Overview
Half Moon Bay is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The Half Moon Bay Coastside is a rural seaside community about 30 miles (45 km) south of San Francisco.
9 sights · 4 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Half Moon Bay
San Gregorio State Beach
Discovered by Explorer Gaspar de Portolá in 1769, the beach is strewn with driftwood and there is also a bird sanctuary. This is a clothing optional beach.
Cowell Ranch State Beach
The entrance to Cowell Ranch is a fairly long hike in and leads to cliffs overlooking the ocean. It is a steep hike down to the beach.
Dunes State Beach
Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Francis State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system.
Francis State Beach
Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Dunes State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. Also home of the Half Moon Bay State Beach headquarters.
Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh
Home of the legendary Mavericks Surf Contest. This area is not recommended for swimming. (It is not recommended for surfing either but the people who compete in the contest are professional and a tad crazy.) The huge cra…
Naples / Roosevelt State Beach
Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Nov. Summer highs reach about 66°F; winter lows dip to about 43°F. Wettest: Dec and Jan.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 10 mi away. Directions
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 11 mi away (major hub). Directions
Highway 92 is perfect if you are coming in from either 101 or 280.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $12 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dunes State Beach, Venice State Beach, Francis State Beach
- Lunch Sam's Chowder House
- Afternoon Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh, Pigeon Point Beach
- Dinner Dad's Luncheonette
- Evening H.M.B. Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning Cowell Ranch State Beach, Naples / Roosevelt State Beach
- Lunch Cameron’s Inn, Restaurant & Pub
- Afternoon Rock the Block Coastside Block Party, Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
- Dinner Ketch Joanne Restaurant and Harbor Bar
- Evening La Nebbia Winery
Day 3
- Morning San Gregorio State Beach, Waterfront Coastside Trail
- Afternoon Dream Machines
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Half Moon Bay's visitor information center offer maps, brochures, directories, and other information for tourists.
Climate
The climate in Half Moon Bay is more "foggy San Francisco" than "sunny California" in style. It's easy to spot the tourists on the beach: they're the ones shivering in bikinis. The locals are more likely to be found in wetsuits or strolling along the beach in shirts and rolled-up pants. Although there are cold snaps that drop below freezing every few years or so, and a few days here or there that are warm enough to be uncomfortable every year, on typical days, it's cool and somewhat windy, but not downright cold. Even in the summer, you'll want to pack a jacket or an extra shirt to put on when the ocean breeze kicks up in the early evening. Plan for rain from mid-October through April.
Get in
By car
Highway 92 is perfect if you are coming in from either 101 or 280.
If you are coming from San Francisco you can also take 280 to Highway 1.
By bus
Take Samtrans #294 from Hillsdale Caltrain, or 110 then 117 from Pacifica. The 110 to 117 is scheduled for a short-wait transfer at Linda Mar, but may not be guaranteed if the bus is late.
Get around
Place Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Place Coast Cab Company
See
Almost all of the beaches are on or off of California State Highway 1 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway) (Note some addresses are given as CA Highway 1, the Cabrillo Highway or the PCH.)
See Cowell Ranch State Beach
The entrance to Cowell Ranch is a fairly long hike in and leads to cliffs overlooking the ocean. It is a steep hike down to the beach.
See Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh
Home of the legendary Mavericks Surf Contest. This area is not recommended for swimming. (It is not recommended for surfing either but the people who compete in the contest are professional and a tad crazy.) The huge crashing waves are a sight to see.
See Waterfront Coastside Trail
The trail systems goes through Naples, Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Francis Beach and Bluff Top Coastal Park.
Do
Buy
Shop Coastal Flower Market
Eat
Eat Ketch Joanne Restaurant and Harbor Bar
Good food and substantial portions in a busy, usually noisy, harbor restaurant. Attached bar becomes popular later in the evenings.
Eat Sam's Chowder House
Large seafood restaurant just above the beach, with live music Friday and Saturday. The deck has great views and is a great place to sit around the fire pits. It's also dog-friendly. NBC's Today Show named their Lobster Roll ($29.95 as of April 2023) as one of the five "best sandwiches in America." For an unusual experience, call at least 48 hours in advance to get a "lobster clambake to go". They'll put together a large pot of seafood that you can steam over a fire or stove, plus clam chowder and coleslaw. Almost everything on the menu can be ordered for take-out and is available from the ChowderMobile food truck service. Reservations recommended, especially on holidays and summer weekends.
Eat Cameron’s Inn, Restaurant & Pub
Mostly English pub fare in an ostentatiously English environment. Offers everything from pasties to pizza, or from bangers to burgers. Includes a store that sells English candy bars and other treats that can be hard to find in the US.
Eat Dad's Luncheonette
Try whatever special they are serving that day. Expect a satisfying, homemade meal in a cozy space.
Drink
Drink La Nebbia Winery
Formerly Obester Winery.
Drink H.M.B. Brewing Company
Seafood restaurant with an excellent and extensive menu (check out the Half Moon Bay Louie salad with Bay Shrimp) at reasonable prices (they offer half size portions too.) Fast, friendly service. Inside and outside dining with good views of Pillar Point Harbor. They book rock and blues bands on the weekends.
Sleep
Stay safe
Be careful to check for ticks after hiking in fields in the Bay Area, as this region has a high rate of Lyme disease transmission. If a rash with the appearance of a bull's eye develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.
For those visiting the beaches, never go swimming alone, and beware of rising tides.
Law enforcement services are provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
Go next
The City of San Francisco is 25 miles (40 km) to the north, and Santa Cruz is 40 miles (65 km) to the south.
Nearby
Moss Beach
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Belmont
City / town · 9 listings · 8 mi away
Burlingame
City / town · 39 listings · 9 mi away
San Mateo
City / town · 21 listings · 9 mi away
Millbrae
City / town · 19 listings · 9 mi away
San Carlos
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
Woodside
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
Foster City
City / town · 8 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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