01
Best overall pick
Pajaro Dunes Beach (Palm Beach)
Pajaro Dunes Shoreline • Wide Dune-Backed Beach • Closest Option To Pajaro Dunes
A broad, uncrowded stretch of Monterey Bay just steps from the Pajaro Dunes community.
If you’re staying in Pajaro Dunes, this is the beach you’ll wander down to for sunrise walks and sunset bonfires in the cool marine air. The sand is wide and soft, backed by tall grass-topped dunes that block road noise and make the shoreline feel surprisingly remote. Expect a mellow scene with plenty of space to spread out, comb for shells, and watch shorebirds working the waterline.
02
Best for families and camping
Sunset State Beach
North Of Pajaro Dunes Near La Selva Beach • Family-Friendly State Park Beach • Best For Families And Camping
A classic state park beach with picnic areas, campgrounds, and a long sandy shoreline facing glowing Monterey Bay sunsets.
Just a short drive north, Sunset State Beach mixes traditional park amenities with a big-sky coastal feel. Families appreciate the designated picnic spots, restrooms, and nearby campground tucked into the dunes above the water. Head down the main access trail for an easy beach day, or walk north or south along the sand to quickly leave the crowds behind.
03
Best for long walks and surfers
Manresa State Beach
Between Watsonville And La Selva Beach • Surf-Focused State Beach • Best For Long Walks And Surfers
An open, bluff-backed strand popular with local surfers and walkers who like miles of uninterrupted sand.
Manresa tends to draw a more local crowd, with surfers lining up along the break and dog walkers stretching their legs on the hard-packed sand at low tide. The descent from the bluff gives you big views across the bay toward Monterey before you hit the water. It’s a good choice when you want a mix of wave action, people-watching, and room to roam without feeling like you’re in a resort zone.
04
Best for wildlife watching
Moss Landing State Beach
Moss Landing Harbor Area • Windy Wildlife-Viewing Strand • Top Pick For Wildlife Watching
A breezy beach at the harbor mouth where seabirds, sea otters, and fishing boats share the scene.
A few minutes south of Pajaro Dunes, Moss Landing State Beach trades dune seclusion for harbor energy and wildlife. From the sand and jetty you can often spot sea otters rolling in the kelp, pelicans dive-bombing for fish, and fishing boats heading in and out of the harbor channel. It’s not the calmest place for swimming, but it’s outstanding for photography, marine life, and a bracing walk in the salt wind.
05
Quietest escape
Zmudowski State Beach
North Of Moss Landing • Remote Fishing Beach • Best For Quiet Solitude And Fishing
A lesser-known, often windswept stretch of sand with a wild feel and a reputation among surfcasters.
Zmudowski sits at the northern edge of the Salinas River mouth and feels far removed from the more developed parts of the bay. Access is via farm roads, and once you arrive you’ll usually share the sand with only a handful of anglers and birders. Come here when you want big horizons, crashing surf, and a sense that you’ve slipped into a quieter corner of the coast.