Carmel Beach with kids today
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Updated 4:03 AM PDT
What decides a families with kids score
Water quality
Every monitored point along this beach currently grades A+.
Graded clean today
- Ocean Ave. (west end)A+
All 1 monitoring point
| Monitoring point | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Ave. (west end) | 0.3 km | A+ |
Dry-weather bacterial grades from the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card, updated 2026-07-31. Grades reflect the most recent agency sampling and can change after rain.
Before you swim
Surf is running 4.9 ft today, which makes shorebreak and currents stronger than usual.
At 57°F the water is cold enough that unprotected swimmers risk cold-water shock.
Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower, and check the National Weather Service surf-zone forecast for the official rip-current outlook — we report conditions, we don't forecast rip currents.
Better nearby for families with kids
Carmel Beach is also scored for
About Carmel Beach
Carmel Beach sits on the California coast, where the water runs from about 55°F in February to 61°F in September.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in September, the warmest month, it sits around 61°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Today it is 57°F. That is 1° below the August average of 58°F here.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station Carmel Cove, Carmel Bay about 4.1 km away inside a bay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carmel Beach good for families today?
Tricky with small children — we score it 49 out of 100 today. The limiting factor is water temperature at 57°F.
What makes a good families with kids day?
We weight surf calmness (35%), water temperature (25%), uv exposure (22%) and combine them into one score. Conditions we cannot read are left out rather than guessed.