Tucked along the California coast, Half Moon Bay welcomes visitors from all over the state and the world. With abundant open spaces, lush, rolling hills, farmland and state parks, the coastline of Half Moon Bay is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places in the world. However, don't let the small-town descriptor fool you. Half Moon Bay has the best of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in one place.
With a vast and diverse landscape that encompasses miles of wide sandy beaches, lush cliff-top meadows and forested hills, there's a lot to explore. Our enviable coastal environment, with a dynamic active port and a thriving surf and water sports culture, will inspire you to hop on a fishing boat, kayak or paddleboard and explore our diverse marine ecosystem. 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-level farmworkers. Newsom threatened to take legal action against the city if they continued to delay the construction of the housing.
Half Moon Bay commissioner Rick Hernandez said they were reluctant to approve housing for older farmworkers because “we love the character of our small-town community, and he says that once this proposal is approved, it will generate more requests for other construction.” In the city, the population was dispersed: 22.2% under 18 years of age, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64 and 9.6% from 65 years of age or older. The average age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.
Law enforcement in the city of Half Moon Bay is done through a contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The city has the Peninsula Library System. The city is served by Half Moon Bay Airport. 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.
After exploring Half Moon Bay and making whatever stops you want, drive along the coast (or go up, depending on the route) and stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream MachineSol's Fashioned 4 of July Parade Make It Main Street Nights of Lights Live Music. The coastline encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda and Pescadero. Half Moon Bay is approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco, 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz.
Enjoy a cold craft beer at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company or a delicious lobster roll at Sam's Chowder House. The album Half Moon Bay was recorded by jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1973 at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. from Half Moon Bay. The port of Pillar Point, at the northern end of Half Moon Bay, offers a protected pier for ships and provides other marine infrastructure.
Half Moon Bay's economy is dominated by a handful of companies, the largest of which is the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, which employs 500 people and is a major source of property tax and tourism revenues for the city. Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The real growth of the area occurred after the Second World War, with the construction of numerous subdivisions, leading to the incorporation of Half Moon Bay in 1959. If you want to start the day with a pleasant walk along the coast and lobster rolls, finish with a sunset at Shark Fin Cove, start at Half Moon Bay and drive along the coast. Half Moon Bay's historic main street features more than one hundred locally owned small businesses, including exclusive boutiques, delicious restaurants, impressive art galleries, and plenty of free parking within walking distance of everything. The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named Half Moon Bay and retained that name when it served as the USCGC Half Moon weather vessel of the United States Coast Guard for more than 20 years after the war.
If you want to make the most of the views and driving time, you may have to choose to start in Santa Cruz and end with an incredible sunset in Half Moon Bay.
