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Outdoors Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey & Carmel

Carmel Beach

An outdoor spot in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey & Carmel, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Carmel Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey & Carmel
Photo: Greghenderson2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · license

Why go

White-sand beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue with cypress-framed sunsets.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Monterey & Carmel, alongside 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 activity. 2 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with La Bicyclette and Hog's Breath Inn.

Type
Outdoors · Beaches
Neighborhood
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Monterey & Carmel, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    La Bicyclette

    French-Italian bistro in Carmel village with wood-fired dishes.

    Food · 0.4 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Hog's Breath Inn

    Courtyard pub once owned by Clint Eastwood, with fire pits and murals.

    Drinks · 0.6 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

    Restored 1771 mission with a stone basilica, gardens and museum rooms.

    Sight · 0.7 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    17-Mile Drive

    Toll road through Pebble Beach past the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and golf links.

    Activity · 1.9 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

    Granite coves, cypress groves and sea otters along easy coastal trails.

    Outdoors · 2.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Old Fisherman's Grotto

    Family-run Fisherman's Wharf seafood house known for its clam chowder.

    Food · 4.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Carmel Beach is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Monterey & Carmel

Carmel Beach is our only outdoors pick in Monterey & Carmel; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Monterey & Carmel guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Monterey & Carmel run from 58°F in January to 69°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For Carmel Beach itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for Monterey & Carmel from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Monterey & Carmel weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Carmel Beach, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Carmel Beach, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, USA
Coordinates
36.55024, -121.92912
Destination
Monterey & Carmel, California

Carmel Beach: quick answers

How much time do you need at Carmel Beach?

Plan on about an hour at Carmel Beach. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Carmel Beach?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Dogs allowed off-leash; bonfires only in marked pits south of 10th Ave.

Is Carmel Beach free?

Yes, we list Carmel Beach as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Carmel Beach?

Carmel Beach is at Carmel Beach, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, USA. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Carmel Beach?

Carmel Beach appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Carmel Beach to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Monterey & Carmel.

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Also in Monterey & Carmel

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.