Half Moon Bay California

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Half Moon Bay has several beaches, Moss Beach to the north, Martin’s Beach and San Gregorio State Beach to the south. Half Moon Bay is also home to Mavericks world famous for it's huge surf. This scenic area of California coast is about a 45-minute drive from San Francisco and a popular day trip or weekend getaway. Downtown Half Moon Bay has art galleries, small restaurants and shops. The range of lodging is from inexpensive motel to bed and breakfast to the 5 star Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Just outside of town are farms growing vegetables and pumpkins which Half Moon Bay is famous for. Every year Half Moon Bay hosts a Pumpkin Festival with arts and crafts from over 250 artists.

Half Moon Bay State Beach has four miles of sandy beach just south of town. Sunbathing, fishing, picnicking and camping are popular activities. The Half Moon Bay State Beach Visitor Center is open Saturdays and Sundays and entrance is free. Dogs are prohibited on the beaches at all times. Dogs are permitted in the campground, in the day-use picnic areas, and on the Coastal Trail, provided they are controlled with a leash of no more than six feet at all times. The ocean water is cold at all times of the year so unless you have a wetsuit plan on taking a just a quick dip. Half Moon Bay is 25 miles south of San Francisco and 45 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Beach is located a half-mile west of Highway 1 on Kelly Avenue in Half Moon Bay. There are three parking and beach access points:
Francis Beach, at the end of Kelly Avenue in the City of Half Moon Bay. Venice Beach, at the end of Venice Boulevard off Highway 1. Dunes Beach at the end of Young Avenue off Highway 1.