Half Moon Bay State Beach

95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Four miles of beach along the San Mateo coast — Francis Beach (with the campground), Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. The town of Half Moon Bay is the pumpkin capital of California (the World Championship Weigh-Off is here every October). Mavericks big-wave surf break is nearby off Pillar Point.

Great day for a beach walk.

57°F water · 63°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Partly sunny. High near 63, with temperatures falling to around 60 in the afternoon. West wind around 8 mph.

Tonight

Areas of fog after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 53. West northwest wind 1 to 6 mph.

Weather

  • 63°F air — chilly for a beach day
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 57°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry
54 /100
ok
41 Swim
60 Sunbathe
76 Walk
59 Fish
74 Photo

Best for walking today

Air Temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
8 mph
W
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
64°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Water Temp
57°F
Cold
Next Low Tide
9:46 PM
1.9 ft · in 38m
Barometer
30.05 inHg
1018 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · E. coli
USGS · sampled 7mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ545)

The MTR 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.

  • CAZ505 SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
  • CAZ509 SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
  • CAZ529 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
  • CAZ530 MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COASTAL AREAS n/a

NWS SRF · MTR · Issued Jul 18, 7:56 PM

Sunrise
9:02 AM
Sunset
11:28 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Time Type Height
2:35 AM High 5.6 ft
9:00 AM Low -0.2 ft
4:04 PM High 5.6 ft
9:46 PM Low 1.9 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 9414290, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Jul 18
63°

Partly Sunny

1%
59
Sun Jul 19
64°

Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy

2%
53
Mon Jul 20
66°

Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy

1%
56
Tue Jul 21
70°

Partly Sunny

4%
68
Wed Jul 22
65°

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

2%
62
Thu Jul 23
63°

Mostly Cloudy

1%
52
Fri Jul 24
62°

Mostly Cloudy

2%
51
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
  • critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 57°F — dangerously cold

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Minor
1:20 AM - 2:20 AM
Major
6:50 AM - 8:50 AM
Minor
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Parking

Paid state lots at each beach entrance; $10/day.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the beaches themselves. Permitted leashed on the Coastside Trail and in the campground and picnic areas.

Entry Fee

$10/vehicle state beach day-use.

Address

95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

restroomsshowerscampground (Francis Beach)fire rings
Is it safe to swim at Half Moon Bay State Beach today?

Half Moon Bay 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. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Half Moon Bay State Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the beaches themselves. Permitted leashed on the Coastside Trail and in the campground and picnic areas.

Is there an entry fee at Half Moon Bay State Beach?

$10/vehicle state beach day-use.

Are there lifeguards at Half Moon Bay State Beach?

No lifeguards are stationed at Half Moon Bay State Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Half Moon Bay State Beach?

Amenities at Half Moon Bay State Beach include restrooms, showers, campground (Francis Beach), fire rings.

When is the water warmest at Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay State Beach located?

Half Moon Bay State Beach is in San Mateo County, CA, at 95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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