Pacifica, California
Pacifica is a city of 37,261 people in San Mateo County, California.
Why visit Pacifica
Townapedia lists 26 museums and landmarks, 49 parks and trails, 77 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Shelter Cove, Pacifica, California, Cattle Hill, Golden Gate National Cemetery and San Francisco Bay Discovery Site.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 72°F; January lows average 45°F.
Weather in Pacifica
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Pacifica
Pacifica (Spanish: Pacífica, meaning "Peaceful") is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. As of the 2020 census, Pacifica had a population of 38,640.
From the Wikipedia article Pacifica, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Shelter Cove, Pacifica, California
Beach · 1.8 mi
In San Mateo County
Museums and landmarks26
Golden Gate National Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Veterans cemetery in San Mateo County, California
San Francisco Bay Discovery Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Site at which Europeans first saw the San Francisco Bay
Sánchez Adobe Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Portola Discovery Site of San Francisco Bay
Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi
14 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds49
Orange Memorial Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Park in South San Francisco, California
San Pedro Valley County Park
Park · 2.4 mi
County park located in Pacifica
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Sweeney Ridge
Park · 1.3 mi
Coastal hiking area in San Mateo County, California
37 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes77
Beach Monkey Cafe
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
986 Linda Mar Boulevard, Pacifica
Mo-Tu 07:00-17:00, We-Fr 07:00-21:00, Sa-Su 08:00-21:00
Round Table Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.5 mi
1285 Linda Mar Shopping Center, Pacifica
Mo-Th,Su 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-00:00
Ash's Vallemar Station
Restaurant · Steak House · 0.5 mi
Mo-Th 11:30-23:00; Fr 11:30-24:00; Sa 00:00-01:00,09:30-24:00; Su...
Humble Sea Brewing Co
Bar and pub · 1.6 mi
5560 CA-1, Pacifica
Mo-Tu 15:00-20:00; We-Fr 12:00-21:00; Sa-Su 11:00-21:00
Burger Board
Restaurant · Burger · 1.5 mi
5430 CA-1, Pacifica
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
65 more on the map.
History
Before European settlers arrived, Pacifica was home to two significant Ohlone Indian villages: Pruristac located at San Pedro Creek near present-day Adobe Drive, and Timigtac on Calera Creek in the Rockaway Beach neighborhood.
From the History section of Pacifica, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Americas Best Value Inn San Francisco Pacifica
Motel and hotel · 1.8 mi
2160 Francisco Boulevard, Pacifica
Churches and places of worship16
Saint Augustine Church
Church · Catholic · 2.9 mi
2700 Callan Boulevard, South San Francisco
Shopping22
Pacific Manor Ace Hardware, Paint & Nursery
Hardware store · 3.0 mi
451 Oceana Boulevard, Pacifica
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries65
Healthcare2
Walgreens
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.1 mi
2238 Westborough Boulevard, South San Francisco
Map of Pacifica
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 45°F | 6.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 46°F | 6.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 46°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 48°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 49°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 69°F | 51°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 69°F | 52°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 71°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 52°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 50°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 46°F | 6.6 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pacifica 4 Sse (1 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
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- San Bruno 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
- Millbrae 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Daly City 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- South San Francisco 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Burlingame 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Hillsborough 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- San Mateo 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Half Moon Bay 10 mi south, about 16 min by car
- Belmont 12 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- Foster City 13 mi east, about 21 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
- Pacifica aerial, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pacifica Pier Striper (July 4, 2009), Paul E Ester, Public domain
- Pacifica, United States (Unsplash dVmmlHPtEoE), Nadine Shaabana nadineshaabana, CC0
- Pacifica, United States (Unsplash ZhEnFcHO0es), Robert Haverly roberthaverly, CC0
- Log, Calera Creek Wetlands, Pacifica (15968459896), Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0
- Morning hike in Pacifica, Linda Mar, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Morning hike in Pacifica - 5116382509, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Rockaway Beach In Pacifica California - panoramio, Noah_Loverbear, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rockaway Beach Pacifica California - panoramio (1), Noah_Loverbear, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nick's Sea Breeze Motel Pacifica California - panoramio, Noah_Loverbear, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Golden Gate National Cemetery main gate, BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Francisco Bay Discovery Site vista (2009), Panegyrics of Granovetter from Lincoln, NE, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sánchez Adobe exterior 1, BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 8699 Milagra Ridge (5359947782), Panegyrics of Granovetter from Lincoln, NE, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pacifica Pano 2, Kevin, CC BY 2.0
- Frontierland Park, Pacifica, California, VirginiaBeach78, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Orange Memorial Park 1, BrokenSphere, CC BY 3.0
- Sweeney Ridge, Portola Discovery Site marker. "From this ridge the Portola expedition discovered San Francisco Bay November 4, 1769" - panoramio, Richard Wood, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shelter Cove, Pacifica, CA, Christopher Michel, CC BY 2.0
- San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica, Vicki Moore, CC BY 2.0
- Golden Hour At The Lake (Unsplash), Aaron Lee aaronhjlee, CC0
- Photovoltaic mounting system, Robert Scoble, CC BY 2.0
- Pretty Weed (29293596280), Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0
- Lock and Chain at Sutro Baths, San Francisco (29676601660), Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0
- Sunset, S D, CC BY 3.0
- Hygrocybe acutoconica 5749461, Alan Rockefeller, CC BY 4.0
- Linda Mar at Sunset, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Linda Mar Beach, mom, son, and puppy, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Linda Mar, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Friday night at the Carnival - 2521691489, Sea Bowl, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- Friday night at the Carnival 2008 at Sea Bowl, Bob n Renee, CC BY 2.0
- 2000 Nissan Sentra GXE in Iced Cappuccino Metallic, front left, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 2003 Mazda Protege5 Sport in Satin Silver Metallic, rear right, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport in Stone White, front left, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 2000 Nissan Sentra GXE in Iced Cappuccino Metallic, rear left, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 2003 Mazda Protege5 Sport in Satin Silver Metallic, front right, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- P6226882B solstice 20130622, Pussreboots, CC BY 2.0
- 1995 Jaguar XJ6 in British Racing Green, rear right, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 1995 Jaguar XJ6 in British Racing Green, front left, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 1997 Ford Thunderbird LX in Laser Red Metallic, rear right, 08-14-2022, Cutlass, CC0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.