Stinson Beach

Hwy 1, Stinson Beach, CA 94970

A 3.5-mile crescent in Marin County, half an hour over the headlands from the Golden Gate. One of the few northern California beaches actually swimmable in summer (relatively — water is still 55-60°F), with lifeguards Memorial Day – mid-September. Mount Tamalpais looms behind.

Great day for photography.

NWS alert active · 58°F water · 62°F air

Full NWS forecast for Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low around 55, with temperatures rising to around 57 overnight. West northwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Weather

  • 62°F air — chilly for a beach day
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 58°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry

Safety

  • NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued june 25 at 2:22am pdt until june 26 at 9:00am pdt by nws san francisco ca
35 /100
ok
5 Swim
57 Sunbathe
74 Walk
80 Photo

Best for photography 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.

NOAA station 9415020 · Observed 3.52 ft · Predicted 3.00 ft

Small Craft Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued June 25 at 2:22AM PDT until June 26 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA

NWS · In effect through Jun 26, 4:00 PM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. * WHERE...Coastal Waters from Point Reyes to Pigeon Point California out to 10 NM. * WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

Air Temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
Wind
5 to 14 mph
W
Rain
1%
Today
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Drizzle
Water Temp
58°F
Cold
Next High Tide
8:21 PM
5.9 ft · in 5.6h
Barometer
29.93 inHg
Steady
Water Quality
Clean
20 MPN/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 7mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (CAZ502)

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 Jun 25, 12:35 PM

Sunrise
8:49 AM
Sunset
11:36 PM
Moon · 80%
Waxing Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
7-day chart →
Time Type Height
3:14 AM Low 0.1 ft
9:59 AM High 3.6 ft
1:54 PM Low 2.8 ft
8:21 PM High 5.9 ft
Today Jun 25
62°

Partly Sunny

1%
55
Fri Jun 26
60°

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Drizzle

2%
48
Sat Jun 27
58°

Slight Chance Drizzle then Mostly Sunny

0%
46
Sun Jun 28
64°

Sunny

0%
55
Mon Jun 29
64°

Sunny

0%
55
Tue Jun 30
60°

Mostly Sunny

0%
56
Wed Jul 1
58°

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

0%
56
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
  • critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 58°F — dangerously cold

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

Parking

Free National Park Service lot; fills early on warm Saturdays.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the main beach. Upton Beach (north end) allows dogs.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Hwy 1, Stinson Beach, CA 94970

lifeguardsrestroomsshowerssnack barvolleyball
Is Stinson Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the main beach. Upton Beach (north end) allows dogs.

Is there an entry fee at Stinson Beach?

Entry to Stinson Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Stinson Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Stinson Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Stinson Beach?

Amenities at Stinson Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar, volleyball.

When is the water warmest at Stinson 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 Stinson Beach located?

Stinson Beach is in Marin County, CA, at Hwy 1, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

esc