Right Beaches › California › Half Moon Bay
Pillar Point Harbor Beach
4.6★ · 58 Google ratings · Half Moon Bay, California
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Good for kids✓ Free
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 210 ft away · free
Walk
40 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 350 yd away
Cost
Free
Water
60°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
400 yd of shoreline
Sand
260 ft from the water to the back
Water quality
Poor · 34% of 96 over the limit · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Thu 8am
Map of Pillar Point Harbor Beach
1
1Parking210 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Check tide tables before visiting
The beach is tight against cliffs, so low tide reveals tide pools and expands usable beach.
Good for sheltered, calm conditions
The harbor provides calm water ideal for kids, dogs, and beginners learning to surf.
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 · 2017–2026
Free parking reported
Visitors report no charge to park here.Mentioned by 2 visitors · 2017–2026
Arrive early for parking
The lot is small and fills quickly, with free parking limited to two hours.
Go at sunset for best views
Sunset is breathtaking, but bring layers as it gets windy and chilly as tide rises.
Watch for water quality warnings
Occasional postings warn of high bacteria levels affecting swimming and water contact.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
62°F · fog
Water
60°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
4.7 ft · 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 06:09 | High tide | ↑ |
| 09:36 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:23 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:39 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 4000 Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
🅿 Parking 210 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 40 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 350 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
475 yd away
525 yd away
0.7 miles away
0.8 miles away
1.0 miles away
1.2 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Pillar Point Harbor Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 210 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Pillar Point Harbor Beach?
40 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 Pillar Point Harbor Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 350 yd from the listing.
When is Pillar Point Harbor Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Thu 8am and the busiest at Sun 3pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
