Drakes Beach
4.8★ · 248 Google ratings, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Picnic tables
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 90 ft away
Walk
260 ft · 1 min
Restrooms
Yes · 240 ft away
Water
61°F
Tide
3 ft range today
Length
12 miles of shoreline
Sand
250 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Good · 4% of 24 over the limit · 2025
Map of Drakes Beach
1
2
3
4
1Parking90 ft from the listing2Restrooms and drinking water230 ft from the listing3Showers150 ft from the listing4Picnic tables150 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Plan for a long, peaceful walk
The beach stretches for miles of sandy shore, allowing multiple hours of solitude and exploration away from crowds.
Visit December through March for seals
Elephant seals haul out on the beach during breeding and molting season, with peak numbers in December.
Expect beach closures for wildlife
The National Park Service closes the beach periodically to protect breeding seals, molting seals, or nesting turtles.
Bring a warm jacket
Wind is consistent and water is cold year-round, making layered clothing essential even on sunny days.
Pack your own food and drinks
The seasonal café is only open weekends and closes early, with no stores within 30 minutes of the beach.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
59°F · partly cloudy
Water
61°F
Waves
4.9 ft · 10 s apart
Wind
4 mph from the WNW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
3 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:32 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:02 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:41 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:34 AM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 California 94956
🅿 Parking 90 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 260 ft away, about 1 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 240 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
2.1 miles away
2.1 miles away · shorter walk
3.6 miles away
3.9 miles away · shorter walk
4.3 miles away · shorter walk
4.4 miles away
Find another
Not the right one?
Find another beach that works for today.
Where are you starting from?
More options
What matters today?
Contribute
Been here recently?
Help other visitors with fresh information about Drakes Beach. Everything below is optional except the last box.
Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Drakes Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 90 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Drakes Beach?
260 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, about 1 min. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Drakes Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 240 ft from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
