Stinson Beach

At a glance

About this spot

Long, exposed Marin beach break north of San Francisco — cold, sharky, best on a clean small-to-mid swell.

Location

37.9017, -122.6467

Trip overview

Stinson Beach is the most accessible open-ocean beach break in the Bay Area — three miles of exposed sand curving along the Marin coast, an hour over the Golden Gate from San Francisco yet a world away from the city's pace. It's a fairly consistent, fairly forgiving wave: peaky shifting peaks that break both left and right, best on a clean small-to-mid WSW swell with a high tide and a northeast offshore. On the right morning it's a fun, mellow longboard-and-learner beach; when a real winter swell loads in it closes out and goes cold, gray and serious. This is not a wave-machine destination — it's a moody, weather-dependent break that rewards patience and a good wetsuit.

Two things define surfing here and you should respect both. First, the water is cold — Northern California cold, 50–58°F year-round — so a 4/3 wetsuit, boots and often a hood are not optional. Second, Stinson sits squarely inside the Red Triangle, the stretch of coast from Bodega Bay to Big Sur (and the Farallones) with the densest white-shark presence on the planet. Attacks are genuinely rare and a documented Stinson incident is decades old, but the sharks are real, the seals are everywhere, and locals factor it in. You're surfing a wild, cold, big-nature coast, not a tropical point.

The village itself is tiny: a market, a handful of cafes, a surf-and-kayak shop, and a beach run by the National Park Service. Stay in Stinson or sleepy Bolinas around the lagoon, base yourself for the surf, and you also get Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods and some of the best coastal hiking in California out the back door. Come for an honest, uncrowded NorCal beach break with San Francisco on speed dial — not for guaranteed perfection.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

Stinson itself is the mellow, beginner-friendly end of the Marin coast — a shifting beach break with room to spread out, where a respectful visitor who waits their turn and doesn't drop in fits right in. The harder edge is next door: Bolinas is known across California for guarding its waves and its privacy (locals famously remove the highway sign), so keep a low profile, low numbers and good manners if you paddle out there. At Stinson proper, normal beach-break courtesy and a friendly attitude are all it takes.

In the lineup: Classic shifting beach-break peaks — walk the sand and watch where the sandbars are throwing up the cleanest A-frames that day rather than committing to one spot. Best on a higher tide with a clean WSW–W swell and NE offshore wind. Paddle out through the channels between peaks, watch for rip currents (they're your friend for getting out, your enemy if you panic), and respect that on bigger winter days it closes out and packs real cold-water power. Booties and a hood make every session here better.

Stinson Beach village is a tiny, weathered strip — a market, a few cafes, a surf shop and a string of beach cottages under the green wall of Mt. Tam, run more like a national-park gateway than a resort town. It's wealthy-bohemian Marin: low-key, outdoorsy, no nightlife to speak of beyond a saloon in Bolinas, and gloriously quiet once the day-trippers drive back over the hill. Bolinas, across the lagoon, doubles down on the off-grid, leave-us-alone ethos. Come for nature and quiet, not for a scene.

Getting there

Fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — about 37 miles from the break, 1h–1h20 (over the Golden Gate, then winding Highway 1). Oakland (OAK) is roughly the same distance and time (also via the Richmond or Golden Gate bridges) and often has cheaper domestic fares. San Francisco itself is closer to the Highway 1 turnoff than SFO, so if you're spending a night in the city first the drive shrinks to about 45–55 minutes.

• rental car$45–90/day1h–1h20 from SFO

  By far the most practical option — there is no direct transit from the airport. Pick up at SFO, take US-101 north over the Golden Gate Bridge, then Highway 1 (Shoreline Highway) west and north through the hills to Stinson. Highway 1 is narrow, winding and slow; avoid your first run after dark and budget extra for weekend traffic over the bridge.

• rideshare$70–120 one way1h–1h20

  Uber/Lyft will run from SFO but it's pricey and coverage in Stinson/Bolinas is thin for the return trip — drivers are scarce and you may wait or get no car at all. Fine for getting out; don't count on it to get back.

• bus$2–6 + your route into the city2.5–3.5 hours total, with transfers

  Carless but determined travelers can do it: BART or a shuttle from SFO into San Francisco / San Rafael, then Marin Transit Route 61 (the West Marin Stagecoach) which runs to Stinson Beach and Bolinas. Service is limited (a few runs a day, more on weekends) and board bags on the bus are at the driver's discretion — workable for a soft-top, painful with a quiver.

• private transfer$150–250 per vehicle1h–1h20

  Pre-booked car services and Marin-based drivers will do the SFO run and handle boards if you ask for a wagon or SUV with a rack. Most useful for groups splitting the cost or anyone arriving late with a board bag.

Getting around

A rental car is effectively required. There's no airport transit, rideshare is unreliable for pickups out here, and the surrounding attractions are spread along a winding coast. Figure $45–90/day for a car from SFO/OAK. The West Marin Stagecoach (Marin Transit Route 61) links Marin City, Stinson and Bolinas a handful of times daily if you're carless and patient, but it won't get you to dawn patrol. Parking at the NPS beach lot is free but fills early on warm weekends; the village has limited street parking.

Boards: Bring soft racks and tie-downs if your rental is a sedan — most rental cars here are sedans or small SUVs without rails, and you'll want to rack boards for the trips up to Bolinas or down the coast. Inside the village you can walk boards to the sand. The Stagecoach bus is not board-friendly for anything beyond a single soft-top.

Where to stay

• Sandpiper Lodging at the Beachboutique$ mid-range

  In the village, ~5 min walk to the sand · The obvious surf base: a small cluster of century-old redwood cottages and rooms at 1 Marine Way, steps from the beach with kitchenettes, gas fireplaces and Mt. Tam views. Clean, homey and walkable to the break, market and cafes — book well ahead for weekends. (Direct (sandpiperstinsonbeach.com), Tripadvisor)

• Redwoods Haus Bed & Breakfastguesthouse$ mid-range

  Village edge on Highway 1, short walk to the beach · Long-running (25+ years) quirky B&B with individually themed rooms, an easy walk to the sand. Pet-friendly by prior arrangement and used to surfers and hikers coming and going — a solid mid-budget village option. (Direct (redwoodshaus.com), Tripadvisor)

• Smiley's Schooner Saloon & Hotelhotel$ mid-range

  Bolinas, ~2.5 mi / 10 min drive around the lagoon · Historic 1851 saloon with seven simple rooms above the bar at 41 Wharf Rd in Bolinas — character over polish, with live music some nights. A characterful, sociable base on the quieter Bolinas side; you'll drive (or take the long way around the lagoon) to the Stinson peaks. (Direct (smileyssaloon.com), Booking.com)

• Steep Ravine Environmental Cabinscamping$ budget

  ~1 mi south of Stinson on a clifftop terrace, ~5 min drive · Rustic, bare-bones cabins (wood stove, sleeping platforms, no water or electricity) on a Pacific-edge terrace in Mount Tamalpais State Park, plus primitive walk-in tent sites. Spectacular and dirt-cheap (~$100/night cabin), but ferociously hard to get — booked via a Reserve California reservation drawing/lottery entered up to ~8 months ahead (reservecalifornia.com). Enter early and have backup dates. (Reserve California (reservecalifornia.com))

• Stinson Beach vacation rentals (cottages & homes)vacation rental$ mid-range

  Village and Seadrift; many within a 2–10 min walk of the sand · The deepest inventory in town is short-term rental cottages and beach houses — kitchens, room for groups, and the homey base that makes a multi-day, self-catering surf trip work given how few hotels exist here. Strong Airbnb/Vrbo presence; book early for summer and any swell-window weekend. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

• Pantoll Campground (Mount Tamalpais State Park)camping$ budget

  ~6 mi up the mountain, ~15–20 min drive down to Stinson · Sixteen first-come, first-served walk-in tent sites among Douglas firs at ~1,500 ft, on the road between Stinson and Mill Valley. Budget option for surfers happy to camp and drive down to dawn patrol; no hookups, redwood-cool nights even in summer. (First-come, first-served (parks.ca.gov))

• Bolinas vacation rentals & guesthousesvacation rental$ mid-range

  Bolinas, ~10 min drive around the lagoon to Stinson · Tiny, deliberately low-key Bolinas has a scattering of cottages and guesthouses on Airbnb/Vrbo for travelers who want the quieter, end-of-the-road side of the lagoon. Closer to Bolinas's own (very local) breaks; an easy drive to the Stinson beachbreak. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Eat & drink

• Parkside Cafecafe$ mid-range

  All-day breakfast, wood-fired pizza, and pastries from the on-site bakery — The village anchor at 43 Arenal Ave — full cafe plus a snack bar, marketplace, coffee cart and a proper bakery turning out bread and pastries daily. Breakfast-through-dinner, organic-leaning, and the natural post-session refuel. Open daily, coffee cart from early.

• Parkside Snack Barfood truck$ budget

  Burgers, fish tacos, fries and shakes for the beach — Parkside's casual walk-up food counter at 43 Arenal Ave — burgers, fish tacos, fries and shakes you can carry straight to the sand a couple of minutes away. The quick, cheap between-surfs lunch in the village; takeout-focused with some outdoor seating.

• The Breakers Caferestaurant$ mid-range

  American beach fare on a sunny patio — Casual sit-down spot in the village with a patio — a reliable option for a relaxed lunch or dinner when you want a table rather than a takeout window. Solid, unfussy and walkable from the beach.

• Stinson Beach Market delicafe$ budget

  Sandwiches and grab-and-go from the town's only market — The market at 101 Calle Del Mar runs a deli counter — cheap, fast fuel and the place to build a beach lunch. Doubles as your grocery stop (see groceries). Expect village prices.

• Coast Caferestaurant$ mid-range

  Brunch, fish and chips, and an espresso window — Bolinas's main restaurant on Wharf Rd, a 10-minute drive around the lagoon — local, low-key cooking plus a walk-up espresso window. The pick when you're basing or surfing on the Bolinas side.

• Smiley's Schooner Saloonbar$ mid-range

  Cold beer, bar food and live music in a 19th-century saloon — Bolinas's historic 1851 watering hole — pub plates, a full bar and music some nights, open into the evening. The closest thing to nightlife on this stretch and a fun end to a surf day if you're on the Bolinas side.

Cooking for yourself

• Stinson Beach Marketminimart

  The only grocery in the village, at 101 Calle Del Mar just off Highway 1 — staples, snacks, drinks, beer and wine, plus a deli counter. Fine for stocking a rental kitchen or a cooler, but it's small and pricey (village markup); for a big shop, stock up in Mill Valley or San Rafael on the way in.

• Bolinas People's Storeminimart

  Tiny worker-owned co-op grocery in Bolinas with organic produce, bulk goods and local bakery items — characterful and useful if you're based on the Bolinas side, but small. Big provisioning still happens off the coast in Mill Valley/San Rafael.

Surf shops & rentals

• Stinson Beach Surf & Kayakboard rentalwetsuitslessonswaxleashes~$25–40/day surfboard; wetsuit extra

  The in-town outfitter at 3605 Highway 1 (Shoreline Hwy), outfitting Stinson and Bolinas since 1998 — surfboard, SUP, bodyboard, wetsuit and bike rentals plus lessons. The convenient stop in the village for a board, a 4/3 and the cold-water basics if you flew in light. Cold water means you'll want the wetsuit rental too, not just the board.

• Live Water Surf Shopboard rentalboard saleswetsuitsapparelwaxleashesDaily wetsuit, surfboard, SUP and bodyboard rentals

  The other in-village shop, in the historic Avillas Barn at 3450 Shoreline Hwy — outfitting Stinson since 1978. Daily wetsuit, surfboard, SUP and bodyboard rentals plus retail (boards, wetsuits, beach gear, their 'No Sharks' apparel). The full-stock shop for cold-water rentals and gear right by the sand; open daily, roughly 10am–5pm.

• 2 Mile Surf Lessons (Bolinas)lessonsboard rentalwetsuitsLessons from ~$150 private (board + wetsuit included)

  Long-running Bolinas surf school (formerly 2 Mile Surf Shop, whose storefront closed after a 2020 fire). Instruction now meets students at the beach near the end of Brighton Ave with board and wetsuit included — private and group lessons plus summer camps, booked ahead online, no walk-up retail. The pick for a proper beginner lesson on the Bolinas side; bring a cold-water tolerance and book early in summer.

When you're not surfing

• Mount Tamalpais State Park hikingnaturefree–$8 parking

  Stinson sits at the foot of Mt. Tam, with world-class trails out the back door: the Dipsea/Steep Ravine loop through redwood canyon and the Matt Davis Trail with filtered ocean views are the classics. The perfect flat-day or rest-day move; bring layers, the mountain makes its own weather.

• Muir Woods National Monumentnature$15 adult entry + $9.50 parking reservation

  Ancient coast-redwood grove ~25–30 minutes up the hill — one of the most famous old-growth stands in California. Entry and parking are by advance reservation (gomuirwoods.com / recreation.gov); book ahead, it sells out, and there's no walk-up parking.

• Bolinas Lagoon & bird watchingnaturefree

  The tidal lagoon between Stinson and Bolinas is a major migratory-bird stopover (240+ species) with harbor seals hauled out on the bars. Easy roadside viewing, kayaking on a calm tide, and the Audubon Canyon Ranch heronry nearby in spring.

• Explore Bolinas villageculturefree

  The famously unmarked, fiercely low-key town at the end of the road around the lagoon — a funky main street, the People's Store co-op, Smiley's saloon and its own (very local) surf scene. Worth a slow afternoon; respect that locals like it quiet.

• Stinson Beach swimming & sunbathingwaterfree

  The NPS-managed beach has lifeguards roughly late May to mid-September (peak Memorial Day–Labor Day), restrooms, showers and picnic areas — the rare NorCal beach where summer swimming is actually on the table on warm, calm days. Cold and rip-prone outside guarded hours; see water safety.

• Day trip to Point Reyes / Stinson Gulch overlooksday tripfree–$15 (varies)

  Point Reyes National Seashore is ~45 min north past Bolinas — lighthouse, elephant seals, tule elk and dramatic empty beaches for a full flat-day excursion. Combine with oysters at Tomales Bay on the way.

Practical notes

Know before you go — United States

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-17. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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