We wanted to see a Pacific Ocean sunset but even in the heart of summer (July 5), all we got was cool breeze and not much sun. The highlight of the beach was the Taco Bell. Yes Taco Bell. Some call this beach Taco Bell beach because there's a Tack Bell on the beach equipped with a fire place. Right across the street there is a grocery store and Ross. We went to the Ross to buy a blanket because of the weather. The beach itself is not much of a beach. We saw a few surfers and a few fishermen but no swimmers. read more

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Great beach to hang out, enjoy the weather during the summer & if you want Taco Bell, it's sitting right at the beach. For us, we bring some food & have a nice picnic. Great views around here. read more

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Review #017 - 2020 After our quick meal at Taco Bell, my daughter was super excited to run off to the beach! We showed up at around noon on Friday, January 31st. It was cold and windy, but my daughter didn't seem too bothered by it. She had a lot of fun playing for about 45 minutes because that was all the wind my face could handle. It's a really nice beach. The sand was extra fine and soft. It actually looks more black in reality. I was too scared to put my feet into the water since I was already cold just watching my daughter play in the sand. Surprisingly, there were a lot of surfers for such a cold day. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because you're forced to pay for four hours of parking even if you are only there for an hour. I decided to give my parking pass to someone else before I left & she was super happy & appreciative! read more

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We decided to come here on a monday afternoon. The beach itself has its natural beauty. I loved seeing the waves crash into the rocks. It's peaceful here. Not too loud; there's no crazy hustle and bustle. This is the perfect beach to simply sit back and have a quiet time for yourself. In the area, you'll find empty hotels/motels and restaurants. It seems like this place used to have quite the attractions and touristy destinations. However, clearly, over the years it became a reclusive beach. Off to the distance you can see bike and hiking trails in the nearby hills. You'll find a few dogs with their owners just walking around. We didnt explore much of the beach. But from what I could see there were other small rock formations a little further down. I could come back here and just listen to the wave until the sun went down. It was truly so peaceful and a great time to reflect. I saw some people on a boat heading out to go fishing. The waves werent too rough and the winds are a little calmer here. It's definitely worth a visit if you need some time to sit back and relax. read more

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This city is usually foggy, overcast, grey, freezing yuck. Let's just say I would never think to come here. Except today, we're apparently in the middle of a heat wave (for the. Bay Area :-) So what better day to come here than today? It was truly perfect, the sun and light breeze and the color of water I swear you could not tell me was different from Cancun. I mean, look at it, already, right? Am I right? These photos are 100% unedited and not touched in any way--truly at 1:pm it was this spectacularly bluest of blue on blue on blue ... and then some more blue. It was a blue sandwich of blue sky and blue water with golden san in the middle. I'm not sure if I ever saw this many people spread out on this beach. So incredibly beautiful and calm--- the best thing about it is its' proximity to not only SF, but also to so much of the peninsula, e.g. where I live, it's a relatively short drive. And it's also a short drive to a lot of little eateries, restaurants, cafes, fast food places, so that you can take your picnic, umbrellas, towels, sunblock and the like. It's not so hot that you're gonna get sunstroke, but also not freezing. This is a surfers paradise, because though I don't surf or swim, lol, I see loads and loads of people with surfboards and suited up in their wetsuits. Awesome little beach. read more

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We've been here a few times. There's always people here. The parking is really small but there is parking across the street. The first waive of people are surfers and the second is families. Parking was $7 for 4 hours definitely reasonable. The bathrooms are clean and they work so that's a huge plus. The beach is clean and people are very respectful on each other's space. There's a lot of stores all around. There's a small hill where you can hike. I really liked this beach. read more

Gorgeous. Just freaking gorgeous!!!! I am so in love with the Cali coast line. This is only an hour from San Francisco. So to me it's a must do if you are in the area. The temp yesterday was PERFECT! Grab your swim suit and picnic basket and make a day of this! I enjoyed this beach so much and spend 3 hours here. Parking is not free. But it's only $7 for 4 hours or $9 for whole day! read more

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One of my favorite beaches of alllllllllllllll time! Pacifica State Beach on a brisk winter day, in a hoodie and boots, clutching a coffee, with a book in my pocket is where I could always be found on a rare day off when I lived in the area. I loved coming here to hike the headlands, as there's easy access from the beach, and wriggle my toes in the soft sand. Also, as someone on the constant look out for chill places to curl up with a book, Pacifica ranks high on my list of solid book reading beaches. Not overly windy, the beach does offer the typical peninsula drizzle from time to time, but it's pleasant as opposed to chilly. Just bundle yo self. There's plenty of beach to be had. Beach for playing on, beach for the doggies, and beach for people who want to be left the hell alone. You will find a space to yourself, unless it's the middle of the day on a Saturday or Sunday. Even then, I could always find a space for just me if I walked far enough. it's a great place to do some serious enjoying of nature and contemplating things on your list of things to contemplate. Make sure to check out the view from the headlands, and do some hiking if it's your thing. If tide pools are more your scene, you are in luck. There are plenty to be had at low tide in the large outcropping of boulders, also on the far right portion of beach. As an added bonus, there's a Taco Bell right up on the beach. Convenient. The free parking is not in short supply, but if the main lot fills you can mosey across the street for the overflow. I don't come here enough now that I've moved. I miss you, Pacifica. Such a cozy little town with a truly awesome beach. read more

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Well it's not the most pristine beach, definitely more on rugged side no pristine white sand. And no kids were in the water because it's crazy dangerous with the waves. Signs posted everywhere how people always drown,no lifeguards on duty. The sand is almost black, rugged tons of adorable dogs running around. It was a great place to hit since it was close to 100degrees in SJ. Didn't feel like fighting crowds in Santa Cruz, Carmel too far. This place really shines for the beautiful hikes right next to it,at Mori trail . If you are craving some exercise on a sweltering day this is your place. It was great since we dropped off our teen daughter & her friend at the beach area (they are more into taking selfies in the water than getting some hardcore exercise in )We easily put in 7 miles walking which would have been impossible in SJ. The only bummer is women's restroom has crazy long lines. There are no restrooms at the Mori trail so hit the restroom at the beach before hitting it. Mostly foggy here but today we got beautiful half sunny weather with cool 70 degree weather. Only 45 min drive from sj not bad. Good alternative if you don't want to fight crazy traffic to half moon bay. Tip: the further away you are from the restrooms the less crowded it is on the beach. Crowd really thins out closer you get to the Mori trailhead. read more

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Beach itself is pretty dirty. There is trash and broken glass everywhere, which is so sad as this is a beautiful beach. It is also pretty rocky. If you look past the rocks and trash, this is a huge beach with beautiful water and good beginner waves for surfing. It is perfect for a long walk or run. I went when it was freezing outside but in the summertime I am sure this beach is warm and would be super fun. Definitely will come back when it's warmer out! read more

Pacifica State Beach - pacifica beach. pretty rocky, but gorgeous - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Super awesome beach just over the hill from San Bruno with great surfing, a long stretch of beautiful beach and the highest-rent Taco Bell ever. Come here regularly and can always find a parking spot either in the lot or across the street (check on the side streets) and easy ability to cross the street and find a spot. Only 4 bathrooms, so expect a line. Overall, awesome spot and so glad we live close. read more

Pacifica State Beach - Dog surfing contest. Yep. California. - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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making weekend stops to pacifica state beach..."sun valley"...beach cove where the sun shines through starting late mornings...local street parking is fairly easy before 9:30am near grocery outlet..parking becoming difficult after 10am...short walk past mostly surfers suiting up....with constant low and high tides, the beach sand tends to be damp...great for sand castles...using a non-absorbent picnic blanket and keeping dry...northern california waters can be ice cold even during the summer, but still manageable to splash around and play...able to keep distance with other beach goers in the sand...surfing on the other hand is quite crowded, elbow to elbow... read more

Pacifica State Beach - lot of surfers - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

Beautiful beach. It is more of a bundle up, relax, and watch the surfers type of of beach rather than a lay out and tan type of beach. There is hiking in the nearby bluffs surrounding the beach and a Taco Bell right on the sand. If you are not into to Taco Bell, there are some more fast food restaurants, Safeway, Coldstone, and an L&L right across the street. I really enjoy watching the surfers here. But make sure you dress warmly here as the temperature the majority of the year is in the 60's and it is often foggy. Pacifica is slowly becoming one of my favorite Bay Area cities to visit because of this beach and its numerous hiking trails. I recommend coming here for a relaxing and stress day at the beach. read more

Pacifica State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Great beach in Pacifica and an ideal beginner surfer spot to go to. I'd definitely recommend getting here early if you'd like good parking. There's a couple places: 1) at the main beach parking lot (beware it gets super crowded!) 2) by Taco Bell cantina 3) there's a small strip mall with a good coffee spot and outfitters. Overall, a nice beach that I will definitely return to! read more

I feel at ease by the ocean and I love the water. I'm a California Girl. I find it hard to rate beaches, because I'm in love with so many of them but want to show my appreciation for each one. Visiting the Ocean reminds me of how lucky we are to live here and get to see it's natural beauty. I could take hundreds of pictures of the shore, sunset, fog and surfers here - all of them reminding me of memories of coming here as a teenager. Summers where we had nothing to do but sit on the beach, watch our friends surf and eat Taco Bell* on the beach. *Don't judge, it's probably the nicest TB in California. I still love watching the surfers hit the waves and coming back to Linda Mar. Makes me realize how easy it is to get away from the hustle of life and stick your toes in the sand. read more

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I have such great memories of coming here at night time while a college student at UC Berkeley. This beach is clean, but it gets real cold. Want to dress for the weather and stay warm. It's a nice place for a bond fire rather than swimming in the water as it could be too cold. However, it's a beautiful beach and worth visiting and hanging out. View is fantastic. read more

Wonderful beach when the fog isn't around. Linda Mar is a big beach that has a parking lot that can hold a lot of cars, but you have to pay for parking. From 8am - 8pm, the parking lot will demand money in order for you to keep your car there which is lame since Ocean Beach doesn't even require money from you. The beach is also conveniently located right near a Taco Bell so you're hunger will always be satisfied... unless you don't like Taco Bell.. The beach is also pretty nice and it gets good waves I'm guessing since I saw hella surfers there last weekend. If you have a bucket or something you should definitely take it with you to the beach. If you take it with you to the waves when they roll in and scoop some sand with some water, you can catch some sand crabs! Make sure you put them back, though. 'Cause... life. Overall, decent beach if you give it a chance. Paying for parking makes me sad. read more

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Classic pacifica sunset! I'm a local and Gus beach has a special place in my heart! The sand is definitely not the softest but still a great beach since there so a lot of area to walk and sit! On a low tide hour I Love going to tide pools and looking for sea glass. I really enjoy walking by the Pedro point area too since the docks look beautiful. Also who doesn't love Taco Bell on the beach? One of my favorite places ever! The beach is walkable to a lot of food spots too read more

Pacifica State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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I grew up in Pacifica and this beach has a lot of fond memories for me. My girlfriend loved this beach as well.

I think I forgot how to swim...well...in ice cold water. Good goal for 2014--improve swimming skills. Still one of favorite beaches to surf/semisurf with my brother and friends. And there's the nearby Taco Bell for that aftersurf snack. read more

Pacifica State Beach - I like to gaze into the ocean and look at the waves after surfing them. - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

It's obviously a good surfing beach, and that was the main reason for our trip down here, but if you look at it objectively, the beach doesn't have a lot else going for it. It's windy and rarely sunny, it's full of rocks, and a somewhat questionable creek cuts through the middle of the beach with a big warning sign about unsafe bacteria levels. On the other hand, if you look at it through the eyes of my seventeen-month-old, it is heaven on earth. The parking lot and beach were both full of wandering off-leash dogs, some of whom were extremely friendly, causing my son to double over in paroxysms of joy again and again. He almost followed one of them straight into the surf. read more

This is my go to beach with my dogs. I have been coming here all of my life and I love it. There is a public lot and parking is not usually a problem. Parking is $7 for four hours. Please make sure you pay at the pay station and place the slip in your windshield as they will come by and ticket cars. There are public restrooms which are gender neutral. They also have outside showers to rinse off the sand and salt water. Dogs are allowed on leash here but I do see many dogs off leash and they have always been friendly. There are lots of families here so it is a good place to bring your little ones. If you get hungry there is a Taco Bell right on the beach. Score!! read more

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Going to the beach is like reading a love novel... She stared out into the rolling ocean waters and lightly tilted her head back to catch the warmth of the sunlight. She was wearing her favorite Hilfiger green and white polka dot tankini that curves her body like a glove while her long dark brown hair brushed against her tanned arms which sat underneath her one and only Oakland A's Burburry knockoff bucket hat. She let a large sigh out to release all that was on her mind that week. All this relaxing comes to a sudden halt when a little white fluffy dog appears and jumps up on her for affection. She greets this little furry creature with open arms and gives it a good boy nudge on his head. HE appears behind the white dog...dripping with ocean water from head to toe, he leans in, grabs the dog to the side, and his wet body slightly brushes against her tanned skin. She felt the cool water drip slowly down her thighs and gives off a shudder from the sudden wetness against her hot body. It was a tingling sensation that made her loop her arms around his neck and pull him in... for a nookie on his head. "HEY! Get your stinkin' wet self off of me. You're dripping all over my perfect tan and blocking my sun! And gimme the cute dog to cuddle!" Yesss... the romance of the beach. You should always share it with the one you love/loved/like/dislike (pick your poison!). NOTES: Dogs are allowed on leash. Convenient parking lot. Taco Bell located at the beach for easy quick bites. Bathrooms, showers available but expect to wait and it's a little dirty inside but if you gotta go, you gotta go. read more

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The only thing is missing is being able to swimming this beautiful beach. Why West Coast must you tease me? Hopefully one day I can take the numbness of my feet & hands in this water. With the houses on the hills, enlarged looking bonsai trees, big black rocks emerging from the water this beach takes you to another land. I'm so grateful my family lives here. read more

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I decided to come to this beach because I hadn't been there in years and wanted to switch it up since I always go to Santa Cruz. My daughter and I had the best day here!! There is a Taco Bell right on the beach which was perfect because I'm a single mom on a budget. This beach is so beautiful and reminds me of Pismo beach. I highly recommend it!! read more

Here for a spontaneous trip back down memory lane. Beach similar to as I recall from adolecense, been a while since I have been here. Beach was somewhat dirtier than I recall. Not really the beaches fault, but that of the losers who throw trash and break glass bottles in the area; there are lots of kids in the area people, c'mon! Water here is as cold as one can imagine at a NorCal beach. So bring a wetsuit if you are surfing and be wary of undertow and large sea life in the area. Plenty of tide pools to explore during low tide. The sand here is dark and loaded with natural oil that bubbles up from the sea bottom naturally and ends up on shore. Just like in Ventura down south, if it is not pumped out and captured it ends up on the beach anyhow; damn dinasours. Quick tipes: -Do clean up after yourself. -Keep big undisciplined dogs on leashes. -Watch your kids, hate to say it but sign of the times and a certain group of people that hang out in the area. -Leave your lame music at home. Nobody wants to hear your music blaring, that's not why most people come to the beach. -Lock your cars and take valuables with you. -Pay for parking. I know it may seem like the honor system, but they will ticket you here if you do not pay in advance and put the ticket in your window. -Watch your kids in the water, there is no lifeguard on duty here. -Stay out of the runoff from the nearby hills and keep your kids out as well. That water that looks like a little creek running into the ocean is runoff and is full of nasty stuff and bad to play in; just so you know. read more

This is my go to beach in the area. I love beaches of any kind. It's not as far as Santa Cruz or Monterey. A wide crescent-shaped beach located off Hwy 1 in downtown Pacifica. The weather varies; it can be cold, windy, sunny and foggy. So layering is the key. A state beach operated by the City of Pacifica. Check info here: www.cityofpacifica.org. There's a parking fee of $4 for less than four hours or $9 for more than 4 hours or all day. And don't forget to pay parking to avoid citations unless you can find the limited free parking. The beach is great for walking and exercising. And I know we can't swim in the frigid water. But the water has a lot of minerals that, just our mere presence near it can be beneficial especially to our respiratory system. No smoking allowed on the beach. There's hiking trails nearby and dogs are allowed on leash. There's also bathrooms and showers near the beach. Lots of surfers in the water. It reminds me of when I used to bodyboard in Virginia Beach. Here you have to wear a wetsuit. Too much work IMO. But I saw some people take off their wet suits in the parking lot by their vehicles. The water was so crowded that I'm amazed they don't hit each other. Some of them seemed beginners. Something to take into account if you're a very experienced one. And I know a friend who goes fishing at this beach. This beach is very closed to Linda Mar shopping center. It's on the other side of the road. There's a Safeway, pizza, and a lot of other shops. My sister loves to Thrift store shopping there. She always finds little knick knacks for a good price. But if you're hungry and needs something quick, there's a world's most scenic Taco Bell by the beach. And if that's not enough and you're still hungry, it's less than two miles from it, the shack for Gorilla BBQ. This is why I love coming here. It's not a fancy beach but it makes me happy and takes care of my stresses the natural way. read more

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It's one of the beaches I like going to here in the bay area... It's a nice dog friendly beach and just the perfect place to hangout with family or friends or to go for a nice romantic walk by the beach at night. Compared to the ocean beach - this place is amazing. Lots of surfers and the place is not that crowded even during the weekends. read more

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Great beach when not crowded. Came during a heat wave around noon and parking is a pain. Otherwise, this is a great spot with a busting taco bell cantina next door and several other food options nearby. Fairly small beach but well worth it. read more

This beach is okay. There's a lot of rocks before you get to the actual beach area. Walking barefoot on it is kinda painful. Saw a lot of dog owners and surfers. I think my favorite thing about this beach is that there's a cool Taco Bell right along the water! read more

Pacifica State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

Dear Golden Coast, Oh how I love being a California girl! It's easy to forget we have beaches like this so close to home and I love Nor-Cal and our breezy weather. I spent this morning people watching at this beach! Newbie surfers trying to catch a good wave, kids playing in the sand, people walking their dog. It was a peaceful scene and I'm very inspired to try to learn to surf! I saw the Surf Camp trailer parked in the parking lot and I'm totally considering it! In the market for a wet suit, Earlene P.s. How convenient to have Taco Bell right there. Make a run for the border if you're hungry! Or to L&L Hawaiian BBQ across the street! read more

Pacifica State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Nice Beach . Mostly cloudy. If you want to see before going there how it looks please click the link. https://youtu.be/7zNa5RvX8Uo read more

So this beach is really cool even on memorial weekend probably the coldest one we had in awhile it was 52* on a Sunday and man was it hella cold but the fam wanted to go anyway there were more crazy people the us just saying lol it was a good day first time at this beach ever and it was clean people were nice ,and yes there is a Taco Bell believe it lol .I most definitely will go back on a better day and it's less traffic to go there then half moon bay on a busy weekend for sure . So yes a serious hi five for this place read more

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This beach somehow fashioned itself into a bonafide destination. Between the most epicly located taco bell, a newly refurbished parking lot, and a generally pretty area this place is worth a stop. It's already the spot where everyone who wants to learn surf around sf, has to start at but last 2 years - it feels like the place has been trying to level up to something even better. If you go - make sure to pay for parking, a new private company took over the parking facilities and they're intent on profiting from their investment - these guys are as aggressive as SF DPT. read more

Beautiful views! It is mainly rock along this beach with not many places to lay in the sand. You can sometimes shift the rocks in a way to make it more comfortable to lay down though. There are bathrooms and washing stations available here. Beware that it is difficult to find parking on a warm day. read more

Great spot to chill with the kids. I absolutely love the beautiful beach and the Taco Bell isn't bad either, lol. (My firstborn son asked me years ago if this was the nicest restaurant they have...because it's on the beach) Convenient area to play around in the sand with showers and restrooms in the parking lot you can clean up easily after your beach fun to-boot. My oldest son even brought his fishing pole out and enjoyed casting into the ocean. read more

Pacifica State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

Yes! Can be very busy with surfers and tourists but this beach was great! Especially more south in the rocky area. Fun to bring lunch and watch the waves and surfers. read more

I heart Pacifica State Beach! It is an outstanding place to take an ocean stroll. Waves roar on the mighty Pacific. Surfers abound in wet suits. Dogs play joyfully off the leash. There is also a walking path in case you don't enjoy walking on the sand. The only downside is paid parking. Though the lot is big, it'll cost you $7-9, even if you only stay for 30 minutes. read more

Beginner surfers, rock collectors, dog walkers, kids playing in the sand, a paved walking path and close to suburban city center amenities - that's Pacifica State Beach. I go here all the time. I love being in the middle of a busy beach area and sometimes that is the kind of beach you want to go to. I take walks all the time using the paved walking path that goes from Rockaway to Pacifica State Beach, it's awesome :). Try it, it's great. You have to pay for parking at this beach. It's $10 bucks. A lot of people come from all over on warm sunny days, especially in the summer, so finding parking can be tough. You can easily find (free) parking on side streets if you are willing to walk only a few steps to the beach. I really do love this beach and I spend a lot of time here! Yay. Yay. Yay. read more

Pacifica State Beach - The ocean at Pacifica State Beach! - Beaches Near Me - Pacifica, California

I understand the draw of this beach but it was really just ok for me. First of all, everyone wants to talk about the fact that there is a Taco Bell on this beach. The Taco Bell is near a parking lot that is in close proximity to the beach and the restaurant itself is nothing special. Second, this beach is packed with people; many more than any of the beaches adjacent to it. In my opinion, it has nothing to do with the quality of the beach, since all the beaches in this area are nice, and more to do with the hype. For me, this is actually a negative thing because it can be difficult to find parking and it can be difficult to find a nice spot to relax without people screaming or running around near you Lastly, there are public bathrooms, but the one that I used was so disgusting I literally had to hold my breath. The odor was so foul that I thought I was going to throw up. Stop by this beach if you're in the mood for Taco Bell, or you really like being around crowds of people... Otherwise I recommend driving up-and-down the coast and finding a quieter spot read more