Half Moon Bay is located on the Pacific coast, between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastline California has to offer. It is approximately 45 miles south of San Francisco and is located in the westernmost part of San Mateo County. San Mateo County's coastline is comprised of more than 300 square miles of beautiful California landscapes, with easy access to sandy beaches, redwood forests, and open spaces. The coastline encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda and Fishmonger.
The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a cooperative effort of the Half Moon Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. Half Moon Bay is a Pacific Ocean bay off the coast of San Mateo County, California. The bay is roughly semicircular, hence the name half moon, with access to the sea from the south. The coastal cities located there are Princeton-by-the-Sea, Miramar, El Granada and the city of Half Moon Bay.
Looking to the future, Half Moon Bay's leaders are focused on initiatives that strengthen the connection between their residents and businesses while preparing for future economic challenges. Giedt also points to an important new project that will shed light on the habits of visitors to Half Moon Bay. Thanks to the city's support, Half Moon Bay was selected as part of this initiative, which Chidester believes will “change the rules of the game for companies once finished.” In 2024, Half Moon Bay politicians were criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom for repeatedly delaying approval of a 40-unit apartment building for high-ranking farmworkers. Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world.
Half Moon Bay's main street is the Bay Area's best kept secret, where you'll find unique and interesting shops, epic restaurants, art galleries, tasting rooms and much more. While Half Moon Bay's location along the coast offers natural advantages, it also presents certain logistical challenges. Whether it promotes regenerative agriculture or develops natural water filtration systems, the Venture Studio will position Half Moon Bay as a center of “resilience technology”, attracting global interest and creating local jobs. Half Moon Bay offers miles and miles of sprawling sandy beaches, offering a serene getaway and picturesque views along the Northern California coast.
As far as the 37th parallel north is concerned, Half Moon Bay's mild summer temperatures are unmatched across the board. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream Machine, 4th of July fashion show, Make it Main Street, Nights of Lights, live music. The racial makeup of Half Moon Bay was 8,580 (75.8%) white, 82 (0.7%) African American, 71 (0.6%) Native American, 490 (4.3%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islanders, 1710 (15.1%) from other races, and 382 (3.4%) from two or more races. The coastline of Half Moon Bay is home to a wealth of hiking spots, from lush redwood forests to rolling coastal slopes. Chidester emphasizes that the future of Half Moon Bay depends on providing safe, affordable and decent housing for all residents.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is done through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
