UC Davis
A white sand beach at Carmel by the Sea, a three hour drive from UC Davis.

Beach day trips

Popular beaches
a day trip from Davis

Davis is right in the middle of Northern California. In a day trip, you can drive or take public transit to popular beaches from our valley location. Below, you can browse common beach destinations and directions to reach them.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a two-hour drive from Davis. The town is known for its great surf and popular beach boardwalk.

A surver launches himself from a wave in Santa Cruz, ca a short drive from Davis

Stinson Beach

A great beach for swimming and soaking up the sun just an hour and forty-five minutes from Davis.

A birds eye view of Stinson Beach just north of San Francisco and an hour and forty-five minutes from Davis, ca

Half Moon Bay

A great combination of sandy beaches, tide pools and amazing scenery — all less than a two-hour drive from Davis.

A scenic view of the coastline and manhatten beach in Half Moon Bay, ca

Baker Beach

This landmark beach is just an hour and half from Davis. It’s known for beautiful scenery and proximity to San Francisco.

A scene of Baker Beach in San Francisco with the golden gate bridge in the background

Carmel by the Sea

Carmel is known for its relaxed beaches, golf courses and proximity to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A white sand beach near Carmel, ca and about 3 hours from UC Davis

South Lake Tahoe

Known for its skiing, Tahoe also has some excellent beaches and summer activities.

A white sand beach in South Lake Tahoe