located at the mouth of the San Diego River, at the end of I-8, in northern Ocean Beach.
Dogs and dog owners are happily sharing the beach with surfers, and you do not have to own a dog to come and enjoy this lovely melting pot of people, and dogs, of all sizes, colors and breeds having fun with wild abandon. Dog owners are requested to clean up after their dogs and to make sure that their vaccinations are up to date.
Dog park etiquette remains in place – do not bring a dog who does not know how to behave with other dogs and people. Browse more great beaches in the area.
Location:
Dog Beach, Point Loma, Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, USACost:
Free public access. Street parking and nearby lots available.Best time to visit:
Early morning or late afternoon for cooler sand and more playful pups. Weekdays tend to be less crowded than weekends.Local tips:
Bring towels, water, and a leash for the walk to and from your car. There are rinse stations nearby and plenty of pet-friendly cafes and shops in Ocean Beach.Distance:
About 8 miles northwest of downtown San Diego—roughly a 15-minute drive via I-8 West.How to Get to Dog Beach:
Take I-8 West to the end and follow signs toward Ocean Beach. Dog Beach is located at the north end of Ocean Beach, where the San Diego River meets the Pacific Ocean.9. Moonstone Beach, Cambria - 45-minute drive north of San Luis Obispo
Uncrowded and wild, beaches of the California Central Coast are very different from the long expanses of fine powdery sand of the south.
Moonstone Beach is one of the most beautiful of the Cambria Coastline beaches, surrounded by rugged cliffs and bordered by a long boardwalk that runs for more than a mile.
You will find the beach covered by small, smooth pebbles polished by the sea to almost jewel beauty.
Walking along the water and searching for tide pools, interesting driftwood and the most beautiful stones is a great way to spend the time on the beach. You can also watch the sea otters having fun in the water, look for passing whales or enjoy many kinds of birds.
Location:
Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, USACost:
Free public beach access.Local tips:
Bring binoculars for whale watching and a camera for tidepool and pebble photography. Dress in layers—the coastal breeze can be brisk even in summer.Distance:
About 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo—roughly a 45-minute drive along scenic Highway 1.How to Get to Moonstone Beach:
From Highway 1, exit at Cambria and follow signs to Moonstone Beach Drive. Access points and parking areas are clearly marked along the shoreline.10. El Matador Beach, Malibu
If you drive along the Pacific Coast Highway in western Malibu, you will see the sign for El Matador Beach, one of the most beautiful in a place so rich with spectacular beaches.
There are picnic tables in the parking lot on top of the bluff before you brave the steep dirt trail which descends on the bluff face before you find stairs that will take you the rest of the way to the beach.
The views from everywhere, but especially from the upper cliffs, are breathtaking, with huge boulders and deep dark blue water with underwater forests of kelp clearly visible. The beach is very popular with sunbathers, surfers and swimmers and has a lifeguard year-round. At low tide, stroll to the north end of the beach to see large caves and rock arches at the base of the bluff.
Location:
El Matador Beach, 32350 El Matador Beach Rd, Malibu, California, USACost:
Paid parking lot located above the bluff. Limited street parking available along PCH.Local tips:
Wear sturdy shoes for the descent, and check tide charts before heading to the caves. Bring water! There are no amenities or restrooms on the beach.Distance:
About 10 miles west of Malibu Pier—roughly a 20-minute scenic drive on Pacific Coast Highway.How to Get to El Matador Beach:
Take Pacific Coast Highway west from Malibu. Look for the clearly marked El Matador Beach sign and entrance. The trail begins at the top parking area on El Matador Beach Road.Plan Your Trip