McWay Beach
4.8★ · 71 Google ratings, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms
At a glance
Parking
Parking lot · 275 yd away
Walk
120 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 250 yd away
Water
63°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Sand
175 yd from the water to the back
Map of McWay Beach
Guide
Good to know
Plan for 15-30 minutes
The viewpoint walk is short, so factor this as a quick photo stop rather than a major destination.
Spectacular viewpoint despite restrictions
The waterfall meeting the ocean creates a genuinely striking scene worth seeing even without beach access.
Beach access is prohibited
You cannot legally walk down to the sand, only view the waterfall from the cliff overlook.
Park on the shoulder to save money
The lot charges ten dollars, but the viewpoint is close enough to reach from roadside parking.
Arrive early for fewer crowds
Tourist congestion was mentioned as a drawback, particularly during peak times.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
65°F · partly cloudy
Water
63°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
4.5 ft · 11 s apart
Wind
3 mph from the NNW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
Last updated Sep 4, 5:38 AM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 California 93920
🅿 Parking 275 yd from the listing, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
🌊 Water 120 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 250 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
300 ft away
1.8 miles away
8.8 miles away
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11 miles away
20 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at McWay Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 275 yd from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at McWay Beach?
120 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 McWay Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 250 yd from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
