A coastal weekend from Palo Alto

Palo Alto sits in a warm valley. Thirty miles west, past a ridge of redwoods, lies a cold, foggy, empty stretch of the Pacific coast with harbors, farm stands and lighthouses. Most visitors see it in a rushed afternoon. It is far better with one night away, so you can follow the tides and the light rather than the traffic.

This plan covers a Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is for the Midcoast: Half Moon Bay, Pillar Point Harbor and the tide pools at Moss Beach. Sunday runs south on Highway 1 to Pescadero, Pigeon Point and Año Nuevo, then home through the redwoods. Our Half Moon Bay day trip covers the town in more depth if you only have one day.

Before you go

• Check the tides. Plan the tide pools for a low tide, ideally a minus tide. Winter brings some of the year's best daytime lows.
• Pick your road. Highway 92 is the quick way to Half Moon Bay. Highway 84 through Woodside and La Honda is slower and prettier, but Caltrans began resurfacing it on September 14, 2026 with one-way traffic control at points through winter. Check Caltrans QuickMap first.
• Get a car. There is no practical transit south of Half Moon Bay. If you flew in, compare rental cars for the weekend.
• Pack for weather. The coast is often 10 to 20 degrees cooler than Palo Alto and windy in the afternoon. Bring a warm layer and shoes that can get wet.
• Download maps. Cell service is patchy south of Half Moon Bay and on the mountain roads.

Saturday morning: over the hill to Half Moon Bay

Leave Palo Alto by 8:30 a.m. and take Interstate 280 north to Highway 92, then west over the mountains. The last stretch is two lanes, which is why it backs up on sunny weekends. Park near Main Street, the town's old center of low wooden buildings. Get coffee there before the trail.

Then walk part of the Coastside Trail, about three paved miles along the bluffs behind Half Moon Bay State Beach. Its four beaches, Francis, Venice, Dunes and Roosevelt, are open from 8 a.m. to sunset with a day use fee in each lot. Dogs are not allowed on the state beaches but may use the trail on a leash. The water is cold all year with strong rip currents, so stay on the sand. Our beaches near Palo Alto guide compares the fees and rules up and down the coast.

Saturday afternoon: the harbor and the tide pools

Drive a few miles north to Pillar Point Harbor in Princeton-by-the-Sea. Fishing boats unload at Johnson Pier and sometimes sell fresh catch at the docks. Half Moon Bay Brewing Company at 390 Capistrano Road has brewed on the coast since 2000 and serves lunch by the water. Our Princeton-by-the-Sea guide covers the harbor's other spots.

After lunch, walk the Pillar Point Bluff trails toward the radar station. Mavericks, the big wave surf break, sits about half a mile offshore and only lights up on large winter swells. Then continue to Moss Beach for low tide at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The ramp to the beach has been closed indefinitely since August 26, 2026. Instead, walk the Coastal Trail about 0.3 miles from the lot to Cypress Avenue. Take the Seal Cove stairs down from there. Look closely but touch and take nothing. Our tide pooling guide explains how to read a tide table and stay safe on wet rock.

For sunset, the cliff-top Moss Beach Distillery has a heated patio over the ocean. It is also a short drive from the reserve to Montara State Beach, where leashed dogs are welcome.

Saturday night: where to sleep

Both hostels sit in old lighthouse keepers' buildings and list private rooms as well as dorm beds. Pigeon Point warns that State Parks' restoration crews work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with some noise and vibration. Check-in there runs from 3:30 to 10:30 p.m. For hotels in Half Moon Bay, compare coast hotels early for fall weekends, when rooms go fast.

See our Montara and Moss Beach guide for more on the Point Montara hostel and the trail up Montara Mountain if you want an early hike.

Sunday morning: south on Highway 1

Drive south from Half Moon Bay on Highway 1. The road runs past sandstone bluffs and artichoke fields with almost no towns for 15 miles. San Gregorio State Beach has a lagoon and small sandstone caves at low tide. The San Gregorio General Store just inland has served the farm community for well over a century.

Turn inland on Pescadero Road to reach Pescadero, a one-street farm village. Duarte's Tavern on Stage Road has served cream of artichoke soup, cioppino and pie since 1894. It keeps fairly short hours and closes on Tuesdays. Arcangeli Grocery next door bakes the artichoke bread that sells out on busy afternoons. Harley Farms Goat Dairy at 205 North Street makes goat cheese on site and lists hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with public tours booked on its website. Our Pescadero and the coast guide has more on all three.

Back on the coast, Pescadero Marsh is one of the best birding spots on this shore. Bean Hollow State Beach a few miles south has colorful pebble beaches and rich tide pools.

Sunday afternoon: the lighthouse and the seals

Pigeon Point Light Station stands about 6 miles south of Pescadero Road. Its 115-foot brick tower, first lit in 1872, has been closed since restoration began in February 2024. The grounds are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. The visitor center opens Thursday to Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as staffing permits. The original Fresnel lens is on display in the Fog Signal Building. State Parks lists a 154th anniversary event on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 1 to 7 p.m., billed as the last chance to see the lens lit up close before it returns to the tower. Check the Pigeon Point park page before you go.

Watch for gray whales from the bluffs between December and spring. To get closer, you can book a whale watching trip from Pillar Point Harbor. Our whale watching guide explains the seasons.

Año Nuevo State Park is about 8 miles farther south. From December 15 to March 31 the elephant seal breeding season means guided walks only, booked through ReserveCalifornia for $7 plus a $3.99 fee, up to 56 days ahead. The viewing area is closed from December 1 to 14. From April to November you can walk out with a free permit issued from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pets are not allowed anywhere in the park. Our Año Nuevo guide covers the walk in detail.

The road home through the redwoods

Head back to Pescadero and take Pescadero Road east past Loma Mar into the redwoods, then Alpine Road up to Skyline Boulevard and Page Mill Road down into Palo Alto. Page Mill is narrow and steep near the top, so drive it in daylight if you can. In November and December the sun sets around 5 p.m. An alternative is Highway 84 through La Honda to Woodside. Our redwood forests guide covers parks on both roads, including Portola Redwoods, if you want one last walk among big trees.

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