Half Moon Bay State Beach
Also known as Half Moon Bay SB
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(650) 726-8819
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
.JPG){kind=link}
In San Mateo County, in Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay State Beach covers about 203 acres.
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8am - Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
| Bus, Large | $100 |
| Bus, Small | $50 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00 • Bus, Large: $100.00 • Bus, Small: $50.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: beach; the beaches at all times.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs not allowed on beach. Dogs are welcome on the trail provided they are controlled by a leash of no more than six feet at all times. DOGS are prohibited on the beaches at all times. Dogs are permitted in the campground, in the day-use picnic areas, and on the Coastside Trail. Dogs must be controlled with a leash no more than six feet at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground is now on the new reservation system, ReserveCalifornia. Campsite reservations must be made through ReserveCalifornia by calling 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or through their website at www.reservecalifornia.com.
Four miles of broad, sandy beaches stretch out to welcome visitors to Half Moon Bay. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, fishing, and picnicking. Half Moon Bay State Beach offers four different beach day-use parking lots to choose from: Francis, Venice, Dunes, and Roosevelt, as well as a campground that provides accommodations for those who wish to visit longer.
Francis Beach is also home to Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground. The campground hosts tent and RV camping with sites offering electric hookup or dry camping. There are no water or sewer hookups, but there is a dump station ($10 fee not included in camping reservation) and a water filling station. Quarter-operated hot showers are available as well.
Read more from the park
DOGS are prohibited on the beaches at all times. Dogs are permitted in the campground, in the day-use picnic areas, and on the Coastside Trail. Dogs must be controlled with a leash no more than six feet at all times.
CAMPING is available for tent and RV camping with sites offering electric hookups and no hookups. There are no sewer or water hookups, but there is a dump and water filling station. Reservations are highly recommended.
[Occupancy by the same persons, equipment, or vehicles of the Santa Cruz District’s camping facilities is limited to a 30-day stay combined among all of the following parks in any calendar year: Big Basin Redwood SP, Butano SP, Half Moon Bay SB, Henry Cowell SP, Manresa SB, New Brighton SB, Portola Redwood SP, Seacliff SB, and Sunset SB.]
DUMP STATION - is available at Francis Beach. There is a $10 fee for dumping. The dump fee is not included in the camping reservation fee. Visitors arriving to the park to use the dump station only will have to pay park entrance fees separate from the dump station fee.
- Sani-Star, LLC. (Automated RV Dump Fee Collection System in Francis Beach Campground)
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Dump Station, RV Access
Max trailer: 40 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 40 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingGeocachingHikingBikingHorseback ridingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Half Moon Bay State Beach is one of the San Mateo Coast beach parks. Four miles of broad, sandy beaches, ideal for sunbathing, fishing and picnicking, stretch out to welcome visitors. The beach is located a half-mile west of Highway 1 on Kelly Avenue in Half Moon Bay. Phone (650) 726-8819 for more information.
Camping
The Francis Beach Campground has 4 accessible sites and 2 accessible comfort stations. The campfire center is also accessible.
The Sweetwood Group Camp has van accessible parking and an accessible vault style restroom. One large area at the group camp has been made accessible including tables, water faucet, food preparation area, and fire ring. Route to, and within the area, and to the restroom are accessible.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
The Francis Beach Day Use Area includes accessible picnicking, parking, restrooms, dressing rooms, and outdoor rinsing showers.
Trails
The Coastal Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible hike/bike trail that is 2.36 miles each way along the coast and beaches. The surface is asphalt. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes. Accessible parking, restrooms and access are available from the day use lot at Francis Beach off Kelly Ave.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Coastal Trail 1% Average 8 FT Average Asphalt & Wood
4% Maximum 2% Maximum 8 FT Minimum
Beach/Shore Access
The Dunes Beach day use area has van accessible parking and restrooms. Route to the restrooms is accessible.
The Francis Beach day use area has accessible parking, restrooms, and a beach wheelchair. For more information about the beach wheelchair, call (650) 726-8820.
The North and South Venice Beach day use areas offer van and auto accessible parking, outdoor rinsing showers, pay phone and an accessible restroom.
The Cowell Ranch Beach parking lot is located approximately 4 miles south of Half Moon Bay State Beach, along Highway One. A beach overlook, with accessible benches and accessible viewing scopes, is a short 0.6 mile hike on a dirt path from the parking lot. Accessible parking and an accessible portable toilet are available at the parking lot.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 95 Kelly Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 - Nearest town
- Half Moon Bay
- Coordinates
- 37.4665, -122.4450
- Phone
- (650) 726-8819
- SMPermits@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is located a half-mile west of Highway 1 with 3 parking lots in the City of Half Moon Bay. The three parking and beach access points are below: Francis Beach, at the end of Kelly Avenue in the City of Half Moon Bay. Venice Beach, at the end of Venice Boulevard off Highway 1. Dunes Beach, at the end of Young Avenue off Highway 1.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Half Moon Bay State Beach (6497).JPG — Public domain (released by the author), User:Jiang
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology