Sacramento is a city with many attractions, including beaches. The town has several parks and beaches that offer a chance to enjoy the ocean and lakes. Here are 15 of the best places near Sacramento where you can go swimming.

1. Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach — Alameda

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach is on the shores of Lake Natoma near Yuba City, which enlists it as one of the best beaches near Sacramento if you want to spend some time in nature without being too far from civilization

The park is named after Walter W. Crown, a former State Assemblyman, and Senator. This park offers more than just swimming; it also has picnic areas, a fishing pier and boat launch area, and hiking trails around the lake. The park also has a playground where you can enjoy time with your little ones. The swimming area at this beach is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day weekend. The park offers a concession stand that serves food, drinks, and ice cream. There is a boat launch area for those who wish to rent boats or canoes and enjoy some time on the water. Lake Natoma Beach is an excellent place for fishing enthusiasts as well. You can catch fish such as catfish, crappie, and bass.

2. Paradise Beach — Sacramento

Paradise Beach is a popular spot for families and couples to visit. It’s at the north end of Lake Tahoe, near Truckee and South Lake Tahoe. It’s also close to California State University, Sacramento—you can even take classes there while you’re in town! The water is excellent here: clear blue skies, warm temperatures, and soft sand make this beach one of the best in California.

There are numerous adventurous and fascinating things to do at Lake Tahoe, from swimming and boating to hiking and fishing. You can opt for parasailing or take a jet ski tour! There are multiple lodging options available here as well.

3. Fort Funston Beach — San Francisco

Fort Funston Beach is an excellent beach for swimming, surfing, and picnicking. The beach has lifeguards and restrooms on-site, making it popular with families and those who want to relax by the water. Fort Funston Beach can get crowded during the summer months, so it’s best to visit the beach in the early hours of sunrise or late afternoon when there aren’t many people around.

Bring sunblock if you’re heading out onto the sand at Fort Funston Beach! You’ll also want some water shoes or flip-flops because no showers are available here—just rinse off at home before returning another day!

Another vital feature to consider is that there are no lifeguard towers here, so be careful if you decide against swimming in certain areas due to the rocks underneath them (which could cause injury).

4. Montara State Beach — Montara

Montara State Beach is an ideal place to go surfing. It’s located on the Pacific Ocean, north of San Francisco and south of Half Moon Bay.

Montara State Beach features excellent surf that can be found by experienced surfers and beginners looking for an accessible spot with consistent waves. The best visit time for this beach is from October through March, when there are more consistent swells during the winter.

The waves at Montara State Beach are usually around 3 to 6 feet high. The beach is best suited for experienced surfers because it can get challenging in big swells.

5. Golden Gate National Recreation Area — Mill Valley

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area Mill Valley is a park in Marin County, California, United States.

The park contains many recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy. There are miles of hiking and horseback trails and several picnic areas to stop at during your journey. There is also an outdoor amphitheater for performances by musicians or entertainers who want to share their talents with others who might be interested in hearing them perform live music outdoors. Usually, during summertime, festivals are held here annually throughout the year such as Labor Day Weekend. This event celebrates American Workers & Their Families with free admission into this event each year, starting Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend ends up being America’s favorite holiday. Here families spend quality time together over BBQs & picnics under sunny skies. At the same time, enjoy family-friendly activities such as dancing around fireside tables while drinking alcoholic beverages made from corn-grown nearby fields somewhere else outside town (not near Sacramento) or eating freshly picked strawberries off the vine for dessert after dinner.

6. Muir Beach — Sausalito

Muir Beach is a beach on the Pacific Coast in Marin County, California. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Located near Sausalito, it’s just a short drive from downtown San Francisco and offers visitors stunning views of both San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais State Park. You can also hike along its trails or take advantage of its hiking opportunities at nearby Stinson Beach or Bolinas Lagoon (an abundance of bird-watching sites).

Muir Beach features restrooms with showers and picnic tables where you can enjoy an afternoon snack while watching surfers catch some waves at nearby Mavericks Beach, which lies between Muir Beach and Angel Island State Park.

7. Crystal Cove State Park — Laguna Beach

Crystal Cove State Park is a beach park in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California. The park is famously known for its rugged coastline and trails that lead to the ocean or inland. It was the first state park established in California (1958).

The land that became Crystal Cove was initially owned by industrialist Henry Huntington who used it as an experimental farm. After he died in 1905, it was purchased by philanthropist Walter Withers. They donated land for public beaches and a campground for city residents, using their own money to pay off debt related to building roads in the area.

The park is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, including monarch butterflies and sea lions. The most popular trail at Crystal Cove State Park is Aliso Woods Canyon Trail which leads through coastal sage scrub habitat along a seasonal stream. The course offers views of the Pacific Ocean and Crystal Cove beach. The trail is famous for mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians. A portion of the trail is wheelchair-accessible with assistance from volunteers.

This park is also enlisted as one of the best places to visit in California by several publications, including Sunset Magazine and U.S. News & World Report.

8. Half Moon Bay State Beach — Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay State Beach is a great place to swim. It’s located in the town of Half Moon Bay, California, and is one of the most popular beaches. There are picnic tables and BBQs, which makes it easy to bring your food with you or order takeout from nearby restaurants. There is also an R.V. park on-site so that you can stay overnight.

The beach here has lifeguards on duty during the summer months (seasonal), but no one will be able to save you from yourself if something goes wrong while swimming here—we’re talking about sharks here, after all!

9. Lighthouse Field State Beach — Santa Cruz

Lighthouse Field State Beach is a famous beach in Santa Cruz, CA. It’s also one of the most scenic beaches, with lovely views, and is excellent for bird-watching. You can even hike through the forest on either side of the lake to get more wilderness views!

The beach is wide, attractive, and sandy, making it an excellent place for swimming. You can also use some picnic tables if you want to bring food and sit down. The beach is also dog-friendly!

The beach has several parking lots, which makes it easy to get there. The beach is also very well-maintained and clean. There are restrooms and showers on site, so you won’t have to worry about finding one elsewhere.

10. Pacifica State Beach — Pacifica

Pacifica State Beach is a beach in California located just north of the town of Pacifica. The beach has a vast sandy shoreline and is popular with surfers, swimmers, and families. It is also known as “Duck Beach” because it’s where ducks swim during their migration from Mexico to Canada each spring and fall (depending on the season).

The beach is at the end of a steep road that winds down from Highway 1, just north of Linda Mar State Beach. The parking lot has limited space, but there are additional parking spaces behind the nearby Coast Guard station. The beach is open throughout the year for public visits (though some facilities may be closed during winter).

11. San Gregorio State Beach — Half Moon Bay

San Gregorio State Beach is a beach in Half Moon Bay, California. It is at the mouth of Pilarcitos Creek and is famous for swimming, surfing, fishing, and other water sports. The beach has a picnic area, restrooms, and outdoor showers. It is next to Pilarcitos Creek County Park, a playground and picnic area. There is also an overlook above the beach that provides views of Montara Mountain and the Pacific Ocean.

Various names over time have known the beach. Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo first used the phrase “San Gregorio” on his voyage around 1542. The term “Half Moon Bay” dates back to 1855 when a reference map published by John Sutter showed an island offshore from this area marked as “Half Moon.”

12. Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach is a famous beach in Marin County, California, United States, located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of San Francisco. Stinson Beach is located entirely within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beach is named after Charles Rolland Stinson, who bought a 1,000-acre (400 ha) property in 1885. He established his property as one of the first recreational sites on what was then called “the Point Reyes Peninsula.”

The beach features many facilities, including parking lots, restrooms, and outdoor showers accessible year-round. During summer, there are lifeguards on duty at all times. However, during the winter, they may not be present before May 1 or after October 15 due to low staffing levels due to fewer visitors coming down from Northern California, where temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

13. Sly Park Recreation Area — Pollock Pines

Sly Park Recreation Area is great for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The park is home to one of the most popular trails in Sacramento County—the Pollock Pines Trail—and offers plenty of other trails you can explore on your own. Sly Park has abundant natural resources: there’s no shortage of trees or flowers here!

The park is home to wildlife species, including deer and coyotes. You might even spot a bobcat or two if you’re lucky enough to visit during the right season!

A park is also an excellent place for camping. Several campgrounds are available on the premises, ranging from primitive to developed. You can reserve a spot for camping or just show up and hope there’s room available!

14. Sand Cove Park — Sacramento

Sand Cove Park is located in Sacramento and has a dog park, picnic tables, and playgrounds. The garden comes with a fishing pier that you can rent for $10 per hour or $30 per day. There are also kayak launches available at the end of the dock if you want to go out on the lake alone or with friends!

The park is open from sunrise until sunset yearly—and it’s free!

If you’re looking for a dog park close to Sacramento State, try Pocket Dog Park. It’s only two miles from campus and offers plenty of space for your pup to run around and play! The Pocket Dog Park is open from sunrise until sunset every day of the year—and it’s free!

15. Baker Beach — San Francisco

Baker Beach is a beach on the western side of San Francisco, California, United States. It is south of Stinson Beach and north of Cliff House.

The beach lies northwest of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is managed by the National Park Service as part of its Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA includes all lands west of U.S. Route 101 from Marin County north to Sonoma County, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods National Monument.

The beach is on the South of Great Highway at Ocean Beach, California. It is popular among sunbathers and features a strong rip current. The beach attracts many surfers and bodyboarders as there are sound waves for these sports.

The water at Ocean Beach is shallow and calm, making it ideal for novice swimmers and surfers. Lifeguards are on duty from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, when swimming conditions become dangerous due to strong rip currents. The beach offers good views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco’s skyline, as well as of Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the Oakland hills across the bay.

If you’re looking for a beach near Sacramento, CA, we hope this list helps you find your perfect place. Beaches in California are an incredible way to spend time with friends and family. Whether a day trip or an overnight stay, these beaches keep everyone entertained!