01
Best overall pick
San Gregorio State Beach
Mouth Of San Gregorio Creek • Cliff-Backed State Beach With A Broad Cove • Best For Dramatic Coastal Views And Long Walks
A wide, sandy cove where San Gregorio Creek forms a lagoon against tall bluffs and open ocean.
From La Honda, Highway 84 drops you straight to this classic stretch of San Mateo County coast, with a big parking lot and easy sand access. The creek often pools into a shallow lagoon that kids love to explore, while the main beach runs long enough for proper leg-stretching walks. Surf is powerful and the wind can cut, so think of this as a place for walking, picnicking, and photography rather than swimming.
02
Best for easy beach days
Pomponio State Beach
Between San Gregorio And Pescadero • Wide Sandy Day-Use Beach With Bluffs • Great For Picnics And Casual Hangouts
A straightforward, drive-up beach with plenty of sand, picnic tables, and classic Highway 1 scenery.
Pomponio feels like the no-fuss choice when you just want to throw a cooler in the car and go. There is a large parking area, restrooms, and picnic spots tucked at the base of the bluffs, with stairs leading right down to the sand. On calmer days it is a pleasant place to linger, though like most beaches here the water is cold and the surf can be rough.
03
Best for exploring
Pescadero State Beach
Near The Town Of Pescadero • Rugged Shoreline Of Coves, Rocks, And Sand • Best For Exploring Coves And Photography
A series of pullouts and trails connect small coves, rocky points, and sandy stretches along a wild-feeling coast.
Pescadero State Beach is really a collection of small beaches, each with its own feel, spread along both sides of the highway bridge. You can clamber around tide-carved rocks, watch waves slam into offshore stacks, or drop down to quieter pockets of sand away from the main turnout. Pair it with a stop in Pescadero for artichoke bread or coffee and it makes a full, very local-feeling half-day from La Honda.
04
Best for tidepools
Bean Hollow State Beach
South Of Pescadero • Rocky Pocket Beach With Tidepools And Pebbles • Best For Tidepooling And Short Strolls
A compact, rocky shoreline with honeycombed rocks, tidepools, and a famous stretch of polished pebbles.
Bean Hollow is where you go when you care more about looking down than laying out. At low tide the pools teem with anemones and crabs, and the sculpted sandstone around the cove is unusually photogenic. The beach itself is smaller and rougher than others on this list, so treat it as a quick stop for exploring and lingering over the details of the coast rather than an all-day base camp.
05
Most versatile choice
Half Moon Bay State Beach (Francis Beach)
Half Moon Bay • Town-Adjacent Sandy Beach With Trail Access • Good All-Rounder Near Shops And Services
A long, straight stretch of sand backed by a bluff-top trail and campground on the edge of Half Moon Bay.
Francis Beach is the easiest place to combine a walk on the sand with a meal, ice cream, or coffee run in town. The paved Coastal Trail along the bluff suits strollers and bikes, while stairs drop down to the beach for quick access to the surf line. It is busier than the more remote spots south of San Gregorio, but the tradeoff is convenience, amenities, and a classic small-coast-town atmosphere.