Half Moon Bay Airport: Where the Pacific Meets the San Mateo Peninsula's Aviation Scene
Half Moon Bay Airport (FAA: HAF) perches atop the coastal terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the San Mateo County coast, delivering some of the most dramatic airport scenery in California—arrivals on runway 30 bring pilots directly over Mavericks Beach, site of the legendary big-wave surfing competition where waves regularly exceed 50 feet during winter swells. Located at 66 feet MSL and operated by San Mateo County, HAF serves the Half Moon Bay coastal community as the primary local aviation facility while functioning as a scenic fly-in destination for Bay Area pilots seeking a coastal escape from the congested inland airports. The FAA Western-Pacific Region and Caltrans Division of Aeronautics both track HAF in the regional aviation system as an important reliever facility for SFO approach traffic congestion.
The marine layer at Half Moon Bay is among the most persistent and challenging weather phenomena facing Bay Area pilots. The airport sits directly on the coast where upwelling cold Pacific waters generate fog that can drop ceilings to 200 feet and reduce visibility to near-zero within minutes during summer months. HAF's RNAV approach provides IFR access when the marine layer is present, but VFR pilots frequently encounter the sharp coastal fog boundary just west of the Santa Cruz Mountains and must exercise disciplined weather decision-making. Despite the weather challenges, HAF's pumpkin festival fly-in each October—timed to Half Moon Bay's famous World Pumpkin Capital harvest season—draws dozens of aircraft from across the Bay Area for a celebration of coastal California agricultural culture.
What is the typical weather pattern at Half Moon Bay Airport?
HAF experiences marine layer fog from late spring through early fall, with June and July typically the foggiest months. Morning fog regularly reduces visibility to below VFR minimums before lifting by midday. Afternoon visibility at HAF is typically excellent, often 30+ miles with views spanning from Point Reyes to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Pilots should obtain current ASOS data (KHAF frequency) before any VFR flight to or from the airport.
Can I fly to see the Mavericks surf competition from Half Moon Bay Airport?
Mavericks Beach lies approximately 2 miles northwest of the airport. During the Mavericks Competition—held in winter when swells exceed 25 feet face height—TFRs may be established over the competition site. Pilots wishing to view the surf should check NOTAMs carefully and maintain legal distance from any established TFR. On non-competition days, the flight along the Half Moon Bay coastline provides spectacular views of the Mavericks break and the Pillar Point Harbor.
What fuel and services are available at HAF?
Half Moon Bay Airport provides 100LL avgas through self-serve dispensers. Jet-A availability is limited; pilots of turbine aircraft should confirm availability before planning a fuel stop at HAF. The airport has a pilot lounge, transient tiedown areas, and a small terminal building. The Obester Winery and local Half Moon Bay restaurants are within walking distance or a short drive for visiting pilots.
Is HAF a towered airport?
Half Moon Bay Airport is a non-towered airport operating on CTAF. Pilots should self-announce on the published frequency beginning 10 miles out and make position reports at the 45-degree entry to the downwind, downwind, base, and final legs. Traffic in the pattern can include student pilots from Bay Area flight schools using HAF as a cross-country destination.
Half Moon Bay Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Half Moon Bay, California.
| Name | Half Moon Bay Airport |
| Address | 9850 Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay CA 94019 Map |
| Phone | (650) 573-3701 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Half Moon Bay Airport
Airports in near by County
Airports near Half Moon Bay
Coastal Flowers, Pumpkins, and Pacific Fog: The Half Moon Bay Airport Experience
Half Moon Bay Airport's identity is inseparable from the coastal farming community it serves—the San Mateo County coastside has been known for cut flower growing, Brussels sprouts, and artichoke farming since the late 19th century, and the airport's agricultural heritage is visible in the field patterns surrounding the runway. The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival each October transforms the entire coast into a celebration of harvest culture, and HAF fills with fly-in traffic from across Northern California as pilots combine a coastal flight with participation in the festival's art shows, pumpkin weigh-offs (winning pumpkins frequently exceed 2,000 pounds), and food vendors lining Kelly Avenue downtown.
San Mateo County's Airport Division maintains HAF as part of a two-airport system alongside San Carlos Airport (SQL), providing the coastside community with aviation infrastructure that connects it to the broader Bay Area economy. The airport's location makes it a natural waypoint for pilots flying the coastal VFR route between the Bay Area and Monterey or points further south, offering an alternative to the inland routes that require threading through San Jose's Class C airspace or climbing above the Santa Cruz Mountains. Caltrans Division of Aeronautics recognizes the coastal route through HAF as an important component of the California coastal aviation corridor, supporting air access to communities along the San Mateo coast that depend on general aviation for medical transport, fire patrol, and business connectivity.