Updated August 2026
Best beaches in California by water quality
California has 416 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 245 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 84 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 45 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
California beaches on the map
Ways to pick a California beach
Cleanest water (Grade A)
- County Line Beach — Ventura
- Guadalupe Dunes — Santa Barbara
- Spanish Bay Beach - Spb — Monterey
- Salmon Creek State Park Beach - Salmon Creek — Sonoma
A 84
B 60
C 27
D 29
F 45
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | County Line Beach | Ventura | 0% | 206 | Excellent |
| A | Guadalupe Dunes | Santa Barbara | 0% | 183 | Excellent |
| A | Spanish Bay Beach - Spb | Monterey | 0% | 166 | Excellent |
| A | Salmon Creek State Park Beach - Salmon Creek | Sonoma | 0% | 144 | Excellent |
| A | Gualala River | Mendocino | 0% | 141 | Excellent |
| A | Sycamore Cove Beach | Ventura | 0% | 125 | Excellent |
| A | Thornhill Broome Beach | Ventura | 0% | 125 | Excellent |
| A | Staircase Beach | Ventura | 0% | 125 | Excellent |
| A | Hobson County Park Beach | Ventura | 0% | 123 | Excellent |
| A | Point Mugu Beach | Ventura | 0% | 119 | Excellent |
| A | Ormond Beach | Ventura | 0% | 118 | Excellent |
| A | El Matador State Beach | Los Angeles | 0% | 111 | Excellent |
| A | Black Point Regional Park Beach - Black Point | Sonoma | 0% | 111 | Excellent |
| A | Still Water Cove Regional Park Beach - Stillwater | Sonoma | 0% | 111 | Excellent |
| A | Caspar Headlands Sb - Caspar Headlands | Mendocino | 0% | 105 | Excellent |
| A | Drake's Beach - Drakes Beach | Marin | 0% | 90 | Excellent |
| A | Drakes Estero - Drakes Estero | Marin | 0% | 80 | Excellent |
| A | Hidden Beach | Santa Cruz | 0% | 34 | Excellent |
| A | Trestle Beach | Santa Cruz | 0% | 31 | Excellent |
| A | Point Sur Shp | Monterey | 0% | 28 | Excellent |
| A | Nicholas Canyon County Beach | Los Angeles | 0.5% | 422 | Excellent |
| A | Ellwood | Santa Barbara | 0.5% | 187 | Excellent |
| A | Marine Street Beach | San Diego | 0.6% | 359 | Excellent |
| A | Hollywood Beach | Ventura | 0.6% | 316 | Excellent |
| A | Carmel Beach - Cboa | Monterey | 0.6% | 180 | Excellent |
| A | Dillon Beach - Dillon | Marin | 0.6% | 154 | Excellent |
| A | Pl-050 | San Diego | 0.7% | 413 | Excellent |
| A | Hearst Memorial State Beach | San Luis Obispo | 0.7% | 300 | Excellent |
| A | Shell Beach - Shell Beach | Marin | 0.7% | 150 | Excellent |
| A | Cardiff State Beach | San Diego | 0.8% | 744 | Excellent |
| A | La Conchita Beach | Ventura | 0.8% | 127 | Excellent |
| A | Silverstrand Beach | Ventura | 0.9% | 427 | Excellent |
| A | Goat Rock State Park Beach - Goat Rock | Sonoma | 0.9% | 112 | Excellent |
| A | Big River-Mendocino Bay Headlands Sp - Big River | Mendocino | 0.9% | 110 | Excellent |
| A | McGrath State Beach | Ventura | 0.9% | 106 | Excellent |
| A | South Laguna Beach | Orange | 1% | 418 | Excellent |
| A | Mission Beach | San Diego | 1% | 200 | Excellent |
| A | Hare Creek - Hare Creek | Mendocino | 1% | 105 | Excellent |
| A | Van Damme Sp - Van Damme | Mendocino | 1% | 105 | Excellent |
| A | Oxnard Beach | Ventura | 1% | 105 | Excellent |
| A | San Clemente City Beach - Picod | Orange | 1.1% | 1,702 | Excellent |
| A | Stinson Beach - Stinson Beach - South | Marin | 1.1% | 376 | Excellent |
| A | El Capitan State Beach | Santa Barbara | 1.1% | 190 | Excellent |
| A | South Carlsbad State Beach | San Diego | 1.2% | 1,224 | Excellent |
| A | Zuma Beach | Los Angeles | 1.2% | 421 | Excellent |
| A | Mission Bay, Santa Barbara Cove | San Diego | 1.2% | 260 | Excellent |
| A | Manhattan Beach | Los Angeles | 1.2% | 249 | Excellent |
| A | Solana Beach City Beaches | San Diego | 1.2% | 242 | Excellent |
| A | Fort Baker Horseshoe Cove - Baker NE | Marin | 1.3% | 376 | Excellent |
| A | Gaviota State Beach | Santa Barbara | 1.3% | 238 | Excellent |
| A | Millerton Point - Millerton Point | Marin | 1.3% | 150 | Excellent |
| A | Heart's Desire - Hearts Desire | Marin | 1.3% | 150 | Excellent |
| A | Mad River Beach Co. Park - North Mad River Mouth | Humboldt | 1.3% | 150 | Excellent |
| A | Avalon Beach | Los Angeles | 1.4% | 702 | Excellent |
| A | Sharp Park Beach - Sharp Park Beach #6 | San Mateo | 1.4% | 208 | Excellent |
| A | Paradise Cove - Paradise Cove | Marin | 1.4% | 145 | Excellent |
| A | Poche County Beach - Pocheu | Orange | 1.5% | 775 | Excellent |
| A | Mussel Shoals Beach | Ventura | 1.6% | 191 | Excellent |
| A | Jalama Beach | Santa Barbara | 1.7% | 235 | Excellent |
| A | Rincon Beach | Ventura | 1.7% | 121 | Excellent |
| A | Sewers | San Luis Obispo | 1.9% | 156 | Excellent |
| A | Pudding Creek Beach - Pudding Creek | Mendocino | 1.9% | 107 | Excellent |
| A | Royal Palms State Beach | Los Angeles | 2% | 200 | Excellent |
| A | Mandos Cove Beach | Ventura | 2% | 98 | Excellent |
| A | Broad Beach | Los Angeles | 2.1% | 437 | Excellent |
| A | Moss Landing State Beach - Msl | Monterey | 2.1% | 48 | Excellent |
| A | Rodeo Beach - Rodeo Beach - South | Marin | 2.2% | 451 | Excellent |
| A | Torrance Beach | Los Angeles | 2.2% | 229 | Excellent |
| A | Crystal Cove State Park - Elmoroz | Orange | 2.3% | 1,038 | Excellent |
| A | Cayucos Beach | San Luis Obispo | 2.3% | 609 | Excellent |
| A | Sunset Cliffs Park | San Diego | 2.3% | 520 | Excellent |
| A | Monterey Beach Hotel - Mbh | Monterey | 2.3% | 173 | Excellent |
| A | Marina State Beach - Msb | Monterey | 2.3% | 44 | Excellent |
| A | New Brighton State Beach | Santa Cruz | 2.4% | 126 | Excellent |
| A | Emerald Bay | Orange | 2.6% | 1,294 | Excellent |
| A | Windansea Beach | San Diego | 2.6% | 621 | Excellent |
| A | Laguna Beach - Victrau | Orange | 2.8% | 1,358 | Excellent |
| A | San Buenaventura State Beach | Ventura | 2.8% | 387 | Excellent |
| A | China Camp - China Camp | Marin | 2.8% | 142 | Excellent |
| A | Bolsa Chica State Beach | Orange | 2.9% | 824 | Excellent |
| A | Las Tunas County Beach | Los Angeles | 2.9% | 245 | Excellent |
| A | Malibu Beach | Los Angeles | 2.9% | 174 | Excellent |
| A | Big Rock Beach | Los Angeles | 2.9% | 104 | Excellent |
| A | Pajaro Dunes Beach | Santa Cruz | 2.9% | 70 | Excellent |
| B | Port Hueneme Beach Park | Ventura | 3.1% | 604 | Good |
| B | S Morro Strand State Beach | San Luis Obispo | 3.1% | 159 | Good |
| B | Summerland Beach | Santa Barbara | 3.2% | 189 | Good |
| B | Sunset County Beach | Orange | 3.3% | 1,953 | Good |
| B | Miller Park - Miller Park | Marin | 3.3% | 152 | Good |
| B | Lighthouse Beach | Santa Cruz | 3.3% | 61 | Good |
| B | Morro Bay City Beach | San Luis Obispo | 3.5% | 623 | Good |
| B | Seabright Beach | Santa Cruz | 3.5% | 172 | Good |
| B | Pismo State Beach | San Luis Obispo | 3.6% | 1,091 | Good |
| B | Solimar Beach | Ventura | 3.6% | 413 | Good |
| B | Carpinteria City | Santa Barbara | 3.6% | 247 | Good |
| B | San Carlos Beach - Scb | Monterey | 3.6% | 166 | Good |
| B | Doheny State Beach - Dsb4z | Orange | 3.7% | 1,383 | Good |
| B | Butterfly Beach | Santa Barbara | 3.7% | 244 | Good |
| B | Dockweiler State Beach | Los Angeles | 3.8% | 1,505 | Good |
| B | Avila Beach | San Luis Obispo | 3.8% | 213 | Good |
| B | Dana Point - S-6 | Orange | 4% | 2,273 | Good |
| B | Sand Beach | San Mateo | 4% | 475 | Good |
| B | Penninsula Beach | Ventura | 4% | 373 | Good |
| B | Corcoran Lagoon Beach | Santa Cruz | 4% | 100 | Good |
| B | Hobie Beach | Ventura | 4.1% | 737 | Good |
| B | Moonlight Beach | San Diego | 4.1% | 291 | Good |
| B | East Beach | Santa Barbara | 4.1% | 244 | Good |
| B | Stillwater Cove - Stco | Monterey | 4.1% | 169 | Good |
| B | Huntington City Beach | Orange | 4.2% | 1,524 | Good |
| B | Lover's Point - Lop | Monterey | 4.2% | 309 | Good |
| B | Campbell Cove State Beach - Campbell Cove | Sonoma | 4.2% | 288 | Good |
| B | Pebble Beach | San Mateo | 4.3% | 326 | Good |
| B | Refugio State Beach | Santa Barbara | 4.3% | 254 | Good |
| B | Leo Carillo State Beach | Los Angeles | 4.4% | 454 | Good |
| B | La Costa Beach | Los Angeles | 4.4% | 181 | Good |
| B | Hammonds | Santa Barbara | 4.5% | 247 | Good |
| B | Seacliff State Beach | Santa Cruz | 4.6% | 305 | Good |
| B | Lawson's Landing - Lawsons Landing | Marin | 4.7% | 150 | Good |
| B | Huntington Harbour | Orange | 4.8% | 1,531 | Good |
| B | Natural Bridges State Beach | Santa Cruz | 4.8% | 355 | Good |
| B | Clifford Kamph Memorial Park | Del Norte | 4.8% | 167 | Good |
| B | McNears Beach - McNears Beach | Marin | 4.9% | 143 | Good |
| B | High Bluff Beach | Del Norte | 4.9% | 103 | Good |
| B | Newport Beach - Bgc | Orange | 5.1% | 1,683 | Good |
| B | Newport Bay | Orange | 5.3% | 5,822 | Good |
| B | Aquatic Park - Bay#211_sl | San Francisco | 5.4% | 560 | Good |
| B | Keller Beach (Contra Costa Co) - Keller South Beach | Alameda | 5.4% | 371 | Good |
| B | South Casa Beach S.D. | San Diego | 5.4% | 335 | Good |
| B | Surfers Beach - Surfers Beach | San Mateo | 5.5% | 238 | Good |
| B | Huntington State Beach | Orange | 5.7% | 3,623 | Good |
| B | Aliso County Beach - Acm1u | Orange | 5.7% | 2,341 | Good |
| B | Surfers Point At Seaside | Ventura | 5.8% | 240 | Good |
| B | Coral Beach | Los Angeles | 5.9% | 1,164 | Good |
| B | Hope Ranch Beach | Santa Barbara | 6% | 250 | Good |
| B | Leadbetter | Santa Barbara | 6.3% | 253 | Good |
| B | Del Monte Beach - Dmb | Monterey | 6.3% | 144 | Good |
| B | Rockaway Beach - Calera Creek | San Mateo | 6.5% | 492 | Good |
| B | Trinidad State Beach - Mill Creek/Trinidad | Humboldt | 6.5% | 184 | Good |
| B | Goleta Beach | Santa Barbara | 6.7% | 267 | Good |
| B | Point Dume County Beach - Smb-O-01 | Los Angeles | 6.7% | 208 | Good |
| B | Venice City Beach | Los Angeles | 6.8% | 2,361 | Good |
| B | Redondo Beach | Los Angeles | 6.8% | 1,426 | Good |
| B | China Beach - Ocean#17_sl | San Francisco | 6.9% | 1,703 | Good |
| B | Sunny Cove Beach | Santa Cruz | 6.9% | 101 | Good |
| C | Seal Beach Surfside | Orange | 7.2% | 975 | Fair |
| C | Basin H | Los Angeles | 7.2% | 499 | Fair |
| C | Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access | San Mateo | 7.2% | 390 | Fair |
| C | Bolinas Beach - Bolinas | Marin | 7.6% | 185 | Fair |
| C | Promenade Park Beach | Ventura | 7.7% | 650 | Fair |
| C | Faria County Park Beach | Ventura | 7.7% | 235 | Fair |
| C | Seaside Wilderness Park Beach | Ventura | 7.8% | 244 | Fair |
| C | Monarch Beach - Scm1d | Orange | 8% | 954 | Fair |
| C | Muir Beach - Muir Beach - North | Marin | 8.2% | 610 | Fair |
| C | Olde Port Beach | San Luis Obispo | 8.3% | 436 | Fair |
| C | Coyote Point County Park - Coyote Point County Park | San Mateo | 8.5% | 176 | Fair |
| C | El Segundo Beach | Los Angeles | 8.7% | 1,432 | Fair |
| C | Arroyo Burro | Santa Barbara | 8.7% | 254 | Fair |
| C | Crown Beach (Alameda Co) - Crown Crab Cove | Alameda | 8.9% | 982 | Fair |
| C | San Gregorio State Beach - San Gregorio State Beach | San Mateo | 9.5% | 463 | Fair |
| C | Rincon Beach | Santa Barbara | 9.5% | 231 | Fair |
| C | Buccaneer Beach | San Diego | 9.6% | 1,214 | Fair |
| C | Capistrano Beach - Csbmp1z | Orange | 10.4% | 1,141 | Fair |
| C | Schoonmaker Beach - Schoonmaker Beach | Marin | 10.5% | 191 | Fair |
| C | Pomponio State Beach - Pomponio State Beach | San Mateo | 11.1% | 442 | Fair |
| C | Main Beach - Main-A | Santa Cruz | 11.2% | 591 | Fair |
| C | Baker Beach - Ocean#16_sl | San Francisco | 11.3% | 300 | Fair |
| C | Naples Beach | San Mateo | 11.4% | 369 | Fair |
| C | Oyster Point Marina - Oyster Point Marina | San Mateo | 11.4% | 149 | Fair |
| C | South Topanga State Beach | Los Angeles | 11.5% | 1,025 | Fair |
| C | Crissy Field - Bay#202.5_sl | San Francisco | 11.9% | 303 | Fair |
| C | Clam Beach Co. Park - Clam Beach Co. Park | Humboldt | 11.9% | 219 | Fair |
| D | Ross's Cove | San Mateo | 12.3% | 244 | Poor |
| D | Capitola City Beach | Santa Cruz | 12.4% | 443 | Poor |
| D | Surfrider Beach | Los Angeles | 12.5% | 208 | Poor |
| D | Cowell Beach - Cowell-C | Santa Cruz | 13.4% | 2,456 | Poor |
| D | South Will Rogers State Beach | Los Angeles | 13.8% | 2,083 | Poor |
| D | West Beach | Santa Barbara | 14% | 279 | Poor |
| D | Long Beach | Los Angeles | 14.4% | 160 | Poor |
| D | Dana Point Harbor | Orange | 14.6% | 2,643 | Poor |
| D | Inner Cabrillo Beach | Los Angeles | 14.9% | 2,092 | Poor |
| D | Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Smb-Mc-2 | Los Angeles | 15% | 1,333 | Poor |
| D | Kellogg Beach | Del Norte | 15.1% | 93 | Poor |
| D | Alamitos Bay Beach | Los Angeles | 15.7% | 560 | Poor |
| D | La Jolla Shores Beach | San Diego | 16% | 1,358 | Poor |
| D | Mitchell's Cove Beach | Santa Cruz | 16.5% | 272 | Poor |
| D | Dunes State Beach - Dunes State Beach | San Mateo | 17% | 670 | Poor |
| D | Colorado Lagoon | Los Angeles | 17.1% | 3,170 | Poor |
| D | Moonstone Beach - Moonstone Beach | Humboldt | 17.2% | 186 | Poor |
| D | South Beach | Del Norte | 17.4% | 23 | Poor |
| D | Limantour Beach | Marin | 18.1% | 227 | Poor |
| D | Escondido Beach | Los Angeles | 19.3% | 383 | Poor |
| D | Topanga State Beach | Los Angeles | 19.5% | 1,153 | Poor |
| D | Chicken Ranch - Chicken Ranch Ditch | Marin | 19.6% | 225 | Poor |
| D | Ocean Beach - Ocean#22_sl | San Francisco | 19.7% | 411 | Poor |
| D | Candlestick Point - Bay#301.2_sl | San Francisco | 20.2% | 946 | Poor |
| D | Pillar Point Harbor - Pillar Point #9 | San Mateo | 20.2% | 243 | Poor |
| D | Old Home Beach | Humboldt | 22.5% | 80 | Poor |
| D | Golden Hinde | Marin | 23.2% | 185 | Poor |
| D | San Elijo State Beach | San Diego | 24.1% | 742 | Poor |
| D | Aquatic Park - Aquatic Park | San Mateo | 24.3% | 444 | Poor |
| F | San Diego Bay Shelter Is | San Diego | 26% | 300 | Failing |
| F | Crane Cove Park - Bay#230_sl | San Francisco | 26.6% | 937 | Failing |
| F | Fitzgerald Marine (Moss Beach) - Frenchmans Creek | San Mateo | 27.1% | 351 | Failing |
| F | Ocean Beach | San Diego | 27.7% | 1,349 | Failing |
| F | Santa Monica State Beach | Los Angeles | 27.8% | 2,772 | Failing |
| F | Luffenholtz Beach - Luffenholtz Creek | Humboldt | 27.8% | 180 | Failing |
| F | Marina Del Rey Beach - Mothers Beach - Mdrh-3 | Los Angeles | 28.4% | 2,775 | Failing |
| F | Francis State Beach - Francis State Beach | San Mateo | 31% | 481 | Failing |
| F | Puerco Beach | Los Angeles | 31.2% | 295 | Failing |
| F | Kiteboard Beach - Kiteboard Beach | San Mateo | 33.2% | 576 | Failing |
| F | Carlsbad City Beach | San Diego | 33.6% | 450 | Failing |
| F | Capistrano Blvd. Beach | San Mateo | 35.6% | 247 | Failing |
| F | Torrey Pines State Beach | San Diego | 36.5% | 452 | Failing |
| F | Pacifica State Beach - Linda Mar Beach #7 | San Mateo | 37.4% | 728 | Failing |
| F | Swami's Park | San Diego | 37.4% | 438 | Failing |
| F | El Grandada | San Mateo | 38.9% | 247 | Failing |
| F | Tourmaline Surfing Park | San Diego | 42.2% | 450 | Failing |
| F | Seascape Beach Park | San Diego | 44.4% | 108 | Failing |
| F | Border Field State Park | San Diego | 45.5% | 1,169 | Failing |
| F | San Dieguito River Beach | San Diego | 47.7% | 344 | Failing |
| F | Tide Beach Park | San Diego | 48% | 475 | Failing |
| F | San Clemente State Beach | Orange | 51.5% | 237 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, San Juan Cove | San Diego | 60.7% | 61 | Failing |
| F | Carlsbad State Beach | San Diego | 61.8% | 319 | Failing |
| F | Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge | San Diego | 62.5% | 2,561 | Failing |
| F | Oceanside Harbor - Riv San Luis Rey | San Diego | 64% | 683 | Failing |
| F | San Diego Bay Glorietta Bay | San Diego | 70.2% | 171 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Fanuel Park | San Diego | 70.4% | 142 | Failing |
| F | Silver Strand State Beach | San Diego | 71.3% | 1,076 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, North Pacific Passage | San Diego | 72.1% | 222 | Failing |
| F | Leucadia | San Diego | 72.4% | 221 | Failing |
| F | Coronado North Beach | San Diego | 74.6% | 3,125 | Failing |
| F | La Jolla Cove | San Diego | 75.2% | 270 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Campland On The Bay | San Diego | 75.7% | 255 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Ventura Cove | San Diego | 75.7% | 226 | Failing |
| F | Spanish Landing Park | San Diego | 76.7% | 60 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Mariners Basin | San Diego | 77.4% | 53 | Failing |
| F | Bayside Park | San Diego | 78.8% | 156 | Failing |
| F | Del Mar City Beach | San Diego | 79.1% | 191 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Riviera Shores | San Diego | 81.3% | 75 | Failing |
| F | Coronado Cays (Nr) | San Diego | 82.7% | 2,114 | Failing |
| F | Imperial Beach Municipal Beach, Other | San Diego | 84.9% | 4,015 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, Vacation Isle | San Diego | 89.9% | 218 | Failing |
| F | Tecolote Shores | San Diego | 91.3% | 115 | Failing |
| F | Mission Bay, De Anza Cove | San Diego | 94.7% | 113 | Failing |
CSV
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All 245 graded California beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks California beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for California beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
California beaches vary. Of 245 graded beaches, 84 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 45 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.