Ocean Beach (San Francisco)

Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121

Three and a half miles of broad sand along the western edge of San Francisco — wind, rip currents, and cold water make it unswimmable but the long walk along the Great Highway is a defining SF experience. The Cliff House and Sutro Baths ruins are at the north end.

Great day for photography.

58°F air · 57°F water

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. West wind around 12 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind 7 to 12 mph.

Weather

  • 58°F air — chilly for a beach day
  • Cloud cover — overcast reduces uv exposure but the vibe too

Water

  • 57°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry

Safety

  • UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
55 /100
good
26 Swim
36 Sunbathe
64 Walk
74 Photo

Best for photography today

Air Temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
12 mph
W
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
58°F
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 · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 8mo 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
11:29 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
58°

Mostly Cloudy

1%
45
Sun Jul 19
58°

Mostly Cloudy

2%
46
Mon Jul 20
60°

Mostly Cloudy

1%
48
Tue Jul 21
62°

Mostly Cloudy

5%
50
Wed Jul 22
61°

Partly Sunny

1%
54
Thu Jul 23
60°

Partly Sunny

0%
52
Fri Jul 24
60°

Partly Sunny

1%
50
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
  • critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 57°F — dangerously cold

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

Parking

Free street parking along the Great Highway and in the Sunset.

Dogs

Dogs allowed off-leash voice-control in most sections.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121

restrooms at major access pointsfire pits permittedno lifeguards
Is it safe to swim at Ocean Beach (San Francisco) today?

Ocean Beach (San Francisco) 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 Ocean Beach (San Francisco) dog-friendly?

Dogs allowed off-leash voice-control in most sections.

Is there an entry fee at Ocean Beach (San Francisco)?

Entry to Ocean Beach (San Francisco) is free.

Are there lifeguards at Ocean Beach (San Francisco)?

No lifeguards are stationed at Ocean Beach (San Francisco). Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Ocean Beach (San Francisco)?

Amenities at Ocean Beach (San Francisco) include restrooms at major access points, fire pits permitted, no lifeguards.

When is the water warmest at Ocean Beach (San Francisco)?

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 Ocean Beach (San Francisco) located?

Ocean Beach (San Francisco) is in San Francisco County, CA, at Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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