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. 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. 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.
Built on the Ford Transit, the new Wonder Class C motorhome is packed with smarter space solutions that combine contemporary design with innovative functionality, giving you the freedom to go wherever your wonders take you. Possibly the most innovative Class C motorhome on the market, the Unity RV gives you the freedom to explore. Built on the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cab, the Unity is available in six unique floor plans to fit your traveling lifestyle. HMB State Beach has four beautiful beaches, including Francis Beach, which is where we'll be camping.
It's also the only campground in a state park that allows recreational vehicles on the coast of San Mateo County (or San Francisco County, in fact). What makes traveling by motorhome so attractive are the three miles of pristine beaches and cliffs, the seven-mile coastal path, the proximity to the picturesque main street (shops and restaurants) and the iconic port of Pillar Point. There are always photographers here at all hours of the day and night, I know that because I have photographed sunrises, sunsets and the Milky Way in this place more than a few times. The picturesque 1,140-foot long Pacifica Municipal Pier is close to the Sharp Park golf course and one of the best fishing piers in the state, where you can catch salmon and striped bass, as well as crabs.
No admission fee or fishing license is needed. The L-shaped pier was built in 1973 and is a spectacular place to watch the sunset and high wave conditions. Pacifica is about 16 miles from the camp. It boasts of having the most beautiful Taco Bell right on the beach.
There's plenty of parking in case you're in the mood for a chalupa. For the 37th parallel north, Half Moon Bay's mild summer temperatures are unmatched in all areas. 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. If you're planning a weekend getaway to Half Moon Bay, there's no doubt that you'll need a place to rest a bit before continuing to explore this beautiful city.
The album Half Moon Bay was recorded by jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1973 at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in 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. The Montara State Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay. The United States Navy's seaplane USS Half Moon (AVP-2) during World War II was named in honor of Half Moon Bay and kept 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. Agriculture, home to many local farms, remains an important part of Half Moon Bay's economy to this day, and the city is known as the pumpkin capital of the world.
And if you're not interested in chasing that little white ball, maybe you can opt for a cold drink at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. So, take advantage of the rest stop and learn about the Half Moon Bay coastal path that runs along four beaches. 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. Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco.
Half Moon Bay is approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco, 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz.
