Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)

Yerba Buena St, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Three miles of state beach framed by the 581-foot volcanic plug of Morro Rock at the south end — one of the most iconic California coastal vistas. The Embarcadero village with restaurants and otters, kayak rentals, and the Morro Bay National Estuary inland.

Ideal for photography.

Cool but workable

Full NWS forecast for Today

Patchy fog. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Patchy fog before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. West northwest wind around 5 mph.

Weather

  • 70°F air — cool but workable
  • Fog — low visibility — good for moody photos, less for swimming

Water

  • 60°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering

Safety

  • UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
65 /100
good
44 Swim
57 Sunbathe
74 Walk
66 Fish
94 Photo

Best for photography today

Air Temp
70°F
Patchy Fog
Wind
0 to 10 mph
WSW
Rain
4%
Today
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
71°F
Patchy Fog
Water Temp
60°F
Cold
Next High Tide
8:41 PM
6.9 ft · in 5.4h
Barometer
29.95 inHg
1014 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
52 MPN/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 8mo ago
Sunrise
8:57 AM
Sunset
11:19 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
3:32 AM Low -1.3 ft
10:19 AM High 3.6 ft
2:14 PM Low 2.6 ft
8:41 PM High 6.9 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 9412110, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Jul 12
70°

Patchy Fog

4%
62
Mon Jul 13
71°

Patchy Fog

5%
64
Tue Jul 14
75°

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

0%
75
Wed Jul 15
76°

Mostly Sunny

0%
72
Thu Jul 16
71°

Mostly Sunny

1%
68
Fri Jul 17
65°

Mostly Sunny

10%
63
Sat Jul 18
66°

Partly Sunny

5%
65
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Minor
8:50 PM - 9:50 PM
Major
1:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Minor
6:20 AM - 7:20 AM
Major
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Parking

Free at Morro Strand State Beach lot; metered street parking on Embarcadero.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on Morro Strand State Beach proper. Permitted leashed in campsites and on park roads. Adjacent city beach areas may allow leashed dogs.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Yerba Buena St, Morro Bay, CA 93442

restroomsshowersrestaurants nearbykayak rentalscampgroundwildlife refuge
Is it safe to swim at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) today?

Morro Bay (Morro Strand 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 Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on Morro Strand State Beach proper. Permitted leashed in campsites and on park roads. Adjacent city beach areas may allow leashed dogs.

Is there an entry fee at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)?

Entry to Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) is free.

Are there lifeguards at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)?

No lifeguards are stationed at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach). Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)?

Amenities at Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) include restrooms, showers, restaurants nearby, kayak rentals, campground, wildlife refuge.

When is the water warmest at Morro Bay (Morro Strand 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 Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) located?

Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach) is in San Luis Obispo County, CA, at Yerba Buena St, Morro Bay, CA 93442.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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