If you have ever zoomed in on the California coastline in your chart app and asked yourself, “Where can I anchor my boat for free?” you are not alone. Between marina fees, fuel prices, and mooring charges, it is completely normal to look for free places to anchor boats along the coast and inside the bays. The good news: in California, you generally have a public right to use navigable waters for boating and anchoring, as long as you respect reasonable time, place, and manner rules set by state and local authorities.
This guide walks you through the basics of the rules and then gives you 10 commonly used, legal spots for free boat mooring in CA where you can anchor without paying slip fees (though some may still require a free or low-cost permit).
Anchoring Rules in California: What You Must Know First
Before you even think about free anchoring, it helps to understand how the rules are structured. Federal law, state law, and local harbor ordinances all stack together. That is why a spot that looks perfect on the chart can still be off-limits because of eelgrass, marine reserves, or local ordinances that restrict where to anchor a boat.
State Laws on Anchoring in Navigable Waters
At a high level, California follows the public trust doctrine: the public can use navigable waters for things like navigation, fishing, and recreation, including anchoring. However, courts have confirmed that this right is not absolute. Local agencies can apply “reasonable time, place, and manner” restrictions to keep waterways safe and manage congestion.
If you want to check the legal requirements yourself, you can learn from the following agencies and documents:
All those pages of legal language boil down to a few patterns you’ll see over and over again. Most harbors cap you at something like 72 hours at anchor before they expect you to move on or get a permit, so “free boat mooring in CA” usually means a long weekend, not setting up a floating apartment. Sensitive areas—eelgrass beds, marine reserves, clearly marked channels—are treated as look-but-don’t-touch; if you drop the hook there, you’re almost guaranteed a visit from patrol. And because nobody wants a derelict dragging around in a busy bay, many places quietly require that your boat can move under its own power and isn’t one bad blow away from breaking loose.
Environmental Protection Areas You Must Avoid
Across California, some of the most tempting spots for a quiet night are also sensitive habitats. Eelgrass beds, wetlands, and marine reserves often come with strict anchoring rules—or complete bans—to protect the seabed and wildlife.
A good example is Richardson Bay near Sausalito, where an Eelgrass Protection Zone now prohibits anchoring entirely, and the remaining anchorage is being tightly managed after years of “anchor-out” liveaboards. Similarly, places labeled as “State Marine Reserves” or “MPAs” (Marine Protected Areas) on your chart may restrict anchoring or discharge even if they look open and empty. In some East Bay locations like Emeryville Crescent, the surrounding marsh is specifically protected as a State Marine Reserve.
When you are deciding where to anchor a boat, it is worth treating any green-shaded eelgrass areas and marine reserves on your chart as “look but do not drop the hook” zones.
Area type
Typical anchoring rule
Why it matters
Navigable public waters
Anchoring allowed with time/place limits
Public trust but subject to local rules
Eelgrass protection zones
Often “no anchoring” at all
Anchors damage underwater habitat
State marine reserves / MPAs
Anchoring restricted or tightly managed
Protects sensitive marine species
Time Limits for Overnight Anchoring in California
Most of the better-known anchorages in the Bay Area and Southern California use a 72-hour or similar limit for transients, especially when you are at anchor for free instead of tied to a paid guest slip.
For example, many San Francisco Bay anchorages are informally treated as 72-hour spots, and local authorities have been actively enforcing that limit in Richardson Bay. In San Diego Bay, designated anchorages typically allow you to stay at anchor for 72 hours with a free permit that you apply for in advance. Mission Bay’s Mariners’ Basin anchorage is commonly used as a 72-hour free stopover for cruising sailors.
Bottom line: when you think about overnight anchoring in California, assume a short stay unless a harbor master explicitly tells you otherwise. Anything beyond a few nights usually means moving to a paid mooring or slip.
Where Can I Anchor My Boat: 10 Legal Free Anchoring Spots in California
Now, let us get to what you really care about—specific free places to anchor boat up and down the California coast. These 10 spots are widely used by cruisers and day boaters and, at the time of writing, offer some form of free or permit-only anchoring. That said, waterfront politics change fast, so always confirm details with the local harbor office or official website before you arrive.
1. Richardson Bay (Sausalito)
Richardson Bay used to be the classic free anchorage in the Bay Area, home to a large community of “anchor-outs.” The legal decisions and eelgrass protection rules have changed dramatically. Today, you can still anchor as a transient, but you are limited to short stays—typically up to 72 hours—and forbidden to anchor in the Eelgrass Protection Zone.
Practically, Richardson Bay is best treated as a short stop for visitors, not a long-term solution. If you are using this as free boat mooring in CA, keep your boat in good shape, check in with the RBRA or harbor patrol if required, and make sure your anchor is well set—wind and fetch across the bay can be intense.
2. Clipper Cove (Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay)
Clipper Cove sits in the shadow of the Bay Bridge between Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. It is well-sheltered, has good holding, and is a favorite for weekend raft-ups. Daytime anchoring under 24 hours does not require a permit. If you stay longer than that, you must apply for a free short-term anchorage permit, with clear rules about seaworthiness, waste management, and no living aboard.
For a lot of Bay sailors, Clipper Cove is the perfect answer to “where to anchor a boat for a calm night within sight of the city skyline?” Just be sure to respect the no-wake rule and leave plenty of swing room—this cove gets busy on sunny weekends.
3. Aquatic Park Cove (San Francisco Marina District)
Aquatic Park Cove, right in front of Ghirardelli Square, is one of the most iconic urban anchorages in the world. Day use is free and does not require a permit. For overnight anchoring, you need a reservation through the National Park Service system, and there is now a modest fee per night or an annual pass option that includes overnight anchoring.
There are extra rules: boat size limits, restrictions on motorboats in some circumstances, and maximum total overnight nights per year. Treat Aquatic Park as a premium city-front anchorage where you may get free daytime use but should budget a little for overnight stays, rather than assuming it is entirely free all the time.
4. Sausalito Anchorage Area (Outside Marinas)
Outside the marinas and mooring fields of Sausalito, there are limited areas where you can anchor for free on a short-term basis. In practice, these areas overlap with what people refer to as Richardson Bay and nearby corners of the shoreline. The same 72-hour expectations and eelgrass protections apply, and enforcement has become much stricter.
If you treat this as a quick, legal stop—come in, anchor responsibly, handle your waste correctly, and move on—you can still enjoy the Sausalito views without paying for a guest slip. If you try to park a marginal boat here indefinitely, do not be surprised if the harbor patrol comes knocking.
5. Emeryville Crescent (SF East Bay)
Along the East Bay shoreline near Emeryville, you will see a shallow, marshy curve known as Emeryville Crescent, surrounded by parkland and bike paths. Much of this area is a State Marine Reserve, which exists specifically to protect wetlands and wildlife.
So how does that fit into free places to anchor boat? In reality, you should not anchor inside the protected reserve itself. However, some sailors use the waters just outside the reserve and near the entrance to the Emeryville Marina as a short-term, weather-dependent anchorage. If you try this option, be extremely careful about boundaries, shoals, and tides, and double-check with local harbor staff before assuming it is acceptable.
6. Mission Bay (Designated Anchor Zones, San Diego)
Mission Bay in San Diego is a small-craft playground, and Mariners’ Basin is one of the best-known free anchorages in Southern California. Cruisers regularly report being able to anchor there for up to 72 hours without fees, making it a popular stop before heading further south or north.
There are some trade-offs: limited dinghy landing options, busy traffic on weekends, and a network of speed zones and restricted areas in the bay. If you are looking at Mission Bay as a spot for overnight anchoring in California, make sure you are in the correct designated anchorage and keep your paperwork and vessel registration up to date in case lifeguards or harbor police stop by.
7. La Playa Anchorage (San Diego Bay)
La Playa, inside San Diego Bay near Point Loma, has long been a coveted anchorage. Historically, it has been available mostly on weekends and holidays and often by permit, which may be free but tightly controlled. Port of San Diego updates suggest that designated anchorages are being moved and reconfigured to manage congestion and safety, so rules continue to evolve.
If you score a legal spot in La Playa, you get one of the most protected pieces of water in the bay, a short dinghy ride from shore, and that “million-dollar view” at anchor. Just do not assume you can drop the hook there any time you like—always verify open dates, permit rules, and time limits with the Port or Harbor Police before you go.
8. Dana Point Harbor Outer Anchorage
Dana Point Harbor in Orange County offers both paid guest slips and designated anchorage areas inside the harbor. Official harbor information notes east and west anchorages monitored by the County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol.
In practice, visiting cruisers often use these anchorages as a short-term stop without paying for a slip, especially mid-week or during shoulder seasons. Swell is minimal inside the breakwater, and you are only a short dinghy ride from fuel, groceries, and restaurants. Think of Dana Point as a convenient Southern California answer to where to anchor a boat when you want a calm night and easy shore access.
9. Channel Islands Harbor Anchorage (Oxnard)
Channel Islands Harbor is a large, artificial small-craft harbor with hundreds of slips and several marinas. While most boats here are tied to paid berths, visiting cruisers sometimes anchor temporarily in designated areas near the harbor entrance or use nearby open water anchorages along the mainland coast, treating the harbor as a resupply stop. The U.S. Coast Pilot describes the harbor layout in detail and notes that small craft may find anchorage in adjacent areas like Pierpont Bay when conditions allow.
Because regulations in and around Channel Islands Harbor are quite specific—including a no-discharge zone—you should check directly with the harbor master for current policies on transient anchoring. If you get the green light, this can be a handy staging point before heading out to the Channel Islands themselves.
10. Morro Bay Anchorage Area
Morro Bay, recognizable by its massive rock at the harbor entrance, has a small but well-used anchorage inside the bay. Official harbor regulations specify that anchoring is only allowed within a designated area, typically described as between specific day markers, and the City maintains a floating dock and anchorage area for transient vessels.
The catch: the anchorage is narrow, the current runs hard, and wind and tide often disagree. You need good ground tackle and solid anchoring technique, or you can easily drag into pilings or moored boats. When everything lines up, though, Morro Bay is one of the more memorable free places to anchor boat on the Central Coast—just do not treat it casually.
Safety Tips for Anchoring Along the California Coast
Free anchoring is not really free if you end up dragging into rocks, ferries, or somebody’s million-dollar yacht. California’s mix of swell, current, fog, and traffic means you need to be a little picky about where to anchor a boat and how you set up.
Here are some practical tips that most experienced local skippers quietly live by.
Always check both wind and tidal current; do not assume the boat will point into the wind.
Use more scope than you think in deeper, tidal anchorages like Morro Bay or parts of SF Bay.
Avoid anchoring near channel edges or ferry routes, even if it looks empty right now.
Set an anchor alarm and actually stay aboard for the first tide change.
How to Choose the Best Free Anchorage Spot
When you scroll through charts or a cruising guide looking for free boat mooring in CA, it is easy to fixate on the word “free” and ignore everything else. A better approach is to treat each candidate spot as a mini risk-reward puzzle: Is it sheltered enough? Are the rules clear? Can you get ashore safely? Only when all of that checks out should you drop the hook.
Evaluate Exposure vs. Shelter
California has an impressive ability to take a calm morning and turn it into a windy, lumpy afternoon. Northwesterlies, swell wrapping around points, and wind-against-tide conditions can turn marginal anchorages into washing machines very quickly.
When you are choosing where to anchor a boat, look carefully at how exposed the spot is to prevailing wind and swell. A seemingly open roadstead like Santa Barbara’s outer anchorage can be great in settled weather but brutal in the wrong conditions, while protected basins like Clipper Cove or Mission Bay feel almost lake-like when the wind pipes up.
Know Local Permits and Moorage Restrictions
Every anchorage on this list has some kind of paper trail behind it—rules, notices, or online permit forms. For anything in a big metro area (San Francisco Bay, San Diego Bay, Mission Bay), assume there is at least a free permit or check-in requirement if you want to stay overnight.
The trick is to build a quick routine into your planning:
Search the harbor’s official website for “anchorage” or “mooring.”
Skim recent Notices to Mariners if you are using offshore spots or coastal roadsteads.
Call or email the harbor master if anything looks unclear—you will usually get very practical advice on where to anchor a boat legally.
This extra step takes ten minutes at home and can save you a big headache when a patrol boat asks why you are anchored where you are.
Consider Proximity to Shore Services
Sometimes the ultimate luxury is anchoring somewhere completely wild and not seeing another mast for days. Other times, you need groceries, a laundromat, and a coffee within walking distance. California anchorages run the full spectrum.
Urban spots like Aquatic Park, Dana Point Harbor, or Channel Islands Harbor put you near fuel, restaurants, and transit. Quieter locations like Morro Bay or parts of Mission Bay give you more of that “away-from-it-all” feel but still have a dinghy dock and basic services. Deciding what you actually need on a given stop helps narrow down the best free places to anchor boat for your trip.
Public Boat Ramps Near Free Anchor Spots
If you trailer your boat or meet friends who do, public ramps near free anchorages are a huge bonus. They let you combine ramp launching with short runs to protected spots instead of pounding offshore for hours just to get to a safe place to sleep.
Public ramp
Nearest free anchorage
What to expect
Example reference
Mission Bay Launch Ramps (San Diego)
Mariners’ Basin anchorage
Busy on weekends; close to designated anchorage
City boating regulations
Dana Point Harbor Launch Ramp
Dana Point east/west anchorages
Small-craft friendly, no-wake harbor access
OC Sheriff Harbor Patrol info
Morro Bay Boat Launch
Morro Bay transient anchorage
Short run to narrow but protected anchorage
Morro Bay harbor guides
Channel Islands Harbor Ramps
Mainland anchorages & nearby harbors
Good jump-off point for coastal cruising
Harbor & Coast Pilot entries
Conclusion
Finding where to anchor a boat for free in California is really about doing a little homework and staying flexible. There is no single magic bay where you can drop the hook and stay forever, but there are plenty of legal free places to anchor boat for a few days at a time if you play by the rules.
Use the 10 anchorages in this guide as a menu, not gospel. Regulations in Richardson Bay, Clipper Cove, Aquatic Park, Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, Dana Point, Channel Islands Harbor, and Morro Bay all continue to evolve as local agencies balance access, safety, and environmental protection. If you skim the latest harbor pages, respect eelgrass and marine reserves, and keep your boat tidy and compliant, you can still enjoy a surprisingly rich lineup of free boat mooring in CA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to anchor a boat anywhere in California?
No. You have a general right to use navigable waters, but local, state, and federal authorities can apply reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, including outright no-anchoring zones in eelgrass areas, marine reserves, and traffic channels. Always confirm local rules before deciding where to anchor a boat.
Can I stay overnight on my boat for free?
Often yes, but usually with limits. Many designated anchorages in San Francisco Bay, Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, and smaller harbors allow free or permit-only overnight anchoring for around 72 hours. However, some high-demand spots now charge small overnight fees (like Aquatic Park) even though daytime anchoring may still be free.
What are the best free places to anchor in Southern California?
Common Southern California options include Mariners’ Basin in Mission Bay, designated anchorages in San Diego Bay (including La Playa when open), anchorages inside Dana Point Harbor, and coastal roadstead anchorages used by experienced skippers when conditions are settled. Your best choice depends on wind, swell, and how close you want to be to shore services.
Do I need a permit to anchor in San Francisco Bay?
It depends on the exact spot. Places like Aquatic Park and Clipper Cove require permits for overnight stays but not for short daytime visits. Other areas may allow short-term anchoring without a formal permit but still have 72-hour limits enforced by local harbor patrols. Always check current information for the specific anchorage you plan to use.
What happens if I anchor in a restricted or protected area?
If you anchor in a no-anchoring zone, eelgrass protection area, or marine reserve, you can be ordered to move immediately and may face citations or fines. In some places, authorities have clearly stated that there is no constitutional right to anchor where local rules prohibit it. When in doubt, move to a clearly designated anchorage rather than arguing your case on the water.
