El Granada is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the coastal area of northern San Mateo County, California, United States.

El Granada is located at 37°30′14″N 122°28′24″W / 37.50389°N 122.47333°W / 37.50389; -122.47333 (37.503766, -122.473230),[3] on the less densely populated Pacific coast side of San Mateo County, approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz, California.

Neighboring towns include Montara and Moss Beach to the north and Half Moon Bay to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), all of it land.

There were 2,198 housing units at an average density of 455.8 per square mile (176.0/km2), of which 1,592 (75.9%) were owner-occupied, and 506 (24.1%) were occupied by renters.

El Granada's unusual concentric-circular street layout was designed by the influential architect and city planner Daniel Burnham.

[8][9][10] Financial difficulties and the advent of the automobile caused the railroad to abandon the plan, and El Granada subsequently became a residential community.

[11] Federally, El Granada is in California's 16th congressional district, represented by Democrat Sam Liccardo.

[12] Primary road access is via State Route 1 (the Cabrillo Highway) from the north and south.