Monterey State Beach

I had a very pleasant day visiting Monterey State Beach. The cool breeze made the weather perfect for spending time outdoors. We had a great time playing beach volleyball and even received some fun freebies during our visit, which added to the experience. One of the highlights was watching (and maybe even trying!) the paragliding happening right at the beach—it added a real sense of adventure to the atmosphere. It’s also a fantastic spot for pet lovers. We saw lots of people walking their dogs and enjoying various activities with their pets.

Monterey State Beach is a wide, scenic beach with beautiful ocean views, but unfortunately it is not always very well maintained. In some areas there is quite a bit of grass and seaweed, which slightly affects the impression. Still, it offers a nice place for walking, relaxing, and enjoying sunsets, even if it could be cleaner. Perfect for those who appreciate a more natural shoreline.

I arrived when the sun was setting and it was the most beautiful thing ever! Parking is limited but I secured a spot at the front. There is a sign that states they don’t recommend swimming due to the waves, not sure since I didn’t swim. When it got dark a cop came to the parking lot and kicked everyone out so make sure to be gone by the time the sun sets lol.

Decent beach. Good for families with little kids as there is a stream running alongside that is shallow and fun for kids to play in. Waves break pretty hard in places with not as gradual a slope to play in the water. Plenty of beach for crowds. No restroom facilities. Limited parking (around 50 stalls). Overall fun place to play with nice views.

Fun little walk to the beach, amazing sunset view and not super busy

Very pleasant beach.Enjoyed the friendliness of Seagulls and chipmunks.Enjoyed the day.Free parking.Pleasant climate.

The beach is open but since we were in a corner of the bay the waves could be fierce. There are signs all over warning of rip tides that can carry you away. Not really safe to swim but the ocean is beautiful.

Brought my family to relax and enjoy the beach. Lifeguard on duty keeping watch on everybody. I thought the parking lot was closed because it said so on Google Maps. We managed to park, eat our McDonald's and walked down the beach. Great place to bring your family and enjoy the beach.

Beautiful and lovely! As always The only drawback is the smell and the fact that the marine layer interferes with the sunset at times -- but otherwise, it's an iconic and stunning piece of California coastline with decent parking. Not too crowded usually either

This was a nice little beach for me and the kids to spend the morning at. There is a small parking lot with room for maybe 40 cars or so. There is also some street parking. But it's 2 hour parking. There are 2 port o potties in the parking lot. Ugh. Of course they're gross and there is no place to wash your hands. So have sanitizer or sanitizer wipes handy. Also there were a lot of dogs off leash there. Fortunately all of them were well behaved and they didn't bother me or the kids at all. But that's something to keep in mind. There is a hotel right by it. But if you want food or something like that you'll have to bring it or go out to get it. There is no lifeguard on duty anywhere near here. So be cautious. All in all we had a nice time there.

Beach about 10 minutes north of Monterey. We've seen paragliding out here and always wanted to stop by to check it out. The parking lot is small and gets packed quickly and getting in and out can be challenging with the amount of people parked in the parking lot waiting for someone to leave. There is an estuary right next to the parking lot so if you bring swim clothes or roll up your pants you can walk across it for pretty quick access. If you don't the walk is longer to get to a secluded part of the ocean. It's much colder near the water than at the parking lot so bring warm clothes. A lot of the beach is littered with burnt firewood even though fires aren't allowed and there are small sections that are roped off for fragile native plant habitats so you feel less integrated with nature. There are some driftwood logs I saw couple leaning on and watching the waves together. For some reason this is very romantic to me and it looks like a good place at sunrise or sundown for a date.

This Seaside beach was a beautiful setting for enjoying a lovely evening with family this past weekend. Watching the sun set was amazing, perfect for photo ops with the kiddos. So much space to run around and feel the smooth sand beneath our toes, endless shoreline to cool off in the water, and plenty of scenery to appreciate, without difficult crowds even on a hot day. It's the first time in a long time that I've seen lifeguards on duty and a lifeguard tower in use, and they were all very friendly. With high tide at 9:20pm on Saturday, they warned us in advance so we could move our belongings and avoid getting all of our stuff wet. Beach campfires were allowed (even with the "no fires on beach" sign), and we had a blast taking advantage. I didn't see any public restrooms, but I had family members staying at the Monterey Tides (hotel literally on the beach), so it wasn't a problem. The tiny parking lot was not sufficient on a hot day, we had to wait a while to get a spot even in the late afternoon, and note that they ticket vehicles parked after hours (they don't have a curfew at the beach though).

Breathtaking sunset views. I drove past the beach up the sand city hill and found a place to park and walk down towards the cliff. Most amazing experience during my trip.

I came to Monterey State Beach on 02/26/22 for a day trip with my family. Since my family didn't want to stay at the beach I was only able to get less than 10 minutes of beach time. My nieces were bummed out as well as their parents didn't want to hang out on the beach at all. My dad who the driver for this trip was able to find parking easily and I paid for the parking as my parents do not know how to navigate that area and it was honestly cheap. The machines were a little difficult to operate but I was able to figure it out. What we didn't realize was that the parking for Fisherman's Wharf was different so I had to pay for parking again as peoples didn't want to make that walk. Anywho, the 10 minutes I was there was so lovely. I consider myself to be a beach Princess as I love the beach - being on the edge of the world observing God's creation! It couldn't get better than that. It was so magical just watching the waves roll in and out. I wanted to feel the water on my feet but knew the family wouldn't be about that especially in my dad's new car xD so it probably worked out for the best. I took a few pictures as pictured to capture the moment and hopefully come back one day and actually take it all in. It was a short and lovely experience . They have bathrooms. Family used them I didn't. Will need to come back for the full experiences . Ample parking. No complaints. The little of Monterey Beach that I saw is just beautiful.

This was our second time at this beach. First time I was very impressed (couple years back). This time there was not easy access to the beach, my elderly parents had to hike forever to get to the water. We finally set up and then noticed the foul smell was because a dead sea lion was right next to us on the beach shore. No bathroom access near the beach. Had to hike back up and no TP (I should've been prepared my fault too). I do love they have lifeguards on shore though. Because I was worried for my parents after the tough hike for them. We won't be returning unfortunately.

We had a nice experience at this beach. It was a little cold the day we visited, but that's what is to be expected at a Northern California beach in the spring. The beach wasn't very crowded that day so parking along the street was easy.

I remember coming here after dinner at an Italian place called "Gusto...", I think. I was on a weekend getaway in Monterey/Carmel area with my (now former) boyfriend back in September. So when we were at the beach, it was already kinda of dark as the sun had already set during our dinner. We found parking immediately and easily as there was no one else on the beach at that time. The weather was chilly, but we wore jackets to keep us warm. It was pretty lovely to walk a little on the beach and just listen/watch the waves.

What's not to like about the beach? Other than having a horrible parking lot structure, Monterey beach has always been one of my favorites to visit. Unfortunately during time of year there tends to be a lot of sea lettuce, which is a bright green algae build up that floats on top of the water and washes to shore. Not to be confused with seaweed. However the scenery, the sounds of the ocean waves clashing, and feeling the sea breeze can still provide an amazing serene vibe on a chill tip. We sat and enjoyed the view for a few hours to enjoy the warm temps. We even spotted a sea lion swimming in the ocean. It was pretty cool.

Beautiful area. The beach was very pretty and the smells of salt and ocean were wonderful. The beach was not too crowded. It was difficult to find parking. The beach was clean. Monterey Beach is the perfect place for a day trip. The ocean was roaring on a windy day and this was a nice place to spend some time with Brian. I had been looking for pelicans on this trip and this is where a found them searching for their dinner around 5pm...

We are from out of town. Decided to explore and made a 15 min stop. Great beach to fly a kite and paragliding. Would suggest to bring a thick coat; it was pretty windy. Likes: - Restroom - Beautiful views Dislikes: Not a lot of parking spaces in the lot. Plenty of street parking though, before the entrance.

It's a beautiful beach. Despite the water being cold, we still were able to take a dip and enjoy the ocean breeze. The sand was soft, families were having fun, and memories were made. I'm glad I found this beach through Yelp. Warning about Monterey beach parking: parking is hard to find. We drove around to 3 beaches and finally found one spot here.

Loved this beach! It took us about 25 minutes to find parking after going in circles since it was pretty packed the day we came by to visit. We finally found parking and started to enter the beach and went looking for a spot to set up. We found a nice area with no dead seaweed laying around or nasty flies or flees lurking. I was able to take a nap and relax for the rest of my evening there. The weather was beautiful and the sound of the waves calmed the soul. My husband and I enjoyed our time here. This beach wasn't as beautiful as Carmel by the sea but in my opinion it was a lot cleaner with little no flies or fleas on the sand. That's a big no no for me!

I have been coming to this park for years, first with my nieces who are already in college and now with my little. And it has always been a great place to just park up a blanket, some snacks and let the kids play. The sand is soft and there are rows of trees you can sit under or a rock to sit on and the beach is beautiful on all sides, no matter where you look. the littles can run up and down the waves, they are not big or dangerous, one year they were even warm! Imagine that. Usually they are cold, but that doesn't stop my kid from running in them LOL. I love it here, and will come for years ahead I'm sure.

This is a gorgeous beach with lots of street parking. Admittedly, it is off season right now but if you want a nice stretch of scenic sands to walk the dog , this is the place. The water is beyond blue and the beach is clean and just beautiful. Dogs are allowed, on leash. But if you are there early enough in Winter, there is literally very few people around to care. Just be sure to pick up after your pup!

Cool ocean spray. Wild waves crashing on a steep beach. Blue sky and bracing wind. These are my impressions of this gorgeous beach. It was not warm there, but entirely alive with kinetic energy of wind and surf. The sand was not pleasant to walk in with sandals consisting mostly of pebbles that got stuck between foot and sole. However even that was enjoyable in a slightly painful way.

We visited the northern end of Monterey state beach recently to escape the heat. On the downside, there isn't a lot of parking, on the upside the beach isn't crowded (probably a result of the limited parking). We had to wait a bit for a parking spot to open up, but once we made it down to the beach we didn't have to walk far to have a nice spot all to ourselves without anyone else nearby. There is a single portapotty located at the entrance to the beach. It appears to be dog friendly as we saw several down on the beach.

Well, as my first experience on a Pacific Ocean beach (or any ocean beach for that matter) I don't have much to compare. This being our very first time on an ocean beach, we were a bit like a bunch of kids in a candy store. Someone actually came up to us and serious as a heart attack asked "are you tourists?" I imagine, it was fairly obvious. The reason for her question was not to make us look any more stupid than we already did but to point out a few things in the area which may interest us, which was very nice of her. Not crowded at all for the two days we visited. Once in the morning and then the next day in the afternoon until supper time. Lots of ocean life to check out while walking along the surf. Also a bit of people trash, plastic bags, bottles but nothing super nasty. Areas of the surf were a bit "dirty" at times but overall the water looked pretty clean. A bit cold, but a really great time was had! Fisherman's Wharf is right smack dab next door to the beach. We watched the fisherman unload squid directly off the boat. (thank you helpful tip lady!) Tons of birds to contend with during the unloading process. Large pelicans. Cormorants. Gulls. Pretty cool. Sorta icky. But cool. Lots of dining options within walking distance. A handful of sketchy looking steet musicians. Opportunities for whale watching, sea kayaking, fishing all so close by.

I spent many a day walking this beach with my dog. Great fine sand to sink your toes into. Beautiful and scenic beach. Great sand dunes to sit on. Water is ice cold but the scenery, the sound of the crashing waves, and the smell of the salt air all make it worthwhile.

A sunny day at a beautiful beach I very relaxed at there with my friends. And i hope to come back one more time.

Limited parking so arrive early or be prepared to wait to park. The beach was great. My kids loved it and everyone was following social distancing guidelines which was nice. It was a beautiful day- the beach was clean, soft sand, and it had amazing views. The only drawback to this beach of the porter potties are closer to the parking lot and they are disgusting. I hope they put in public restrooms in the near future.

This is a wonderful beach located right off the freeway with free parking. Well free parking if you get there early enough in the day. Be patient and you will get a spot eventually. Beautiful beach that is nice and flat so it is easy to get to and get near the water without much difficulty. The beach has beautiful sweeping views and if you watch long enough you will see an occasional dolphin pop up out of the water. The waves are gentle enough that you can get in and out of the water very easily and the temperature it not too cold. My one complaint and it is not directed at the beach, but the public at large. I am shocked that people don't feel the need to pick up after themselves. What you bring in, you take out with you. It's just that simple. I typically try and pick up a few extra bits of trash and clean up just to keep it clean and enjoyable for everyone.

I have so many memories on this beach! From bonfires with friends as a teenager to scattering my mothers ashes in the ocean. This beach is a treasure and I love that I get to share the memories with my kids. Parking is always hit or miss depending on how the weather is just like any other beach.

Wonderful beach,I'm a local born and raised. The city does not clean the trash properly. They bury it. The TOURISTS leave there trash. I don't go to your beach and leave trash don't come to mine please . pack it in pack it out. PLEASE

A lovely stretch of coastline parallel to Del Monte Ave. Volleyball courts, bike path, a place to rent kayaks, canoes and paddle-surfing and much much more!

SATURDAY'S AGENDA: Sun-bathing and relaxation with the BF and our dog Happy. Ice cold bottled water? Check! $5 dollar foot longs? LOL Check! Yummy sweet cherries? Check! Snacks for the dog? Check! Beach mat and umbrella? Check! Good ol' cheap FUN and quality time spent? CHECK CHECK CHECK!!! Side note: Seaside Beach (which shares the same strip of beach) is NOT dog-friendly... so make sure you're at the right side of the beach before setting up camp if you're planning to bring your pets. We learned it the hard way, after finding the *perfect* spot and settled in... a ranger drove by and much to our dismay, kindly informed us of their beach policy. GAH. Oh well...

A good place for the family. This place can get crowded on the weekends and holidays, but it's so long that even "crowded" is relative. The sand is on the soft side, and good for building sandcastles. There can be lots of kelp and some shells, and we usually see jellyfish washing about. The waves depend on the weather: some days the surf is mild, and some days it's big enough for surfing and bodyboarding. Keep a close eye on the kiddies then! There can be strong crosscurrents and undertow, depending on location. There are lots of access points to this beach, and free parking close to them. Only a few public restrooms, all of which are portapotties (as far as I have seen). People bring their dogs, beach toys, and what-not. I've seen people barbecuing here, and there are some fire pits where you can have a bonfire. You'll also see people running along the beach. Downsides: * Some inconsiderate slobs leave their litter on the beach, including bottles. The bottles break, creating a hazard. Keep your shoes or your flip-flops on until you are settled. * Not all dogs are on leashes. * Some jerks mistake the sand for an ashtray. I don't care if you smoke at the beach, just don't leave your butts there. Social commentary, Part the First: It seems that this beach is popular with a certain segment of the circus side show crowd. While I have seen no Thin Men, Strong Men, or Fat Ladies, nor any sword-swallowers, midgets, or pinheads, I've seen plenty of Tattooed Ladies (shudder) on break from the Freak Show here. Social commentary, Part the Second: What's up with all the cell phones and iPods here? Last I checked, water and electronics were a poor mix. I saw a side-show escapee ignoring her darling little toddler so she could text with her cell. Hmm. Small child + danger (here, the ocean) + inattentive parent = dead small child. Not an equation I want any part of. And what about the iPod brigade? Why must you always fill your head with noise? Are you so afraid, or alienated, from what's inside your head that you need to drown it out? I have an iPod and use it sometimes, but there is no music like the waves. Had I inserted mental earplugs into my ears, I would never have noticed that moment when the waves fell silent and the world was still. Leave the technology at home and enjoy the beach.

Great beach! If you have dogs off leash make sure you keep on the lookout for the "fun police" and leash up your dog if you see them coming down the beach in a white truck or atv. They WILL ticket you for having your dog off leash. You can thank irresponsible dog owners for that I guess.

Notice to Visitors: Effective September 16, 2014, California State Parks is banning beach fires on state beaches within the Monterey District to minimize any fire dangers. Dogs are not allowed at Monterey State Beach North of the Monterey Beach Resort hotel. Dogs on leash are allowed at Monterey State Beach South of the Monterey Beach Resort hotel I got the above information from the official website for this beach. Having said that I live near here and ride my bike here all the time since it's next to the bike trail and I see people lighting bonfires on the beach all the time (think they are allowed now that drought is over). Also, I see plenty of people with their dogs running around without a leash. Also, I think the reason there are so many differing and wrong reviews (understandable if you look on a map because it's confusing) on this beach is that it's actually split into two sections by Del Monte Beach. The northern part starts all the way by the hotel in Seaside and the south part starts by Fisherman's Wharf #2. If you are from out of town I suggest visiting the northern part since there is less traffic, easy access next to the highway off-ramp. Downsides to the northern beach is bigger waves so more dangerous to jump into the water if you are brave enough to even jump in the chilly water! Another reason you might prefer the northern beach is that you can get an unobstructed view of the sun at sunset whereas the southern beach sunset is blocked by the mountains of Monterey. Reasons you'd choose the southern beach is that it's protected from the ocean so gentle waves and safer for kids and dogs to get into the water, actually only beach that is recommended to get in water due to gentle slope, still no lifeguards though. Actually, just saw someone get rescued from a rip current in the north beach by hotel not long ago; lucky for the person, a good samaritan had a life preserver and rope to rescue them! Also, if you are planning on visiting Fisherman's Wharf you can basically walk to it from the south beach since it's right next to it and vice versa. Also if you want to do some fishing you can fish from the pier for free unlike the beach. The southern beach does seem to have more rocks scattered around than the north one but both are pretty much fine white sand so bring a towel because it gets everywhere. Another thing to take into consideration is that the southern beach does tend to attract panhandlers most likely due to proximity to Fisherman's Wharf since you don't see panhandlers on north beach. Finally, these are some of the last beaches where you can actually drink alcohol without fear of getting a ticket ( Alcoholic beverages are permitted on all public beaches during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and are prohibited after 10:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. except by valid written permit issued by the Director.). In the end you really can't go wrong which beach you choose since they are both world class and I've been to quite a few beaches around the world including Thailand, San Diego, etc.. especially if you don't like crowds and want to feel like you have the entire beach to yourself since the most crowded I've ever seen it is maybe a few dozen people at most on several miles of beach.

Really beautiful public beach with easy free parking? YES PLEASE. We were in town recently for a race at nearby Laguna Seca and I spent many hours here with my 9 year old watching him frolic in the water and dig for shells and crabs. Sure, the beach could use some amenities, for example, bathrooms would be nice, but hey, you get what you pay for, and we far preferred this beach to the more touristy locations down the way.

the boyfriend, a couple of friends, and i decided to try this beach out. a bit closer and we wanted to hit the water ASAP. To boogie board, that is :) Upon arrival, we stepped out took a quick glance and took off to Carmel. This place is disgusting..the water is all foamy and dark compared to Carmel. Why not take the time to drive five more miles to Carmel By The Sea? do it. you'll like it much better than this yucky beach. This place is not dog friendly like Carmel.

If you can yelp Carmel Beach, then you can help Monterey State Beach. This stretch of beach had a good size crowd last weekend. It stretches from the Wharf to Seaside. The sand is fairly clean and the water wasn't freezing. It's a nice place to lay back and enjoy the sounds of small waves crashing and seeing the boats 1/2 away at the piers. I spend the good amount of the day making a sandcastle to defend the angry ocean. Good place for kids.

Took a minute to find parking, the smell of something rotten overtook the beach smell. As we walked down we saw a bunch of dead animal. But having my child see 2 dead seals on the sand with people just sitting around was not ok. Coming from out of town to see that based on previous reviews was not ok.

I went yesterday and it was so horrible!! The smell was discusting as they had a dead bird and a dead seal on the sand !! The water was also very dirty and theres nothing much to do here as there is no boardwalk or gift shops around! Definitely will stick to LA beaches from now on! On the other hand carmel beach was so beautiful the water was so clean and clear but like i said not much to do around there

Was able to come here on a sunny weekend. No hassle finding parking. Not very crowded when we were there. It's a beach. Just beautiful :)

This place is freedom to me! If you have truly lived, then find some time to connect with beaches. haha.. When I'm down and out, I come here during my alone time to take a breather. It's amazing what beaches can do for you, I hope to live by the beach some time in my life, not now, maybe when I retire. =) This particular beach is safe and sound, nearby, and has a great nostalgic vibe.

Oh so BEAUTIFUL!! Waves crashing, endless view of God's creation.. I can NEVER get enough.. Great to walk the sand or stand and take a breath of air and appreciate all that you see....

Went here for valentines day with my hunny and love it! This stretch of beach was pleasantly clean and scenic, we tried to walk the whole thing but didnt make it. The sand is plush soft and hardly any rocky areas, i find alot of the locals do their running and walking of their dogs here,but hey if the locals go there you know its good. I loved this beach and will definetly be back

Aka Del Monte Beach. A long sandy beach that stretches from Seaside to Monterey. This beach is popular for all sorts of beach activities including kayaking, surfing, fishing and picnicking. During spring highest tides and fullmoon/new moon, the pier ot the south end of the beach channels grunnion onto the beach for their annual mating ritual. it only lasts a couple of hours and then they're gone for another year. If you're lucky you catch them at it. The female uses her tail to dig down into the wet sand and lays her eggs. the males flop all around her trying to release sperm into the water draining down into the sand.

This is a beautiful place! I came here the other day, A friend of mine was celebrating her birthday here. It was a rainy day but we took the 15 mile through the beach and even though it was raining it was still very pretty. Although we didn't spend much time on the beach, the water was a beautiful teal color and the sand was pearl white. I definitely enjoyed myself here and intend to be back again. I recommend this place for any and all beach lovers! P.S take the 15 mile drive and if your able too make your way to Big Sur it's gorgeous!

I'm a local and enjoy most of the beaches in the area. At times they can get busy, nowhere near as busy as so-cal beaches, but other times the beach can be pretty empty. Our beaches are pretty clean and offer great views of the peninsula.

Waves/Surf: flat Riptide: didn't notice any Bathrooms: didn't notice any near us Parking: Parked across the street for free Best spot: To the north/east there were no crowds. We were a long ways from the wharf. The sand is soft but hadn't been cleaned in a long time; there was broken glass in quite a few places in the sand. Other than the glass I had no complaints. It's a very mild peaceful place.

Can only give 2 stars as parking is impossible. Also there is a bunch of sand in the parking lot that takes up a bunch of spaces:

This is an excellent beach! Wonderful view, clean sand, not too crowded but there are enough people to give this beach a happy, energetic atmosphere. We bring our dogs with us, always on the leash, and they like this beach too! Its usually sunny here which is a plus, since its cloudy a lot at some beaches. Short walk from the parking lot to the beach. Overall, we will definitely come back when the weather is nice!

Nothing is more than relaxing than laying down on hot sand, a light breeze, the warm sun, and the sound of waves. When ever I'm in Monterey I try go make it down to the beach, even on the bad days when it looks like its gonna rain, its stiff fun.

I loved this beach. The view is so pretty and barely any trash on the ground so either the visitors or maintenance crew are doing a fabulous job!

Nice beach to relax, or sunbath. Was not crowded the day we visited.

Compared to Hawaii, SoCal beaches or even Virginia beach it's not that great of a beach and you have to go really south to find parking it's empty much of the year if you like solitude.