73°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
0%
77
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 Today
Patchy fog before 9am. Partly sunny. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 71 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 0 to 7 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West northwest wind around 6 mph.
Weather
- 73°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 61°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued june 25 at 2:22am pdt until june 27 at 3:00am pdt by nws san francisco ca
57 /100
good
29 Swim
83 Sunbathe
88 Walk
40 Fish
80 Photo
Best for walking today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued June 25 at 2:22AM PDT until June 27 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, west winds 10 to 15 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, west winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. * WHERE...Monterey Bay. * WHEN...For the first Small Craft Advisory, from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Friday. For the second Small Craft Advisory, from 9 AM Friday to 3 AM PDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued June 25 at 2:22AM PDT until June 26 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, west winds 10 to 15 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, west winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. * WHERE...Monterey Bay. * WHEN...For the first Small Craft Advisory, from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Friday. For the second Small Craft Advisory, from 9 AM Friday to 3 AM PDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
73°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Wind
0 to 7 mph
WSW
Rain
0%
Today
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
74°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Drizzle
Water
Water Temp
61°F
Cold
Next High Tide
8:05 PM
5.6 ft · in 5.3h
Barometer
29.95 inHg
1014 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
18 cfu/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 5mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:49 AM
Sunset
11:31 PM
Moon · 80%
Waxing Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:03 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 9:47 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 1:31 PM | Low | 2.6 ft |
| 8:05 PM | High | 5.6 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
74°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Drizzle
1%
75
70°
Slight Chance Drizzle then Mostly Sunny
3%
67
77°
Sunny
0%
75
74°
Mostly Sunny
0%
77
69°
Mostly Sunny
2%
68
69°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
1%
68
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Wetsuit or expect a chill Water is 61°F
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.
Major
11:20 PM - 1:20 AM
Minor
5:00 AM - 6:00 AM
Major
11:50 AM - 1:50 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