Along Santa Cruz’s coastal West Cliff Drive, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum offers a look at the city’s surf history from inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point. Its exhibits and shoreline setting make it a stop for both local surfing stories and coastal views.
- Location: 701 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95060
- Opening pattern: Open Thursday to Monday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
- Admission: Check with the City of Santa Cruz before visiting
Where the Surfing Museum is
The museum is at Lighthouse Point, inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse on West Cliff Drive. The City of Santa Cruz established the museum there, and it opened in 1986.
Inside, exhibits include surfboards, photographs, and memorabilia documenting Santa Cruz surfing history. The coastal location also puts the museum above Steamer Lane, a surf break at Lighthouse Point.
If you’re planning a broader museum day, the other museums in Santa Cruz offer a way to shape the rest of your visit.
What to expect at Lighthouse Point
Lighthouse Point combines the museum’s surfing-history exhibits with an outdoor coastal setting. From the area around the lighthouse, you can look out toward Steamer Lane and the shoreline.
The City describes access to the area around the lighthouse from West Cliff Drive. The bluff promontory beyond the fence is not publicly accessible because of wave hazards and ongoing erosion, so stay within public access areas.
The West Cliff Drive bicycle and pedestrian pathway runs along the coast. You can include a walk along the pathway with a museum stop, keeping the visit focused on the accessible areas around Lighthouse Point.
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum hours and admission
The museum opens Thursday through Monday and closes on Tuesday and Wednesday, with its daily closing time changing by season.
Opening hours
- Monday and Thursday to Sunday: 12 PM–4 PM
- Tuesday and Wednesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
- Memorial Day through Labor Day: noon to 5:00 p.m.
- Labor Day through Memorial Day: noon to 4:00 p.m.
The City of Santa Cruz gives the museum’s telephone number as 831-420-6289. For current hours and admission details, check the City of Santa Cruz’s official site before you go.
How do you get from the hotel area to the museum?
From Motel 6 Santa Cruz CA, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is about a 6-minute drive or a 45-minute walk. Pair a visit with a walk on the West Cliff Drive bicycle and pedestrian pathway along the coast. The hotel offers two-star rooms.
Nearby coastal stops
Lighthouse Field State Beach gives you another coastal stop near Lighthouse Point, with a shoreline, trails, and a vista point. California State Parks gives its hours as 6 a.m. to sunset, with the parking lot open from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Day use has no fee, and parking is available. Facilities and activities include restrooms, outdoor showers, drinking water, hiking trails, bike trails, and a vista point. Dogs are allowed on leash, including on the beach.
Special rates may apply during peak season, high-demand holidays, and weekends, and prices can change. If you’re building a full day around the coast, the route from downtown to the shoreline in this one-day Santa Cruz itinerary brings together stops in the same broad area.
FAQs
What is the full name of the lighthouse?
It is the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, where the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is located.
What does the museum cover?
Its exhibits document Santa Cruz surfing history through surfboards, photographs, and memorabilia.
Can you walk along the coast near the museum?
Yes. The West Cliff Drive bicycle and pedestrian pathway provides access along the coast. Stay in publicly accessible areas around the lighthouse.