Carmel Beach

This idyllic and scenic place boasts a pristine white sand beach that’s well-maintained. However, it tends to get crowded and packed during weekends and holidays. Despite the crowds, it’s definitely worth visiting, especially for the breathtaking sunsets.

Gorgeous beach! We stopped here on road trip down the CA coast in October. The beach was not crowded.. so, so peaceful and amazing to have a little time there. Beautiful beach, relaxing, very fine, white sand, very clean, too.

Beautiful beach in Carmel. Absolutely worth a trip when in the area. You can easily visit the beach and historic downtown shops in a day. Parking can be hard to find on a busy day. I’d recommend doing the Scenic Road Walk.

Absolutely LOVE this beach! I like to park along the shoreline, walk the path and enjoy the beautiful views. Dog friendly too!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ At Carmel Beach, heaven meets the shore, Waves whisper softly, yet beg for more. One of North Cal’s finest, a gem so rare, With sand so clean, like silk in the air. Each step is gentle, pure and bright, Snow-white grains gleam in the sun’s warm light. Families laugh, horizons expand, Perfection sculpted by sea and sand. But oh—begin to chew a treat, And winged companions join the feast. Seagulls gather, bold and near, Suddenly, best friends appear! Carmel’s a treasure, calm yet grand, The ocean’s song, the softest sand. A five-star jewel—forever true, Carmel Beach, we cherish you. 🌊✨

Absolutely beautiful. Go during a weekday to get parking and see a truly spectacular sunset. The sand is soft and white and there are usually surfers here that you can watch. There’s some beautiful views of the coastline, forest, and beach homes. There’s also a nice walking path along the street to see all of the each of you want to keep the sand off.

Carmel Beach is unreal, peaceful, clean, and seriously beautiful. The white sand and ocean views feel like a postcard. One of my favorite places to just relax and reset. Definitely a must-visit.

The beach is clean and beautiful. You can walk to the beach and enjoy the quaint shops and restaurants on your way. It is a nice area with a great view. Our pups enjoyed it as well.

This beach is so clean and beautiful. We ended up finding parking nearby and walked to the beach just for a few pictures on the shore. Great views and plenty of people with their dogs playing in the water.

Was in Monterey in late Dec 2024 and decided to stop by Carmel. I decided to do a picnic lunch at the beach and I was rewarded with some nice views and large waves due to the storm in the area. Parking lots were big, but this was a very crowded place. So hard to find parking. People were enjoying the beach, the views, the large waves, playing sports, bird watching, taking photos, etc. See my attached photos for the full experience. Beach was ok but I did not see any tables, benches, or chairs, nor a bathroom. Even when shopping later on, bathrooms are sparse and it seems like the city wants you to visit for a little bit but not really to stay and linger for an extended period of time. Too bad it was so grey and stormy, could not even see the nearby coastline. If you want a nice beach with nice views, definitely worth the stop. Parking was free too.

A nice, open beach to enjoy the ocean, soft sand, and beautiful waves, with a view of stunning beachfront houses. The sunset is absolutely spectacular!

This beach has a beautiful, one of my favorites. It is clean, dog friendly, has perfect sand. The bathrooms here were the cleanest beach bathrooms I have ever encountered. This is the best beach to relax on, walk along the shore & to have a picnic on. Parking can be difficult depending on the day and time. I will always return to this beach when I visit home. This beach is an absolute must if visiting the area!

What a fantastic beach! We spent every single morning taking our beagle June for walks here. Clean and soft sand, little to no kelp or washed up critters. With several access points, including stairs and hills It's super dog and family friendly. The water was chilly but we still saw plenty of dogs enjoying the waves. It's one of the few beaches you can let your dog roam off leash, and they allow alcohol between certain hours. You can even bring propane fire pits during certain times.

My happy place. The kids loved watching the dogs play in the water. The beach is dog friendly.

Amazingly white sand and gorgeous ocean views. Beautiful views. Great walkways down to beach from the street.

Nice sunset views and soft sands beach with multiple scenic views. A romantic place for a couple or a joy for families to just chill. Weather is always in the 60s and occasionally low 70s ... so, wear wind breaker. Plenty of parking but on weekends, it can be crowded so may need to park 30 min away by walking distance. Also, lots of galleries and restaurants on or near Ocean street.

At the foot of Ocean Avenue, coming from the center of town, Carmel Beach is one of the most iconic spots on California's Central Coast. From morning to night Carmel Beach attracts visitors and locals alike to take in the majestic scenery and fun activities. Thanks to community volunteers, the Scenic Pathway is a well-maintained decomposed granite (DG) walkway that meanders above the bluff overlooking Camel Beach through sculptured Monterey Cypress trees. One can continue to walk the spectacular coastline on Scenic Drive all the way to Carmel River Beach with panoramic views from Pebble Beach to Point Lobos. A unique feature of Carmel Beach beside the white sands and cerulean blue ocean is the ability to snuggle up next to a cozy beach fire. Please access the website for more details. At the end of Ocean Avenue, there is a small parking area at the beach as well as free parking on Ocean Avenue just west of San Antonio. Additional limited parking is available along Scenic Road which parallels Carmel Beach. Restrooms are located in the parking at the foot of Ocean Avenue and on Scenic Road at Santa Lucia Avenue. The sand is soft and ample and the views from anywhere on the beach are spectacular....a must visit when in Carmel.

This is our favorite beach to take our dog to because it's the only one I know that allows them to run around. I just hope that every single person that brings their dog here for a good time picks up after them. Keep our beaches clean so we can all enjoy them! The views are gorgeous. This beach has ample parking spaces, multiple volleyball courts, and clean toilets. Best of all, it's a good walk to coffee shops and restaurants.

Beautiful beach. There is a bit of a hill to get down after you park, which isn't bad until you have to get back up in the sand. Those with accessibility issues would have a tough time. Other than that, the beach was clean and has just amazing views. The parking was busy -- we lucked out and got one close. I could see it being tough over the weekend for sure. Parking was free. I brought my dog. It's dog-friendly and many had their dogs off leash.

Gorgeous setting with soft powdery sand and gentle waves along the shoreline for miles. More than enough space to accommodate plenty of families and couples (as well as pet dogs, many unleashed) with lawn chairs, beach mats, and small tents scattered throughout on a sunny day. Restrooms are conveniently located near the parking lot on Ocean Ave, with extra parking on Scenic Road, which runs parallel to Carmel Beach. And "scenic" is an understatement... the spectacular views can't be missed following this curvy road, even a chance to admire the remarkable architecture of the butterfly house at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the water. Pretty idyllic beach for relaxing on a Sunday afternoon, and I'm absolutely enamored by the ambience here.

Nice and soft white sand but the flies wouldn't stop landing on me! We tried watching the sunset and I was too hungry and annoyed by the flies to stay until the end. It is super conveniently located down the hill from all the cute shops and charming corridors.

If one have decided to visit Carmel-By-The-Sea. There were drastic difference between visits during the weekend on the month of August and May. Here are the break down between August and May: 1) You get to soak in warm pleasant sunray, not harsh sunburn during the month of August. However, tourist season with loads of tour buses parked and dropped of dozens of foreign tourists presumably meetup at the Bay Area. Expect exceeding long lines everywhere especially on walk-in dining, bike tour, ice-cream parlor, cafes, street parking, beach parking, beach bathroom, etc. But they are worth the wait. Okay, now mid May visit can have almost the opposite experience, no line, mostly empty restaurants yet won't seat you at the patio because you still need reservations, empty cafes, barely warm sunray at the beach, cold breeze started too soon in the afternoon. Fewer people on the beach, more personally space. Regardless, dog owners pick up after their happy canines which is a PLUS. I may suggest cat owners to potty train them to avoid treating the entire beach as a litter box, lol. Last, depends on the time of month, strong wind post sunset could give you a minor cold. So bring a jacket.

Nice spot to hang out. Above are plenty of benches for seating. Below is a clean dog friendly beach.

I always love it here. Best escape for relaxation and very walkable to and from downtown Carmel. The blue refreshing colors really give off cool vibes and the sun is always just right. No wonder Carmel-By-The-Sea attracts artists and painters. It's absolutely paradise here. We always find available free off street parking nearby, especially up and down on Ocean Avenue. I never had a problem with the parking and walking distances. Don't park in restricted areas though. The beach audience is usually very comfortable, friendly, and dogs enjoy taking walks around the trails and along the sandy beach too. There's always something about this beach that keeps me coming. Trees are unique for sure. The entire place truly has beautiful trees and paths. It's not like most cold, foggy, or windy beaches that you find more often up north. This one is perfect for photos. You can walk around the beautiful residential neighborhoods and then back up to downtown Carmel too. I wouldn't say the same for other beaches which feels more crowded, busy, and stressful. Carmel Beach is the one to sit on a swing or choose your favorite spot to read a book, relax, and enjoy. I can imagine myself painting the beach and ocean waves here. Most importantly, it's a very clean and safe feeling in this environment. It's best to stay longer in Carmel overnight if you can to really get this great feeling of enjoyment. It's always a beautiful day out here. Highly recommended.

Still one of my favorite beaches in the Monterey Bay Area. As usual parking can be challenging during the peak season. I recommend avoiding the big parking lot and instead finding spots along scenic road. The neighborhoods behind scenic road also have street parking, but watch out for the no parking signs. Your trip is best enjoyed with a beach umbrella if you are expecting a lot of sunlight. Be careful of dogs if you have kids, and if you bring your dog, use your best judgment about having them leash free. The water is cold all season, but can be enjoyed anyway. It's much better with a wet suit. Try to find a spot away from the crowds. Last, if you're packing heavy, be ready for a few rounds of carrying items down to the beach.

Large, beautiful, popular beach at the end of Ocean Ave in Carmel. Clean, soft, white sand everywhere. A viewing platform lets you look up and down the magnificent coastline. Great for people-watching, and/or doggie-watching, too. Limited public parking, but we just walked here from the shopping area a few blocks up the hill. Definitely worth the stroll.

Really beautiful beach. Ample parking and not too crowded. Brought both kids and we played some football games and didn't feel like we were disturbing anyone.

I love how dog friendly this town & this beach are! Your fur babies can run around unleashed & enjoy the sand with you. It's a beautiful & clean beach. Plenty of parking but don't be shy about having to park further up the street especially during the busier times, it's a nice walk downtown to end up here. The walk down can be pretty steep but there are also some staircases you can take at the other ends of the beach if you need to.

***3.5 Stars*** There's no denying that Carmel Beach is gorgeous. But for someone like me who enjoys minimal crowds, this beach was just too packed for my liking. Not only that; parking is really tough. I don't mind making a trek if it's worth it, but to struggle to find parking just to be stuck on a beach with the rest of town just isn't my ideal way to relax. Nevertheless, it's still a nice place to catch a beautiful sunset. The sand is soft and white and the water isn't too bad. Carmel Beach is pretty large and stretches down pretty far, but on a busy weekend, that really won't matter too much. People flock to this beach like mad. There are restrooms but the lines can get ridiculously long. Despite the large crowds, this beach seems to stay really clean. You'll find people picnicking, playing ball games, and engaging in dog play. The people watching can be very entertaining if you're into that kind of thing. If crowds aren't a problem for you, then a visit to Carmel Beach is perfect. I feel like I need to come back during a weekday or during the off season to truly enjoy all that this beach really has to offer.

OH MYGOODNESS!!! What a beautiful beach!! Carmel by the sea area is a very walkable and dog friendly town. Absolutely beautiful area. White sanding beach, trees and flowers, sometimes big waves out at see, and gorgeous views all around. We finished eating breakfast at our hotel and decided to drive to see the beach. There's plenty of free parking here. We parked and walked all around. There's really not a bad parking spot. The only thing is that the stairs going down to the beach is pretty steep! Well, going down is better than climbing back up!!! Even if you couldn't walk down the stairs, there's benches that you could sit and enjoy the view. Bring some water, coffee, or tea and enjoy.....

Been coming here for 14 years & luv it each time. On weekends go early to find prime parking. I prefer the beach front scenic road , its less crowded, more scenic and more shades. It was also fun to check out those $10 million ocean view mansions. Once parked on scenic road, you can see, smell & hear the ocean even from your car. After an awful week this break was badly needed

I love taking my dog here. I've only had good experiences from other dog owners. The only downside is parking is absolutely atrocious. Other than that it's a beautiful beach and one of my favorites as it's dog friendly. Be prepared to possibly walk a good distance. The roads are very narrow that at times can make it difficult to pass through with pedestrians and other vehicles. Driving around the area is super stressful but once you get to the beach it's nice. It's has very scenic views.

This beach is the best beach on the west coast hands down! There is more than enough space for everyone, there is not a lick of trash and I love the dog beach section as it is full of life and happiness. The white sand is soft and beautiful, and the ocean feels so nice putting it in the least, even when it is cold outside. I love the breeze and listening to the ocean as well while out here.! If you are not from the area, this beach really will not disappoint and the food nearby is fantastic as well! Hope that someone from out of town finds this handy!

The sand is very fine. Enjoy watching the waves and people surfing. But lots of seaweed on the beach. Also can't find the bathroom. Wish there is a sign somewhere.

A beautiful beach. If you're in the area, you must stop by. If you're new to northern California beaches, keep in mind that they tend to be on the cooler side. Every once in a while you'll get lucky and it'll be sunny and warm outside, but most likely the water is too cold to swim in. Maybe you can dip your feet in. Your dog will certainly love to splash around! The sand here is always kept so pristine. When we visit, we typically park somewhere nearby rather than trying to get beach parking. The walk down to the beach isn't long, but do keep in mind that it is all uphill going back up. There is a public restroom at the top of the dunes before you go down to the beach itself. This place can be really serene. There are often families enjoying life out here too. I highly recommend it (if you like beaches/nature, etc).

Soft sand beach - must visit when you're in Carmel. We went a couple of times during our two night stay in Carmel this last Mother's Day weekend. Found a comfortable spot to sit the first evening (when we walked from our motel); drove up on the second evening with blankets, towels, and beach chairs in tow (much more comfortable). Kids enjoyed frolicking in the water, the missus and I enjoyed watching them play, and the sun set behind Cypress Point. Just as we were about to leave, a bagpiper showed up, playing haunting melodies. It was a magical way to wrap up our last evening in Carmel.

A gorgeous beach. Parking is a pain in the ...and there are only bathrooms at one end of the beach. It does have amazing white sand and clear blue water. Yet overall, not necessarily a top choice. Carmel is beautiful but so dang crowded. I grew up in a beach town and know how to navigate crowded streets, but be warned, it is crowded and we'll, crowded. Not saying I won't go back, because I know I will. And swimming here is nice, if you don't mind the frigid cold temperatures of NoCal waters. And dogs. Running all over the place here. I love dogs, but when I see them peeing on beach tents, yikes, not cool. Three stars for the beauty of the beach, and Carmel itself is a fun, swanky town to visit.

Always love to visit this beach. They keep the beach clean even the water looks clean. Cons: Come early or else there's no parking close by. Going down hill is fine but going back up is a pain in the butt. No feet cleaning stations.

The beach is my happy place, and Carmel Beach is right up there as one of my all-time favorite beaches in Northern California! I've lived in Hawaii and Southern California (L.A./San Diego), and love traveling to beachy, tropical places around the world, so that makes me a beach expert, right? Okay, not really, but I do adore the beach! Carmel Beach is pure magic from the powdery white sand to the deep blue, sometimes turquoise-y water, and incredibly wide beach! Even on a busy weekend day, you're sure to find your own stretch of sand without worrying about someone else accidentally kicking sand onto your towel. Plus, in our world of social distancing this past year, we always felt extremely safe and social distanced from others. This beach has been a haven for getting outside and getting some fresh air, vitamin D and enjoying mother nature. It's often windy at this beach, even if the sun is shining, so always bring layers and be mindful of your beach umbrellas not flying away! For our furry friends, this beach is dog-friendly, but please pick up after your dogs! Walking up and down this beach on many occasions, we've had to dodge so much random dog poop. Please be respectful, be kind, mind your canine, and have yourself a wonderful beach day!

This big expansive beach is gorgeous! The bright white sand and incredible blue hues of the Pacific ocean will almost make you think you're in Hawaii or the Caribbean... ...but in early May the water is still too freezing to actually swim in. Everyone is still wearing hoodies and jackets, and maybe dipping their feet in the water, not even knee deep causes just too darn cold!

You can't go wrong with a visit here. One of my favorite beaches on earth. It's got it all. Be sure and watch sunset here

My husband proposed to me at sunset out on the rocks by Carmel Beach, so we decided to have our engagement shoot there. This is a unique and incredible place for photography, especially during the golden hour. It doesn't seem to be a played out, well-known spot like some of the other beautiful places around the Bay Area. Our photos turned out gorgeous.

Carmel is just a cute town, and the beach here is pretty dang lovely. I've been to Carmel Beach twice. The first time was years ago when I photographed a wedding here which was quite beautiful. Then my last time here I was with my now former boyfriend during our weekend getaway. I loved seeing the many different doggies that were running around on this beach! Seeing doggies always brighten up my day no matter what. Parking was pretty easy as we found a spot right away. The beach wasn't too busy so that was good.

Beautiful beach! No wonder why they add "by the sea" after Carmel city! The natural beach view and landscape with the layout of the community on the side, makes it a stamp to the city's trademark and simply pleasant to be here. I love the ocean sounds and the sunset colors are vibrant! Be by the sea when in Carmel!

Serene. Majestic. Peaceful. Some words to describe this beach. Jan2021: Towards the time of sunset, it was chilly but a t-shirt was enough. I didn't need a sweater. The sand and water became purple at sunset. It was pretty crowded but easy to focus on the peace brought about by the breeze and sound of waves. I found it a great getaway from COVID and the perfect place to relax and get fresh air. One of my goals this is year to get outdoors more. SIP can be rough! Highly recommend it here. The locals are lucky they can experience this every day.

Beautiful! We saw a beautiful sunset as well as enjoyed our walk! Water was freezing, so we didn't get in!

Carmel beach is one of the prettiest beaches I've been to and I actually feel like this place is super relaxing. Even during COVID people are following the social distance rules very well and not being super close to each other. The beach is super big and tons of places to layout on and chill and relax at. The ocean breeze is nice and we came here during the morning time with the sun out. It was such a perfect day and a wonderful memory. For it being my first time I totally enjoyed it and I am 100 percent sure you will too!

Love this beach especially when the weather is good. I think the only thing about this beach is finding parking especially during the weekend. The weekdays are decently crowded but you are able to still find parking. I think it's about time to rate this beautiful beach after years of coming here! During Covid, the beach was open and people respected the social distance but they were friendly enough within a distance. The sand is super soft and pretty clean for a pretty crowded beach. On a warm day, the sand is warm. People cleaned up after themselves. People clean up after yourself so we get to enjoy this beach for years to come!! Do your part! There is a lot of seaweed than before but still pretty clean to walk around. Water is super cold even to swim in or even during a heat wave! They do have a public bathrooms but keep extra tissue handy in case they run out of toilet tissue. Parking spaces here are pretty tight so if your worried about your car, you will have to be lucky to find a big space. Everyone should make sure to not block the close residence near the beach. This will be my to-go beach when my area is super hot. It's usually a 10-20 degree difference than the Bay Area during certain times of the year. Love this beach!! [57/100]

This place is just pure perfection and magical. With its white sandy beaches and oh so friendly dog town. Just bliss the whole way. Carmel alone is beautiful and the beaches is part of the icing in the cake. With covid, they had limitations on the beaches. Basically no gathering and hanging around. You allowed to enjoy the beach for exercising though. With it being so cold, no one was really lounging on the sand anyway. People was walking along the water, letting the dogs enjoy themselves. There was a few people just having a seat on the sand but no major group. Plus, there was plenty of parking this time. Normally is always so full. The white sandy beaches. The spectacular views. The oh so friendly dog town all makes this place a gem.

Beautiful dog friendly beach. Great soft light sand and the waves do not get too crazy. Amazing view of the 18th hole at pebble beach. Definitely catch the sun set here. It's the most beautiful sunset viewing location I have ever been. It can get windy and cold but bonfires are allowed until 10 pm in the southernmost part of the beach (south of 10th Ave) wear layers to accommodate for the temperature changes throughout the day. The more south you go the easier it is to get o to the beach. There are stairs if you go south of the oval wan Ave entrance. The ocean Ave entrance can be a bit tricky to get into the beach because of the large hill but if you go south a quarter mile there are stairs which help a lot. Also keep your eyes on the ocean you might see a whale jump out of the water far out. Worth the trip!!

5 stars 'cuz my dogs love this beach. Right of Ocean ave this beach is off leash doggie playground. Dozens and dozens of dogs romping with delight. Even you don't own a dog you can come here and make a canine friend for a while. Sit on the sand close the water. Eventually you will get wet tongue licks on your face, guaranteed! If you don't like dogs, walk left of ocean ave to enjoy the gentle surf and the views of pebble beach golf club in the distance. A special place.

This is my favorite beach! I have not been here in over a year and still hesitant to go with COVID restrictions. What I love: Free parking, soft white sand that's easy to walk on and it's dog friendly. My best adventures here were with my dog, Wishbone. If he could talk, he would say this is his favorite beach too! I've also been here on solo work adventures, it's a great place to park and eat lunch before heading home. There is something zen about this place.

Biking here was tough. There's lots of hills and strong wind can sometimes make pedaling more difficult, but it can also help if you're going in the same direction. :0) Anyway, for all you bikers out there! The ride from the Naval Station in Monterey to 17 mile drive is beautiful but long(for me anyway).....I am new to biking. I started about a year ago during the start of the pandemic, but This is by far my favorite ride so far. It's very therapeutic here. We couldn't finish the 17 mile loop this time, but we plan to come back again real soon. Check it out for yourself if you haven't already.

This is a beautiful beach in Carmel. Great beach to walk in the morning or evening to watch the sunset. There are many areas to explore and enjoy. There is a volleyball area and some hiking paths. This is a relaxing setting and Carmel is a very nice place to visit.

When In Carmel, it is a must to visit the beach. Space is just right, walking distance from the shopping strip. Bring your food and have a picnic by the beach or play board games.

This is a fantastic beach with soft sand and beautiful scenery. It's one of the most beautiful places along the California coast. It has a nice scenic path along the beach if you don't want to go in where the sand is. It's also near some lovely homes and a nice place for a walk.

We visited here on our trip from San Jose to Monterey. One of the most beautiful beaches with some of the softest sand I have been to. Highly recommend checking the sunset here as there are fantastic spots all over the beach. I enjoyed it best from the hills near the volleyball courts. I also recommend coming early to find parking as it is somewhat of a nightmare to park here.