Montara (/mɒnˈtærə/) is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Mateo County, California, United States.

“Montara” could also refer to a corruption of the Spanish word "Montosa"; "Cañada Montosa" (valley of brush) was allegedly written on an 1838 design of Rancho San Pedro, located in Southern California, but the connections between this plan and the town are unclear.

Neighboring towns include Pacifica to the north, Moss Beach, El Granada, and Half Moon Bay to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), all of it land.

The rare and endangered species Hickman's potentilla occurs at the northern extremity of Montara on the slopes above Martini Creek at elevations ranging from 32 to 410 ft (9.8 to 125.0 m).

The town is surrounded by open space (Rancho Corral de Tierra) and a popular recreation area includes Montara State Beach.

The nearly 1 mi (1.6 km) long stretch of sand drops steeply into the ocean, making this beach hazardous for swimming.

Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, heavy fogs and low overcasts are common throughout the year, sometimes producing light drizzle.

January, the coldest month, normally sees daytime high temperatures around 50°-60 °F (between 10° and 15 °C), with overnight lows in the forties (4°-10 °C).

September, the warmest month, normally experiences daytime highs in the upper sixties (15°-21 °C) and lows in the lower fifties (around 10 °C).

The Midcoast Community Council is an elected advisory body to the Board of Supervisors, is chosen by residents of Montara, Moss Beach, and El Granada.

The Montara Grammar School opened in 1915; the historic two-story building still stands, serving as a community center.

California's second paved highway, Pedro Mountain Road, was completed in 1914, providing another connection between Montara and San Francisco.

The United States Navy operated an anti-aircraft training center at Point Montara during World War II.

[8] Real growth in Montara began in the 1950s as more people moved away from San Francisco during the postwar boom.

Montara and Moss Beach residents overwhelmingly supported a bond for the purchase and repair of the system.

The high, spiraling rates and a decades-long water moratorium were key motivations behind the bond measure.

Montara Light was originally established in 1875 as a fog signal station after several ships ran ashore in the late 1860s.

The lighthouse demarks the northern point of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a holding of Special Biological Significance owned by the State of California.

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