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San Diego Beaches
Along the west 70 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline supports ear-round outdoor recreation such as surfing, boating, sailing, fishing and swimming. San Diego Beaches are acclaimed as some of the best beach areas in the United States.
San Diego possesses over seventy miles of sandy coastline and warm, clear waters ranging from tranquil snorkeling coves and ecological preserves. Here one may find some of the best surf spots in the world. San Diego epitomizes the Southern California beach culture--from level, family-friendly beaches to nudist coves backed by 300-foot cliffs.
Check out some of the other things you can do on the water:
Harbor Tours Boating |Whale Watching
| Is a big, mostly local and uncrowded beach with lots of sand. It has a seawall and a sidewalk, which makes it popular for walking, jogging, biking and people watching. Among the interesting features are two sets of rock jetties that divide the beach. Free parking is available on Carlsbad Boulevard and at the Tamarack parking lot at the southern tip of the seawall. Good public facilities and local bars and restaurants are on the north end near the village of Carlsbad. Lifeguards are on duty in season. |
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| Is one of San Diego's finest and most popular beaches. It's great for families, tourists and surfers who enjoy its wide expanse of sand and social activities. Swimming, walking, surfing, body boarding and even grunion hunting are just some of the things to do. Nearby are two seaside grassy parks - Seagrove and Powerhouse - both offering great picnicking and stunning ocean views. Jakes and the Poseidon Restaurant are right on the beach and other eateries and services are within a few blocks in the village of Del Mar. Services include showers and restrooms plus year-round lifeguards. Paid parking is available or park for free on one of the nearby streets. At low tide you can walk all the way south to the beautiful Torrey Pines State Park. A top attraction in San Diego. |
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| In Solana Beach lies below the sandstone bluffs that run the length of this community. It's a small beach with public parking, restrooms and seasonal lifeguards. The cove was constructed years ago by cutting out a portion of the bluffs with hydraulic water hoses and steam shovels. The City of Solana Beach sponsors many community events at this location. |
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| Is a family favorite with a wide sandy beach, gentle waves and a playground for kids. It's popular for scuba diving, ocean swimmers and kayakers. La Jolla Shores is an ideal place to learn how to surf and many surf camps take their students here before braving rougher waters. It's the only beach boat launch in San Diego, where small vessels can be launched directly into the surf. There's an underwater canyon off La Jolla Shores Beach, designated as an ecological preserve, making this beach rich with marine life. Bonfires at night in provided containers are popular. A permanent lifeguard station is located adjacent to the main 350-space parking lot. Limited on-street parking is also available. Public restroom and showers are located 100 yards north and south of the main lifeguard tower. |
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| Is more of a locals' beach than neighboring Pacific Beach. It's popular for tanning, volleyball, horseshoes, surfing and socializing. South Mission beach, marked by the historic roller coaster and the Plunge - an indoor swimming pool - has two famous beach bars: the Beachcomber and the Pennant, both Mission Beach institutions. A narrow cement boardwalk parallels the beach offering walking, biking and bicycling. Public parking is available on the north and south side of Belmont Park and at the foot of West Mission Bay Drive. There's also parking in two lots across the street adjacent to Bonita Cove, next to the Bahia Hotel. These lots fill very quickly on busy summer days and traffic can be heavy at times. Stores and services are available within walking distance of Mission Beach. A big San Diego attraction for young adults. |
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| Is just a few blocks west of downtown Encinitas. An active beach heavily monitored by lifeguards, this is an excellent choice for visitors with children. Access for the handicapped is available. A fresh coat of sand is poured on rocky portions of the beach each May. There are restrooms, showers, a snack bar, fire rings, volleyball courts and free parking. The City of Encinitas sponsors many community events at this location. |
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| Offers a wide stretch of sand, the longest pier on the West Coast, playground equipment, lifeguards, restrooms, showers and approximately 70 fire rings. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, surfing or simply romping in the blue Pacific Ocean. The adjacent street is excellent for strolling, rollerblading, or bike riding. Volleyball courts are set up along the beach and an amphitheater offers concerts and other community events. Restaurants and assorted services are available at nearby downtown Oceanside. |
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| The most popular beach in San Diego, is considered our nearest equivalent to Venice Beach. It's a happening place with lots of sand and people. Pacific Beach runs south of the Crystal Pier for about two miles becoming Mission Beach and then South Mission Beach. Being adjacent to the residential and commercial areas of the community of Pacific Beach, it draws large crowds in the summer. Parking and traffic can be very difficult - but worth it. A narrow boardwalk lines the beach and in the summer months is teeming with rollerbladers, runners and bike riders - not to mention the "beach bums" that hang out in the warm weather. Various shops, restaurants and beach rental outfits can be found along the boardwalk. Lifeguards are on duty year round at the main lifeguard station at the foot of Grand Avenue and along the beach in seasonal towers in the summer. This beach has separate areas reserved for swimming and surfing. Public restrooms and showers are located at the foot of Grand Avenue in the median of Pacific Beach Drive. The boardwalk is accessible to wheelchairs and containers for beach fires are provided during the summer months. |
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South Carlsbad State Beach
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| At the foot of Poinsettia off I-5, is relatively undeveloped, offering natural views of the ocean and lagoons. There are several parking lots and places to pull off the Coast Highway 101, where you can park, take a walk or snap a few photos. High dramatic cliffs line the northern portion while the terrain in the south is more level and accessible. Here you'll find a popular State of California campsite overlooking the beach. Lifeguard services are available in the summer. |
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| The long expanse of Coronado Beach is located on Ocean Boulevard in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado. This brilliantly white stretch of San Diego coastline first gained fame in 1959 due to its prominence in the classic Marilyn Monroe film, "Some Like It Hot". Today, Coronado is one of the most family-friendly beaches in San Diego. As twilight approaches you will find it a highly romantic setting for a stroll over the sand as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. Coronado Beach was voted the fourth "Best Beach" in the U.S., as well as the "Best Weekend Getaway Beach" by the Travel Channel. |
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| Called "Black's Beach" by locals, its official name is Torrey Pines State Beach and is home to one of San Diego's most famous surf spots. Black's Beach is also a notoriously (though not explicitly sanctioned) nude beach. The sand and surf of "Black's Beach" stretches for two miles and is backed by majestic, 300-foot cliffs. Potential beach-goers and surfers must hike down the trial leading from these cliffs to reach the wide beach. Hang-gliders may take the easy route down from the Glider Port at the top of the cliffs of this most popular of San Diego beaches. |
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| Imperial Beach is San Diego County's southernmost beach, and is famous not only for its annual sand castle contest but for its vast expanse and easy access, as well. Imperial Beach boasts ample parking with clusters of restaurants and shops where the visitor can dine while enjoying a view, browse through boutiques, or pick up a picnic meal. One can also enjoy tranquil moonlight strolls and magnificent sunset views. Imperial Beach is another family-friendly beach. Dunes Park, a new beachfront park with state-of-the-art playground equipment, a volleyball area, and picnic tables is a perfect place for the kids to enjoy a sunny day. |
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| La Jolla Cove, a small, idyllic beach, is one of the most photographed beaches in San Diego for its breathtaking views and quaint atmosphere. Its setting between sandstone cliffs and proximity to La Jolla's upscale shopping and dining make the Cove one of the most admired and most visited areas in San Diego. You can also gaze at the view from superb restaurants and cafes that overlook the cliffs, or stroll patio and gardens of in the world-famous La Valencia Hotel. The cove is ideal for snorkling, with water so clear that you can often see up to thirty feet. This is also a great place for kids to explore tide pools filled with sea anemones, crabs, and tiny schools of fish. |
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| Mission Bay Park is everything the rowdier Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are not: family friendly, uncrowded, laced with wide, winding paths, and scattered with picnic areas. Usually only long-time locals are found under an umbrella at the edge of the bay or enjoying the solitude from their patios, but in the summer even the bayside sees a rise in visitors. If you're looking for a place to spend time with your children Mission Bay is great. There are also parks with swings, slides, and merry-go-rounds for the smaller kids who are weary of looking for sand dollars on the shore. The bay itself is popular with windsurfers, sailors, jet-skiers, and water-skiers. |
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| Ocean Beach is one of San Diego's most eclectic and unique neighborhood beaches. It possesses an atmosphere like Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, except for the salt-water breeze. Stroll along Newport Avenue with its cross-streets and peruse surf shops, funky boutiques, cafes, vegan restaurants, tattoo parlors, and a noteworthy antique row. The southern end of Ocean Beach is typically for board surfers--both swimmers and surfers should be wary of strong rip tides. To the north is "Dog Beach" where owners can let their pups run leash-free all day. (Bring plenty of plastic bags, though, for the poo.) |
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| One of the loveliest beaches in San Diego, Windansea has launched quite a few famous surfers and is regularly featured in surf-genre magazines. Marked by the famous shack, Windansea is home to a notorious shore break that is ideal for surfers and body surfers but can be dangerous for the inexperienced. Windansea has a reputation for being a "locals-only" beach but in the summer there are normally large numbers of global travelers basking in the sand throughout scattered, small coves. South of the shack--near the pump house made famous by Tom Wolfe's "The Pump House Gang"--the beach widens. One may see clusters of kids, families, and friendly horse-shoe games in progress. |
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| The Children's Pool, also known as the Casa, is a small, picturesque beach partially protected by a sea-wall. In the winter you will be awed to catch sight of an enormous storm wave breaking over the top of the wall that encloses this pool. Originally intended as a fully protected swimming area in the early 20th century, this beach is no longer accessible as the seals have claimed it as their own. Even though swimming is prohibited, it is worth a trip there just to see the seals basking on the shoreline. |
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