Sunset State Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- 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(831) 763-7063
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 296 acres, Sunset State Beach lies in Santa Cruz County, about 4 miles southwest of Watsonville.
The park supports surfing, fishing, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
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: sunset state beach.
Are dogs allowed? DOGS are not permitted on Sunset state beach, except for service animals. Dogs are allowed in the campground on a six-foot maximum leash. Dogs are allowed on leash at nearby Manresa State Beach. For a list of locations you can take your dog in Santa Cruz County, please click here.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
A peaceful campground under the pines, picnicking on the beach, and unmatched views of Monterey Bay make Sunset State Beach a favorite year-round destination.
CAMPING - Find information about camping rules and regulations on the Camping page.
DOGS are not permitted on Sunset state beach, except for service animals. Dogs are allowed in the campground on a six-foot maximum leash. Dogs are allowed on leash at nearby Manresa State Beach. For a list of locations you can take your dog in Santa Cruz County, please click here.
DRONES are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and cultural resources, and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Non-motorized gliders are allowed at the designated glider-port located across from the South campground.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Access
Max trailer: 31 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 31 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
PicnickingFishingSurfingGeocachingHikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ 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
A peaceful campground under the pines, picnicking on the beach, and unmatched views of Monterey Bay make Sunset State Beach a favorite year-round destination. The beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz. From Hwy 1 take the San Andreas Road exit. Proceed south to Sunset Beach Rd; go west to beach entrance. Phone (831) 763-7063 for more information.
Beach/Shore Access
The topography in this area makes beach access challenging. In the Upper Ramada Picnic Area, generally accessible parking is available just past the park entrance station. From here, a long, steep path wide enough for vehicles descends the bluff and terminates at the beach. In the Lower Ramada Picnic Area and Palm Beach Area, a 20-foot-high sand dune separates the parking areas from the ocean.
Read more from the park
Beach wheelchairs are available for use, free of charge. Reservations at least five business days before your visit are recommended, but not required. Online reservations can be made by visiting the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Beach Wheelchairs website. For more information or assistance, please phone Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks at (831) 429-1840 or email parks@thatsmypark.org. For requests less than five business days, please phone the park directly or phone the Santa Cruz District Special Events Office at (831) 335-8497 or email SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 201 Sunset Beach Road
Watsonville, CA 95076 - Nearest town
- Watsonville — about 4 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.8970, -121.8375
- Phone
- (831) 763-7063
- SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz. From Hwy 1 take the San Andreas Road exit. Proceed south to Sunset Beach Rd; go west to beach entrance.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 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)
“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