onlybeaches

USA · California

Best beaches in Big Sur

2 ranked beaches in Big Sur, California

Ranked by the OnlyBeaches Index (OBI) — a 1-10 score blending water purity, conditions, crowd levels and vibe. Updated every 30 minutes.

All beaches in Big Sur

  1. 1

    Pfeiffer Beach

    Purple-tinged sand and sea arch make it a marquee Big Sur beach.

    7.0
  2. 2

    Sand Dollar Beach

    The biggest sandy beach in Big Sur and a major regional pick.

    7.0

What makes Big Sur's beaches stand out?

Big Sur sits in California, USA and is home to 2 ranked beaches on OnlyBeaches. Every beach here is scored by the OnlyBeaches Index — a 1-10 metric blending water purity, live conditions (waves, water temperature, wind), crowd intelligence and vibe.

Whether you're after the highest-scoring beach in Big Sur or a quieter hidden cove, the list above is refreshed every 30 minutes using live Stormglass and OpenWeather data.