Right Beaches › California › Watsonville
Sunset State Beach
4.7★ · 2,958 Google ratings · Watsonville, California
✓ Parking✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
450 yd away · about 10 spaces · paid
Accessibility
Step-free entrance
Walk
125 yd · 2 min
Restrooms
Yes · 375 yd away
Cost
Paid parking
Water
62°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
3 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Sand
330 ft from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Wed 5pm
Map of Sunset State Beach
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 8 visitors · 2017–2026
Best for long beach walks
The beach stretches for miles with soft, clean sand and very few people, perfect for extended walking.
Go on weekdays for solitude
The beach rarely gets crowded on weekdays, making it ideal for peaceful walks or relaxation.
Arrive before 11am on weekends
The small parking lot with about 20 spaces fills by late morning on warm weekends and holidays.
Prepare for steep beach descent
Access involves a steep paved path with 170+ steps down, doable but requires physical effort to return.
Bring cash for parking and showers
Day parking costs $10 and showers operate on quarters, charging 50 cents per 2 minutes.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
61°F · overcast
Water
62°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
3.7 ft · 11 s apart
Wind
6 mph from the WSW
Shelter
Onshore · wind blowing straight in off the water
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 06:42 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:09 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 16:50 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Sep 4, 5:29 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
📍 Sunset Beach Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
🅿 Parking 450 yd from the listing, Dunes Camp Overflow Parking
🌊 Water 125 yd away, about 2 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 375 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
175 yd away · shorter walk
0.8 miles away
1.5 miles away · shorter walk
1.9 miles away · shorter walk
3.1 miles away · shorter walk
3.4 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Sunset State Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 450 yd from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Sunset State Beach?
125 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 Sunset State Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 375 yd from the listing.
When is Sunset State Beach least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Wed 5pm and the busiest at Sat 3pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
