Right Beaches › California › San Rafael
China Camp Beach
4.6★ · 219 Google ratings · San Rafael, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Picnic tables✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
170 ft away · fills up
Accessibility
Step-free entrance
Walk
250 yd · 3 min
Restrooms
Yes · 270 ft away
Water
64°F
Tide
6 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Sand
50 ft from the water to the back
Water quality
Good · all 50 samples clean · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Tue 10am
Map of China Camp Beach
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1Parking170 ft from the listing2Restrooms270 ft from the listing3Showers175 yd from the listing4Drinking water260 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 8 visitors · 2014–2026
Plan a half-day trip nearby
Located just minutes north of San Rafael across the Golden Gate Bridge, making it a quick escape without.
Some shade is available
Visitors mention trees, cliffs or umbrellas to get out of the sun.Mentioned by 2 visitors · 2014–2026
Arrive early on weekends
The parking lot fills by late morning, especially on hot days and holidays with no overflow parking available.
Wear water shoes for swimming
Sharp oyster shells attached to rocks can cut feet and legs; one visitor needed first aid after wading barefoot.
Expect rocky, muddy beach
The beach is mostly pebbly and rocky with shallow muddy water rather than sandy, good for wading.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
64°F · partly cloudy
Water
64°F
Waves
1.4 ft · 8 s apart
Wind
2 mph from the WNW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
5 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 00:44 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 08:19 | High tide | ↑ |
| 12:04 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 18:29 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:35 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 899 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903
🅿 Parking 170 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 250 yd away, about 3 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 270 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
0.8 miles away
4.3 miles away
5.0 miles away
6.9 miles away
7.0 miles away
7.5 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at China Camp Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 170 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at China Camp Beach?
80 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 Camp Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 270 ft from the listing.
When is China Camp Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Tue 10am and the busiest at Sun 1pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
