Right Beaches › California › San Francisco
China Beach, San Francisco
4.6★ · 302 Google ratings · San Francisco, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 290 ft away · fills up
Walk
50 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 100 ft away
Water
61°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
250 yd of shoreline
Sand
190 ft from the water to the back
Water quality
Good · 3% of 91 over the limit · 2025
Map of China Beach, San Francisco
1
2
1Parking290 ft from the listing2Restrooms90 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Golden Gate views at sunset
Multiple visitors report this as one of San Francisco's best sunset and bridge photography spots with fewer crowds than alternatives.
Time your visit around low tide
At low tide the sand expands and you can walk to adjacent beaches; at high tide sand space becomes minimal.
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 3 visitors · 2016–2026
Arrive early on sunny days
The small parking lot with about 20 spaces fills quickly when weather is nice, forcing cars onto neighborhood streets.
Visit on weekdays for solitude
Weekday visits offer a noticeably quieter experience compared to weekends when the beach becomes crowded.
Check parking lot security
Do not leave valuables visible in your car while at the beach.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
62°F · overcast
Water
61°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
3.1 ft · 10 s apart
Wind
4 mph from the W
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:28 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:22 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:38 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:34 AM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 San Francisco, CA
🅿 Parking 290 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 50 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 100 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
0.6 miles away
0.8 miles away
0.8 miles away
0.9 miles away
1.1 miles away
2.3 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at China Beach, San Francisco?
The nearest mapped parking area is 290 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at China Beach, San Francisco?
50 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 China Beach, San Francisco have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 100 ft from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
