Stinson Beach
Long sand beachbreak on the Marin coast north of the Golden Gate, fronting the town of Stinson Beach. Exposed to open North Pacific swell, with sandbars that reshape through the winter.
When it’s on
Stinson Beach works best on a WSW to NW swell. It also picks up W to NW swell. Light offshore wind from the east through northeast. Mid tide window.
When beginners can paddle out
Small clean groundswell under about waist-to-chest high, light wind, and a mid tide, surfed near a staffed lifeguard tower.
Spot intel
- Parking
- Free day-use lots at the National Park Service beach off Highway 1. The lots fill on warm weekends and holidays.
- Crowd
- Moderate and spread along the sand. Mixed ability, heavier at the main beach access than at the ends.
- Beginner-friendly?
Depends.
A forgiving sandbar on a small clean day, but the beach carries rip currents, cold water year-round, and a documented white-shark presence on this stretch of coast.
- Famous for
- The main beach town break of the Marin coast and the closest open-ocean beachbreak north of San Francisco.
- Lineup etiquette
- Beachbreak priority is per-wave and per-peak. A wave already taken from the peak is not open to paddle into.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 37.8924, -122.6504
- Shore faces
- SW
- Region
- Marin, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for Stinson Beach?
- Stinson Beach works best on a WSW to NW swell. It also picks up W to NW swell.
- How big does Stinson Beach need to be?
- Stinson Beach is best in the 2-6ft range on a 9-15s period.
- What are the best conditions at Stinson Beach?
- Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
- Where is Stinson Beach?
- Stinson Beach is a open sand beach break in Marin, California. The beach faces SW.
- Does GhostFingers forecast Stinson Beach?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades Stinson Beach with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.
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