Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The Half Moon Bay Coastside is a rural seaside community about 30 miles (45 km) south of San Francisco, and only an hour's drive from virtually anywhere in the Bay Area.

Francis State Beach

For other places with the same name, see Half Moon Bay (disambiguation).

Understand

Half Moon Bay's visitor information center offer maps, brochures, directories, and other information for tourists.

• Half Moon Bay Visitor Information Center, 235 Main St (from westbound Hwy 92, turn left on to Main Street), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M–F 9AM–5PM, Sa Su 10AM–3PM. Closed on all holidays. Visitor Information Center run by the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce & Visitors' Bureau. 

Climate

The climate in Half Moon Bay is more "foggy San Francisco" than "sunny California" in style. It's easy to spot the tourists on the beach: they're the ones shivering in bikinis. The locals are more likely to be found in wetsuits or strolling along the beach in shirts and rolled-up pants. Although there are cold snaps that drop below freezing every few years or so, and a few days here or there that are warm enough to be uncomfortable every year, on typical days, it's cool and somewhat windy, but not downright cold. Even in the summer, you'll want to pack a jacket or an extra shirt to put on when the ocean breeze kicks up in the early evening. Plan for rain from mid-October through April.

Half Moon Bay
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       5.5     59 42       5.2     60 42       4.2     60 43       1.9     61 43       1     61 47       0.3     64 49       0.1     65 52       0.2     66 52       0.4     66 50       1.6     66 47       3.3     62 44       5.3     59 42 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       140     15 6       132     16 6       107     16 6       48     16 6       25     16 8       7.6     18 9       2.5     18 11       5.1     19 11       10     19 10       41     19 8       84     17 7       135     15 6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By car

Highway 92 is perfect if you are coming in from either 101 or 280.

If you are coming from San Francisco you can also take 280 to Highway 1.

By bus

Take Samtrans #294 from Hillsdale Caltrain, or from Pacifica.

Get around

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 213 San Mateo Rd #112, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Coast Cab Company, El Granada, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 

See

Tide pools at Pillar Point

Almost all of the beaches are on or off of California State Highway 1 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway) (Note some addresses are given as CA Highway 1, the Cabrillo Highway or the PCH.)

• 🌍 Bean Hollow State Beach & Pebble Beach (Off of Highway 1), ☎ [phone]. Due to the heavy surf and rip tide, swimming is not recommended, but it's a fine place to climb on the rocks or have a picnic. You can explore tide pools and the self-guided nature trail. Dogs allowed if kept on leashes at all times. Restrooms next to the parking lot. (updated Aug 2018)
• Cowell Ranch State Beach (Off of Highway 1), ☎ [phone]. The entrance to Cowell Ranch is a fairly long hike in and leads to cliffs overlooking the ocean. It is a steep hike down to the beach. 
• Dunes State Beach (Highway 1 to Young Avenue), ☎ [phone]. Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Francis State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. 
• 🌍 Gray Whale Cove State Beach a.k.a Devil's Slide, Highway 1, ☎ [phone]. The two nicknames derive from the fact that 1) gray whales can be seen from the beach and 2) there are steep landslide trails. This is a clothing optional beach.  
• Francis State Beach (From Highway 1 to Kelly Avenue), ☎ [phone]. Sister beach of Venice State Beach and Dunes State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. Also home of the Half Moon Bay State Beach headquarters 
• 🌍 Montara State Beach (Highway 1 at 2nd Street), ☎ [phone]. One of the more popular beaches in Half Moon bay due to easy access and low hills, the beach provides opportunity for swimming, exploration of tide pools and surf fishing. There is also a lighthouse at Point Montara that has been converted to a bed and breakfast.  
• Mavericks & Pillar Point Marsh (Highway 1 to Capistrano Road to Pillar Point Harbor), ☎ [phone]. Home of the legendary Mavericks Surf Contest. This area is not recommended for swimming. (It is not recommend for surfing either but the people who compete in the contest are professional and a tad crazy.) The huge crashing waves are a sight to see. 
• Naples / Roosevelt State Beach (Highway 1 to Washington Boulevard to Naples Avenue), ☎ [phone]. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. 
• 🌍 Pescadero State Beach (Highway 1 to Pescadero Road), toll-free: [phone]. Explore the tide pools or watch the waves crash along the rocks. It's a great place for bird watchers. Sister beach of Pomponio State Beach.  
• Pigeon Point Beach (off of Highway 1). Home of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. 
• 🌍 Pomponio State Beach (Highway 1 to Pescadero Road), toll-free: [phone]. This beach is at the base of sand stone cliffs that are not as hard to reach as steeper trails. Sister beach of Pescardero State Beach.  
• 🌍 San Gregorio State Beach (Highway 1 to Highway 84). Discovered by Explorer Gaspar de Portolá in 1769, the beach is strewn with driftwood and there is also a bird sanctuary. This is a clothing optional beach.  
• Venice State Beach (Highway 1 to Venice Boulevard), ☎ [phone]. Sister beach of Dunes State Beach and Francis State Beach. Part of the Waterfront Coastside Trail system. 
• Waterfront Coastside Trail (Pillar Point Harbor to Mirada Road), ☎ [phone]. The trail systems goes through Naples, Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, Francis Beach and Bluff Top Coastal Park. 

Do

The fog has come in over the mountains

• Rock the Block Coastside Block Party, ☎ [phone]. Late May. Sponsored by Chamber Office. 
• Portuguese Pentecostal Festival, ☎ [phone]. 7 weeks after Easter. Sponsored by IDES Society. 
• Classics By The Sea Car Show, ☎ [phone]. Late July or early August. Sponsored by Chamber Office. 
• Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets), ☎ [phone]. Early to mid-October. Sponsored by Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee. 

Buy

• Coastal Flower Market, ☎ [phone]. Third Saturday of every month (except October). 
• Coastside Books, 432 Main St, ☎ [phone]. 10AM to 5PM. Serving Half Moon Bay since 1972, Coastside Books has a carefully selected stock of current fiction, biography, history, science and nature, spiritual books, and children's literature. 

Eat

Methodist Episcopal Church at 777 Miramontes St.

• 🌍 Ketch Joanne Restaurant and Harbor Bar, 17 Johnson Pier, ☎ [phone]. 7AM–9PM most nights; open later on weekends. Good food and substantial portions in a busy, usually noisy, harbor restaurant. Attached bar becomes popular later in the evenings. $10–30. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Sam's Chowder House, 4210 North Cabrillo Hwy (between Surfer’s Beach and Pillar Point Harbor), ☎ [phone]. 11:30AM–9PM, slightly longer on weekends. Large seafood restaurant just above the beach, with live music Friday and Saturday. The deck has great views and is a great place to sit around the fire pits. It's also dog-friendly. NBC's Today Show named their Lobster Roll ($27) as one of the five "best sandwiches in America". For an unusual experience, call at least 48 hours in advance to get a "lobster clambake to go". They'll put together a large pot of seafood that you can steam over a fire (or a stove), plus clam chowder and coleslaw. Almost everything on the menu can be ordered for take-out. Reservations recommended, especially on holidays and summer weekends $20–40. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Cameron’s Inn, Restaurant & Pub, 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy (South edge of town), ☎ [phone]. Opens at 11AM daily. Mostly English pub fare in an ostentatiously English environment. Offers everything from pasties to pizza, or from bangers to burgers. Includes a store that sells English candy bars and other treats that can be hard to find in the US. $12–25. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Dad's Luncheonette, 225 South Cabrillo Hwy, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Th-Fr: 11AM-7PM; Sa-Su: 11AM- 5:30PM. Try whatever special they are serving that day. Expect a satisfying, homemade meal in a cozy space. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

• La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Rd, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Formerly Obester Winery. 
• Half Moon Bay Winery, 700 Mill St, Ste 4, ☎ [phone]. 
• H.M.B. Brewing Company, 3909 Capistrano Road, Princeton (west off Rt. 1 just north of Half Moon Bay). Seafood restaurant with an excellent and extensive menu (check out the Half Moon Bay Louie salad with Bay Shrimp) at reasonable prices (they offer half size portions too.) Fast, friendly service. Inside and outside dining with good views of Pillar Point Harbor. They book rock and blues bands on the weekends. moderate. 

Sleep

• Best Western Half Moon Bay Lodge, 2400 Cabrillo Highway S, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Americas Best Value Inn & Suites, 3020 N. Cabrillo Hwy, ☎ [phone]. 
• Holiday Inn Express, 230 South Cabrillo Hwy Box 99, ☎ [phone]. 
• Oceano Hotel and Spa, 280 Capistrano Rd, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Nice, clean rooms with helpful staff. Environmentally friendly features, including in-room recycling, organic bamboo linens (very comfortable!), and chemical free room cleaning technology. 
• Old Thyme Inn Bed & Breakfast, 779 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Enjoy original artwork, gourmet breakfasts, and comfy rooms. $139–299. 
• 🌍 Pacific Victorian Bed and Breakfast, 325 Alameda Ave, toll-free: [phone]. Check-in: 3PM to 6PM, check-out: noon. An elegantly decorated Victorian style Inn 1½ blocks from the beach. $150-195. 
• Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, 16th Street at Cabrillo Highway 1 (7 miles north of Half Moon Bay), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Affordable accommodations at a spectacular lighthouse location. 
• Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, One Miramontes Point Rd. 

Stay healthy

Be careful to check for ticks after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of Lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.

Go next

The City of San Francisco is 25 miles to the north, Santa Cruz is 40 miles to the south.

Routes through Half Moon Bay

San Francisco ← Moss Beach ←	N  S	→ Pescadero → Santa Cruz
END ←	W  E	→ San Mateo → Hayward