State Beach · California

New Brighton State Beach

Location: Santa Cruz County, California
Nearest town: 0.9 miles east of Capitola
Type: State Beach

About New Brighton State Beach

Soquel Cove and Monterey Bay stretch out in front of this 95 acre beach park, which includes both shoreline and campgrounds. It sits next to Seacliff State Beach, home to a fishing pier and the sunken concrete freighter The Palo Alto. Visitors get water views without the pier or shipwreck, since those features belong to the neighboring park.

Hours, fees, camping, reservations and closures are set by the park and change often. Check the official park site before you go.

Getting there

New Brighton State Beach is in Santa Cruz County, California, 0.9 miles east of Capitola. The Directions button takes you to the park's mapped location; the entrance may be elsewhere, so check the official site for the address to use.

State parks near New Brighton State Beach

Within 60 miles, closest first, straight-line. All 213 in California →

Towns near New Brighton State Beach

State parks near Santa Cruz, State parks near Watsonville, State parks near Morgan Hill, State parks near Pacific Grove, State parks near San Jose, State parks near Salinas

Facts from Wikidata, checked September 25, 2026. Distances are straight-line.