Mcgrath State Beach

To access McGrath State Beach, you will need to walk one mile north or south from Mandalay State Beach or Surfer’s Knoll Beach. If you are camping, you can find the campground’s entrance on North Harbor Boulevard between W Gonzales Road and Olivas Park Drive.  Another way to access McGrath State Beach is parking in front of a gated road signed "State 735 Tank Battery" on the south side of the campground entrance and walking a few yards west to the beach.Located in the city of Oxnard, McGrath State Beach is a two-mile-long and wide beach situated at the point where the Santa Clara River meets the North Pacific Ocean. McGrath State Beach is a natural preserve and is protected by a state park of the same name and Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve. McGrath State Beach is on the north side of McGrath Lake and is a well-known destination for birdwatching.

McGrath State Beach offers many amenities including wetlands, trails, dunes, and a campground for overnight visitors. 

There are many fun activities at McGrath State Beach including surfing, fishing, camping, birdwatching, and beachcombing. It is advisable to call the facilities before going to McGrath State Beach as the beach and the campground remains closed frequently because of flooding and winter storms.

McGrath State Beach is situated at 2211 North Harbor Boulevard and there is no day-use parking area nearby. 

If you are looking for nearby attractions, there are many within a 40-minute drive of McGrath State Beach. The iconic Malibu Pier is a fun tourist attraction that’s famous for its dual white towers, rough-hewn planks, two restaurants, five stores, and an observation deck where you can fish and look for dolphins. In addition, there are two museums on the nearby very famous Surfrider Beach – the Malibu Lagoon Museum showcases history from the days of the California Indian "Chumash" tribe, gentlemen ranchers, and the birth of the surfing era – and the Adamson House Museum, which is also known as the "Taj Mahal of Tile," explores the history of Malibu. Spread across six acres, Malibu Bluffs Park is a community park consisting of two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground, a skate park, picnic tables, and a whale watching station. Malibu Bluffs Park also hosts many events and sports leagues for children, teenagers, and adults. Another great attraction near McGrath State Beach is Topanga Lookout Trailhead – it’s spread across 9,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, is 2,375 feet above the Pacific Ocean, and offers two-mile round-trip hikes with spectacular 360-degree mountain and ocean views. It is also popular with mountain bikers.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within an eight-minute drive of McGrath State Beach. The seafood restaurant Quincy Street Ltd features surf ‘n’ turf, oysters, fish tacos, chips, bacon, sandwiches, margaritas, beer, and picnic tables.  Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine is an affordable Brazilian restaurant with a nice menu including serves steak, chicken, pork, lamb, and desserts. Another good restaurant near McGrath State Beach is Toppers Pizza, a pizza restaurant that serves homemade pizza, breadsticks, and chicken wings.

If you are looking for a hotel near McGrath State Beach, you can drive 30 minutes. The very expensive 5-Star beachfront hotel Nobu Ryokan Malibu is an intimate 16-room hotel with Asian-themed rooms and a small gym. The upscale 4-Star hotel Malibu Beach Inn is located on the well-known Carbon Beach and has many amenities including a bar, spa, and restaurant. The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu is a 4-Star hotel featuring a lounge, rooftop bar, and restaurant situated on the Surfrider Beach. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near McGrath State Beach, The M Malibu offers a pool and wine tasting sessions.