62°
Partly Sunny
1%
58
San Luis Obispo County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Cayucos State Beach
Wide sandy beach in the quiet town of Cayucos centered on a 953-foot wooden fishing pier originally built in 1875. Gentle surf and warm-ish water for the Central Coast.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 62°F air · 58°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Partly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. West northwest wind 0 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 62°F air — chilly for a beach day
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 58°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — beach hazards statement issued july 18 at 12:55pm pdt until july 21 at 11:00pm pdt by nws los angeles/oxnard ca
42 /100
ok
9 Swim
56 Sunbathe
74 Walk
28 Fish
73 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.5 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Beach Hazard Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 12:55PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents and breaking waves due to elevated surf expected. * WHERE...San Luis Obispo County Beaches and Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches. * WHEN...From Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highest surf will be focused across south facing beaches due to a southerly swell produced by Tropical Storm Elida.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
Wind
10 mph
W
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 10 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
61°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Water
Water Temp
58°F
Cold
Barometer
30.07 inHg
1018 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
52 MPN/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 8mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ645)
The LOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ362 Malibu Coast — Los Angeles County Beaches n/a
- CAZ354 Ventura County Beaches n/a
- CAZ349 Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast — Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast n/a
- CAZ340 San Luis Obispo County Beaches — Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
9:01 AM
Sunset
11:17 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:57 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 7:49 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 2:32 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 8:18 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:54 AM | High | 4.4 ft |
| 8:26 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 3:16 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 9:36 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:02 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 9:04 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 4:01 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 11:01 PM | Low | 1.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:35 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 9:44 AM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| 4:48 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:19 AM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| 6:29 AM | High | 2.9 ft |
| 10:32 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 5:36 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:25 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 8:23 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 11:30 AM | Low | 2.8 ft |
| 6:24 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:18 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 9:27 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 12:33 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 7:11 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9412110, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
61°
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
1%
49
62°
Patchy Fog
1%
51
65°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
3%
61
69°
Mostly Sunny
0%
67
69°
Mostly Sunny
0%
64
68°
Mostly Sunny
0%
66
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 58°F — dangerously cold
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
1:20 AM - 2:20 AM
Major
6:40 AM - 8:40 AM
Minor
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free parking along Ocean Front Ave and Ocean Ave.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed at all times.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
10 D St, Cayucos, CA 93430
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Cayucos State Beach today?
Cayucos 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. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Cayucos State Beach dog-friendly?
Leashed dogs allowed at all times.
Is there an entry fee at Cayucos State Beach?
Entry to Cayucos State Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Cayucos State Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Cayucos State Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Cayucos State Beach?
Amenities at Cayucos State Beach include restrooms, showers, pier, picnic tables.
When is the water warmest at Cayucos 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 Cayucos State Beach located?
Cayucos State Beach is in San Luis Obispo County, CA, at 10 D St, Cayucos, CA 93430.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS