Half Moon Bay Day-Trip
A coastal town ~45 min south with beaches, bluff trails, and a harbor.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you're traveling with kids.
Short answer
Is Half Moon Bay Day-Trip worth it?
Half Moon Bay Day-Trip deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A laid-back Highway 1 coast town with a walkable Main Street, long state beaches, a bluff-top coastal trail, and famously big winter surf at Mavericks.
- 02
The catch: it needs a car, it's often foggy and cool, and the town is sleepy off-season.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
Half Moon Bay Day-Trip earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You're traveling with kids
With kids, Half Moon Bay Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Half Moon Bay Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Half Moon Bay Day-Trip is an easy yes.
Think twice if
You only have one day
Keep Half Moon Bay Day-Trip only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
You want something active
Half Moon Bay Day-Trip offers some adventure, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- $ (mostly gas + parking)
- Timing
- Clear afternoons; the famous Mavericks surf runs in winter.
- Allow
- Half–full day
- Accessibility
- Downtown and the paved coastal trail are largely accessible; beaches are soft sand.
- Getting there
- About 45 minutes south on Highway 1; a car is needed.