Santa Cruz
A Monterey Bay beach town on California's central coast, known for its seaside Boardwalk, surf breaks and nearby redwood forests.
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Santa Cruz is a beach town on the northern shore of Monterey Bay, on California's central coast. Go for the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, a seaside amusement park with rides and arcades on the sand, and for Steamer Lane, a surf break off the lighthouse point. Inland, the Santa Cruz Mountains hold redwood forests, including Big Basin Redwoods State Park, one of California's oldest state parks.
A trip here works best as a mix of coast and forest: a day on the sand, a walk along the bay, and a morning among the trees. Plan two to three days for a first visit, more if you want to surf or hike several trails. Drive from San Jose on Highway 17, which crosses the mountains, so a car gives you the most freedom. Late spring and early fall are the most reliable seasons, since summer mornings on the coast are often foggy. From late fall into winter, monarch butterflies gather in eucalyptus groves near the coast, including at Natural Bridges State Beach.
Santa Cruz in five
- Walk the Boardwalk free and pay only for ridesThe Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk charges no admission and is open to stroll even when the rides are closed. Rides take individual tickets or an all-day wristband, and food and attractions accept cashless payment only.Boardwalk FAQ
- Arrive before 1 pm on summer weekendsThe Boardwalk's peak hours on summer weekends are usually 1 to 3 pm. It runs two main lots, an off-site lot with a shuttle on its busiest weekends, and a summer trolley from downtown every 30 minutes.
- Ride the Highway 17 Express from San JoseSC Metro's Highway 17 Express links Diridon Station in San Jose with Santa Cruz, stopping at Cavallaro Transit Center in Scotts Valley. The adult cash fare is $7 for one ride.SC Metro fares
- Budget $10 per car at each state parkNatural Bridges State Beach and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park each charge a $10 vehicle day-use fee, $9 for drivers 62 and over. Monarchs usually arrive at Natural Bridges in mid-October and leave by mid-February.Natural Bridges
- Landing at San Jose? Get ESTA before you flyThe Boardwalk names San Jose as the closest international airport to Santa Cruz. If you are visa exempt, the ESTA must be approved before you board a flight to the US.ESTA explained
Things to do in Santa Cruz
See all attractions in Santa Cruz
Need to know
- Airport
- San Jose (SJC), the closest international airport
- Getting there
- Highway 17 from San Jose, Highway 1 along the coast
- Public transit
- Highway 17 Express from Diridon Station; summer Boardwalk trolley
- Best base
- Near the Boardwalk or downtown; a car for the parks
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain11 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Mild, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Monarchs leaveFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monarchs leave
- MarchRain11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Spring greenMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring green
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, clearAprilClear
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°May GrayMayClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
May Gray
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh19°Low12°June GloomJuneClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
June Gloom
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Boardwalk busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Boardwalk busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh20°Low14°Boardwalk busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Boardwalk busy
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low14°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Monarchs arriveOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monarchs arrive
- NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Monarch seasonNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monarch season
- DecemberRain10 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Santa Cruz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Santa Cruz
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Santa Cruz
02:01 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°9°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue17°11°47%Tuesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Wed20°12°6%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu22°13°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri23°15°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat23°16°0%Saturday: Clear. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun24°17°0%Sunday: Clear. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 09:41 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JunSan Francisco PrideSan Francisco, a day trip
- SepMonterey Jazz FestivalMonterey, a day trip
- OctCastro Street FairSan Francisco, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Montereyabout 1 hour by carAcross the bay on Highway 1, for Cannery Row and the harbor, with more beach towns on the way.Read the guide
- Henry Cowell Redwoodsshort drive inlandA 40-acre old-growth grove with a flat loop trail, in the hills toward Scotts Valley.
- San JoseHighway 17 Express busThe Silicon Valley city at the other end of the mountain road, with the Caltrain depot at Diridon Station.Read the guide
Before you go to Santa Cruz
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Rules for Santa Cruz, checked
- Beach Boardwalk: no admission fee; rides use tickets or a wristband; food and attractions are cashless only. No pets, glass containers or skateboards inside.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Natural Bridges State Beach: $10 vehicle day-use fee, $9 for ages 62 and over. Monarchs typically arrive in mid-October and leave by mid-February.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: $10 vehicle day-use fee, $9 for ages 62 and over; the old-growth grove is 40 acres, with a flat 0.8-mile loop trail.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Highway 17 Express to San Jose: $7 cash per ride for adults, $14 day pass; stops include Cavallaro Transit Center and Diridon Station.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Santa Cruz
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideMontereyAcross Monterey Bay by Highway 1
Read the guideSan JoseThe airport and Caltrain end of Highway 17
Read the guideBig SurThe coast drive south of Monterey
Read the guideSan FranciscoNorth up the coast and Highway 1
Read the guidePlan transportBuses, trains and rental cars for visitors
Read the guideSanta Cruz FAQ
Is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk free?
Entry is free, and you can walk the Boardwalk even when rides are closed. Rides cost extra, either as individual tickets or an all-day wristband, at the same price for all ages. Food and attractions take cashless payment only.
How do you get from San Jose to Santa Cruz without a car?
Take SC Metro's Highway 17 Express from Diridon Station, where Caltrain also stops. The adult cash fare is $7 per ride, or $14 for a day pass. Check the timetable, because weekday and weekend service differ.
How much does it cost to park at Natural Bridges?
The vehicle day-use fee is $10, or $9 for drivers 62 and over. California State Parks also offers cashless pay-by-phone parking by QR code or text, which needs a signal, so save or screenshot your payment.
When can you see monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz?
At Natural Bridges the monarchs typically arrive in mid-October and leave by mid-February, and late October and November are often the best weeks. Numbers and timing change every year.
How many days do you need in Santa Cruz?
One day covers the Boardwalk, the wharf area and a beach. A second day adds Natural Bridges and a redwood park such as Henry Cowell. Add a third only if you are combining Monterey or Big Sur.