Half Moon Bay: An Easy Coastal Escape

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Overview

Half Moon Bay is a quick coastal trip about 40 minutes south of San Francisco. This farming-and-fishing town has beaches, seafood, coastal trails, and a slower pace than the city.

Getting There

Take Highway 1 south through Pacifica and through the Tom Lantos Tunnels, which bypass the old Devil’s Slide stretch (now the Devil’s Slide Trail for walkers and cyclists). The drive runs past cliffs and ocean views, with fog rolling over the hills. It’s about 40 minutes from downtown SF.

What to Do

Walk the Coastal Trail for cliff-top ocean views, explore the tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (time your visit for low tide), browse the shops on Main Street, and eat fish and chips at Sam’s Chowder House (sit on the heated patio if it’s foggy). The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival runs in mid-October, October 17 and 18 in 2026, and draws large crowds.

Best For

A half-day trip when you want ocean air without committing to a full day, or a weekend morning out. You can combine it with a drive down to Pescadero for pie at Duarte’s Tavern (hours are limited, so call ahead) to extend the trip.