Absolutely lovely location.Be careful of High Tides. Cold,cold water right now, so bundle up while strolling. Will definitely experience it again!! Possibly Summer camping again!! read more

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Beautiful, warm, long clean beach, easy access to ocean. Easy walking along the beach. Small parking lot, but parking wasn't a problem on a Sunday in February. It was perfect and relaxing. Bathroom available. Bring your picnic, make sure to clean up your mess. There are garbage cans in the parking lot. Would love to see thi nice place stay nice. For more people and amenities pick a beach closer to Monterey. Gets busier in the summer, but there is more fog. read more

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This beach is a quiet, smaller spot within walking distance of the Marina Dunes RV Resort. It has a peaceful, almost private feel to it. We stayed at the resort and loved the easy access, there's a direct path that leads from the resort straight to the beach. On both sides of the path, fencing helps protect the local wildlife and their habitat, which adds to the natural charm of the area. The parking lot can get a little hectic, especially in the mornings and around sunset. There are public restrooms nearby, which is a nice convenience. Many people head here in the evening to catch the beautiful sunset. Overall, it's a lovely beach worth visiting. read more

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A beautiful beach that was the perfect place to stop by while visiting Monterey and Marina. The parking lot is free but not very large. We saw some cars parked along the road leading up to it so that looks like an option if the lot is full. The waves were pretty choppy so we did not go in and only dipped our toes. We saw some fisherman fishing from the beach and a few sunbathers but it was otherwise pretty empty on a weekday. There were several little kiddos with us running around the beach and eventually a lifeguard came up to us to warn us about rogue waves that could overtake us. Apparently there is a steep drop not too far from the shore and that's why the fishermen were there. After that we kept a closer eye on the kids but still some of us got wet when a sleeper wave showed up and we didn't run fast enough. Luckily no issues other than some wet pant legs though. I would recommend for watching waves and apparently fishing but not for swimming. read more

Beautiful beach with minimal people compared to other nearby beaches. Bathrooms were a step above portable bathrooms.

I love this beach because you het east beach access and proximity to the highway. It's an easy stop on the way to Monterey and a little gem for seeing the waves crash on the central coast. I came to this beach as a kid and keep coming back as an adult. New year, new you? What better place to reflect on your accomplishment and goals than the beach. Save Monterey for the fam, come to Marina State Beach for you. Parking is limited. Dogs are welcome but not on the beach. Watch out for novice hang gliders. read more

Marina State Beach - The beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

Marina State Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to. It is a hidden gem in Marina. The parking lot is typically full as there are limited spots, but you can park down the street or at Walmart and walk there easily. There's a long white sand beach to explore, and there rarely are crowds in any one spot. During the summer there's a lifeguard stand out. The beach is relatively calm in this area, and there are sand dunes to see for miles. I walk this beach on a regular basis all times of day. It does close the moment it starts getting dark. You'll see my photos from throughout the year, all different times of day. One of my favorite walks here is up the tune and so you see over all the dunes and the waterline. It is a beautiful view. read more

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Easy drive to this beach from Highway 101 South. There's a small parking lot. There's also unisex restrooms. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is at a slope. The sand is really soft. The views of the wave crashing were relaxing. It was a bit windy when I went yesterday. Families brought tents or mini tents and beach mats. read more

Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

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My friend took us here a great place to hangout for a little bit, When we went it was windy and a bit chilly. Highly recommend that you bring an extra layer if you plan on staying to watch the sunset. Most people were seated in their cars when I came. Lots of space of people to come and enjoy themselves and keep their distance. I wasn't here too long. I just wanted a picture of the beach (haha) then we left because it was too cold. read more

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Beaches like this make me long for endless summer days. With beautiful white waves and the soft sand at your feet, it'll make you contemplate moving right in and just parking yourself there permanently. Marina State Beach is quite the charmer. The waves are calming and the water is so clear here. The sand dunes seem to be never ending and it makes me want to explore from end to end. And those views... those views are pretty much breathtaking. I love that this beach is super easy to access! It's literally right off of highway 1 and a short drive into the parking lot. Speaking of the parking lot, it's rather small and sandy. I guess that's the only real downside about this beach, but there's also plenty of street parking right before the entrance. The sand dunes can get pretty thick at times. The sand was covering the picnics tables when I last visited here. Luckily, the sand is super soft so you can lay a blanket down and relax. I assumed that this beach would be super crowded since it's so close to the freeway. To my surprise, it wasn't crowded at all. You'll definitely run into a few people but nothing too major. They've got restrooms on site which seem to be cleaned regularly. Always a plus in my book. Sitting along this beach is super peaceful! I would recommend that you bring a heavy coat if you're planning on staying for a sunset because it does get pretty cold when the sun is going down. I don't find myself in this area too often, but it's nice to know that there's a calming beach to relax at when I do decide to make my trips here. read more

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One of the most beautiful beaches on the Peninsula, especially in the afternoon, for kicking back and enjoying some time by the water. The one-of-a-kind experience is made even more special by the fact that you may park your car with the breathtaking ocean view facing you. You can also take a quiet stroll downhill to the sandy beach and spend some time there if you'd like. The only drawback is that the parking lot is on the tiny side, so drivers will need to schedule their arrivals appropriately. But there is not a charge. The walk down to the shore is not too difficult. Although the incline isn't particularly high, there aren't any steps, so it might be difficult for people who have mobility issues. Not too hectic, please! Even though there was a sign saying dogs weren't allowed on the beach, we observed dozens. The bathrooms are filthy, as is customary for public restrooms at beaches. You're not going to be coming in here simply to use the restroom, are you? :D read more

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Beautiful huge waves today and I got parking which is the only reason I took a star down. Not enough parking. The restrooms are updated and there are a lot of restrooms available. Sunny and big waves with a couple of picnic areas. read more

Marina State Beach - Beach beauty - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

They call it State Beach but it's not by any means a park that you would imagine . In Southern California the state beaches are actually ​ accessed through a huge state park with many amenities for campers and travelers and RVs yet this place is just a parking lot with a toilet attached to it and of course the ocean view!!! Bring your own bottle of water to rinse as they are too cheap to provide a bib to rinse the sand off your feet it seems entire Monterey County is very cheap about providing some showers or at least foot rings at their beaches you guys are way behind of Southern California and many things aren't you?! While on the subject, need to fix the damn roads too in this God forsaken County. ​ read more

Chilly ocean air and strong gusts of wind. Barely 55 degrees, overcast skies here today. Quite typical of the beaches in Northern California. You can stroll through the dunes and walk along the beach quite a ways down. The sand feels nice on bare feet though it's cold. This beach has decent (free) public parking and restrooms. read more

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Love this little beach! It's a small parking lot but if you come at the right time you can get parking. Also people don't tend to stay all day so cars are always leaving which makes finding a parking space bearable. I love that this beach doesn't get super crowded like in Monterey. Beach is directly next to the parking it isn't a long walk to get to the shores. This is definitely a great place to spend a few hours with the kids so they can get in the water and build sand castles. Overall great little spot, I would recommend read more

Marina State Beach - Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

Parking is quite tight on a sunny day. People tend to park on the sides even though there is an all time no parking sign. Some more spots out on road with a 2 min walk. Try to get early or just park at a distance from where you can watch it. read more

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People say don't go to Monterey county in the summer due to the clouds, but we found it to be quite pleasant. Lots of sand and water here for kids, and relatively clean. Parking is a little challenging because there is limited space, so you'll find drivers circling around a lot until someone leaves. This is probably the only way to get a spot. Seems to be a fun place for hang gliding due to the high winds. Hard to to give it five stars due to parking and concerns for safety. A lot of thugs hang out around here. read more

Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

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We came to this spot to hang out with some friends and let the kids play and it was perfect! Not touristy, not too many people, the road is cut off so you can walk there without your kids running into the street. A little tricky for parking, but once you park you are good to go. The trek there was good, a nice walkway and bathrooms at the top and then a smooth sanded beach to plop down and play. It was breezy but not freezing, and plenty of beach so you weren't too close to the waves and you could see far to the left and right of you, to keep an eye out for the kids who ran and played football. The waves were calm and it was a great day! Nice spot for sure. read more

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The beach is cool a bit rougher than Carmel by the Sea. But seems cleaner than Carmel by the Sea's beach.

We are from out of town. Decided to explore and made a 15 min stop. Great beach to fly a kite. Would suggest a thick coat. It was pretty windy. Likes: - Restroom - Beautiful views Dislikes: Not a lot of parking spaces in the lot. Plenty of street parking before the entrance. read more

This one of the lesser known area beaches that offers scenic vistas, no good surfing, decent fishing and chilly winds. It's fairly easy to get to being right off highway one. There is a medium ish sized free parking lot with restrooms no less right next to the pic nic area. If for some unlikely reason that lot is filled up there is side street parking pretty much all the way to the on ramps. Not any to hard to walk to from the parking but do note the that you will have to traverse a sandy slope -much steeper on one side then the other. Very much walkable but grandparents may take it slow. Children of course will immediately race towards the most dangerous looking part. This is a large beach that runs on for miles. It's very popular with fisherman but is not a great spot for surfing. The breaks aren't all that good and the surf is not really conducive for surfers. Sure you'll see a few optimists out form time to time, but there are a lot better surfing spots around the area. For everything else though this beach has its charms. Sweeping views with enough space for everyone to feel like they have a private spot. Great for fishing (make sure you have a permit) and horses are allowed. There's picnic tables, clean ish bathrooms and all the beachy goodness you can handle. It is not all good news alas-this coast has a reputation for not necessarily being the warmest place on planet earth and nowhere is this more true then here. You'll be wanting long pants and a hoodie/jacket/light sweater in all seasons. Even with that though this is a great spot for to get your beach chill vibe on at. read more

No restroom at end of Dunes, only at parking lot area and if parking lot is full Ranger will close entrance. Dogs are allowed on leash, website says no dogs. Prepare to walk about 500 yards on sand from end of Dunes, very tiring if you have ice chest or a lot of stuff to carry back and forth. read more

Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

Has anyone used the restrooms recently? Wow. Terrible. Disgusting. Disappointed. I had to have my feet in the water in order to use the toilet. The most grosses restrooms I have ever seen. If you can hold it I recommend going to the nearby Dennys or Walmart. I will never use those restrooms again and I hope no one ever does read more

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful are the words that come to mind when I think about this beach. Also, convenient to get to when I go back to visit California, as it is walking distance from our Marina home. This beach is expansive and wonderfully clean, without the pesky and horrible smelling seaweed/kelp, bugs and garbage. The beach seems pure, untouched, untarnished... The sun shines, the seagulls are content, the waves are both gentle and powerful, the ocean is magnificent and the sand is smooth. It goes without saying that the sunsets here are glorious, like a painting, full of splendor and color. Also, when I went this past December it was not that crowded so I could truly enjoy the nature. One thing to keep in mind: Be sure to dress in layers, because it does get a bit chilly and quite windy. read more

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If you need a nice beach with sand, a few dunes and need to hear and see the ocean, this cute little beach fits the bill. Can be windy but you are purposely outdoors so not an issue! The day i was here there were many families enjoying the ocean and waves and there are benches for a picnic up by the parking lot. Right off Highway 1 going North, take the Reservation Rd exit, puts you right there. read more

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This place sucks ! Way too many people, and besides that there are yucky animals in the beach that crawl under your feet ): There is no parking! You would have to make a walk if you want to go to the beach. I came here with my dog , and walked as far away as possible from the crowd and let her go so she could play in the water with no one near by. Unfortunately, I ran into a "KAREN" who walked right towards us with her aggressive dog! And started complaining how I should leash my dog and started cursing at me to put my dog on the leash, when my dog was doing absolutely nothing to her despite her dog trying to bite mine! Such a bad experience at this beach! I suggest you dont come here and make the extra 30 minute drive to Carmel-by-the-sea! read more

Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

I really enjoy this beach. It's usually not overly crowded, and it offers great views on a clear day of the Monterey Bay. It's not necessarily your "lay on the beach" kind of beach, more of a place to look out onto the bay and take a long walk in the sand. Depending on the time of year it's probably a good idea to bring at least a windbreaker, as it can really get windy at times. As many of the previous reviews have mentioned, parking may be an issue as there aren't many available parking spots. (As you would imagine the problem isn't quite as bad during the week) There are a few hotels nearby that are within walking distance, and the Marina Dunes RV resort is very close as well. While I enjoy the touristy offerings of nearby Monterey and Carmel, sometimes a trip to this beach is a nice way to relax and unwind. I will be back, unfortunately probably not as often as I would like. read more

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Awesome!! Great view of the ocean, amazing stretch for a long walk. Limited parking is an issue

Beautiful stretch of coastal access. The parking lot for the state beach entrance is SUPER small and there is a constant flow of traffic hovering for a spot. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at this part either so beware if you have a pup! If you drive down the first road to the end there is an entrance to the dunes area. It's a bit of a hike to the beach but it's worth the effort! Dogs allowed on leash here. read more

Marina State Beach - Entrance to the dunes areas - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

This beach is awesome. I stop by here on my way to Monterey or after a Monterey Pier trip. Beach is clean. Lots of garbages, private parking, picnic tables and gender neutral restrooms. Lots of sand mountains and gorgeous view of the ocean. read more

Marina State Beach - Beautiful - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

I stopped in here today to check out the beach for fishing. Beautiful beach and the views are amazing. I did have to use the restroom and was not looking forward to it. I have to say it was almost as clean as mine! A State Park employee was there taking care of things. I had to ask him his name and thank him for his outstanding work. He said his name was Anthony and he been working for the park system about 5 months. Keep up the good work Anthony. Now can you do anything about the fishing? read more

The beach here is fantastic, but parking is a nightmare. It's a very tiny parking lot, and there's very limited street parking in the blocks surrounding it. But once you get here it feels different than the other beaches in the area, I don't know how to explain it, but it's just a lot windier which also makes it colder but you can breathe in the sea air better. And you see a lot of hang gliders and such because of the wind which is fantastic to watch. It just feels like a very peaceful place. There is also a bathroom which is usually clean. My biggest complaint though is the fact that they close the parking lot at sunset, meaning they kick everybody out as the sun is still going down, so you can't stay and watch the sunset. read more

This is my go to beach when I'm visiting family. I'm giving the beach an easy five stars because I want to counter act that one star review from the person that brought her dog to this beach that clearly states no dogs. These dunes are protected, why would someone want to bring their dogs just to run and screw it up?? There are plenty of beaches and one right down the road that allows dogs. Sorry one star reviewer, don't knock the beach just because you can't google search properly. So much to love about this beach. It's always clean, the parking is easy and if you have a little one like I do the public bathroom doesn't make this mom cringe to go into. You will see hang gliders soaring above and I can't help but want to get over my fear of heights and see what they are seeing. You look to the north and you can see Santa Cruz, look south and you are looking at Monterey. This beach is in Monterey Bay so it's more calm but has enough waves at times for the surfers to enjoy. Just a note, the hill going up and down to the actual beach is a little bit of a workout. Just do it, it's worth the slight cardio workout. I don't want to see a review of people bitching about it either. If my grandmother can do it you can too ;-) read more

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Since I was a little kid I always thought that climbing giant piles of sand was one of the best activities in the world. I would seek out those piles of sand and dirt that construction crews create and try to get to the top without falling or sinking in. Marina State Beach is made up of giant sand dunes, so this is pretty much my favorite place ever. But then I found out they don't allow dogs here, which makes absolute sense to me, since this beach is really clean and dogs are so dirty. The last thing I would want if I were this beach is someone coming here with a dog and getting all their fur and hair everywhere. No, wait, that doesn't make sense. This no dog rule is stupid. If I had to guess, and I will, the only reason they don't allow dogs is because they'll either be swallowed up by the sand or washed out the sea. The waves were pretty strong and the sand is pretty deep. But that's still a stupid reason. If anything, make a leash law. Apply it to babies as well. "All dogs and babies must be on leash. Waves often wash canines and infants to sea." Sundown here is nice. Sunrise here is not, because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This is something I forgot when I showed up here at 6am, expecting to see the sun rise from the same place it set. I have a college education. read more

Marina State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Marina, California

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Love this beach. For many holidays I come here for the sunrise (although the ray would come from the east). On any clear morning, the waves are vigorous, sand is wiped clean, birds are content, sky is absolutely magnificent, surfers paddlers runners and morning athletes like me can immensely indulge the serenity and glory of this hidden paradise. Entrance is closed at sunset. Plan your visit accordingly. Otherwise, the air and the ocean breeze are free... As always. read more

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On the way to Monterey, my boyfriend had planned in advance to stop at one of the state beaches for a picnic lunch. I was very excited that he had made a gourmet, yet healthy style picnic basket of chicken salad, grain wheat bread, fresh fruit, salads and some sparkling cider complete with a black table cloth, matching plates, silver plastic ware, and plastic champagne flutes. It was all very romantic! The day we arrived at this park turned out to be very cloudy, grey and super windy! I wasn't even inspired to take pictures. The few picnic tables available were very weather worn, covered in sand and bird droppings. After brushing off the debris, covering it with the table cloth, sitting on blankets and securely anchoring down anything that could get blown away by the wind, we settled in together for a "cozy" and delicious lunch. People and sea gulls came and went as we enjoyed our meal the best we could through the cold wind. I think I might have even spotted a whale surface briefly way out in the distance, but it happened so quickly. The ocean and sandy beach still offered a pleasant view even on this gloomy day. But the best thing about this thoughtful lunch was that we enjoyed it together. This state beach has potential, its just coming here on the right day. read more

This is the other part of (and easier to access) Marina State Beach. Located at the western end of Reservation Road (at the Dunes Rd intersection - 200' from CA-1), this beach offers bathrooms, parking (vehicles must be under 21' long), and easy access to Handglider Launch points and a barely used beach. If you want a little privacy, you can access the same beach further south (at the other Marina State Beach entry - intersection of Lake Dr & Lake Ct), but you have limited parking by the Marina PD K9 unit, and have to walk over the hill. Another option is to turn right on Dunes Dr (right before you enter the beach), and drive to the cul-de-sac at the end. There is a 1/4 mile easy walk to another part of the beach that is usually empty. The Park Rangers also have a station by the entrance to the parking lot and the Marina Coast Water District Office is co-located. I run through here almost daily and always see guys surfing and hanging out watching the awesome waves and great view of Monterey from the parking lot. read more

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This is such a beautiful beach. Bring your sweater because its always windy. A fab place to hang glide or fly kites. Such great water to walk into but you wouldn't want to swim in 50 degree water. A great place for beachcombing and walking the beach read more

I absolutely love the beach and the ocean so you will often find me at a beach. I try to visit a beach at least once a month. This is the closest beach to my home which makes it convenient for me to get to. Unfortunately it's not the best beach. For starters, parking is a huge pain! The parking lot is so small. You will often run in to confused tourists driving against traffic. There really is not nearly enough parking spots to accommodate all the visitors. The crowds drawn here range from tourists, to families, to riffraff. More than once have I noticed people having sex in their vehicles! So really this isn't an entirely "family friendly" environment even during broad daylight! It's not the cleanest beach either due to people not picking up after themselves and their pets. Although I believe that pets are no longer permitted on the beach. People leave trash on the park benches because the trash bins are often packed and not regularly picked up. Don't even think about using the restrooms! The trash is not regularly maintained so neither are the restrooms. The smell of this beach isn't pleasant and I'm pretty sure it's the people visiting here that literally aid in causing the stench! There are no ramps, no steps, nor any easy way for those with special needs and the elderly to get to the beach. So that in itself is a huge letdown considering I have a stepdaughter with special needs who can't enjoy this beach. The only upside of this beach is the sunset. The sunsets are beautiful here. If you can block out the crowds and bad smells, you can actually focus in on a beautiful sunset. Or better yet, you might get lucky enough to be able to land a parking spot facing the beach and get a front row view of the sunset in the warmth and safety of your vehicle. Would I recommend this beach? No. Drive the distance and drive to Monterey. Don't waste your time here. Yes it's convenient because it's not a major tourist trap. If your intent on visiting the Monterey Bay is to see a beach, you're better off sticking with quality over convenience and going to one of the beaches deeper in the heart of the Monterey Bay. read more

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I really like this sandy beach. Not completely isolated but not too crowded. We waited for a few minutes to get a parking space as one car was just about to leave. Clean restroom. Bike parking available. It was SUPER windy and cold at the beach today but the color of the water is absolutely stunning !!! The moment I saw the waves and the colors of the water I just fell in love with this beach. It's different from Pismo , Grover Beach and Sunset State Beach. It reminded me of North Shoes in Hawaii and the Gold Coast in Australia. I'd love to go again when it's not so cold and windy. ( I wonder if it's always cold n windy here???). read more

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