🏆🏆🏆 San Francisco’s South Beach — Mile-long sandy beach with surfing and ocean views just south of the city
Pacifica State Beach (also called Linda Mar Beach) is a wide, mile-long crescent beach in Pacifica — the first major sandy beach south of San Francisco. The beach is one of the Bay Area’s most accessible surf spots, with consistent beach breaks suitable for beginners and intermediate surfers. The Taco Bell on the beach (frequently called “the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world”) has become a viral social media landmark.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacifica, CA (San Mateo County) |
| Entry Fee | Free (paid parking $3-5) |
| Beach | 1-mile crescent, beginner surfing |
| Fame | Home of “world’s prettiest Taco Bell” |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I learn to surf here?
Yes! Linda Mar is one of the Bay Area’s best beginner surf spots with gentle beach breaks and multiple surf schools operating on the beach.
Is the water cold?
Yes — Northern California ocean temperatures range from 50-58°F year-round. A full wetsuit (3/2mm minimum, 4/3mm preferred) is essential. The cold water is caused by the California Current and coastal upwelling, which bring cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean. The cold water is also what fuels the amazing marine life.
Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Gray Whale Cove State Beach (a short drive away) or McNee Ranch State Park (a short drive away).
🏄 Visit Pacifica State Beach
Mile-long crescent beach — beginner surfing and ocean views just south of San Francisco.
About Pacifica State Beach
Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar Beach) is a crescent-shaped beach in a spectacular setting — sandwiched between the coastal mountains and Pacific just 15 minutes south of San Francisco. It’s the most accessible surf beach in the Bay Area, where generations of San Franciscans have learned to surf in the cold but consistent waves.
Things to Do
Surfing (beginner-friendly with several surf schools), swimming, beach walking, and watching surfers from the Taco Bell on the bluff (the “most scenic Taco Bell in America”). The Pedro Point headland offers excellent hiking with dramatic coastal views.
Insider Tips
Linda Mar: Known locally as “Linda Mar,” Pacifica State Beach is San Francisco’s closest surf beach — just 15 minutes from the city. Pro tip: Linda Mar is one of the best beginner surf spots in Northern California — the sandy bottom and consistent small waves make it ideal for learning. Taco Bell view: The Taco Bell at Linda Mar is famous as “the most scenic Taco Bell in America” — ocean views from the dining room.
Best Time to Visit
Fall: Warmest water and clearest skies. Summer: Heavy fog but good surf. Spring: Whale watching from the beach. Winter: Storm watching — massive waves.
Wildlife & Nature
Pacifica State Beach — also known as Linda Mar Beach — is one of the most popular surf learning beaches in Northern California, located just 15 minutes from San Francisco. The crescent-shaped beach sits below Pedro Point and has consistent small waves ideal for beginners. Brown pelicans dive offshore. Great egrets fish the wetland behind the beach. California sea lions occasionally cruise past.
Nearby Attractions
Pacifica — adjacent — has Taco Bell on the Beach (the most famous Taco Bell location in the world, overlooking the surf). Devil’s Slide Trail — 3 miles south — has a dramatic closed-highway coastal trail. Pedro Point Headlands — above the beach — has stunning coastal views. San Francisco — 15 miles north. Half Moon Bay — 10 miles south.
