One of the last true small towns in the Bay Area, Pescadero is a tiny dot on the coastline, south of Half Moon Bay and well north of Santa Cruz. With one main street, one side street, and several smallish farms, in Pescadero pretty much everyone knows everyone else, and there’s a strong sense of community.

Despite its tiny size, many Bay Area denizens find reasons to visit Pescadero, including twisty roads that challenge motorcyclists and bicyclists, fresh produce, and, of course, the legendary Duarte’s Tavern.

Getting There

Pescadero Road lies 17 miles south of Half Moon Bay on Highway 1 at Pescadero State Beach. Watch for signs, and turn east, away from the ocean onto Pescadero Road. Town lies a few miles east of the ocean in a tiny valley. When you come to the stop sign (it’s the only one in town), you’ve hit the town center. Turn left onto Stage Road to find most of the rest of Pescadero.

Parking is free and generally easy to find on Stage Road or in the Duarte’s parking lot. On weekends, you might need to park down the road a ways and walk a block or two.