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- Bodega Bay. Bodega Bay lies on the northern California coast about one hour outside San Francisco, along the Sonoma County stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway.
- Crescent City. Crescent City is a small northern California beach town that’s close to Canada’s border. Not only does it offer a gorgeous shoreline, but it’s also home to Redwood National Park and the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
- Eureka. Eureka is a postcard-worthy town in the heart of the Redwood Coast. It’s filled with picture-perfect beaches, redwood forests, and historic architecture.
- Fort Bragg. Enjoy the ultimate northern California coast experience in Fort Bragg. Not only does Fort Bragg offer a magical experience in nature, but this port city also has one of the most impressive northern California beaches, Glass Beach.
- How Did These Northern California Coastal Towns Make The Cut?
- Map of Northern California Coastal Towns
- Crescent City
- Trinidad
- Shelter Cove
- Fort Bragg
- Mendocino
- Gualala
- Bodega Bay
- Bolinas
We are recommending these 12 Northern California beach towns because they represent a diversity of the region’s geographic terrain and natural beauty. Some of these coastal cities are easy to get to, which pays of the “quick” part of a quick weekend getaway. But others are more remote, which offers a payoff for those of you who really want to get a...
Here’s a handy map to that you can see where the towns are and how to navigate to them. (This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)
Crescent City was founded as a shipping city– or rather, as a shipwreck city, because the rugged coastline did in quite a number of ships between 1865 and the 1940’s. Crescent City is now better known as a gateway to one of the best redwood parks in California. You should definitely visit this coastal city for the Jedediah Smith State and National ...
Trinidad is an official gateway to the California Coastal National Monument. The Gateways include other towns on this list like: Fort Bragg, the Monterey Peninsula/ Pacific Grove, the Lost Coast/Shelter Cove and Pidgeon Point near Half Moon Bay. All of the Gateways are towns committed to following the principles of geotourism, sustainability, provi...
Shelter Cove is by far, the most out of the way coastal town in Northern California. You can’t drive directly north from Fort Bragg, nor can you drive directly south from Crescent City. To get there, you have to backtrack from Highway 101, then go along a winding 25 mile road. But don’t let that dissuade you, because there’s a lot of eye candy in S...
Fort Bragg was founded in 1857 as a military garrison. It was named after army officer Braxton Bragg, who at the time had served the U.S. in the Mexican–American War. Ten years later, the garrison was abandoned and the town began to transition to a timber economy. Fort Bragg is known for its nice mild climate. It’s also more developed than places l...
Mendocino is the only town on the California Coast that is designated as a historical landmark. It was established in the 1850’s and has a similar vibe to Victorian Maine. Mendocino has a lovely mix of redwood forest and killer ocean views and it’s perfect for a romantic coastal getaway. The town is close to the Anderson Valley wine region, which b...
This quiet Northern California coastal town is named for the river that flows through town and into the Pacific. The native Pomos used to call the area “q-ahwala-li”, which roughly translates to “coming down water place”, which the river does indeed do at Robinson’s Gulch right in town. Gualala is a good location for exploring the coastline of Nort...
For thousands of years the Miwok and Pomo Indians lived and harvested from the sea in what is now Bodega Bay. But the white settlement really ramped up in the early 1800’s when Russian fur traders came looking for otter and sea lion pelts, and lumber barrons looking for hardwoods. Bogeda Bay has now settled down to a sleepy fishing village of ~100 ...
Bolinas also makes our list of hippie towns in Californiafor its lefty leaning liberal culture topped off with with a layer of chill surfer vibe. The people living in Bolinas like it quiet thankyouverymuch. As proof of that, they have removed the road signs telling you how to get there. Public service announcement: the mobile coverage in Bolinas is...
Oct 26, 2021 · MORRO BAY (SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY) Morro Bay is a one of the cheaper Northern California coastal towns in San Luis Obispo county. It is best known for the gigantic volcanic plug, aka “Morro Rock” rising out of the waters of the Pacific which is the star attraction of the Morro Bay beach front.
3 days ago · These 21 Northern California Coastal Towns Are Worth the Trip. Laura McFarland Updated May 20, 2024 California, USA. Explore tiny villages, sparkling cities, and historic fishing ports. Bask in luxury vacation spots, sandy surf havens, and windswept rocky bluffs. I was born and raised in Northern California, and I’ve been to every single town ...
Nov 30, 2023 · The best Northern California coastal towns to visit will depend on the type of experience you’re looking for. Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Stinson Beach are the best beach towns to visit if you’re looking to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. Monterey, San Francisco, and Carmel-by-the-Sea are our favorites for fun and relaxing weekend getaways.
TRINIDAD. Drive 1.5 hours and approximately 80 miles south of the Oregon border, you will reach one of the best Northern California Beach Towns, Trinidad. Trinidad is one of the must-see Northern California beach towns in Humboldt County, known for its placid beaches, redwoods and several coastal activities.
View area. Mendocino County has a large chunk of Northern California coastal real estate. Driving twisty Highway 1 through this county provides over 100 miles of scenic driving pleasure. View area. The Humboldt County coast is chock full of wild and remote beaches that beg for exploration. Small towns like Trinidad, Ferndale and Shelter Cove ...
