San Mateo County, California
San Gregorio Private Beach
San Gregorio Private Beach claims a singular distinction in American naturist history: it's often cited as the first nude beach in the United States, with clothing-optional use established in the 1960s.
- Historic
- Iconic
- Private Access
About this place
San Gregorio Private Beach claims a singular distinction in American naturist history: it's often cited as the first nude beach in the United States, with clothing-optional use established in the 1960s. It sits on the Pacific coast of San Mateo County, immediately north of the state-owned San Gregorio State Beach. The 'private' designation refers to the access — a privately-owned parking lot and driveway on the ocean side of Highway 1 — rather than to the beach itself, which is public California shoreline under standard state law.
The standard arrangement: drive in via the unmarked driveway just north of La Honda Road, park in the dirt lot, pay the attendant a cash fee (currently around $10), and walk down to the beach. The owners maintain the access road and parking, which is what the fee covers. Once on the sand the public-beach rules apply, but the access pricing keeps casual textile beachgoers out and the C/O convention has held continuously for sixty years.
The beach itself is a wide Pacific coastal stretch — sand, dunes, sea cliffs, and the cold ocean. The naturist section traditionally runs north from the access point. Visitors are typically Bay Area locals (the drive is about an hour from San Francisco), longtime regulars who've been coming for decades, and the occasional curious newcomer. The crowd is friendly, low-key, and tilted toward older demographics — significantly so compared to Baker Beach.
Important note: in April 2026 the Peninsula Open Space Trust announced a planned $10 million purchase of the 195-acre San Gregorio Ranch, which includes the private-beach access. The implications for the C/O access model are not yet clear; visitors should check current conditions before a trip.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Bay Area locals — San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay — and longtime regulars who've been coming for decades. The crowd skews older than Baker Beach; many visitors have been making the drive since the 1980s or earlier. Weekday mornings are quiet; summer Saturdays draw the fullest crowd.
How to find it
From the Bay Area, head south on Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway) past Half Moon Bay. About 45 miles south of San Francisco, watch for the intersection with Highway 84 (La Honda Road). The private-beach driveway is the first ocean-side turnoff just north of that intersection. Unmarked but obvious — there's a dirt parking area and an attendant in summer. Cash only for the fee.
Things to watch out for
Future-access uncertainty after the April 2026 Peninsula Open Space Trust purchase announcement — check current conditions before depending on the historical access model. The gate is sometimes closed off-season; weekend daytime is the most reliable window. Cold water year-round (Pacific currents). No facilities at the beach — bring water, food, sunscreen. Fog rolls in fast in summer afternoons.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Pay the parking fee — it's how the access has stayed available for sixty years. Stay north of the state-beach boundary for nude sunbathing; south of it is the textile public beach. No photo or video of others. Pack out everything. The access is at the discretion of the property owner; respect the arrangement. Cold Pacific water — sunbathing only, not swimming, unless you know the conditions.
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