The Best Weekend Beach Towns Near San Francisco

Growing up in the San Francisco area, I spent many weekends at the beach. Even today, whenever I visit, I try to carve out time for a seaside escape. Some of my favorite towns are just a quick drive across the Golden Gate. Others are worth leaving early on Friday to reach after a few hours on the road.

Whether you’re craving a wild and remote getaway or a lively stretch of sand packed with things to do, the best weekend beach towns near San Francisco offer something for everyone:

For those seeking a getaway that doesn’t require much driving, Sausalito is perfect. It sits at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and has a harbor dotted with colorful houseboats. Some of these floating homes can even be rented for a one-of-a-kind stay.

Along the main street, you’ll find plenty of shops and enticing eateries. Many menus focus on fresh seafood like crab and mussels. Several small beaches are right in town too. Sausalito Beach is a local favorite for kayaking, cooling off on a hot day, or simply relaxing on the sand.

Nearby, Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands is one of my top picks. You can reach it on a 1.6-mile loop that passes historic bunkers and delivers sweeping ocean views. Muir Beach is another option just 20 minutes away, tucked into a peaceful cove and mostly visited by locals. Less than a mile from the parking area, you’ll also find the Pelican Inn, a cozy English-style pub where a bowl of Guinness beef stew is the perfect remedy for a foggy day.

About an hour north of San Francisco, Stinson Beach is a laid-back coastal community with just a few shops and cafés. Parkside, right across from the sand, is a great stop for coffee or a picnic lunch before settling in for the day.

This is the only beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area officially designated for swimming. Lifeguards are on duty in summer, making it especially family-friendly. Stinson is also popular for surfing, windsurfing, and beach walks. Accommodation is limited, but you’ll find a couple of small hotels and plenty of vacation rentals.

Famous as the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, Bodega Bay is a small town with cinematic charm. You can even see the old schoolhouse from the movie, now a private residence, just south of town.

Doran Beach in Doran Regional Park is ideal for families with its shallow waters, picnic areas, and campsites. For something quieter, trek the half-mile trail to Pinnacle Gulch, where tide pools and rocky cliffs make for a more secluded vibe.

Back in town, you’ll find galleries, shops, and waterfront dining. A wine bar with a protected deck serves wood-fired dishes that pair perfectly with ocean breezes. If you’re in the mood for pampering, the Lodge at Bodega Bay has a spa that welcomes both guests and day visitors. Treatments include the Cabernet Grape Sea Scrub and an Ocean Shell Massage.

Elk is the farthest drive from San Francisco—about three hours north—but the payoff is stunning scenery and tranquility. Despite its population of fewer than 300, the town is home to a two-Michelin-starred restaurant at the Harbor House Inn. There’s also an artist collective, the Matson Mercantile with local goods, and the Elk Store, a deli where you can grab sandwiches for the beach. Greenwood State Beach is right across the street, complete with tide pools and rugged bluffs.

Nearby, you can join kayak tours in Little River, about 14 miles north, to spot sea otters, harbor seals, and dramatic coastal scenery. Wine lovers will also appreciate the nearly 90 vineyards scattered throughout the area.

Just south of San Francisco, Pacifica offers six miles of beachfront connected by coastal trails. Sharp Park Beach is a long stretch ideal for strolling, while Pacifica State Beach, also known as Linda Mar, is outstanding for surfing. Or, you might fish from the municipal pier that extends over the Pacific. After dropping your line, watch for the sea lions that play beneath and the spouts of whales in the distance. Coastal trails offer another place for scenic walks, including the Devil’s Slide Trail with stunning ocean views, while Mori Point is an easy 1.8-mile loop for more dazzling views of the Pacific. Bring a picnic, or take advantage of the diverse range of dining experiences in town, from casual to upscale. 

The beach community of Montara is tiny, but it offers big rewards for anyone enjoying a weekend here. There are only a few hotel options, but the Ocean View Inn is right across from Montara State Beach, providing breathtaking sunset and Pacific views. Or enjoy an extraordinary stay at the historic Point Montara Lighthouse, a hostel where you can fall asleep to the sounds of the waves. The beach rarely attracts big crowds, although there’s plenty of room for all to play on the sand, enjoy leisurely walks, beachcomb, or just relax and enjoy the view. The waves are popular among surfers, and there are trails on and around Montara Mountain for hiking. 

One of the best spots to dine in Montara is on the outdoor, ocean-view patio at Sage Bakehouse. It’s famous for its traditional, savory New Zealand pies with classic American twists using ingredients from local farms, like the pulled pork and peach pie. If you’re here in September, you can also enjoy the annual Montara Art and Music Festival with live music, local artists, and local food. 

Half Moon Bay offers a long list of things to see and do for visitors. There are several miles of sandy beaches for sunbathing, swimming, bodyboarding, fishing, and more. Plus, you can walk or cycle the pedestrianized path running along the bluffs. At Pillar Point Harbor, join a whale watching tour, take a fishing charter, or rent various watercraft like SUPs. 

With a population of over 11,000, this is a decent-sized town with many outstanding restaurants, too. That includes fine ocean-view dining at Sam’s Chowderhouse and casual eats at pubs like the Half Moon Bay Brewery, a brewery/restaurant with cold brews and fresh seafood. When it comes to places to stay, you’ll have a wide range of options from campsites at Half Moon Bay State Beach to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay for a luxurious weekend at the beach. 

The 19th-century town of Davenport is only a 15-minute drive north of the city of Santa Cruz, a famous tourist destination offering some of the best surfing in the state. But here, you can avoid the crowds and enjoy a more relaxed stay with beaches that are hidden from the highway, often shared with only a handful of people. Shark Fin Cove is just a few minutes south, named for a massive rock rising from the waves just offshore. It requires a trek down a steep trail, which helps keep it more peaceful, just like Greyhound Rock Beach, which is about the same distance north. It also has a huge rock that can be climbed to provide an ideal vantage point for watching dolphins and whales. Elephant seals can occasionally be seen lounging on the sand, but you’ll want to keep your distance as these creatures are huge, with adult males weighing up to 5,000 pounds. 

Beyond the beaches, Davenport is home to the U-Pick Swanton Berry Farm, although it’s best known for the historic Davenport Roadhouse. Originally built back in 1906, it’s been a popular gathering place for over a century for locals, with free live music hosted Friday through Sunday nights. 

As noted, Santa Cruz can be very busy, especially during the summer, but if you’re looking for lots of action, it’s the time to go. The Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk is the most famous attraction, and during the most popular visitor season, there are live concerts and other performances like acrobatics and magicians, along with DJ dance parties, and free movies on the beach. Otherwise, it will be more peaceful from around mid-September through early May. It’s open year-round (weekends only during the fall and winter). It hosts one of the country’s oldest wooden roller coasters along with rides for all ages, carnival-type games, and a huge arcade. 

The Santa Cruz Wharf, at the end of the main beach fronting the Boardwalk, offers restaurants for ocean-view dining, while sea lions are always hanging out on the rafters below. It’s also possible to fish off the pier, take a boat tour, or get more active by renting a stand-up paddleboard or kayak to paddle around the harbor. 

Located on the Central California coast, Monterey is a bit further from San Francisco, requiring a roughly two-hour drive south, but it’s home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in addition to being one of the best places to take a whale watching boat tour. This area is jam-packed with marine life— depending on the season, the possible cetaceans you might see include humpback, gray, fin, and blue whales, orcas, to fin whales and orcas. Seals, sea lions, and sea otters are commonly spotted from the shore and on boat excursions. 

Cannery Row is another iconic attraction here, made famous by the 1945 John Steinbeck novel of the same namel. The waterfront street was once a site for sardine canning factories, the last of which closed in 1973. Today, they house unique shops, wine tasting venues, and a variety of both casual and high-end dining venues. History enthusiasts can also admire heritage buildings and adobe cottages in Monterey State Historic Park, the oldest part of town. The Larkin House is a highlight as the first two-story home built in the state, back in 1835.