Closest Beaches

Beaches Near Sacramento, CA

Sacramento is inland in the Central Valley; the nearest ocean is about two hours west. Stinson Beach in Marin and Bodega Bay on the Sonoma coast are the standard runs, with San Francisco's Ocean Beach a similar drive. Expect cold Pacific water and fog regardless of the season.

Plan This Week

Veterans Day looks like the best day across this list.

Strongest single forecast: Capitola Beach on Veterans Day (87).

Within 60 mi

Baker Beach (San Francisco)

76 mi · ~1 hr 50 min drive · San Francisco County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 66°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (75)

Stinson Beach

78 mi · ~1 hr 53 min drive · Marin County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 64°F air 5 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (72)

Ocean Beach (San Francisco)

79 mi · ~1 hr 54 min drive · San Francisco County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 65°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (75)

Pacifica State Beach

87 mi · ~2 hr 6 min drive · San Mateo County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 66°F air 5 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (73)

Half Moon Bay State Beach

92 mi · ~2 hr 13 min drive · San Mateo County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 70°F air 2 to 6 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (76)

Capitola Beach

114 mi · ~2 hr 44 min drive · Santa Cruz County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

74°F air 1 to 5 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (87)

Santa Cruz Main Beach

116 mi · ~2 hr 46 min drive · Santa Cruz County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F air 1 to 6 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (87)

Natural Bridges State Beach

117 mi · ~2 hr 48 min drive · Santa Cruz County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

72°F air 2 to 8 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (86)

Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)

138 mi · ~3 hr 19 min drive · Mendocino County, CA

Great day for photography.

64°F air 2 mph wind Best this week: Monday (75)

Monterey State Beach

138 mi · ~3 hr 19 min drive · Monterey County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

67°F water 69°F air 2 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (80)

Carmel Beach

142 mi · ~3 hr 25 min drive · Monterey County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

67°F water 74°F air 3 to 8 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (84)

Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)

163 mi · ~3 hr 55 min drive · Monterey County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

66°F water 73°F air 2 to 12 mph wind Best this week: Sunday (81)

Cayucos State Beach

219 mi · ~5 hr 15 min drive · San Luis Obispo County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

66°F water 76°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (80)

Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)

224 mi · ~5 hr 23 min drive · San Luis Obispo County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

66°F water 79°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Sunday (81)

Avila Beach

239 mi · ~5 hr 44 min drive · San Luis Obispo County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

66°F water 75°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (82)

Pismo Beach

244 mi · ~5 hr 51 min drive · San Luis Obispo County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

66°F water

Harris Beach State Park

282 mi · ~6 hr 47 min drive · Curry County, OR

Great day for photography.

57°F air 10 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (55)

Refugio State Beach

295 mi · ~7 hr 5 min drive · Santa Barbara County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

80°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Sunday (87)

Leadbetter Beach

305 mi · ~7 hr 20 min drive · Santa Barbara County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

86°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Monday (86)

Gold Beach (South Beach Park)

306 mi · ~7 hr 21 min drive · Curry County, OR

Skip the beach today.

65°F air 15 to 22 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (69)

Carpinteria State Beach

310 mi · ~7 hr 26 min drive · Santa Barbara County, CA

Ideal for a beach walk.

80°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Sunday (87)

Leo Carrillo State Park

344 mi · ~8 hr 16 min drive · Los Angeles County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

74°F water 82°F air 10 to 25 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (86)

El Matador State Beach

346 mi · ~8 hr 18 min drive · Los Angeles County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

74°F water 80°F air 10 to 25 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (86)

Bandon Beach (Face Rock)

348 mi · ~8 hr 21 min drive · Coos County, OR

Decent day for photography.

64°F air 20 to 26 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (67)

Zuma Beach

348 mi · ~8 hr 21 min drive · Los Angeles County, CA

Great day for a beach walk.

74°F water 79°F air 10 to 25 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (86)

Distance is straight-line, drive times are estimates

Mileage shown is straight-line distance from the center of Sacramento. Real drive times depend on highway routing, weekend traffic, and where in the metro you start. For summer Saturdays, plan 20–40 minutes longer than the estimates here. The range slider above filters by the same straight-line distance.