Best West Coast Beaches for Families in the USA

Looking for the best West Coast beaches for families? The Pacific West Coast is known for its stunning beauty and some breathtaking family-friendly beaches.

This list of the best beaches on the West Coast for families will make it easy for you to plan for this summer break. So grab your beach mats and sunscreen and head over for the best West Coast beach vacations.

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West Coast Beaches Map

This map shows the locations of the beaches and the hotels nearby.

Best Beach Vacations with Family on the West Coast

From Washington to Oregon to the famous California, there are some best beaches on the West Coast worth visiting. With bonus beaches from Hawaii as well, it is surely the best West Coast beach spot. With an array of enviable shores, it is a perfect family beach vacation.

Second Beach, Washington

Xin from Xinventure

Location: La Push, WA

How to get there: 4-hr drive from Seattle, plus a 0.7-mile hike

Second Beach is one of the most magical places in the Pacific Northwest and a must-visit for families with a sense of adventure.

From the parking area, you will hike through a short series of switchbacks where the forested surroundings give nothing away. You’ll know when you have arrived, as the shrubbery parts to reveal the beach with its giant driftwood and stunning sea stacks.

This beach is great for wildlife viewing, including the chance to see bald eagles, seals, whales, as well as sea anemones, and starfish in the tide pools. The best time to visit is during sunset so that you can soak in the breathtaking views.

Second Beach is located in Olympic National Park, known for its diverse landscapes across snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, a moody coastline, and lush rainforest. Don’t miss the best views and hikes at Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the Hoh Rainforest. You can also visit the quaint port towns of Gig Harbor and Port Townsend, as well as spend time in Seattle, the closest major city.

Where to stay near Second Beach?

If you are visiting in the summer, you can turn your time at Second Beach into an unforgettable camping adventure. For other accommodations, there are a few resorts nearby, as well as additional lodging options in the small town of Forks (yes, of Twilight fame).

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Lisa from Planning Away

How to get there: Cannon Beach is an hour and a half from Portland, Oregon. Renting a car is the best way to explore the Oregon coast.

One of the best beaches on the West Coast is Cannon Beach.  It is located along the Oregon Coast.  It is a very popular and beautiful beach. 

Cannon Beach is known for its long sandy shoreline as well as the ginormous rock that protrudes from the ocean. Haystack Rock is an impressive site along the beach.  
During low tide, you can walk out to the rock and take amazing photographs.  High tide is a different story! At high tide, you can watch the waves crash into the rock.  Haystack Rock is also a seasonal haven for tufted puffins.

Cannon Beach is a great place for families to enjoy a summer swim.  There are plenty of areas to have a picnic and enjoy the ocean.  After enjoying a great afternoon at Cannon Beach you can venture over to Ecola State Park and check out the beautiful viewpoints of the ocean.  If you have time, Hug Point has sea coves to explore.  There is plenty to see and do to keep you busy the entire day.

You can also book a Northern Oregon coast tour from Portland.

Where to stay near Cannon Beach?

There are some great vacation home rentals in the area.  The Waves at Cannon Beach is a great option right on the beach. These are private vacation homes.

Must Read: Beautiful Places to Visit on the West Coast USA

Pacific City Beach, Oregon

Michelle C from Intentional Travelers

How to get there: Pacific City is about a 2-hour drive southwest from Portland via OR-6 West, or just slightly longer when passing through wine country, on OR-18 via Newberg. Enter the beach at the public parking lot shared with Pelican Brewing on the North end–this is the closest entrance to coffee, restaurants, the tidepools, and the sand dune.

Located on the Northern Oregon Coast, the beach at Pacific City is known for its giant sand dune. Almost 200 feet tall, it rises from the otherwise flat, sandy beach.  Playing on the dune is a memorable, family-friendly experience. Running up and down, rolling, or trying to sled down the dunes are great activities for kids at the beach. 

There are also caves and tidepools to explore. Look for colorful sea anemones, starfish, mussels, and more! In the morning, watch the fishermen who drive their dory boats onto the sand and set out to sea through crashing waves.

There are no lifeguards at Pacific City. While swimming is possible,  the water temperature remains fairly frigid year-round. Instead, most families enjoy playing in the sand, going for short hikes, having a picnic, or dining on the beach from Pelican Brewing.

Nearby attractions include Tillamook Creamery with its cheese factory and ice cream shop, several easy day hikes, and more restaurants and shopping in Lincoln City.

Where to stay near Pacific City Beach?

To enjoy a comfortable stay with views of the beach and Haystack Rock, plus a coffee shop downstairs, visit the Inn at Cape Kiwanda.

Clatsop Beach, Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

Debbie Fettback from World Adventurists

How to get there: Fort Stevens State Park in Hammond, OR is an hour and 45-minute drive from Portland using US-26 W to US 101-N.

Clatsop Beach is home to arguably the most iconic shipwreck on the Oregon Coast. The Peter Iredale shipwreck is so easily accessible that it is one of the most photographed shipwrecks in the world. Luckily, this shipwreck had the best-scenario ending, with no fatalities.

The shipwreck is fun for the whole family to explore since you can walk right up to some of its skeletons at low tide. You can admire its rusty and barnacle-covered remains from years of being broken up by waves, wind, and sand.

If you are interested in walking right up to it, check tide charts to make sure your visit will be during low tide.

Clatsop Beach is a long sandy beach that is a great way to spend family time digging in the sand, beachcombing, enjoying the beautiful views, or storm-watching. 

While you are in Fort Steven’s State Park, do not miss seeing the military installation that once guarded the mouth of the Columbia River, from the Civil War to World War II. You can visit the only earthen fort on the west coast or explore the concrete artillery gun batteries. 

Where to stay in Fort Stevens State Park?

 Enjoy unique accommodation by staying in a Yurt in Fort Stevens State Park, open for reservation year-round. Reserve the Yurt camps Here.

Santa Monica Beach, California

James Ian from Travel Collecting

Location: Located in Santa Monica in the heart of Los Angeles

How to get there: Like almost everywhere in LA, the easiest way to get there is to drive.

Santa Monica Beach is great for families. It’s a quintessential Californian city beach, with a very wide stretch of fine golden sand, so there’s plenty of room (though this is LA, so it does get crowded). There are life stations spread across the length of the beach, to keep the kids safe.

There is also a bike path stretching the length of the beach and beyond. Hiring (taking your own) bicycles and riding along the beach is a lovely break from the beach. You can ride to nearby Venice Beach (about 15 minutes without stops) and explore the canals there.  Book the Electric Bike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Another great diversion that kids will love is the famous Santa Monica Pier. Right on the beach, the pier has an amusement park with rides, games, and snacks. There are also restaurants in Santa Monica, so you can visit the beach without a whole lot of planning if that’s how you prefer to travel.  Grab the sunscreen and the kids and head to Santa Monica for a great Californian beach experience.

Where to stay in Santa Monica Beach?

A lovely place to stay is the Casa del Mar Hotel.  It’s right on the ocean, just a 10-minute walk from the pier. If you want a break from the beach, there is an outdoor pool and two restaurants.

La Jolla Shores, California

Ruth from Tanama Tales

Location: La Jolla, a neighborhood of San Diego, California

How to get there:  The beach can be accessed from Interstate-5 (La Jolla Village Drive Exit). 

La Jolla Shores, a stretch of sand extending for about a mile, is known for having some of the more gentle waves in the San Diego area.  Amenities include year-long staffed lifeguard stations, volleyball courts, picnic tables, showers, restrooms, and firepits.

Kellogg Park, a grassy space featuring a beautiful playground, is located across the sand.  

Excursions to explore La Jolla Ecological Reserve depart from the beach. Guided kayak tours are one of the best ways to get close to impressive sea caves, sea lions, and other marine wildlife.  Can also book Snorkeling tour and bike tours.

The iconic Ellen Browning Scripps Pier and the Birch Aquarium, a world-class institution with over 5,000 fish, are located within walking distance.

Visitors will find restaurants, cafes, shops, surfing schools, and gear rental businesses at Avenida de la Playa.

La Jolla Shores is a fantastic place to visit with children because of the premier amenities and fun variety of activities.
Torrey Pines State Park is also located north of La Jolla Shores.  Views extending for miles can be accessed by short and easy trails. To the south, La Jolla Village, La Jolla Cove, and Children’s Pool can be visited.

Where to stay in La Jolla Shores?

La Jolla Riviera Inn or the Inn by the Sea, at La Jolla, are great options to stay near the beach.

Related Read: Best beaches in California for families

Torrey Pines Beach, California

Chantae from The Salt Sirens

Location: San Diego

How to get there: One of the most conveniently located beaches in San Diego, Torrey Pines is just off the 55 freeway on Highway 101, with plenty of paid and free parking spots next to the beach.

Families can easily spend a whole day building sandcastles and splashing around in the waves on the main stretch of sand, where there’s a lifeguard on duty during summertime daylight hours. The waves at Torrey Pines are often suitable for beginner surfers, boogie boarders, and body surfers—especially on small days. At low tide, kids can admire crabs, anemones, and other critters living in the Torrey Pines tide pools. 

For a little more adventure, head to Torrey Pines State Park, where you can hike along flat dirt trails and admire the Pinus Torreyana, the rarest pine tree in the United States. This walk is not too strenuous, and you can complete one of the most popular loop trails in just under an hour. There is often a ranger stationed at the trailhead who is happy to teach kids about native land and sea wildlife and answer any questions they might have. 

Torrey Pines is within a 15-minute drive from the beach towns of La Jolla and Del Mar, where you’ll find playgrounds, parks, and plenty of kid-friendly restaurants. Historic Old Town is also about 15 minutes away, a fun place for kids to imagine they’re living in the wild, wild west.

Where to stay near Torrey Pines Beach?

To extend your stay, check into Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a luxury hotel with multiple family-friendly pool areas, just 5 miles away from the beach.

Suggested Read: Best Beaches on the East Coast for families

Santa Cruz Beach, California

Harmony from Momma To Go

How to get there: Santa Cruz, California is a great west coast beach. Located about an hour south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is a funky, university town right on the Pacific Ocean.

The best beach for families is right by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk – an old-school amusement park with thrill rides and every type of fried food imaginable! 

After some time on the rides –head right onto the beach. Beautiful clean sand, but unfortunately year round the water temperature is too cold for swimming. But grab a wet suit and take a surf lesson!

A few miles north, Natural Bridges is an amazing site on a pristine beach. An iconic Santa Cruz landmark named for the natural arch in the huge rock just off the beach, this is a popular spot for locals and tourists. At low tide look for sea stars and shore crabs. Again, not the best spot for swimming, but there is something magical about this beach. 

Pro-Tip: Visit at sunset.

Visit Santa Cruz for the day from San Fran or San Jose, stop by as you drive up or down the coast, or stay overnight.

Where to stay in Santa Cruz?

Popular hotels include the Hotel Paradox, Casablanca on the Beach, or the Pacific Blue Inn. The perfect beach getaway for friend groups, couples, and families, everyone loves Santa Cruz!

Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Luke from The Coastal Campaign

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

How to get there: Drive to the coast in Kailua until you reach Kailua Beach. From the south end of the beach follow Mokulua Drive which loops into Aalapapa Drive. Then turn onto Mokumana Drive and at the end of this road are the access points for Lanikai Beach.

Lanikai Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches in the USA. It is a relatively short stretch of incredible white sand with crystal clear blue water lapping the shores on one side and palm trees lining the other. As it is on the East side of Oahu it is usually quite calm with little to no waves. This makes it the perfect place to bring a family as the calm water is perfect for swimming and playing in. There are no lifeguards on this beach but it is very safe so this shouldn’t be an issue. 

Nearby attractions: The calm water also makes this a great place to stand up paddleboard and kayak. Kayaking out to the Mokalua Islands from Lanikai Beach is also a popular activity here. For those with older kids who want a bit more of an adventure, you can hike to the Lanikai Pillbox to get sensational aerial views of the beach. 

Where to stay in Lanikai Beach?

Stay at Kailua Beach Guest House in this beautiful guesthouse in nearby Kailua, just a few hundred meters from Kailua Beach.

Do you have a favorite family-friendly beach on the West Coast? Let us know more about it and the best thing you like about that West Coast beach.

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