84°
Partly Sunny
1%
49
San Mateo County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Half Moon Bay State Beach
95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Four miles of beach along the San Mateo coast — Francis Beach (with the campground), Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. The town of Half Moon Bay is the pumpkin capital of California (the World Championship Weigh-Off is here every October). Mavericks big-wave surf break is nearby off Pillar Point.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 84°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Partly sunny. High near 84, with temperatures falling to around 78 in the afternoon. North northwest wind around 7 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. West northwest wind 0 to 6 mph.
Weather
- 84°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 61°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
- 5.6ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- NWS alert active — heat advisory issued september 9 at 3:14am pdt until september 10 at 10:00pm pdt by nws san francisco ca
49 /100
ok
14 Swim
83 Sunbathe
87 Walk
56 Fish
82 Photo
Best for walking today
Weather alert in effect
Heat Advisory issued September 9 at 3:14AM PDT until September 10 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Atmosphere
Air Temp
84°F
Partly Sunny
Wind
7 mph
NNW
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 12 PM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
73°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
61°F
Cold
Next High Tide
10:54 PM
6.3 ft · in 3.6h
Wave Height
5.6 ft
9s · NW swell
Barometer
30.05 inHg
Rising 1.1 hPa / 3h · buoy 46026
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ545)
The MTR office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ505 SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
- CAZ509 SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
- CAZ529 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
- CAZ530 MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COASTAL AREAS n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:46 AM
Sunset
7:27 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:39 AM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 11:34 AM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 4:45 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| 10:54 PM | High | 6.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:18 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 12:07 PM | High | 5.6 ft |
| 5:32 PM | Low | 1.4 ft |
| 11:46 PM | High | 6.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:55 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 12:38 PM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 6:18 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:37 AM | High | 5.7 ft |
| 6:30 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 1:09 PM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 7:03 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:28 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 7:05 AM | Low | 1.2 ft |
| 1:38 PM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 7:48 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:21 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 7:40 AM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| 2:08 PM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 8:34 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:19 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 8:17 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 2:40 PM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 9:23 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9414290, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
73°
Mostly Sunny
4%
74
68°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
0%
67
65°
Mostly Sunny
0%
60
66°
Sunny
0%
62
66°
Mostly Sunny
0%
64
62°
Mostly Cloudy
4%
52
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- recommended Wetsuit or expect a chill Water is 61°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Major
10:50 PM - 12:50 AM
Minor
4:50 AM - 5:50 AM
Major
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid state lots at each beach entrance; $10/day.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beaches themselves. Permitted leashed on the Coastside Trail and in the campground and picnic areas.
Entry Fee
$10/vehicle state beach day-use.
Address
95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Half Moon Bay State Beach today?
Half Moon Bay State Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Half Moon Bay State Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beaches themselves. Permitted leashed on the Coastside Trail and in the campground and picnic areas.
Is there an entry fee at Half Moon Bay State Beach?
$10/vehicle state beach day-use.
Are there lifeguards at Half Moon Bay State Beach?
No lifeguards are stationed at Half Moon Bay State Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Half Moon Bay State Beach?
Amenities at Half Moon Bay State Beach include restrooms, showers, campground (Francis Beach), fire rings.
When is the water warmest at Half Moon Bay State Beach?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is Half Moon Bay State Beach located?
Half Moon Bay State Beach is in San Mateo County, CA, at 95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS