San Francisco is home to stunning world-class beaches on the Pacific Ocean and along the Bay shoreline. Beach towns near San Francisco have that dreamy atmosphere that will make you feel absolutely relaxed and fascinated.
Of course, there’s no shortage of water sports and incredible views at the city’s beaches. However, if you want to explore the broader San Francisco Bay Area, try visiting a few of the beautiful rugged coastal and urban beaches lining the bay.
The following beach towns near San Francisco are within a short drive from the City. This way, you can quickly discover new hot spots to enjoy the waters around California, or plan a great weekend together with our best day trips from San Francisco.
Get ready to find out where the locals go to cool off on a fun day trip out of the City.
Coastal San Francisco Peninsula: Pacifica, California
The laid-back beach town of Pacifica is just south of San Francisco. It’s a twenty-minute drive down HWY 1, or SamTrans bus #110 from Daly City BART to the coast. Pacifica’s six miles of beachfront connect with coastal recreation trails that dip down to sandy beaches and over hilly bluffs.
Pacifica Municipal Pier offers an exciting perspective extending 1,140 feet over the Pacific Ocean. From the fishing pier, watch seals playing underneath and train your eye to spot spouting whales diving for lunch. Public restrooms and the Chit-Chat Café—where you can get a hot chocolate or coffee to warm up—are at the start of the pier.
Spread a blanket on Sharp Park Beach for a picnic and unwrap a sandwich or pastry from Chit-Chat. The long beach is a favorite of dog owners, with lots of sand for dogs to play and an easy coastal trail for long walks on marsh boardwalks, or over the Mori Point bluff.
Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach area is home to two classic restaurants. They’re just across the street from each other, and both have stunning ocean views.
Nick’s Rockaway is known for its signature crab sandwich, seafood entrees, and lively ballroom dance floor. The Moonraker, with its romantic booths facing oceanfront windows, is an ideal special occasion destination for lobster tail and the perfect wine pairing.
Walk or drive over the hill going south from Rockaway Beach to Pacifica State Beach, a sandy surfer hangout. Watch surfers ride the waves from the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world. The fast food restaurant is upgraded to “cantina,” where you can sip frozen margaritas and munch tacos on the sun deck.
Coastal San Francisco Peninsula: Half Moon Bay, California
The town and crescent-shaped bay of Half Moon Bay, California, is about a 45-minute drive from downtown San Francisco. The agricultural town has produce stands with locally grown fruit and veggies for sale at pullouts along HWY 1, HWY 92, and on the way to the downtown Main Street shopping district. When the coastal gray fog breaks over the hillsides, Half Moon Bay’s sandy beaches are perfect for sunbathing, long walks, and picnics.
Walk or bike the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail to enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean along bluffs winding above the beach below. Or get down on one of Half Moon Bay’s many state beaches to enjoy the sand underfoot.
Saddle up at Sea Horse Ranch and learn to ride with a group on Half Moon Bay’s beautiful coastal routes, starting on the Coastal Equestrian Trail and then down to Poplar Beach to splash around.
Stop at Half Moon Bay’s delicious restaurants after a fun afternoon playing on the beach. Oceanfront Miramar Beach Restaurant has indoor dining and seating on an outdoor heated patio to enjoy its fresh seafood and fine steak dishes.
Sam’s Chowder House is another restaurant with a fantastic ocean view inside or out—you have to try the chowder!
San Francisco North Bay: Muir Beach, California
A scenic drive north over the Golden Gate Bridge, through the Marin Headlands going west of Muir Woods National Monument on HWY 1, brings you back to the Pacific Ocean coastline.
The town at Muir Beach is first up on this route and just under an hour’s drive from San Francisco. Hikers can take the Redwood Creek Trailhead out of Muir Woods to reach the beach.
After parking in the Muir Beach parking lot, take the Muir Beach Trailhead with a footbridge crossing the marsh waters of the Big Lagoon, then make your way down to the beach.
Homes tucked in the rugged forested hillside overlook the beachgoers in the sandy cove below. At sunset, bonfires are permitted in the provided fire rings, casting a rustic, welcoming glow.
Stop at the Pelican Inn’s restaurant for a hearty English country meal for lunch or dinner. In the mood for fish and chips or a Guinness beef stew? Take an after-dinner walk to Muir Beach Overlook for wind-in-your-hair panoramic coastline views.
San Francisco North Bay: Stinson Beach, California
Continue traveling twenty minutes north on HWY 1 to arrive at the small beach town of Stinson Beach. If hiking, the Matt Davis Trail Head and Dipsea Trail Head connect Muir Woods National Monument with access to Stinson Beach.
Bolinas Lagoon and Bolinas Bay surround the narrow Stinson Beach peninsula, creating a unique watery landscape where beachfront homes line the sand, making it one of the most charming beach towns near San Francisco.
A prime swimming beach with calmer bay waters, Stinson Beach, sees lots of visitors looking to get in the water. Lifeguards are on duty during the peak summer season, with windsurfers and board surfers zipping along the waves. The hangout beach attracts partygoers and rounds of high-energy volleyball.
Take a break from the beach with a visit to shops along HWY 1 like the local shell stop, book store, and surf shop. Parkside Stinson Beach restaurant is just across from one of the public beach parking lots that fill up quickly. Grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the artisan bakery-coffee shop-snack bar for all-day beach pick-me-ups to keep you fueled for fun in the sun.
San Francisco East Bay: Alameda, California
If you want to explore San Francisco’s East Bay, Alameda Island, just across the Bay from the City, is a fun urban beach destination to visit.
Drive across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, take 880 south, a short distance to the Webster Street Tube from the Oakland Estuary to Alameda.
Alternatively, you can take the San Francisco Bay Ferry from San Francisco’s Ferry Building. The boat ride will take you across the Bay to Alameda’s Seaplane Lagoon Terminal. You will have to complete the journey by bike or rideshare to the beach.
The calm bay waters around Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach are perfect for getting your feet wet and wading in the water.
Walk along the 2.5-mile sandy beach or take the bike trail with shoreline views of sparkling water, soaring birds, and the San Francisco skyline back across the Bay. When the wind picks up, be ready for kite flying, or nestle down on the sand to build a castle.
The South Shore Center across Shore Line Drive is the perfect place to refuel at one of its many restaurants, including Japanese sushi, burger joints, or Korean BBQ.
Don’t leave without stopping in the East Bay favorite—Loard’s Ice Cream, for a decadent hot fudge ice cream sundae or a few scoops in a cone to enjoy back on the beach!
San Francisco Peninsula: San Mateo, California
The high-tech hubs and San Francisco Peninsula towns south of San Francisco along HWY 101 have beautiful shoreline beaches too. San Mateo’s Coyote Point Beach is about a half hour from the City and across from the San Francisco International Airport.
From Coyote Point Recreation Area, watch airplanes land and take off from SFO. Take lessons or rent equipment from Boardsports California to play on the waves, windsurf, kiteboard, and more. The protected beach is also great for wading and swimming.
Coyote Point Beach has a wheelchair-accessible strip so people of all abilities can enjoy the sand. There are plenty of places to sit along the promenade wall to experience the sun and views. Bring a picnic, check out CuriOdyssey, a natural science museum for kids, and walk the shoreline trails.
Par 3 at Poplar Creek Golf Course adjacent to the beach serves delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Try a sandwich or burger, or get fancy with an order of braised short ribs or roasted pumpkin risotto.
