Trip planning · California
Beaches near Monterey — grades and where to stay
25 beaches within 50 miles of Monterey, 25 with an A–F Beach Safety Grade (10 grade A). Compare water quality, then book hotels, condos and vacation rentals on the map.
Where to stay in Monterey
Live hotels, condos and vacation rentals in Monterey — pick a beach from the graded list, then book nearby.
Top-rated places to stay near Monterey
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a Monterey beach trip?
Water-quality updates and lodging deals for the beaches you care about.
Watch beaches near Monterey
Get an email when a graded beach near Monterey posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Beaches near Monterey
How to pick a beach near Monterey
Grade A water
Lowest multi-year bacteria exceedance in this radius.
- Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh — 2.3 mi
- Spanish Bay Beach - Spb — 2.9 mi
- Carmel Beach - Cboa — 4.3 mi
- Marina State Beach - Msb — 8.3 mi
Closest to town
- Del Monte Beach - Dmb — 0.4 mi · Grade B
- San Carlos Beach - Scb — 0.7 mi · Grade B
- Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh — 2.3 mi · Grade A
- Lover's Point - Lop — 2.3 mi · Grade B
Graded beaches within 50 miles
Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh
View Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh →2.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Spanish Bay Beach - Spb
View Spanish Bay Beach - Spb →2.9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Carmel Beach - Cboa
View Carmel Beach - Cboa →4.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Marina State Beach - Msb
View Marina State Beach - Msb →8.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Moss Landing State Beach - Msl
View Moss Landing State Beach - Msl →16.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Pajaro Dunes Beach - O010
View Pajaro Dunes Beach - O010 →17.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Point Sur Shp
View Point Sur Shp →22.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Trestle Beach
View Trestle Beach →23 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Hidden Beach - O100
View Hidden Beach - O100 →24.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
New Brighton State Beach - O170
View New Brighton State Beach - O170 →26.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Del Monte Beach - Dmb
View Del Monte Beach - Dmb →0.4 mi · Grade B (Good)
San Carlos Beach - Scb
View San Carlos Beach - Scb →0.7 mi · Grade B (Good)
Lover's Point - Lop
View Lover's Point - Lop →2.3 mi · Grade B (Good)
Stillwater Cove - Stco
View Stillwater Cove - Stco →3.5 mi · Grade B (Good)
Corcoran Lagoon Beach - O370
View Corcoran Lagoon Beach - O370 →25.1 mi · Grade B (Good)
Lighthouse Beach - O510
View Lighthouse Beach - O510 →25.3 mi · Grade B (Good)
Sunny Cove Beach - O380
View Sunny Cove Beach - O380 →25.4 mi · Grade B (Good)
Seacliff State Beach - O140
View Seacliff State Beach - O140 →25.5 mi · Grade B (Good)
Natural Bridges State Beach - O530
View Natural Bridges State Beach - O530 →25.7 mi · Grade B (Good)
Seabright Beach - O440
View Seabright Beach - O440 →25.7 mi · Grade B (Good)
Main Beach - Main-A
View Main Beach - Main-A →26 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access
View Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access →47.3 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Mitchell's Cove Beach - O520
View Mitchell's Cove Beach - O520 →25.7 mi · Grade D (Poor)
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
10 of the 25 beaches within 50 miles of Monterey carry a Beach Safety Grade of A. Grades are multi-year bacteria exceedance from EPA monitoring, not a same-day clearance.
Hotels, condos and vacation rentals around Monterey, California are on the map below with live availability. Stay closer to an A- or B-grade beach if swimming is the point of the trip.
None of the listed beaches near Monterey currently show an active EPA BEACON advisory on this site. Always check local health-department notices the day you swim.
More beach towns
Lodging results are provided by Stay22 from Booking.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. BeachGrade may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you — it never changes the water-quality data.