73°
Sunny
0%
84
Santa Cruz County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Santa Cruz Main Beach
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
A half-mile of sand fronting the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — California's oldest amusement park (1907), the Giant Dipper wooden coaster, and the iconic Looff Carousel. Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point surf breaks are a short walk west. Warm-water bay swimming in summer.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 73°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northwest wind 2 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Weather
- 73°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 5.6ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued june 3 at 8:32am pdt until june 4 at 3:00am pdt by nws san francisco ca
83 /100
great
81 Sunbathe
87 Walk
40 Fish
80 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.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued June 3 at 8:32AM PDT until June 4 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Northwest winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. * WHERE...Monterey Bay. * WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
73°F
Sunny
Wind
9 mph
NW
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
74°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
—
Wave Height
5.6 ft
16s · SW swell
Barometer
30.06 inHg
1018 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
18 cfu/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 5mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:49 AM
Sunset
11:23 PM
Moon · 87%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 7:41 AM | Low | -0.6 ft |
| 3:09 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 6:27 PM | Low | 3.1 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
74°
Mostly Sunny
0%
84
77°
Mostly Sunny
0%
85
73°
Sunny
0%
84
72°
Sunny
0%
84
72°
Mostly Sunny
4%
84
75°
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
8%
84
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
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
1:30 AM - 2:30 AM
Major
5:40 AM - 7:40 AM
Minor
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM
Major
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid municipal lots near the Boardwalk; metered street parking on Beach Street.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the Main Beach year-round (24/7) per Santa Cruz Municipal Code 8.14.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Amenities
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at Santa Cruz Main Beach.
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for Santa Cruz Main Beach from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
Is Santa Cruz Main Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the Main Beach year-round (24/7) per Santa Cruz Municipal Code 8.14.
Is there an entry fee at Santa Cruz Main Beach?
Entry to Santa Cruz Main Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Santa Cruz Main Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Santa Cruz Main Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Santa Cruz Main Beach?
Amenities at Santa Cruz Main Beach include lifeguards, boardwalk, amusement park, restaurants, restrooms, showers, shops.
When is the water warmest at Santa Cruz Main 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 Santa Cruz Main Beach located?
Santa Cruz Main Beach is in Santa Cruz County, CA, at 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS