Half Moon Bay is a small town on the California coast, south of San Francisco. A number of beaches along the bay include Half Moon Bay State Beach. The Coastside Trail leads north to Pillar Point, close to the huge waves of the Mavericks surf area. Nearby, Montara Mountain rises in the protected area of Rancho Corral of Earth.
The Purisima Creek redwood preserve is located on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The coastline encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda and Pescadero. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Office, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. 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. 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. The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named in honor of 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.
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Dream Machine, 4th of July fashion show in Sol fashion, Make it Main Street, Nights of Lights, live music. Yes, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, has charging stations for electric vehicles (subject to availability). 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 farm workers. 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. If you're looking to treat yourself to luxury after a day of exploring the coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
As for the Mavericks, the beaches for which Half Moon Bay is known around the world, only the most experienced surfers should consider surfing the challenging waves that can reach heights of 15 meters or more. The 1992 film Raising Cain, which takes place and was filmed on the San Francisco Peninsula, mentions a fictional swamp shaped like a crescent. The Half Moon Bay Distillery offers private tastings in stores; Jettywave's pet-friendly garden, The Swell Lounge, serves cocktails and food. 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 began as a rural agricultural area, used primarily by the Mission of San Francisco de Asís (established in 1977) for grazing cattle, horses and oxen. Some of Half Moon Bay's most prominent lodging options include the Inn at Mavericks, a dog-friendly inn with a view of the Pacific, within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and the ocean. The drive from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay is truly impressive and competes with the Big Sur area for being one of the most beautiful oceanfront road sections in Northern California.
