Top Beaches In Santa Cruz California

The Bay Area’s most popular beach town is always overrun in the summer, but where do you go if you want to escape the crowds? This list gives some of the best beaches to head to if you aren’t keen on hanging with the rest of the Bay Area population.

1. Natural Bridges State Beach

Park

Natural Bridges State Beach

This beach features some of Santa Cruz’s prettiest natural features that have eroded over time but are still stunning. This beach can be quite foggy, but when it’s not, it is beautiful, both for the arches and for the views. The park adjacent to the beach has some great trails to walk along and is a popular spot for monarch migration, so be sure that you keep your eyes out for any butterflies.

Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Lighthouse Field Beach | © Don DeBold/Flickr

2. Lighthouse Field State Beach

Lighthouse Field State Beach

One of the perks of the nicknamed ‘dog beach’ is that it is right next to the lighthouse, as well as Steamer Lane and toilet bowl, for those daring enough to go cliff jumping. It also allows dogs onto the beach, as the name might suggest. This beach is close to the boardwalk and Main Beach, but it is smaller and usually crowded with a more local (and quieter) population during the summer.

Lighthouse Field State Beach, W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Seabright Beach | © oliveoligarchy/Flickr

3. Seabright State Beach

Museum

Seabright State Beach

Located next to one of Santa Cruz’s other lighthouses, Seabright Beach is large, giving you plenty of space to move away from other people. It does connect to Main Beach, but it is usually less busy. It is also next to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which features Santa Cruz’s famous whale sculpture, and it also has fire pits that can be used for bonfires. It is, indeed, a popular place for bonfires, and often, the pits will be occupied long before nighttime in the summer. Needless to say, if you are planning a bonfire, be prepared for a day-long camp out.

Seabright State Beach, E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Sunset from Twin Lakes State Beach | © Ian Kennedy/Flickr

Capitola Beach

A popular beach for tourists and locals alike, Capitola Beach can be less crowded than Main Beach often is, and it is right on the edge of the town of Capitola, so it is close to good shopping and great food. Capitola is by far the most popular beach on this list, and due to the Junior Guards program, it often has kids running around on it. This aside, Capitola is generally sunny and has fairly calm water, and the ambiance of the area puts it far ahead of Main Beach.

Capitola Beach, Capitola, CA, USA

5. Seacliff State Beach

Deli

Seacliff State Beach

Known for its large set of stairs and cement ship, Seacliff Beach can be overcast during the summer, but it is still worth a visit. A popular destination for events, the beach has numerous locations that have lunch tables, grills, and fire pits. Take a leisurely stroll on the pier and out to the cement ship, and if you need to get a workout in, the stairs are a popular place to do it. The beach is long, so it is easy to spread out and avoid others. However, given that it tends to be overcast, you will most likely have a large portion of the beach to yourself anyways.

Seacliff State Beach, State Park Dr, Aptos, CA, USA

Rio Del Mar State Beach | © Brian Cantoni/Flickr

6. Rio Del Mar State Beach

Resort

Rio Del Mar State Beach

If you are willing to drive slightly farther than everyone else, it will be worth your time. Rio Del Mar is usually not filled with tourists, and it is also close to restaurants and town. The beach also has some volleyball courts; however, given that teams practice and play there, it is likely that someone else will be using them. Like Seacliff, it is a long beach, so it is easy to escape the crowds. It is also connected to the Seascape resort, a great place to stay if you plan to remain in Santa Cruz for a couple days.

Rio Del Mar State Beach, Beach Dr, Aptos, CA, USA

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.