01
Best overall pick
Benicia Public Pier & Beach
Downtown Benicia Waterfront • Lively Small-Town Shoreline • Best Overall Pick
A compact, easy-to-love strip of sand tucked beside Benicia’s main pier, with big views and a relaxed town feel.
Right at the foot of First Street, this little beach is where downtown Benicia literally meets the water. It’s more about wading, skipping rocks, and watching boats slide through the Carquinez Strait than full-on swimming, but the scene is hard to beat. Pair a stroll on the pier with a quick beach stop, then wander back up the block for coffee, ice cream, or a patio drink.
02
Best for shoreline walks
Benicia State Recreation Area
West Benicia Hills • Scenic Tidal Shoreline With Trails • Great For Sunset Walks
A stretch of rugged shoreline where narrow pocket beaches, marsh, and hillside trails come together just west of town.
This state recreation area strings together rocky coves, small tidal beaches, and open views of the strait, all connected by easy walking and biking paths. It’s ideal if you like to mix a little beach time with a longer walk, birdwatching, or a picnic on the bluffs. Go in the late afternoon when the light softens over the water and passing ships feel almost within arm’s reach.
03
Closest hidden-feel beach
Glen Cove Waterfront Park
South Vallejo Shoreline • Sheltered Neighborhood Cove • Quiet Escape Close To Town
A small, tucked-away cove facing the strait, popular with locals who want a mellow shoreline without much fuss.
Just over the bridge in Vallejo, Glen Cove offers a narrow curve of beach below a grassy park and eucalyptus trees. The sand is mixed with pebbles and driftwood, but it’s a peaceful place to sit close to the water, watch the tide roll in, and let kids poke around the shoreline. It tends to feel more like a neighborhood secret than a destination, especially on weekday evenings.
04
Best classic bay beach
Keller Beach at Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
Point Richmond Headlands • Classic Sandy Bay Beach • Top Spot For Laid-Back Beach Days
A sheltered pocket of true sand on the bay, with views of the bridges and room to spread out for a low-key day.
Keller Beach feels like a mini seaside escape without having to drive all the way to the ocean. The cove is framed by hills and a promenade, with enough sand for towels, sandcastles, and a bit of sunbathing when the weather cooperates. Combine it with a walk around the rest of Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline for lagoons, lawns, and broad-angle views of the Bay Area skyline.
05
Best for long shoreline rambles
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
North Richmond Shoreline • Windy Open Bayfront Park • Best For Long, Breezy Walks And Biking
A sprawling waterfront park where trails lead through eucalyptus groves to quiet pocket beaches and fishing piers.
Point Pinole is more about the journey than a single beach: you wander out along wide paths, then drop down to little stretches of sand and gravel at the water’s edge. It’s a favorite for locals who like space—space to walk, bike, fish, or simply sit and let the wind and wide bay views clear the head. Pack layers, since the breeze off the water can turn brisk even on sunny days.