Seaside Beach
Seaside, CA
Seaside Beach sits along the south side of the Monterey Beach Resort, a boardwalk crossing the dunes to a straightforward stretch of sand between Monterey and Marina. It's a good, easy option if you're staying in Seaside rather than driving into Monterey proper.
A genuinely convenient option for anyone staying in Seaside, though it's a plainer stretch of sand than the more scenic beaches further south on the peninsula.
How we score beachesUse this over the busier Monterey beaches if you're staying in Seaside, it's a much shorter trip and a similarly wide stretch of sand.
Free parking is available near the resort.
A boardwalk crosses the dunes from parking to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed on this stretch of Monterey State Beach in Seaside due to snowy plover habitat protection, though leashed dogs are permitted on the beach segment south of the hotel.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Monterey Bay coast.
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