El Granada, California
El Granada is a community of 5,232 people in San Mateo County, California.
Why visit El Granada
Townapedia lists 15 parks and trails, 19 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Point Montara Light, Miramar Beach, Pillar Point Bluff and Rancho Corral de Tierra.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 66°F; December lows average 43°F.
Weather in El Granada
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About El Granada
El Granada is a suburban village and census-designated place (CDP) in the coastal area of northern San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 5,481 at the 2020 census. The village is named for the city of Granada, Spain.
From the Wikipedia article El Granada, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Point Montara Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Miramar Beach
Beach · 1.5 mi
Sandy beach in San Mateo County, California, USA
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
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3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes19
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
Diner · American · 1.3 mi
390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Mezza Luna
Restaurant · Italian · 1.4 mi
459 Prospect Way, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:30; Fr 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00; Sa...
Sam’s Chowder House
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.0 mi
4210 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:30-20:30; Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:30
The Barn
Cafe · Burger · 1.5 mi
3068 Cabrillo Highway North, Half Moon Bay
We, Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Su 08:00-20:00
Barbara's Fish Trap
Restaurant · 1.3 mi
281 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Su-Th 11:00-20:30, Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Old Princeton Landing: Public House and Grill
Bar and pub · 1.3 mi
460 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 09:00-02:00
7 more on the map.
Where to stay7
Quality Inn
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
2930 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
History
El Granada's unusual concentric-circular street layout was designed by the influential architect and city planner Daniel Burnham. Burnham's other works included overseeing the design for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and designing the 1902 Flatiron Building in New York City. Burnham's plan was commissioned by the Ocean Shore Railroad, which developed El Granada as a seaside resort for visitors who would use the railroad to travel between San Francisco and El Granada. The city was originally named "Granada" after the city in Spain but the Post Office mistakenly recorded the name as "El Granada" in 1909. Financial difficulties and the advent of the automobile caused the railroad to abandon the plan, and El Granada subsequently became a residential community.
From the History section of El Granada, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Pilarcitos Alternative High (Continuation)
School · 3.8 mi
498 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay
Map of El Granada
57 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 43°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 44°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 45°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 62°F | 48°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 64°F | 50°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 65°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 66°F | 54°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 66°F | 51°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 48°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 45°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 43°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Half Moon Bay (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Mateo County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-08-22: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-08-20: Czu Lightning Fire Complex (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Moss Beach 2 mi west, about 3 min by car
- Montara 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Half Moon Bay 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Pacifica 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Millbrae 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Hillsborough 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Highlands 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Baywood Park 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Burlingame 8 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- San Bruno 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- El Granada - panoramio, Vadim Manuylov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Point Montara Light (2013), Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.