Palo Alto Beaches

Heading out to a beach in Palo Alto, CA can be made into a fun-filled adventure and has plenty of benefits for you and your family. Spending time splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, throwing the frisbee, having a picnic, going on walks, or simply soaking up the sun, beaches are a host for many different awesome activities.

Finding a great swimming beach in Palo Alto with plenty of space for activities on the beach isn’t too difficult. Below is a list to help you find a beach near Palo Alto. Enter a beach, a city, or your zip code to get started.

Palo Alto Beaches

The beach could be periodically closed because of water quality issues as a result of temporary occurances such as E. Coli outbreaks, stormfall runoff, or algal blooms. Check the beach’s website before you leave for the beach for updates on water quality.

Prior to going to a beach in Palo Alto, CA or the surrounding location, verify online to make sure that it is open to the public. Quite often, beaches will only stay open for specific seasons of the year or during certain hours throughout the day.

Rules of the Beach

While different beaches in Palo Alto will use unique guidelines for using the beach, be prepared to adhere to the following guidelines for every beach in Palo Alto that you attend:

  • You should always be aware that you’re entering the water at your own risk, even if there’s a lifeguard on duty.
  • Most Palo Alto beaches have curfews with the exception for certain holidays.
  • Check online for guidance on beach fires as they could be illegal or you must follow strict guidelines.
  • Pick up after yourself.
  • Always listen to the lifeguard on duty. If the lifeguard ask you to stop doing something, then you must follow through.
  • Don’t bring alcohol to the beach.

Palo Alto Beach Tips

  1. Remember extra clothing. Everyone knows that the temperature in Palo Alto will change on a moment’s notice. It is particularly necessary if you are planning on going for a swim, so bring plenty of dry items including sweatshirts, blankets, pants, and shirts.
  2. Bring a mesh bag for your stuff. It may be easy to use a backpack, tote bag, or waterproof duffle bag to stash beach necessities like towels, water toys, tents, and lifejackets. However, these types of bags trap moisture from escaping, leading to mildew problems or just keeping beach essentials from drying out.
  3. Find a shady spot. If you suspect that locating shade could be tough, or if you suspect that there may not be too many shady spots around, pack your own! Use a beach umbrella, shaded beach tent, or some sort of equipment that blocks sunlight. It’s best to use something that provides good air-flow.
  4. Remember the towels. Dry towels are important for a fun beach experience. when visiting beach on the ocean or a large body of water that has frequent rip tides. Learn the warning signs and know how to survive if you’re caught in a rip tide.
  5. Don’t get a sunburn. Pack sunscreen that is waterproof if you are considering getting wet. It should be applied each time you get back on the beach to keep from getting a sunburn.
  6. Avoid Littering. No one likes to go to a dirty beach. If you bring items to the beach, you are expected clean up your trash. Make sure to toss out your garbage in an appropriate trash or recycling receptacles.
  7. Is there a lifeguard on duty? Many large Palo Alto beaches will have a lifeguard supervising, however you shouldn’t assume that a lifeguard being there. If you have yourself, little kids or anyone else that you bringing to the beach, it’s a great idea to pack correctly fitted PFDs for anoyone who need them, and also know that you’re entering the water at your own risk.
  8. Be ready for bugs. If you plan on going to the beach in the morning or late in the day, there’s a decent chance that mosquitos, sand flies, beach hoppers and other nuisance insects could cause a problem.