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

Thursday looks like the best day across this list.

Strongest single forecast: Carpinteria State Beach on Friday (87).

Within 60 mi

Baker Beach (San Francisco)

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

61°F water 80°F air 5 to 12 mph wind Best this week: This Afternoon (76)

Stinson Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

61°F water 77°F air 1 to 7 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (69)

Ocean Beach (San Francisco)

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

61°F water 77°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: This Afternoon (71)

Pacifica State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

61°F water 78°F air 7 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (69)

Half Moon Bay State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

61°F water 84°F air 7 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (74)

Capitola Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

93°F air 5 mph wind Best this week: Friday (86)

Santa Cruz Main Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

93°F air 6 mph wind Best this week: Friday (86)

Natural Bridges State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

88°F air 3 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (85)

Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

75°F air 5 mph wind Best this week: This Afternoon (84)

Monterey State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

59°F water 79°F air 5 to 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (71)

Carmel Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

59°F water 83°F air 7 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (81)

Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

65°F water 84°F air 6 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Cayucos State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

65°F water 83°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)

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

Great day for fishing.

65°F water 92°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Avila Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water 98°F air 10 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Monday (75)

Pismo Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

65°F water

Harris Beach State Park

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

Ideal for photography.

65°F air 5 mph wind Best this week: Monday (67)

Refugio State Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

92°F air 5 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Monday (83)

Leadbetter Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

94°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Sunday (85)

Gold Beach (South Beach Park)

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

77°F air 6 mph wind Best this week: This Afternoon (85)

Carpinteria State Beach

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

Ideal for a beach walk.

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

Leo Carrillo State Park

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

Great day for a beach walk.

75°F water 85°F air 5 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (87)

El Matador State Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

75°F water 85°F air 5 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (87)

Bandon Beach (Face Rock)

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

Great day for a beach walk.

69°F air 14 mph wind Best this week: This Afternoon (76)

Zuma Beach

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

Great day for a beach walk.

75°F water 83°F air 10 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (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.