the beach today
Monterey Peninsula Guide

Carmel
Beach

By the Sea

White sand, turquoise water and cypress-lined bluffs at the foot of one of California's most charming villages. Carmel Beach is dog-friendly, fire-pit-permitted and spectacularly west-facing for sunsets, with Carmel-by-the-Sea's galleries, restaurants and bakeries a short walk up Ocean Avenue.

Today on the Sand

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Water Temp

84°

warm · gentle surf

UV Index

9

very high · 10am–4pm

Beach Crowd

Busy

holiday weekend

Beach Toolkit

Beach Conditions

Surf, tides & water temp

Parking Finder

Garages, lots & meters

Sunset

Sunset countdown & live cam

Dining

Where to eat after the sand

Things to Do

Cruises, sails & tours

Events

What's on this week

Beach Rules

Dogs, drinks, fires, drones

Pick Your Sand

north to south

Main Beach

Ocean Ave access, white sand and fire pits

Free street parking

North Carmel Beach

Quieter north end above the kelp line

Scenic Rd blufftop

Scenic Road Blufftop

Paved walk above the beach with cypress views

Walk from village

Dolphin Cruises

Open →

Compare daily sails from the marina — wild dolphins on nearly every trip.

Beyond the Beach

day trips

Carmel-by-the-Sea Village

5 min walk

Galleries, bakeries and no streetlights

Point Lobos

5 min south

Crown jewel of the California state park system

17-Mile Drive

10 min north

Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress

Monterey Aquarium

20 min north

World-class kelp forest and sea otter exhibit

see you on the sand

Water temp, surf and UV are live from NOAA & Open-Meteo; sunset is computed locally for Carmel Beach. Crowd level is a weekday/weekend estimate.

Beach with care. The National Weather Service has a Beach Hazards Statement out for Carmel Beach until 8 PM Tuesday. Dangerous surf and rip currents. Swim only near a lifeguard. Right now at Carmel Beach, the water is 67°F, surf is running 7–8 ft and the air is 65°F but feels like 62°F. Wind is 8 mph from the WSW and the UV index peaks at 4 (moderate) today. Unprotected fair skin burns in about 37 minutes right now. Today’s tides: High 5:46 AM, Low 10:54 AM, High 4:18 PM, Low 11:28 PM. Dogs are allowed.