United States

Blue Flag Beaches in California

California is one of United States's Blue Flag coastlines — 417 beaches across 124 beach towns, mapped below with certification status for each.

Every flag here is a season's award for water quality, safety, and environmental management — what a Blue Flag beach means covers the certification in depth.

See California on the map

124

Beach towns

417

Beaches mapped

Certified 2026

Beach towns

Alameda2 beaches mapped Albion2 beaches mapped Aptos1 beach mapped Arcata1 beach mapped Avalon1 beach mapped Avila Beach2 beaches mapped Big Sur4 beaches mapped Bodega Bay3 beaches mapped Bolinas1 beach mapped Cambria3 beaches mapped Capitola3 beaches mapped Cardiff by the Sea1 beach mapped Carlsbad4 beaches mapped Carmel5 beaches mapped Carpinteria6 beaches mapped Caspar1 beach mapped Cayucos2 beaches mapped Chula Vista1 beach mapped Coronado6 beaches mapped Crescent City7 beaches mapped Daly City1 beach mapped Dana Point5 beaches mapped Davenport3 beaches mapped Del Mar3 beaches mapped Dillon Beach2 beaches mapped El Segundo1 beach mapped Encinitas3 beaches mapped Ferndale1 beach mapped Fort Bragg6 beaches mapped Foster City1 beach mapped Gaviota1 beach mapped Goleta9 beaches mapped Guadalupe1 beach mapped Gualala3 beaches mapped Half Moon Bay18 beaches mapped Hermosa Beach1 beach mapped Huntington Beach4 beaches mapped Imperial Beach4 beaches mapped Inverness6 beaches mapped Isla Vista1 beach mapped Jenner2 beaches mapped Klamath3 beaches mapped La Jolla12 beaches mapped La Selva Beach2 beaches mapped Laguna Beach4 beaches mapped Little River1 beach mapped Loleta3 beaches mapped Lompoc1 beach mapped Long Beach3 beaches mapped Los Osos1 beach mapped Malibu30 beaches mapped Manchester2 beaches mapped Manhattan Beach1 beach mapped Marina1 beach mapped Marina del Rey2 beaches mapped Marshall1 beach mapped McKinleyville3 beaches mapped Mendocino2 beaches mapped Montara2 beaches mapped Montecito3 beaches mapped Monterey6 beaches mapped Morro Bay3 beaches mapped Moss Beach2 beaches mapped Moss Landing3 beaches mapped Muir Beach1 beach mapped National City1 beach mapped Newport Beach2 beaches mapped Newport Coast1 beach mapped Nipomo1 beach mapped Oceano1 beach mapped Oceanside3 beaches mapped Olema1 beach mapped Orick5 beaches mapped Oxnard10 beaches mapped Pacific Grove3 beaches mapped Pacific Palisades2 beaches mapped Pacifica5 beaches mapped Pajaro Dunes1 beach mapped Palos Verdes Estates2 beaches mapped Pebble Beach3 beaches mapped Pescadero8 beaches mapped Petrolia1 beach mapped Pismo Beach4 beaches mapped Playa del Rey1 beach mapped Pleasure Point1 beach mapped Point Arena1 beach mapped Point Reyes Station1 beach mapped Port Hueneme1 beach mapped Rancho Palos Verdes3 beaches mapped Redondo Beach2 beaches mapped Richmond1 beach mapped Rio del Mar4 beaches mapped Samoa1 beach mapped San Clemente5 beaches mapped San Diego25 beaches mapped San Francisco7 beaches mapped San Mateo3 beaches mapped San Pedro4 beaches mapped San Rafael2 beaches mapped San Simeon1 beach mapped Sand City1 beach mapped Santa Barbara9 beaches mapped Santa Cruz10 beaches mapped Santa Monica1 beach mapped Sausalito3 beaches mapped Seahaven1 beach mapped Seal Beach1 beach mapped Seaside1 beach mapped Smith River2 beaches mapped Solana Beach4 beaches mapped South San Francisco1 beach mapped Stinson Beach1 beach mapped Summerland1 beach mapped Sunset Beach1 beach mapped The Sea Ranch2 beaches mapped Tiburon1 beach mapped Toro Canyon1 beach mapped Trinidad9 beaches mapped Vandenberg AFB2 beaches mapped Venice1 beach mapped Ventura16 beaches mapped Watsonville1 beach mapped Westport2 beaches mapped Whitethorn4 beaches mapped

Beaches

Santa Barbara

1000 Steps
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Arroyo Burro - WP0000147
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Campus Pt.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

6 more beaches in Santa Barbara

Rancho Palos Verdes

Abalone Cove - SMB-7-4
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Long Point - SMB-7-3
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Portuguese Bend - SMB-7-5
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Trinidad

Agate Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Baker Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Big Lagoon
Sand beach
Not currently certified

6 more beaches in Trinidad

Carlsbad

Agua Hedionda Lagoon - LAG Agua Hedionda
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Carlsbad City Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Carlsbad State Beach - EH-460
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Carlsbad

Alameda

Alameda Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Crown Beach (Alameda Co) - Crown Crab Cove
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Long Beach

Alamitos Bay Beach - B-67
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Colorado Lagoon - B-25
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Long Beach - B-69
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Albion

Albion River
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Navarro River Redwood SP
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Laguna Beach

Aliso County Beach - ACM1U
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Emerald Bay - OLB10
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Laguna Beach - VICTRAU
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Laguna Beach

Gualala

Anchor Bay
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Gualala River
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Schooner Bay
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Big Sur

Andrew Molera State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
John Little State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Beach - PFB
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Big Sur

Pescadero

Ano Nuevo State Refuge
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bean Hollow State Beach - Bean Hollow Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Gazos Creek Access - Gazos Creek Access
Sand beach
Not currently certified

5 more beaches in Pescadero

San Mateo

Aquatic Park - Aquatic Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Coyote Point County Park - Coyote Point County Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lakeshore Park - Lakeshore Park Rec Center
Sand beach
Not currently certified

San Francisco

Aquatic Park - BAY#211_SL
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Baker Beach - OCEAN#16_SL
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Candlestick Point - BAY#301.2_SL
Sand beach
Not currently certified

4 more beaches in San Francisco

Point Arena

Arena Cove
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Malibu

Westward Beach
Sand beach
Certified since 2026
Armarillo Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Big Rock Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

27 more beaches in Malibu

Goleta

Arroyo Quemado - WP0000084
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Coal Oil Point - WP0000012
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Devereaux
Sand beach
Not currently certified

6 more beaches in Goleta

Pacific Grove

Asilomar State Beach - SDA
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lover's Point - LOP
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pacific Grove City Beaches
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Avalon

Avalon Beach - DPH 124
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Avila Beach

Avila Beach - AB9
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Olde Port Beach - OLDE12
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Marina del Rey

Basin H
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Marina Del Rey Beach - Mothers Beach - MDRH-3
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Chula Vista

Bayside Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Crescent City

Beachfront Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Crescent Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Kellogg Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

4 more beaches in Crescent City

Rio del Mar

Beercan Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hidden Beach - O100
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Rio del Mar Beach - O110
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Rio del Mar

Mendocino

Big River-Mendocino Bay Headlands SP - Big River
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Russian Gulch SP
Sand beach
Not currently certified

La Jolla

Bird Rock (NR)
Sand beach
Not currently certified
La Jolla Community Beach - EH-351
Sand beach
Not currently certified
La Jolla Cove - FM-070
Sand beach
Not currently certified

9 more beaches in La Jolla

The Sea Ranch

Black Point Regional Park Beach - Black Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Gualala Regional Park Beach - Gualala
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Whitethorn

Black Sands Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Dead Man's Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Little Black Sands Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Whitethorn

Palos Verdes Estates

Bluff Cove - SMB-7-2
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Malaga Cove - SMB-7-1
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Bolinas

Bolinas Beach - BOLINAS
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Huntington Beach

Bolsa Chica State Beach - 39N
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Huntington City Beach - 21N
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Huntington Harbour - MHH07
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Huntington Beach

Imperial Beach

Border Field State Park - IB-020
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Imperial Beach municipal beach, other - IB-050
Sand beach
Not currently certified
north Imperial Beach - IB-060
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Imperial Beach

Oceanside

Buccaneer Beach - OC-030
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Oceanside Harbor - RIV San Luis Rey
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Oceanside municipal beach, other - OC-050
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Montecito

Butterfly Beach - WP0000023
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hammonds - WP0000004
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Miramar - WP0000520
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Bodega Bay

Campbell Cove State Beach - Campbell Cove
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Doran Regional Park Beach - Doran Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Salmon Creek State Park Beach - Salmon Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Dana Point

Capistrano Beach - CSBMP1Z
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Dana Point - S-6
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Dana Point Harbor - BDP17
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Dana Point

Half Moon Bay

Capistrano Blvd. Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Dunes State Beach - Dunes State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
El Grandada
Sand beach
Not currently certified

15 more beaches in Half Moon Bay

Capitola

Capitola City Beach - O240
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hooper's Beach - O310
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New Brighton State Beach - O170
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Solana Beach

Cardiff State Beach - SE-040
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Fletcher Cove
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Seascape Beach Park - EH-390
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Solana Beach

Carmel

Carmel Beach - CBOA
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Carmel River State Beach - VVS
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Garrapata State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Carmel

Carpinteria

Carpinteria City - WP0000134
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Carpinteria State - WP0000180
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Loon Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Carpinteria

Orick

Carruthers Cove Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Freshwater Lagoon
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Gold Bluffs Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Orick

Caspar

Caspar Headlands SB - Caspar Headlands
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Cayucos

Cayucos Beach - CAY15
Sand beach
Not currently certified
N Morro Strand State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Ferndale

Centerville Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Westport

Chadbourne Gulch
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Westport/Union Landing
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Seahaven

Chicken Ranch - CHICKEN RANCH DITCH
Sand beach
Not currently certified

San Rafael

China Camp - CHINA CAMP
Sand beach
Not currently certified
McNears Beach - McNEARS BEACH
Sand beach
Not currently certified

McKinleyville

Clam Beach Co. Park - Clam Beach Co. Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Little River State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Moonstone Beach - Moonstone Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Smith River

Clifford Kamph Memorial Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pelican Bay State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Santa Cruz

Corcoran Lagoon Beach - O370
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Cowell Beach - Cowell-C
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lighthouse Beach - O510
Sand beach
Not currently certified

7 more beaches in Santa Cruz

Coronado

Coronado Cays (NR) - EH-576
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Coronado north beach - EH-060
Sand beach
Not currently certified
San Diego Bay Coronado Cays
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Coronado

Loleta

Crab Co. Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Eel River State Wildlife Area
Sand beach
Not currently certified
South Spit
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Newport Coast

Crystal Cove State Park - ELMOROZ
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Del Mar

Del Mar City Beach - EH-357
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Powerhouse Park 15th Street - EH-360
Sand beach
Not currently certified
San Dieguito River Beach - EH-380
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Monterey

Del Monte Beach - DMB
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Heritage Harbor
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Maccabee Beach - MCA
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Monterey

Dillon Beach

Dillon Beach - DILLON
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lawson's Landing - LAWSONS LANDING
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Playa del Rey

Dockweiler State Beach - DPH 111
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Inverness

Drake's Beach - DRAKES BEACH
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Drakes Estero - Drakes Estero
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Golden Hinde
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Inverness

El Segundo

El Segundo Beach - DPH 112B
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Ventura

Emma Woods State Beach - 11000
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Faria County Park Beach - 7000
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hobson County Park Beach - 5000
Sand beach
Not currently certified

13 more beaches in Ventura

Klamath

Enderts Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
High Bluff Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Wilson Creek Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Moss Beach

Fitzgerald Marine (Moss Beach) - Frenchmans Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Ross's Cove
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sausalito

Fort Baker Horseshoe Cove - BAKER NE
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Rodeo Beach - RODEO BEACH - SOUTH
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Schoonmaker Beach - SCHOONMAKER BEACH
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Seaside

Fort Ord Dunes State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Gaviota

Gaviota State Beach - WP0000079
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Jenner

Goat Rock State Park Beach - Goat Rock
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Still Water Cove Regional Park Beach - Stillwater
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Montara

Gray Whale State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Montara State Beach - San Vicente Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Guadalupe

Guadalupe Dunes - WP0000018
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Fort Bragg

Hare Creek - Hare Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Jug Handle State Reserve
Sand beach
Not currently certified
MacKerricher State Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Fort Bragg

San Simeon

Hearst Memorial State Beach - HSB23
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach - DPH 114
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Oxnard

Hobie Beach - 36000
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hollywood Beach - 35000
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Kiddie Beach - 37000
Sand beach
Not currently certified

7 more beaches in Oxnard

San Pedro

Inner Cabrillo Beach - CB-02
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Outer Cabrillo Beach - SMB-7-9
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Point Fermin Park - SMB-7-8
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in San Pedro

Manchester

Irish Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Manchester SB
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Isla Vista

Isla Vista Beach - WP00000519(2)
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Lompoc

Jalama Beach - WP0000080
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Richmond

Keller Beach (Contra Costa Co) - Keller South Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Foster City

Kiteboard Beach - Kiteboard Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Cambria

Leffingwell Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Moonstone Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
San Simeon Beach - PICO23
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Encinitas

Leucadia - EH-435
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Moonlight Beach - EH-420A
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Swami's Park - EH-410
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Olema

Limantour Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Arcata

Mad River Beach Co. Park - North Mad River Mouth
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach - DPH 113B
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pacifica

Manor Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Mori Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pacifica State Beach - Linda Mar Beach #7
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Pacifica

La Selva Beach

Manresa State Beach - O080
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Trestle Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Marina

Marina State Beach - MSB
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Petrolia

Mattole River Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Marshall

Miller Park - MILLER PARK
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Point Reyes Station

Millerton Point - MILLERTON POINT
Sand beach
Not currently certified

San Diego

Mission Bay - MB-047
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Mission Bay, Bahia Point - MB-161
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Mission Bay, Campland On The Bay - MB-080
Sand beach
Not currently certified

22 more beaches in San Diego

Los Osos

Montana De Oro - HAZ10
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Morro Bay

Morro Bay City Beach - MB13
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Morro Strand State Beach - MB14
Sand beach
Not currently certified
S Morro Strand State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Moss Landing

Moss Landing State Beach - MSL
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Salinas River State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Zmudowski State Beach - ZMB
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Muir Beach

Muir Beach - MUIR BEACH - NORTH
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Newport Beach

Newport Bay - BNB34
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Newport Beach - BGC
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Vandenberg AFB

Ocean Beach - WP0000081
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Surf Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Nipomo

Oceano Dunes State Rec Area - OCB13
Sand beach
Not currently certified

South San Francisco

Oyster Point Marina - Oyster Point Marina
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pajaro Dunes

Pajaro Dunes Beach - O010
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Tiburon

Paradise Cove - PARADISE COVE
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pismo Beach

Pismo State Beach - PB5
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Sewers - SEW7
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Shell Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Pismo Beach

Oceano

Pismo State Beach, Oceano
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pleasure Point

Pleasure Point Beach - O320
Sand beach
Not currently certified

San Clemente

Poche County Beach - POCHEU
Sand beach
Not currently certified
San Clemente City Beach - PICOD
Sand beach
Not currently certified
San Clemente State Beach - S-23
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in San Clemente

Port Hueneme

Port Hueneme Beach Park - 41000
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach - SMB-6-03
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Torrance Beach - SMB-6-6
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Samoa

Samoa Dunes Rec. Area
Sand beach
Not currently certified

National City

San Diego Bay - EH-569
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Cardiff by the Sea

San Elijo State Beach - SE-070
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Davenport

San Vicente Beach - O560
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Scott Creek Beach - O580
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Waddell Creek Beach - O590
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Toro Canyon

Santa Claus Lane
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Santa Monica

Santa Monica State Beach - DPH 105B
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Aptos

Seacliff State Beach - O140
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Seal Beach

Seal Beach Surfside - OSB01
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pebble Beach

Seal Rock, Pebble Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Spanish Bay Beach - SPB
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Stillwater Cove - STCO
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sand City

Seaside Beach - SSB
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pacific Palisades

South Will Rogers State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Will Rogers State Beach - SMB-2-2
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach - STINSON BEACH - SOUTH
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Summerland

Summerland Beach - WP0000188
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sunset Beach

Sunset County Beach - OSUB1
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Watsonville

Sunset State Beach - O060
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Daly City

Thornton State Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Little River

Van Damme SP - Van Damme
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Venice

Venice City Beach - SMB-3-6
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Run the beaches for a town in California? The Government Portal puts your daily water quality and safety flags on these pages.

Field notes — quick answers

How many Blue Flag beaches are in California?

We currently map 1 certified Blue Flag beach in California, United States, across 124 beach towns — each listed below with its certification year.

What does Blue Flag certification tell you about California's water?

A Blue Flag is awarded season by season for excellent bathing-water quality plus safety, services, and environmental management. Certified Best Beaches is an independent directory, not affiliated with FEE, the certifier.