The places, most named first
From the 8 guides that rank for "best beach towns in california"
Named by 5 of 81. Santa BarbaraSits about 90 miles north of Los Angeles and can be reached by train.Sailing and surfing are the main water activities, alongside wine and arts.
Named by 3 of 82. Newport BeachKnown as a surf town, with a pier at the center and a busy scene on holiday weekends.Good surf spots and mild weather through the year; Balboa Island is a popular sunset walk.
Named by 3 of 83. Laguna BeachAn artists' community where art festivals fill the streets through the year.Has several coves, plus Thousand Steps Beach for tide pooling.
Named by 3 of 84. San ClementeA surf town with a pier, said to be warm nearly all year.Hosts surf contests and beach festivals.
Named by 2 of 85. Santa CruzThe Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, built in 1907, is California's oldest amusement park.Strong surf culture, with top breaks at Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point.
Named by 2 of 86. MontereyA place for water activities such as boating, boogie boarding and swimming.Home to Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, with famous golf at nearby Pebble Beach.
Named by 2 of 87. Carmel-by-the-SeaA small artsy town with nearly 100 art galleries and about 20 wine-tasting rooms.Has miles of soft white sand and borders the Big Sur coast.Best time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea
Named by 2 of 88. MendocinoA bluff-top village with Victorian buildings, art galleries and whale watching from the headlands in migration season.Rocky coast and a short drive from wine country.
Named by 2 of 89. Huntington BeachOne of the Orange County surf towns with a central pier.Listed as having some of the top visitor beaches in the state parks system, despite a small population.
Named by 2 of 810. Morro BayA fishing town with a large rock in the harbor and sea otters in the bay.Kayaking on calm water lets visitors see local wildlife up close.
Named by 2 of 811. San SimeonCalm water suits swimming and body surfing; elephant seals gather on the shore.Elephant seal numbers peak in January, April and October according to this source.
Named by 2 of 812. VenturaCombines surf waves with a food and drink scene and access to a national park.Downtown sits right by the sand, and Surfer's Point is the best local surf spot.
Named by 2 of 813. CoronadoA beach of about a mile and a half, reached from San Diego by bridge.Whales can be seen near the beach from about December to February.
Named by 2 of 814. Santa MonicaOffers sand volleyball, surfing, swimming and cycling, plus the famous pier with a Ferris wheel.
15. Half Moon BayUnder an hour from San Francisco, with coastal trail hikes and the Mavericks big-wave surf break.Small-town pace with birdwatching, horseback riding, kayaking and paddle boarding.
16. CapitolaA small, intimate beach on the north end of Monterey Bay with a colorful seaside feel.Boogie boards can be rented from local shops.
17. SausalitoAcross the Golden Gate from San Francisco, with floating homes and ferries to the city.The waterfront walkway looks across to San Francisco.
18. TrinidadA tiny headlands town 80 miles below the Oregon border, good for whale watching and tide pooling.Trinidad State Beach is a known surf spot and Moonstone Beach suits beachcombers.
19. Pacific GroveRocky shores, Victorian homes, and tide pools at Asilomar at low tide.
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When to go
Travel guides most often name April to May and September to October as the best time to visit California.
Questions people ask
- What are the best beach towns in Southern California?
- Pages in the pack name Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Coronado, with Santa Barbara often counted as a Central Coast town with a similar feel.
- What are some charming small towns in California?
- Mendocino, Morro Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sausalito are described as charming small coastal towns.
