From San Francisco take Highway 1 south. From San Mateo and most of the Bay Area, take Highway 92 west. From Santa Cruz follow Highway 1 north.

The main facilities of Half Moon Bay State Beach are at Francis Beach. Use Kelley Avenue off Highway 1. Other parts of the state beach can be reached by using Venice Boulevard or Young Avenue off Highway 1.

For Cowell Ranch Beach, on Highway 1 drive 3.3 miles south of Half Moon Bay (0.6 miles south of Miramontes Point Road) and watch for a small parking lot on the west side of the highway. Park and walk 0.6 miles to the beach.