Half Moon Bay State Beach
State Park · Half Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay State Beach is a long stretch of sand on the San Mateo County coast, about 25 to 30 miles south of San Francisco. It is made up of several linked beaches - Francis, Venice, Dunes and Roosevelt, confirm the layout - strung along the coast beside the town of Half Moon Bay and its Coastside. The scene is broad sand, bluffs and dune grass, with a paved Coastside Trail - confirm - for walking and cycling and a campground at Francis Beach. Fog and strong wind are common, the Pacific is cold, and dangerous waves and rip currents mean swimming is not advised. It is a place to walk, fly a kite, camp, fish from the surf and watch the sunset, not to swim. Allow a few hours for a walk and the trail, or a weekend if you camp. Pillar Point and the Mavericks big-wave break lie a few miles north, and pumpkin patches fill the fields nearby in October - confirm. Weekends in summer are crowded, and parking fills early.
95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, California, 94019, United States
The state beaches are generally open from about dawn or early morning to sunset, with day-use parking fees collected at the main lots in busy months - confirm the current hours and fee at each beach. The campground at Francis Beach runs on a reservation system with check-in and quiet-hours rules, and gates may close at night - confirm. Practical hours depend on weather: coastal fog often sits until late morning, wind peaks in the afternoon, and winter storms bring high surf and closures of paths and parking areas near the bluffs. Sunset is the favourite time for walkers, and the Coastside Trail is open to the public through the day in good conditions. Check State Parks for any closure notices before you drive out.
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