Right Beaches › California › Alameda
Crab Cove
4.7★ · 65 Google ratings · Alameda, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 280 ft away
Walk
230 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 110 ft away
Water
67°F
Tide
6 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
1.8 miles of shoreline
Sand
125 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Mixed · 20% of 46 over the limit · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Fri 8am
Map of Crab Cove
1
2
1Parking270 ft from the listing2Restrooms120 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Explore tide pools at low tide
The flats expose small crabs, fish, and other sea life that appeal to children and nature enthusiasts.
Visit on hot Bay Area days
The cove stays noticeably cooler than surrounding areas even when inland temperatures climb into the 90s.
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 · 2021–2026
Arrive early on holiday weekends
The parking lot reaches capacity by mid-morning on hot holidays like Memorial Day.
Bring bags for aggressive squirrels
Ground squirrels approach visitors looking for food and can be persistent.
Avoid the inland stagnant pond area
A pond along the main walkway produces strong odors that reviewers reported holding their breath to pass.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
63°F · overcast
Water
67°F
Waves
1.3 ft · 7 s apart
Wind
7 mph from the WSW
Shelter
Onshore · wind blowing straight in off the water
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 00:13 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 07:28 | High tide | ↑ |
| 11:40 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 17:55 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:38 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo | ||||||||||||
| Tu | ||||||||||||
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 1200 McKay Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
🅿 Parking 280 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 230 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 110 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
600 yd away
650 yd away
0.6 miles away
0.7 miles away
1.7 miles away
1.8 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Crab Cove?
The nearest mapped parking area is 280 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Crab Cove?
The listed location sits on the shoreline itself, so there is no walk to speak of once you are out of the car.
Does Crab Cove have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 110 ft from the listing.
When is Crab Cove least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Fri 8am and the busiest at Sat 5pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
