Right Beaches › California › Montara
Montara State Beach
4.7★ · 472 Google ratings · Montara, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Picnic tables✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 310 ft away
Walk
310 ft · 1 min
Restrooms
Yes · 310 ft away
Water
59°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
0.8 miles of shoreline
Sand
150 yd from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Wed 8am
Map of Montara State Beach
1
2
1Parking310 ft from the listing2Restrooms310 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 10 visitors · 2016–2026
Park at the north entrance
The northern parking area has better access with concrete stairs down to the beach, while the southwestern lot.
Sunset viewing is excellent
The beach's position on the California coast offers rare views of the sun setting directly into the ocean.
Visit on weekday mornings
Reviewers consistently report the beach is nearly empty on weekdays and even Sunday mornings, with parking easily available.
Bring layers and expect wind
The beach is consistently windy and cold, with water temperatures around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
Bring your own trash bag
There are no public trash or recycling bins, so pack out everything you bring.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
62°F · fog
Water
59°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
5.0 ft · 10 s apart
Wind
4 mph from the WSW
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:09 | High tide | ↑ |
| 09:36 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:23 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:32 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo | ||||||||||||
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 8150 Cabrillo Hwy, Montara, CA 94037
🅿 Parking 310 ft from the listing
🌊 The listing sits on the shoreline
🚽 Restrooms 310 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
1.3 miles away
1.8 miles away
3.2 miles away
3.6 miles away
3.7 miles away
3.7 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Montara State Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 310 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Montara State Beach?
The listed location sits on the shoreline itself, so there is no walk to speak of once you are out of the car.
Does Montara State Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 310 ft from the listing.
When is Montara State Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Wed 8am and the busiest at Sun 4pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
