El Capitán State Beach (California 93117)
4.4★ · 264 Google ratings, California
✓ Restrooms✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
Reported adequate
Walk
175 yd · 2 min
Restrooms
Yes · 125 yd away
Cost
Paid parking
Water
68°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
1.4 miles of shoreline
Water quality
Mixed · 8% of 12 over the limit · 2025
Map of El Capitán State Beach (California 93117)
1
1Restrooms125 yd 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 6 visitors · 2016–2026
Litter reported
Visitors mention rubbish on the sand.Mentioned by 12 visitors · 2016–2026
Watch for tar on the sand
Multiple visitors reported tar patches stuck to their feet that required sunscreen to remove.
Arrive early on weekends
The narrow beach fills up quickly, with visitors reporting no space to sit even on weekday afternoons.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
72°F · clear
Water
68°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
3.7 ft · 7 s apart
Wind
9 mph from the NNE
Shelter
Offshore · wind blowing off the land
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 15:37 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:34 AM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 California 93117
🌊 Water 175 yd away, about 2 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 125 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
275 yd away · shorter walk
1.6 miles away
2.6 miles away · shorter walk
6.5 miles away · shorter walk
8.2 miles away
9.0 miles away · shorter walk
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Questions
Common questions
How far is the walk to the water at El Capitán State Beach?
175 yd in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, about 2 min. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does El Capitán State Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 125 yd from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
