Right Beaches › California › Capitola
Capitola Beach
4.6★ · 1,713 Google ratings · Capitola, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Picnic tables✓ Restrooms
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 260 ft away · paid
Walk
220 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes
Cost
Paid parking
Water
62°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
2 ft range today
Sand
175 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Mixed · 16% of 190 over the limit · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Mon 8am
Map of Capitola Beach
1
1Parking260 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Perfect for families and beginners
Calm bay waters, gentle waves, and lifeguards make this ideal for young children and new surfers.
Visit in late summer or fall
Fewer tourists and calmer weather make the beach more peaceful outside peak summer months.
Arrive before 10am in summer
Parking fills rapidly after mid-morning on warm weekends and during peak season.
Park uphill for cheaper options
Beachfront lots charge $20-$40 daily, but lots a 10-15 minute walk away cost significantly less.
Avoid the creek for swimming
The San Lorenzo River inlet contains bacteria that can cause illness, especially after rain.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
63°F · overcast
Water
62°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
3.5 ft · 11 s apart
Wind
5 mph from the SW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:32 | High tide | ↑ |
| 09:16 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:18 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:30 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo | ||||||||||||
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| We | ||||||||||||
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| Su |
QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 141 Esplanade, Capitola, CA 95010
🅿 Parking 260 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 220 ft away, under a minute walk
Nearby
Other beaches close by
450 yd away · shorter walk
0.7 miles away · shorter walk
0.8 miles away · shorter walk
1.2 miles away · shorter walk
1.2 miles away · shorter walk
1.8 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Capitola Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 260 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Capitola Beach?
220 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Capitola Beach have restrooms?
No restrooms are mapped within 600 m on OpenStreetMap. That means nobody has mapped any, which is not the same as there being none.
When is Capitola Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Mon 8am and the busiest at Sun 3pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
