15 Best California Beaches for Families (Kid-Friendly Picks From a Local)

With more than 1,000 miles of coastline, California is home to some of the best family beaches in the country. I grew up on these shores (Huntington Beach and Santa Barbara), and I’ve been taking my own daughter to them for years.

Whether you’re looking for calm beaches for toddlers, boardwalk fun for older kids, or scenic stretches the whole family can enjoy, here are my picks for the 15 best California beaches for families, organized from Southern California to NorCal.

Quick Guide: Best California Beaches for Families

Best Family Beaches in Southern California

The beaches in Southern California need no introduction. Known the world over for great surf and sandy stretches, SoCal has some of the most kid-friendly beaches in California.

1. Coronado Central Beach

Coronado Central Beach is consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation, and you’ll soon realize why when you set your sights on the sparkling shoreline. It literally sparkles due to a mineral called mica in the sand.

This is the beach directly in front of the iconic Hotel del Coronado, perhaps the most popular San Diego beach hotel (it is certainly the one our readers book into most with my benefits). Even if you’re not a guest of the hotel, you can still take advantage of chair and cabana rentals at Del Beach, which also offers food and drink service (including adult beverages) to the sand.

And if the tide is just right, you may even catch a glimpse of the sunken shipwreck just off the coast (a bit south only at extremely low tides) or the tide pools in front of the hotel.

2. La Jolla Shores Beach

Unlike many of the rocky areas of La Jolla, La Jolla Shores Beach offers a long and wide sandy stretch, perfect for a typical beach day full of swimming and building sandcastles. Lifeguards are on duty year-round. You and the kids can play in the water or ride boogie boards to catch some waves. Beachside Kellogg Park playground entertains when kids tire of the sand (if that is even possible).

Take a stroll north and walk under the Scripps Pier. At golden hour, this is one of the most popular places in San Diego to take photos and for tide pooling during winter.

This is also one of the access points to the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park where many kayak, snorkel, and dive tours go for prime marine life viewing and a little exercise. It’s also one of the best places in town to learn how to surf.

(If you’re looking for the La Jolla beaches with the seals and sea lions, these are in the Village neighborhood and are worth driving a few minutes to see, especially with kids in tow.)

Like Coronado Central Beach above, La Jolla Shores Beach also makes my list of best beaches in San Diego for families and top things to do for kids in San Diego.

3. Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach is among the best family beaches in California. With 3.5 miles of coastline, this beach offers plenty of sand and sea for your whole clan to enjoy.

Your little ones will love letting loose on the North Beach Playground, which is a universally accessible playground, while the famous Santa Monica Pier’s amusement park promises hours of entertainment.

Check out Heal the Bay Aquarium, take a spin on the Ferris wheel, and eat your weight in funnel cake. 

4. Huntington City Beach

The surf’s always up at Huntington City Beach, where I grew up with a father very engrossed in the city’s original 1960s surf culture. It’s called Surf City USA because this beach has a world-famous surf break near the pier. Grab your board and carve up the waves or visit during the US Open of Surfing to catch the experts in the lineup.

Rest assured, north and south of the surfing heaven near the pier is a family-friendly beach where people of all ages boogie board, swim, and enjoy a fantastic day at the beach. While you’re here, grab a fire pit and roast some marshmallows on the sand or join a pick-up volleyball game.

Between the Huntington Beach Pier, the nearby International Surfing Museum, and local shops and restaurants, you’ll find plenty of other entertainment near this popular beach. 

5. Mission Beach, San Diego

With sand, surf, a boardwalk, and even an amusement park, Mission Beach is easily one of the best beaches in California for families, and there’s plenty to do here. Rent bikes and cruise down the boardwalk and stop into one of the ice cream shops for a sweet treat.

You’ll find the amusement park, Belmont Park, located along the boardwalk, too, where you can hop on one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in California (it opened in 1925), and beat your high score in the arcade. There are also a number of surf rental shops and surf schools in case you and your crew are looking to ride the waves. 

6. Corona Del Mar Beach

Visit Corona Del Mar, and you’ll soon realize why they call it the Crown of the Sea. Technically a part of Newport Beach, this hamlet features two picturesque beaches, Big Corona and Little Corona.

Big Corona is best known for its surf, where your kids can channel famous surfers like Duke Kahanamoku who once rode these local waves. For a quieter beach day, head to Little Corona. Your little ones will enjoy searching the tide pools for ocean critters and seashells.

Best Family Beaches in Central California

The Central California coastline offers countless family-friendly beaches, dog-friendly areas, and fishing spots. 

7. Cayucos State Beach

Cayucos State Beach may be one of the lesser-known stretches, but that makes it even more charming. Your children will have a blast crafting sandcastles and enjoying the playground on the sand.

After all, there’s nothing quite like swinging on a swing set, overlooking the ocean. Check out the tide pools to see some sea life, or bring along some fishing poles and head to the pier — no fishing license is required. 

8. Moonstone Beach, Cambria

If you have some beachcombers on your hands, then Moonstone Beach will be an absolute treat for your family. Named after the popular stones you’ll find along the shoreline, this beach is also a great spot for finding sea glass.

Though the surf is usually too rough for swimming, your kids can burn off some energy at Shamel Park, which is right next to the beach. They can play a round of horseshoes or make a splash in the seasonal swimming pool. 

9. Pismo State Beach

Pismo State Beach has long been a favorite among families, and for good reason. This lovely stretch is great for kids, where you’ll come across a walkable pier, children’s playground, and volleyball courts for an afternoon of fun.

Stake a claim in the sand and spend the whole day soaking up the scenery. Bring your poles and go surf fishing from the sand or venture along the boardwalk and search for the local birdlife. And if you’re lucky, you just may see some horseback riders trotting along the sand.

10. Santa Cruz Main Beach

Santa Cruz Main Beach is another one of the best beaches in California for families. Just be warned, your kids are probably going to beg for a visit to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. And with more than 40 rides and attractions, can you blame them?

First, spend some time playing on this picturesque beach, and then give in to the pressure and head to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Load up on some saltwater taffy and take a spin on the 1911 Looff Carousel and the Giant Dipper, a 1924 wooden roller coaster with views of the Pacific Ocean. Both are National Historic Landmarks.

11. East Beach, Santa Barbara

You’ll find another kid-friendly stretch in Santa Barbara at East Beach. It’s hard to fit the many things you can do here into one photo. I spent some of my teenage years here playing volleyball on weekends (my parents had a house nearby). It’s on my list of things to do in Santa Barbara with kids.

Bring your bikes (or rent them) and cycle along the waterfront toward the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, or pack a volleyball for a game down at the courts. They aren’t pictured above, but there are quite a few.

Looking for more beachfront activities? Rent boogie boards, paddleboards, and kayaks right on the sand at East Beach Rentals. Beach chairs, umbrellas, and beach toys are also available for rent to complete your getaway.

12. Arroyo Burro Beach, Santa Barbara

If your idea of a beach day includes bringing your four-legged family members along, then put Arroyo Burro Beach on your list. Known as Hendry’s Beach to the locals, this dog-friendly stretch is a great beach for a game of fetch.

It’s also a prime surf spot, whether you’re looking to catch a few waves or prefer to watch the pros. After a sun-soaked day on the sand, grab a bite to eat at Boathouse with a sweet view of the sand and surf. 

13. Lovers Point Park, Pacific Grove

The water is so clear and calm for California at Lovers Point Park that you just may think you’ve been transported to an island resort. The shallow water offers the ideal place for your kids to wade around without worrying about crashing waves. (It reminds me a little bit of La Jolla Cove, where I live.)

Bring a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to venture around the cove or create some friendly competition on the sand volleyball courts. The park also features a picnic area, snack bar, and a swimming pool for children that opens in the summer. 

Best Family Beaches in Northern California

The water may be even colder along the shoreline in Northern California, but that doesn’t stop families from making a splash at these prime beach spots along the coast. 

14. Glass Beach, Fort Bragg

For a unique kind of beach day, make your way to the vibrant shores of Fort Bragg. This beach within MacKerricher State Park is known for the smooth, colorful sea glass that covers portions of the shoreline. The glass is the result of decades of household dumping in the early 1900s, when residents discarded bottles and other refuse into the ocean. Over time, the waves tumbled the debris into the jewel-like pieces you see today.

Kids will love searching for these eye-catching pieces along the shoreline. However, taking home the sea glass is prohibited since the beach is part of a state park, so look but leave everything where you find it. The amount of glass on the beach has declined over the years, but it’s still a one-of-a-kind experience. The waters can be rough in this area, so swimming is not recommended.

15. Crissy Field, San Francisco

Pack up your bicycles and make your way to Crissy Field for the day. Also known as East Beach, this San Francisco beach stretch is connected to the Golden Gate Promenade, a portion of the San Francisco Bike Trail. Go for a spin along the waterfront trail with your kids, and then take a dip in the (cold) water, which is safe for swimming.

Dogs are welcome on this beach, so bring Fido along for the fun, too. When hunger strikes, pop into the Beach Hut Cafe for snacks and head over to the West Bluff Picnic Area. 

Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teens, your kids are never too old to enjoy a family beach day. Round up your crew and hit the sand in one of the 15 best beaches for kids in California.

My Favorite Kid-Friendly Beaches in California

I grew up in California and have been a San Diego local for over 20 years, so I have strong opinions on this. Yes, they’re mostly Southern California beaches, mostly because the weather and ocean temperatures make for longer days of swimming and sunbathing.

La Jolla Shores Beach is near my house, and it’s my go-to. The reefs create gentler waves that are perfect for kids learning to boogie board or surf. If you’re looking for calm beaches in California for kids, La Jolla Shores and Lovers Point are two of the best.

Coronado Central Beach draws visitors from around the world for good reason. I love the winter tide pools and catching the Sandcastle Man’s daily creations on the sand.

Huntington City Beach is where I grew up. Quintessential wide sandy Southern California beach with great boogie boarding north and south of the pier.

Santa Monica State Beach — most families I work with as a travel advisor choose to stay here at resorts like Shutters or Fairmont Miramar rather than elsewhere in LA.

East Beach, Santa Barbara is where I grew up playing volleyball on the beach courts because my parents had a second home nearby. The Central Coast water isn’t as warm year-round, but it’s plenty warm in summer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kid-Friendly Beaches in California