The Santa Cruz Boardwalk
A California Classic

There's something timeless about the old-fashioned, Santa Cruz boardwalk, with it's row of funky rides, decadent junk food stands, and low-key, beach bum atmosphere.

A true California experience...or maybe, how California used to be.

It's like going back in time, when amusement parks on the beach were innocent and amateurish, but loads of fun. It's the only seaside amusement park on the West Coast.

And bring your bathing suit; the boardwalk has one of the nicest swimming beaches in Northern California.

I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through some of the affiliate links on this page. See disclosure policy. This helps me provide all the free information on the site. Thank you!

---

Learn to surf...

Surf's Up! Do you feel your inner surfer coming out? If you've ever wanted to try surfing, Santa Cruz is a mellow place for beginners to get their feet wet.

They have a 2.5 hour lesson available for those just starting out (they provide all the gear). See surf lessons for more info and booking.

---

The Rides

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is not a large amusement park, but it has a decent variety of rides. A sampling:

• Rollercoaster
• Water chute ride
• The usual twirling and spinning rides
• Free fall tower
• Bumper cars
• Spooky indoor rides
• Ferris wheel and carousel
• Little kid rides, tea cups
• Laser tag, ghost blasters

...and lots more: mini golf, arcade games, bowling, climbing wall, etc.

---

The Giant Dipper

This is an antique (but well-maintained), wooden roller coaster, which opened here in 1924. It's been featured in various films and TV shows over the years, and was named a National Historic Landmark.

---

Odds and Ends

Laffing Sal (sister of the one at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco at the Musée Mécanique) is here, in all her weirdness.

---

Junk Food Heaven

Hot dogs, pizza, cotton candy, deep-fried Twinkies, burgers, funnel cakes, sno-cones, Italian ice cream, kettle korn....feeling a little nauseated? It's all good, as long as you don't do it too often.

You can get some fun (temporary) tattoos while you're there, too.

---

Getting in the mood: flash mob in Santa Cruz:

---

Tickets for the Rides

Entry to the Boardwalk itself is free.

How the tickets work:

Rides, attractions, arcades, games, food & retail cost a certain number of points per ride, but they're not sold individually. A cashless system. You have a choice among:

• Ride Wristband, for unlimited rides all day (save $10 if bought online).
• MyBoardwalk Cards, pay by points for individual rides, games, food and retail. Put money on the card, $1 for each point. You can add more to the card while your'e there.
• All-You-Can-Play Arcade Pass. 2 hours of play.
• Season Passes, two levels of benefits.

See Boardwalk tickets for more info, prices, and ticket purchases.

For example: the Giant Dipper costs 8 points, like many of the major thrill rides. Others may be 6 or 7 points. Kiddie rides are usually 5 points.

Look on the ride list for the points required.

---

Boardwalk Hours

Hours vary, depending on the season. Generally speaking:

Open daily all summer, until 11 p.m. 

Spring, daily, but more limited hours and rides. 

Winter and fall, 11 a.m. till 9 or 10 p.m.

Rides are weekend only in fall and winter.

Check their website for details: Boardwalk hours.

---

Summer Events

Santa Cruz has a couple of cool, free entertainment traditions at the boardwalk in summer (June-August):

• Rock concerts on Friday nights.
• Classic movies on an outdoor screen Wednesday nights.

---

Check out what's happening now, at Santa Cruz Boardwalk events.

They do a Winter Wonderland during the holiday season.

---

Visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk

From San Francisco: about an hour and 20-minute drive.

Fron San Jose: about 40 minutes.

The boardwalk is located at 400 Beach Street, and there's a parking lot across the street.

Notice the train tracks in front of the boardwalk? See train info below.

---

Nearby attractions:

The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

Weirdness Central. Balls roll uphill and the laws of physics are turned upside down. Located on the outskirts of town. Very cool.

More info on visiting the Mystery Spot.

---

Redwood Forests

Hike, camp and fish in the nearby redwoods. Closest ones are in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Mt. Hermon Road exit off Highway 17, just after you come over the mountains and before you get to Santa Cruz.

We had a great experience camping there amongst the big trees.

---

Roaring Camp Railroads

This is great fun, highly recommended! Ride the Santa Cruz Beach Train, an old steam engine train, from the mountains in Felton (station is right near the HQ for Henry Cowell State Park, above) down to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, or vice versa.

3 hours round trip, start at either end. Daily in summer, weekends spring and fall. My son loved it when he was little, and so did I. See Roaring Camp Railroad.

For a shorter, 75-minute experience, take the Redwood Forest Steam Train up the mountain on a winding, narrow gauge track, into the Big Trees and across a gorge on a trestle bridge. Hear about the history of Roaring Camp and the railroad. Goes to the summit of Bear Mountain.

This train leaves from Roaring Camp in Felton, near Santa Cruz, off Highway 17.

See Redwood Steam Train for more info and booking.

---

San Francisco to Santa Cruz

View Santa Cruz Boardwalk in a larger map

---

More to explore...

---

Share this page: 

---

SF Bus, BART & Cable Car Routes

---

---