17 Best Coastal Sunset Spots in Central California

Looking to chase beautiful sunset spots in Central California? Read more to get all the hotspots along the Pacific Coast Highway!

There’s nothing quite like watching the sunset over the horizon. The sky turns a beautiful array of oranges, pinks, and purples, and it’s a perfect way to end the day.

California is full of wonderful sunset spots, from sandy beaches to atop mountain peaks. Imagine seeing sunsets in places like Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and more. Even more, chasing sunsets is one of the most affordable things to do in California!

If you’re looking for some great sunset spots in Central California, especially on the coastline, look no further! Here are 11 of our favorites list from north to south along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Central California is full of gorgeous sunsets spots and spectacular views. The best way to chase coastal sunsets in Central California is to rent a car. I highly recommend booking your rental car through Discover Cars as they provide some of the lowest prices!

You can pick it up at San Francisco International Airport and start just north in Petaluma, then make your way down the Pacific Coast Highway.

You could also start south by flying into Los Angeles and driving up Highway 1–just take this list from the bottom up.

Here are the best spots to catch a romantic sunset spot in Central California!

🚗 Book your rental car through Discover Cars. They provide the best deals for car rentals in California!

1. Bodega Bay in Santa Rosa

Bodega Bay is located about 20 minutes west of Santa Rosa and is another small town on the coast that you can’t miss. Bodega Bay is well-known for its amazing sunsets. From here, you can watch the sun dip down into the horizon behind the bay.

It has gorgeous sunset spots over Bodega Bay and is often filled with sea lions and birds of all kinds. You can take a short hike up the Bodega Bay Trail to get to a high point and see the sunset over the crashing waves.

If you prefer to relax on a beach, Dillon beach is privately owned but is stunning for sunset spots in Central California. There is a small fee to pay and it does get busy over the weekend, so you’ll want to plan well before going.

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2. Drakes Beach on the Point Reyes Seashore

Drakes Beach is located in Point Reyes National Seashore and is yet another beautiful sunset spot on the coast of Central California. It can be reached by taking Sir Francis Drake Blvd through to Olema to get to the parking lot. You can also bike or hike to get here since it has easy access to the park.

It has a very long stretch of beach and peculiar cliffs lining the coast. You can hike up to a lookout point to see the sunset over the ocean. While at Drake’s Beach, you can also find many sand dollars to commemorate your time here.

3. Shollenburger Park in Petaluma

Shollenberger Park is located in Petaluma and has a stunning view of the city lights against the sky as the sun goes down. This park is made up of fields, hills, and forests, making it an ideal spot to watch the sunset. You can take a short hike up one of the trails or sit on top of a nearby hill to get an amazing view.

The sunsets here are often full of oranges, purples, and pinks that light up the sky and are reflected in the water below. It’s a great place to watch the sunset spot in Central California with friends or family and take in all of the beauty around you.

4. Roosevelt Beach in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is just a short drive from San Francisco and is home to some of the most spectacular sunset spots in Central California. Roosevelt Beach is located here and has a perfect view of the Pacific Ocean with plenty of beach area to sit down and watch the sunset.

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is also a hotspot for sunsets. You can sit at the top of the cypress tree grove and watch the sunset over the Pacific!

While in Half Moon Bay, you can take a walk along the sand or get some food from nearby restaurants like Barbara’s Fish Trap before watching the beautiful colors in the sky as the sun sets.

5. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Located in Santa Cruz you will find a classic amusement park that has been around since 1907 complete with two wooden roller coasters. During the summer months, you can enjoy sunsets on the boardwalk while listening to a jazz band or watching a concert in California’s most vibrant city, possibly evening getting on a ride.

While at the boardwalk, on the beach, or on the pier, sit back and watch the sunset over the horizon in Central California. You’ll see the silhouette of the roller coasters and the lights reflecting in the water. It’s a beautiful sight!

🚗 Book your rental car through Discover Cars. They provide the best deals for car rentals in California!

6. Capitola State Beach

Capitola state beach is beautiful with sunsets on the horizon over the ocean. It’s located off Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey, not too far from where you see the sunset over the ocean in Cayucos.

It’s a perfect sunset spot in Central California and photo shoots because of the iconic front of colorful houses on the shoreline. It is located just south of Santa Cruz between Monterey Bay and Pacific Grove, so Capitola makes for a great half-day trip as well!

7. The Resorts at Pajaro Dunes

Pajaro Dunes is a series of beach resorts located just south of Santa Cruz near Watsonville. It’s a great spot for watching the sunset over the ocean because you can sit up on one of the decks overlooking the Pacific.

The resorts here are some of the best sunset spots in Central California with blazing reds and oranges across the sky. It’s a great place to relax with friends or family and take in the beauty of California’s coast. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants nearby for dinner afterward!

Or if you’re feeling more rustic, set up a beach bonfire and smoke some marshmallows to make s’mores!

Monterey is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Central California and is perfect for sunsets with great views from Fisherman’s Wharf. You can often see the sun dip below the horizon as you watch boats return to their home ports.

If there are boats docked in their ports, then you’ll also get an amazing view from the benches with the sun reflecting warm colors over the ocean and the line of boats in view and Fisherman’s Wharf sitting on the water. It’s a very picturesque scene!

Monterey Beach is also a great spot to see the sunset. You can take a stroll along the shoreline and enjoy the waves crashing against the beach while watching the sun dip below the horizon.

9. Carmel-by-the-Sea

Another small town with amazing sunset views is Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is located off Highway 1 between Monterey and Big Sur and is another one of the most picturesque sunset spots in Central California.

Enjoy a walk along Ocean Avenue while you enjoy the sun setting over the ocean to take some amazing pictures with great views! You can also hang out on Carmel Beach and watch the sunset from there as well. The beach is known for its stunning views and offers a great spot to take in the beauty of the sunset.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its eclectic collection of houses, a 17-mile coastal drive, and of course sunsets. It’s a cute place to visit, but the sunsets are what makes it extra special–especially the one behind Cypress point.

🚗 Book your rental car through Discover Cars. They provide the best deals for car rentals in California!

10. Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur

A road trip from Monterey to Big Sur will bring you to Pfeiffer Beach, which is right off the coast and tops the list of places to see beautiful sunset spots in Central California. Finding Pfeiffer Beach can be hard to find, but once you locate Sycamore Canyon Road, make a turn into the winding street to find this hidden gem.

Pfeiffer beach has gorgeous high tides and the sun sets behind the iconic Keyhole Arch, making this an epic location for an amazing sunset. Take a walk around Pfeiffer beach while you’re here as it is famous for having purple sand!

11. Moonstone Beach in Cambria

Moonstone Beach in Cambria is a gorgeous area for sunset spots in Central California. It’s located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, so it makes a great stop on your California coastal road trip.

While here, you can walk the Moonstone Beach boardwalk, which stretches along the beach for 1 mile. Here you can find some of the most breathtaking sunsets in California, with pink and orange hues reflecting against the water. There is also a great spot at Moonstone to watch the sunset while sitting on top of one of its large boulders!

12. Estero Bluffs in Cayucos

Cayucos is a small town located off the coast on Highway 101. While visiting Cayucos and all the things to do, seeing the sunset from the Estero bluffs is a must-do when in Central California.

The Estero Bluffs is a grassy state park with a gorgeous coastal trail right along the Pacific ocean. It’s perfect for sunsets because of the beautiful bluffs and stretch of beach. The water takes on rich shades of blue and purple as you watch the sunset over the ocean.

If you get to the bluffs before the sunsets, you can also spend some time looking for the tidepools here! It’s a great spot for birdwatching, and also has some nice trails to explore. All in all, Estero Bluffs is an amazing place to witness the sunset in Central California!

13. Morro Strand State Beach in Morro Bay

Morro Strand State Beach is located off Highway 101 and is about 2 miles south of Cayucos. This beach is 100% dog-friendly so you can enjoy a beautiful sunset with your favorite furry friend.

Morro Strand State Beach tops the list of best sunset spots in Central California because of its long stretch of sandy beach. With unobstructed views, you’ll be able to see the gorgeous sunset below the horizon.

While here, you can also keep an eye out for Elephant Rock, which is precisely what it sounds like: a ginormous rock formation that looks like an elephant!

14. Terrace Hill in San Luis Obispo

Noted as one of SLO Cal’s easiest hikes, Terrace Hill offers some of the best sunset spots in Central California. Located off Highway 1, you’ll have a 360° panoramic view of San Luis Obispo below and its surrounding hills from the top.

The sunset here is spectacular as the sky turns pink and orange against the backdrop of rolling hills. At Terrace Hill, you can also spot wildflowers in the spring at the Johnson Ranch Open Space or choose a strenuous hike up to the Bishop Peak viewpoint.

It’s a great spot for sunset-watching with some light hiking, making it one of the best places to witness a beautiful Central California sunset.

15. Oceano Dunes in Pismo

The Oceano Dunes are known for ATV riding in Pismo beach; however, there are enormous dunes just beyond the beach where ATVs aren’t allowed to go. These dunes are filled with amazing hills of sand that go on forever.

When you go during the golden hour, you’ll see beautiful colors in the vastness of the sand dunes and be there in time for the sunset in Central California. It’s definitely an Instagram-worthy shot!

16. Yosemite National Park at Glacier Point

Yosemite, of course, is not located on the coast, but does warrant a mention as it is one of the most well-known national parks in Central California!

Glacier Point offers breathtaking views of Yosemite National Park and sunset spots over the valley. It is located off the Tioga Pass which you can only drive through in summer; however, if you’re visiting Yosemite you might encounter closed roads due to snowy weather. 

The sunsets here are unlike any other as you sit atop the mountains and bask in the scenery of the sun going down.

17. Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest

The last spot in Central California is also not on the coast, but so close to the south entrance of Yosemite National Park that it’s worth stopping by to see the sunset!

Bass Lake is located in the Sierra National Forest and is a popular recreation area for families, hikers, campers, and water sports enthusiasts. But one of the best times to come here is at sunset! The colors of the sunset at Bass Lake are unreal–fiery reds and oranges all around!

Being surrounded by mountains on all sides of the lake makes this an unforgettable spot to witness a stunning Californian sunset.

Whether you’re in a boat or on the shore, you’ll be mesmerized by the colors reflected off of the water at sunset. The beautiful scenery here is unbeatable and definitely worth checking out!

🚗 Book your rental car through Discover Cars. They provide the best deals for car rentals in California!

Map of the Best Sunset Spots in Central California

No matter where you choose to catch a sunset spot in Central California, there are a few essential items you should pack.

• 🏖️ A blanket or beach towel so you can sit down and watch the sky from your spot and sunscreen if you plan on staying out for longer than an hour.

• 😋 You’ll also want to pack some snacks and water for a snack break under the sun into this iceless cooler.

• 🧥 Bring a jacket for when it gets cold after the sun sets.

• 🥾 For shoes, these are my favorite sandals for the sand, walking shoes, and hiking boots for those trails.

• 🚗 To plan your road trip, check out this list of useful road trip gifts so that you can make the most of your drive!

Find a buddy to watch sunsets with. You can take turns snapping pictures for each other and then bask in the beauty of it all together!

When does the sunset in Central California?

The sun dips to the horizon earlier along the coast than it does inland. In summer, from about April through October, the sunsets occur around 8 PM local time at the coast. In winter sunsets are more likely to occur before 7 PM since the days are shorter and sometimes even before 4 PM.

When planning your itinerary, most of these gorgeous sunset spots in Central California are pretty close to one another so you can make a stop as you drive along Highway 101. If you are planning on heading into Yosemite National Park, plan to pay an entrance fee.

What time is the golden hour in Central California?

According to Meteo Gram, the golden hour in Central California is typically from 6:52 AM to 7:29 AM or 4:11 PM to 4:48 PM–this 30ish-minute timeframe can change from winter to summer, depending on when the sunsets.

But be sure to check on the day you are planning to get around the sunset spots in Central California so you can be there in time for those stunning golden hour pictures!

Should I rent a car to chase sunset spots in Central California?

Yes, it’s highly recommended as the coast and Yosemite National Park can be spread out. Renting a car is the most efficient way to get around, plus you can make stops along the way if you spot something beautiful!

The Central California Coast has some of the most breathtaking sunset views in the world, so why not take advantage of them?

🚗 Book your rental car through Discover Cars. They provide the best deals for car rentals in California!

Central California offers a lot of great spots to watch the sunset and I hope you can find one that will be your favorite, especially as you drive along the coast!

Whether it is in Yosemite National Park, along the coast, or at an iconic beach spot like Pfeiffer Beach, there are so many beautiful spots to check out when it comes time for sunset.  

Which one is on your list? Check out these road trip essentials to make the most of your sunset spots in California drive!

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Other content you may enjoy:

• 15 Amazing Cheap Vacation Spots in California
• Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary: Plan the Perfect Road Trip
• 17 Fun Things to do in Santa Rosa, California
• 18 Spectacular Things to do in Cayucos, California
• 17 Charming Things to do in Cambria, California
• 20 Incredible Things to do in Petaluma, California

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