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BeachGrade

Trip planning · California · Updated August 2026

Beaches near Santa Cruz — grades and where to stay

40 beaches within 50 miles of Santa Cruz, 40 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 Santa Cruz

Live hotels, condos and vacation rentals in Santa Cruz — pick a beach from the graded list, then book nearby.

Top-rated places to stay near Santa Cruz

Prices for Oct 2–4, 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 Santa Cruz beach trip?

Water-quality updates and lodging deals for the beaches you care about.

Watch beaches near Santa Cruz

Get an email when a graded beach near Santa Cruz posts a new sample or swim advisory.

Beaches near Santa Cruz

How to pick a beach near Santa Cruz

Grade A water

Lowest multi-year bacteria exceedance in this radius.

Closest to town

Graded beaches within 50 miles

2%2.4% over limit
A
Santa Cruz County · California

New Brighton State Beach

View New Brighton State Beach →

5.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Santa Cruz County · California

Hidden Beach

View Hidden Beach →

8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Santa Cruz County · California

Trestle Beach

View Trestle Beach →

9.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

3%2.9% over limit
A
Santa Cruz County · California

Pajaro Dunes Beach

View Pajaro Dunes Beach →

15.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%2.1% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Moss Landing State Beach - Msl

View Moss Landing State Beach - Msl →

16.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%2.3% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Marina State Beach - Msb

View Marina State Beach - Msb →

22.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Spanish Bay Beach - Spb

View Spanish Bay Beach - Spb →

25.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%2.3% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh

View Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh →

26.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%0.6% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Carmel Beach - Cboa

View Carmel Beach - Cboa →

30.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Monterey County · California

Point Sur Shp

View Point Sur Shp →

48.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

3%3.3% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Lighthouse Beach

View Lighthouse Beach →

1.6 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%3.5% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Seabright Beach

View Seabright Beach →

1.7 mi · Grade B (Good)

5%4.8% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Natural Bridges State Beach

View Natural Bridges State Beach →

2.3 mi · Grade B (Good)

7%6.9% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Sunny Cove Beach

View Sunny Cove Beach →

2.5 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Corcoran Lagoon Beach

View Corcoran Lagoon Beach →

3 mi · Grade B (Good)

5%4.6% over limit
B
Santa Cruz County · California

Seacliff State Beach

View Seacliff State Beach →

6.8 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4.2% over limit
B
Monterey County · California

Lover's Point - Lop

View Lover's Point - Lop →

24.8 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%3.6% over limit
B
Monterey County · California

San Carlos Beach - Scb

View San Carlos Beach - Scb →

26.3 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%6.3% over limit
B
Monterey County · California

Del Monte Beach - Dmb

View Del Monte Beach - Dmb →

27 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4.3% over limit
B
San Mateo County · California

Pebble Beach

View Pebble Beach →

27.8 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4.1% over limit
B
Monterey County · California

Stillwater Cove - Stco

View Stillwater Cove - Stco →

28.8 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4% over limit
B
San Mateo County · California

Sand Beach

View Sand Beach →

29.2 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%5.5% over limit
B
San Mateo County · California

Surfers Beach - Surfers Beach

View Surfers Beach - Surfers Beach →

43.4 mi · Grade B (Good)

11%11.2% over limit
C
Santa Cruz County · California

Main Beach - Main-A

View Main Beach - Main-A →

1.2 mi · Grade C (Fair)

7%7.2% over limit
C
San Mateo County · California

Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access

View Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access →

22.9 mi · Grade C (Fair)

11%11.1% over limit
C
San Mateo County · California

Pomponio State Beach - Pomponio State Beach

View Pomponio State Beach - Pomponio State Beach →

31.1 mi · Grade C (Fair)

10%9.5% over limit
C
San Mateo County · California

San Gregorio State Beach - San Gregorio State Beach

View San Gregorio State Beach - San Gregorio State Beach →

31.7 mi · Grade C (Fair)

11%11.4% over limit
C
San Mateo County · California

Naples Beach

View Naples Beach →

42.4 mi · Grade C (Fair)

9%8.5% over limit
C
San Mateo County · California

Coyote Point County Park - Coyote Point County Park

View Coyote Point County Park - Coyote Point County Park →

45.6 mi · Grade C (Fair)

13%13.4% over limit
D
Santa Cruz County · California

Cowell Beach - Cowell-C

View Cowell Beach - Cowell-C →

0.9 mi · Grade D (Poor)

17%16.5% over limit
D
Santa Cruz County · California

Mitchell's Cove Beach

View Mitchell's Cove Beach →

1.5 mi · Grade D (Poor)

12%12.4% over limit
D
Santa Cruz County · California

Capitola City Beach

View Capitola City Beach →

4.5 mi · Grade D (Poor)

17%17% over limit
D
San Mateo County · California

Dunes State Beach - Dunes State Beach

View Dunes State Beach - Dunes State Beach →

41.9 mi · Grade D (Poor)

24%24.3% over limit
D
San Mateo County · California

Aquatic Park - Aquatic Park

View Aquatic Park - Aquatic Park →

43.1 mi · Grade D (Poor)

20%20.2% over limit
D
San Mateo County · California

Pillar Point Harbor - Pillar Point #9

View Pillar Point Harbor - Pillar Point #9 →

44.4 mi · Grade D (Poor)

12%12.3% over limit
D
San Mateo County · California

Ross's Cove

View Ross's Cove →

44.5 mi · Grade D (Poor)

31%31% over limit
F
San Mateo County · California

Francis State Beach - Francis State Beach

View Francis State Beach - Francis State Beach →

41.2 mi · Grade F (Failing)

33%33.2% over limit
F
San Mateo County · California

Kiteboard Beach - Kiteboard Beach

View Kiteboard Beach - Kiteboard Beach →

43.4 mi · Grade F (Failing)

39%38.9% over limit
F
San Mateo County · California

El Grandada

View El Grandada →

43.8 mi · Grade F (Failing)

36%35.6% over limit
F
San Mateo County · California

Capistrano Blvd. Beach

View Capistrano Blvd. Beach →

44.3 mi · Grade F (Failing)

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

10 of the 40 beaches within 50 miles of Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz currently show an active EPA BEACON advisory on this site. Always check local health-department notices the day you swim.

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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.