Scott, I don't know you... but you beat me to it. We were at Martin's Beach yesterday and I had heard about Yelp, so I decided to write my review. Martin's Beach has been, for us, the bay area's best kept secret. It is secluded, quiet, and beautiful. Yes, it does have the shantytown feel, but the locals were friendly. When we first started going to Martin's Beach it was $10 per car. That included: trash bins, decent running toilets with toilet paper and a portable sink just outside the restrooms to was your hands; a grocery store for items forgotten such as ice, food and ice cream for the kids. Now... it's different. The seclusion, quietness and beauty is still there. But the owners have changed it so much that we are seriously thinking of finding another place to go. We were there on Memorial Day and the weekend prior too. They said we could use the picnic tables on the beach but we had to put it back. No problem. But having no garbage bins, running water in the restrooms to wash our hands, no toiet paper and having to leave by 4pm was the final straw. The young owner of the place, tried to be friendly but was pushing us out so fast that it made us take our time even more. It's just not the same and I'm sadden that it may have been the last time we go there. I rated this beach 2 stars only because it's really nice and quiet, but I rate the new owners and it's ridiculous changes only 1 star. GM read more

Martins beach is one of the most beautiful on the northern California coast. I have both great and sad memories of this wonderful place. Keep it open to the public! read more

Most amazing, private and secluded beach on the California coast. Great for laying out, surfing or getting away from it all. A bit of trek but well worth the trouble. Do not listen to anyVC's claiming it is closed. It is open. Google it. read more

Everyone should visit especially on a bright sunny Cali day. Bring a stereo and your loudest friends and enjoy the day with sand between your toes. read more

Let me brake it down to you all i know who owns martins beach and this is what is happening............ the new owners are not closing down the beach they are going to raise the price and its going to keep increasing until people stop going another thing is they are not going to kick any of the leasers out they are going to wait for their leases to end and not re new them thats what 12 to 20 more years well yeah i cannt give out anymore info everything else is kinda clear they dont want people bothering them read more

Martins Beach is a really pretty little cove with very clean sand and lots of sea life. Just wonderful. Acknowledge it is difficult to find if you don't know where it is . . . about 6+ miles south of Half Moon Bay. You might want to look for a large billboard off of the beach side of the highway. (... currently painted a solid green) Or perhaps after you drive about 6 miles south of Half Moon Bay, you could look for the metal gates across the very small side access road where signs are posted on the gates to the beach which reads "Beach closed for Repairs". Signs have been there for quite a while. Rather odd as it is a - beach - and doesn't seem that repairs to the - beach - have happened. Maybe as first steps for the new owners to keep public out entirely? Of course, it is still possible to park by the highway and walk down to the sand which many people do including the fishermen who walk down with their fishing gear and spend the morning. To date, have never have seen anyone collect money for such access. Really worth the walk as it is an amazingly pretty cove with 3 or 4 picnic tables right by the water. Lots of additional signs note that dogs/pets are not welcome but perhaps that keeps the sand cleaner for children to play as not every pet owner responsibly picks up after their pet. Because there are only a few years left on the land lease for the people living in the homes, some of the long term owners sold their houses. Many of the 50+ homes have new paint and received a clean-up and very much add to the ambiance of the cove. Visitors and owners, all are friendly waving and exchanging hellos. One of my favorite places to take pictures and a walk with my family. If you haven't yet checked it out, you really should. read more

Rumor has it the clamming down there is good... but drive by lately and the banged up sign is a good first sign how this place may be headed. Drive down there, and experience a sociological trip... as the critters who "live" there... nevermind... go see for yourself. The fact that they charge you when you get down there...for something that probably was mediocre in it's heyday X decades ago, but is clearly run down... makes this Fresno-By-The-Sea. read more

It's like your own private beach! Pay for parking, a resident sits behind a sign (early in the morning too) and you just pay him and he gives you a ticket to put on your window. I guess you can totally avoid the paid parking by parking outside the gates and walking down. When you walk down to the beach don't stop, keep walking after the bend, the beach continues. The kids had fun even on a cold foggy morning. Next time we'll have to pack food and stay a bit longer. read more

We used to love this beach and had many family memories. I tried to take my 84 year old mother and handicapped husband and they have no parking near the beach. Attendant said someone in one of the homes had all their guests parked at the beach. There was no way to get my husband and mother down that hill from the parking lot. This is not ADA accessible and a real shame and waste of effort. We were very saddened. read more

My family has great memories of this beach. If I win the lottery I will buy this beach and build more memories. It is secluded and unique. I have a great photo of my grandfather fishing with the rock sticking out in the back ground. Such a same it is closed. read more

Easily my favorite beach on the face of the earth. Bring your domestic beers and your boom boxes, it's a great place for a party

There are no restrooms. People are leaving there business in the duns. Plus there's no trash cans. And naturally people do not respect leave no trace. Other than that, it's beautiful beach. read more

Amazing amazing amazing beach. Everyone has to come here and spend many hours as long as they want to. This is a public space where everyone should come and have fun!!! read more

Beautiful beach. Salty water, sandy sand, Pacific Ocean. What more could you ask for.

Great beach! I liked it so much it was very nice and I would recommend it to everyone. Nice sand and beautiful views !

pleasant location nice cabins staffs people interaction skills lacking read more

Beautiful! Feels like a private beach once you get there. This is our favorite beach!

I am and have been a big fan of Martin's beach for quite some time now. For those of you who think $10 is too much too pay that is fine with me, go somewhere else! I am willing to pay more if it means I get some relaxation with my family on a beach that I do not have to hike a mile to visit or share with the entire beach going world. I do hope the owners of Martin's beach continue to allow the general public the opportunity to visit this great beach even if it is at an increased price. Does anyone know for sure if the beach is still open for public use?? read more

As a child my dad and his family frequented Martins Beach every summer in the 1920's. Ou cousins had a lodge and some cabins. In the late 1970's I flew down to S.F. from Seattle. While there I accompanied my aunt to visit cousins. The lodge they had had photos of how the lodge and beach were decades before, All the B/W photos on the walls looked like all cars were black, as in the days of Chicago's Capone. The erosion of the beach from my dad's time to my my visit was shocking! I have only been to Half Moon Bay and the beach once. For me it speaks of my dad's youth. My dad is now passed away and it seems from my google search Martins Beach is too, or nearly so. I give 1 star from what my memory yields read more

I saw the sign to this beach off of Highway 1 today for the first time ever.....I've driven down Highway 1 in both directions lots and lots of times, but for some reason I've never noticed 'Martin's Beach' until today. So after spending the day @ San Gregorio, I decided to check out Martin's Beach on the way back. You will end up driving down a funky little residential road (& watch out for cars coming out of there....there's really not enough space for cars to be going in & out at the same time!). At the 'bottom' you will end up by a parking area where they'll charge you $10.00!! Sheesh, that's even more than the state beaches currently charge!! I didn't stay though, and one guy was nice enough to ask if I was staying & I told him no, so I didn't have to pay. I saw a huge rock formation not far from the lot, and the water looked really beautiful with the sunlight reflecting off of it but man....$10.00 for the parking alone is a bit much!! Plus the parking lot & beach itself appeared to be really small!! Better beaches abound outside of Martin's Beach!! read more

Although the ten dollar parking fee is steep and the beach isn't huge, I really enjoyed my time here. I like having a little quiet during my beach ezperience and it was definitely peaceful... except for the party that we brought. The benefit to paying for parking is the lesser crowds and the guarantee that we'd have a nice sized spot all to ourselves for our barbecuing delights. The beach was beautiful and if you go south towards the cliffs, you'll find some interesting coves and caves. I plan on going back. read more

My daughter lost her phone at this beach on September 16, 2016. We are asking for your help in locating this phone because it has pictures of my mother that has recently passed and we cannot replace the pictures. Please get in contact with me if you found the phone we would like to have a back thank you for your time. Please get ahold of me at cdspore@att.net read more

Hello my daughter lost her phone on Friday, September 16, 2016 at this beach. If anyone has information or has found the phone could you please contact me at 209-312-8268. We are trying to get the phone back because there are pictures of my mom on it that has just recently passed away and we cannot replace the photos. I can identify the phone if you give me a call so that you know that it's my phone. Thank you for your time. read more

Some say they left their heart in San Francisco, but my heart will always be at Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay. I am 52 and started going to Martin's Beach when I was 4 years old. I grew up there. My family owned a cabin there, my aunt still owns a cabin there and my younger brother lives there. I have traveled to many places around the world, but my favorite place to be is Martin's Beach. I cannot even begin to say how many wonderful memories I have of the beach and praise God, because my brother lives there I am still creating them. I was there in February as my family gathered to say our final good-bye to our beloved dad. I will be there on Thursday, flying in from the Midwest to attend my nieces wedding, who by the way is getting married on Martin's Beach. I consider myself blessed to have this amazing place to visit and am so thankful to the friends I have who still live there and welcome me with open arms. I know one day I may have to say good bye to Martin's Beach, but the memories, the fun and the love I have for that place will always remain with me. read more

Martins Beach will always be my escape....i have been enjoying my time spent here on vacations for over 20 years. While there has been a few different owners and right now there are some changes happening....it is still the most beautiful, peaceful, serene place to visit!! Many of these cabins have been in families for up to or over 50 years....they may not be palaces, but I can guarantee the time spent with family & friends will never be forgotten. read more

I love this place. this is where I learned how to use a net for smelt fishing and I have cought my share of Stipped bass there too.As for the bathroom's,when ever you enjoy the real outdoors the last thing you want to see is more deveopment .If someone needs the confirt of the city they might want to visit LA. read more

Yes things have change in this place its not the same old beach it once was, but its open and you can still go in and enjoyed the view. When I found out that the beach was closed down I was so upset, I grew up going to this beach my hole life, I almost died in that water and my uncle saved me... All my children also spent alot of there life there. I just feel blessed that someone bought the beach and reopened it. Maybe they will put some work into the beach and it will get better... So give it a chance people!! read more

My parents brought me to Martin's Beach when I was a child, and I loved it. It was so beautiful! We used to walk along the shore and have picnics, and sometimes the fishermen would be there. Does anyone know when it may open again? read more