Morro Bay Triathlon
Morro Bay, United States · November · Independent (Morro Bay Tri)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.2 km (10.7 mi) bike, 5.4 km (3.4 mi) run. Organiser course page: 750 m / 17.2 km / 5.4 km (0.47 / 10.7 / 3.4 mi); FAQ says 20.5 km (12.7 mi) bike.
Why people love it
- Swim in the sheltered harbor beside Morro Rock; start, transition and finish are all at Coleman Park.
- Kayak or paddleboard replaces the swim: 4.8 km (3 mi) Olympic, 2.6 km (1.6 mi) sprint.
- Pre-race clinics preview the sprint course, which suits first-timers. Packet pickup runs Thursday, Saturday and race morning.
- Highway 1 bike with ocean views through Cayucos, then a beach and boardwalk run to the finish under Morro Rock.
- Free beer or cider for finishers aged 21 and over, and a public festival area.
Watch out for
- Cold harbor, about 14-19 °C (57-66 °F) in November. A wetsuit is strongly recommended.
- Highway 1 stays open to traffic apart from one coned northbound lane, with flaggers on course.
- Much of the run is on beach sand, with some soft patches and rocks.
- Bike and run distances differ between the course page, FAQ and listings, so check before racing.
- One racer was pulled from a strong swim current in 2014; the swim is now timed for slack tide.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
No aggregator reviews; local TV coverage over several years is upbeat, about 750 athletes and 800+ spectators; one 2014 forum report of a hard swim. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Slack-tide swim timing, Harbor Patrol, clinics and flaggers are all organiser claims; no athlete has reported on race-day running. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.1
750 m (0.47 mi) single lap, paddle option, pre-race clinics that preview the sprint course. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
17.2-20.5 km (10.7-12.7 mi) bike and 5.4 km (3.4 mi) run, flat but with sand. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
USAT: optional at or above 15.9 °C (60.7 °F); November harbor 17-19 °C (63-67 °F) in 2026, rarely hotter than 25.6 °C (78 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
Organiser quotes 17-19 °C (63-67 °F) but warns it may cool; typical November 14-18 °C (57-64 °F), in the 16-18 °C (61-64 °F) band. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
Protected harbor, but tidal; one racer was pulled from a strong current in 2014, and the swim is now timed for slack tide. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
One 750 m (0.47 mi) lap from the beach in a protected harbor. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Morro Rock backdrop and sea life in a protected bay, rolling start; cold and boats in the harbor. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.1
Harbor Patrol and lifeguards, slack-tide scheduling, rolling start, paddle alternative, wetsuit guidance. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
State highway and a dirt road section; no surface reports found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Only a northbound lane of Highway 1 is coned off; local news reports no closures, with flaggers and police at intersections. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Ocean and Estero Bay views through Cayucos, according to magazine and local news coverage. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Exposed coastal road on the Central Coast where onshore wind is typical; early start may help. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
Shortened Highway 1 route, 17.2-20.5 km (10.7-12.7 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.0
Est. 60-110 m (200-360 ft) gain over 17.2 km (10.7 mi); unpublished. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Out and back on Highway 1, but intersections, turnarounds and a dirt road leaving transition. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
800+ spectators in a recent year, festival area at the finish; beach and fire-road sections are quiet. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Run aid every 3.2 km (2 mi), one bike aid station about halfway, bananas and mandarins at the finish. · Low confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.5
Beach, boardwalk and finish under Morro Rock; a runner praised running by the water. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
5.4 km (3.4 mi) on hard-packed sand and fire road. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
5.4 km (3.4 mi) of flat beach, boardwalk and fire road. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Early November lows near 12 °C (53 °F), highs near 22 °C (72 °F) per climate normals; cool morning start. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Late-season coastal weather: fog, a 10% rain chance and the occasional storm; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Morro Rock, harbor and beach; local news describes a gorgeous race day. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Start, transition and finish all at Coleman Park, festival area open 7 AM-1 PM, food trucks and beer garden. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Sea level, about 3 m (10 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.9
Tourist town with many motels and inns; November is off-season. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Coastal tourist rates; organiser lists partner hotel discounts. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
All parking at the Rock lot, start/finish/transition at Coleman Park a short walk away; hotels on the Embarcadero are close. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
SBP airport about 24 km (15 mi) with limited flights; most athletes drive 3.5-4 hours from LA or the Bay Area. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
One venue and one transition area, race-morning packet pickup and a single parking lot, per organiser; few athlete accounts. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Seafood and Embarcadero restaurants, breweries and a lively waterfront. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Morro Bay, California, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 1 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Morro Bay Tri)
- Field size
- About 750 athletes
- First held
- 2010
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 17.2 km (10.7 mi) bike, 5.4 km (3.4 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Morro Bay Harbor from Coleman Park beach, in the lee of Morro Rock (bay)
- Water temperature
- 14–19 °C (57–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- None to speak of
- Air temperature
- 12–22 °C (54–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate, marine layer common
- Altitude
- 3 m (10 ft)
- Nearest airport
- San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP), 24 km (15 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Morro Bay Embarcadero, Cayucos, San Luis Obispo
- Booking
- Morro Bay is a tourist town; the organiser lists hotel discounts and Visit Morro Bay partners. November is off-season.
What racers and reviewers say
- KSBY News (13th annual preview)Raced 2023 · article · Mixed
Local TV preview for the 13th edition: about 750 athletes expected, 8 AM start at Coleman Park, no road closures, flaggers on course and police advising drivers to watch for athletes on the dirt road north of Coleman Beach. Gives a useful picture of how open the bike course is.
- KSBY News (11th annual)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
Race-day report with more than 800 spectators and a run along the beach boardwalk, dunes and shore to the finish at Morro Rock. A runner said she enjoyed seeing familiar faces and running beside the water on a gorgeous day.
“I just love being able to run by the water”
- KSBY News (sixth/eighth annual)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
Race-day piece quoting the co-owner of Morro Bay Tri on the decision to add an Olympic distance alongside the sprint so the event suits more athletes. Describes the swim-or-paddle across the harbor, Highway 1 bike, beach and boardwalk run, and a post-race party with live music and local beer. The headline and body disagree on the edition number, so the year is approximate.
“there's something for everybody”
- KSBY News (race-day report, 2024 caption)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Local coverage of the 2024 race noting a swim-or-kayak route through the bay, a Highway 1 bike and boardwalk and beach run, and the sprint and Olympic options. Other coverage mentions a cold start where athletes wear wetsuits, which matches the organiser's cold-water advice.
- Triathlete (late-season races)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
Magazine listing recommending the race for ocean lovers: protected harbor swim south of Morro Rock, closed-bike-course claim along Highway 1 and through Cayucos with ocean views, and a flat scenic run on fire road, boardwalk and hard sand finishing under the Rock. Promotional, and the 'closed' claim conflicts with local news.
Raced Morro Bay Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Morro Bay Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.