The 10 Best Coastal Towns in California to Spend Thanksgiving Away from Crowds

If your ideal Thanksgiving trades traffic for tide pools and long, quiet walks, California has a coastline full of calm.

These under-the-radar seaside towns keep holiday noise low and scenery high, with mellow streets, friendly locals, and space to breathe.

The mix here spans rugged headlands, sheltered coves, and artsy villages, each offering a different way to slow down.

Read on to find your perfect stretch of coast, and make this November feel like a true reset.

1. Cambria, San Luis Obispo County

Cambria feels like a pause button on the Central Coast, where Monterey pines meet a rocky shoreline. The mood is unhurried, from the historic cottages around East and West Village to the easy rhythm along Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. Even during the holiday week, the main street stays calm and walkable, with galleries and small shops that lean local.

Low-tide tide pools reveal tiny dramas in the shallows, and seabirds sweep the bluffs near Leffingwell Landing. For a scenic ramble, the wooden boardwalk hugs the coast with benches that invite lingering sunsets. Lodging ranges from classic inns near the water to tucked-away B&Bs.

Nearby, the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve offers bluff-top trails with wildflowers after rains and sweeping views year-round. The village’s art studios add a creative thread to the day, especially on quieter afternoons. It all comes together as a soothing California escape where you can hear the waves and clear your calendar.

2. Cayucos, Central Coast

Cayucos rests between bigger names yet keeps its soul small and friendly. The historic pier anchors the shoreline, and the beach stretches wide enough to find your own patch of sand. Main Street is compact, easy to navigate, and lined with old-time storefronts that match the town’s easygoing pace.

Sunrise walks can be misty and quiet, seagulls lifting over the surf. Later, you can wander to the pier for pelican watching and views toward Morro Rock. The local promenade offers shaded benches and casual seating areas, perfect for a slow afternoon.

Surf watchers linger near the pier while families skip shells farther south. A short drive brings you to Estero Bluffs State Park, where trails skim the edge of the ocean and offer tide pool peeks. For Thanksgiving, this is classic California with fewer cars, light foot traffic, and that cherished small-town hush.

3. Mendocino Village, Mendocino County

Mendocino Village looks like a postcard, then surprises with quiet, wind-brushed streets. Saltbox homes and Victorian facades line lanes that drift toward dramatic headlands. The ocean feels present everywhere, arriving as mist, gull calls, and the low thunder of waves.

Mendocino Headlands State Park hems the village with bluffs and pocket beaches. Trails are short but memorable, leading to vantage points where sea stacks rise from foam. The historic water towers punctuate skylines, while galleries and small boutiques offer calm browsing.

On cooler November days, the fog adds atmosphere without hiding the scenery. Little seating nooks near the bluffs make fine spots for a thermos and a book. With fewer visitors than summer, this is California coastal character at its most intimate, perfect for a thoughtful holiday retreat.

4. Point Arena, Mendocino County

Point Arena trades bustle for big-sky horizons and unbroken swells. The Point Arena Lighthouse crowns sheer bluffs, giving panoramic views of migrating seabirds and the Pacific’s rolling energy. Around town, low-key storefronts reflect a working coastline more than a resort scene.

Manchester State Park lies just south with wide beaches and windswept dunes. To the north, rocky shelves host tide pools when the ocean pulls back. The entire stretch feels spare and elemental, ideal for long contemplative walks.

Even over the holiday, traffic stays light and parking manageable near trailheads. Benches near the lighthouse invite quiet time between passing clouds. If coastal California’s raw edges call to you, Point Arena delivers with minimal distractions and space to reset.

5. Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County

Avila Beach sits in a sheltered curve that feels warmer and gentler than much of the coast. The tidy promenade fronts a small beach where the water often looks glossy and inviting. Even on holiday weeks, the village center remains compact and simple to navigate on foot.

Walking the pier gives wide views toward the hills and the harbor area. Pathways link the promenade to pocket parks and seating areas with palms and murals. The Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail begins nearby, a mellow route along a creek that ends at the sand.

Afternoons bring soft light and a family-friendly vibe across the square. You can explore the nearby piers at Port San Luis and watch sea lions from a respectful distance. For a calm California Thanksgiving, Avila’s scale and sheltered setting make unwinding effortless.

6. Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey Peninsula

Carmel-by-the-Sea blends elegance with hush, especially outside peak season. Storybook cottages line leafy streets that flow to a wide white-sand beach. The village grid is compact, with hidden courtyards, tiled passages, and small plazas.

Carmel Beach rewards an early walk with long views toward Point Lobos. By midday, the sand still feels spacious, with cypress silhouettes carving the sky. Window shopping stays leisurely, and courtyards offer quiet seating nooks.

Nearby, Scenic Road delivers cliffside overlooks and classic sunset vantage points. Trails at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve are a short drive and offer sea lion lookouts and coastal pines. For a refined California holiday, Carmel gives you artful streets, hushed surf, and room to breathe.

7. San Simeon and Nearby, Central Coast

San Simeon places open shoreline and low-key lodging close to big scenery. The beaches around William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach feel uncrowded, with broad views and gentle waves. Elephant seal viewing at Piedras Blancas is a short drive north, a reliable spectacle in late fall.

Moonstone Beach in adjacent Cambria is within easy reach for a boardwalk stroll. The coastal pullouts along Highway 1 provide quick access to quiet overlooks. Inland, rolling hills carry oaks and grazing lands that glow at sunset.

The village itself stays calm during the holiday period, with simple services and plenty of space to park. Benches near the pier offer a peaceful lunch spot with sea breezes. For a quieter California base with outsized coastline, San Simeon’s mix of beaches and viewpoints hits the mark.

8. Capitola Village, Santa Cruz County

Capitola Village sits snug around Soquel Creek as it meets a pocket of beach. Colorful seaside buildings face the water with balconies and shaded arcades. The esplanade is compact, easy to stroll, and lined with benches for people watching and surf gazing.

In late November, mornings can be glassy and still. Walk the Capitola Wharf for wide views, then loop back through side streets of bungalow cottages. The nearby cliff paths offer lookout spots without the crowds of summer.

Shops focus on coastal lifestyle, art, and home goods, adding a gentle rhythm to the day. The village’s small scale makes slow travel feel natural, from creek bridge to shoreline nooks. For a cozy California holiday beside calm water and bright facades, Capitola fits beautifully.

9. Crescent City, Del Norte County

Crescent City sits at the top of California, where ocean meets redwood country. The shoreline arcs gently with broad beaches that feel open and quiet. Battery Point Lighthouse adds a landmark on a tidal island reachable at low tide.

Beachfront paths provide long, contemplative walks with distant views of Castle Rock. A short drive brings you into Redwood National and State Parks for tall tree trails. The town’s harbor area offers simple seating and peaceful harbor watching.

Weather can be brisk in November, which helps keep crowds thin. Bring layers, enjoy dramatic skies, and watch waves roll through the bay. If you want a Thanksgiving that blends coast and forest, Crescent City gives you both within easy reach.

10. Shelter Cove, Humboldt County

Shelter Cove sits along the Lost Coast, quiet and remote with sweeping horizons. Black-sand beaches and sharp headlands create a cinematic backdrop, yet the village stays relaxed. The Shelter Cove Airport and small marina signal how isolated this corner remains.

Trails around Black Sands Beach and the Lost Coast Trailhead offer big scenery right from town. Tide pools dot the rocky shelves near low tide, with harbor seals often visible offshore. Benches and overlooks near the lighthouse provide restful places to take it all in.

November sees fewer visitors, adding to the sense of space and calm. The roads in are curvy, so arrive with daylight and patience. For a solitude-forward California Thanksgiving, Shelter Cove is the wild coastal retreat that rewards unhurried travelers.