San Diego Beaches

San Diego's many coastal beaches have a lot to offer. From surfing, sailing, biking, running, swimming, diving, or even a waterfront walk, you'll never run out of things to do at San Diego's favorite beaches. Here you'll find information about landmarks, beach water quality, amenities, rules and regulations, surf reports, tides pools and directions as well as popular outdoor activities for each specific region.

Coronado
Just a quick ferry ride or car trip across the San Diego Bay Bridge from downtown San Diego, Coronado Beach is a popular destination for locals, tourists and families. The perfect spot for an all-day outing, the beach features many restaurants, shops, parks and the historic Hotel del Coronado.

Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach has a fine selection of restaurants and beaches, with some of the best surf fishing, pier fishing, and surfing in Southern California. With one of the few unfragmented estuaries and coastal lagoons in Southern California, the area is also home to the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, a great educational facility for the family to learn about the birds, fauna, and plant life of the region.

Ocean Beach
Just a few miles northwest of downtown, Ocean Beach is considered San Diego's most laid-back beaches and pet friendly communities. With 68 acres of bluffs and panoramic views, Sunset Cliffs Park offers walking paths high above the Pacific Ocean. The Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, which runs the length of the cliffs, allows locals, surfers and visitors to cruise the shorelines and take in the spectacular scenery. The area also offers swimming, volleyball and fishing off the Ocean Beach Pier, as well as the popular Dog Beach, where doggies are allowed to "party it up."

Mission Beach
Home of Belmont Park's world-famous wooden roller coaster, Mission Beach is the most in family fun and entertainment. Rides range from bumper cars to simulated wave attractions. There tends to be a younger crowd (20 something's) on the beach. The place to see and be seen is on the boardwalk, which is usually bustling with rollerbladers, joggers, runners, bikers and visitors. Speed is regulated and must be kept to eight miles per hour or less.

Mission Bay
Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country. In 1944, a Chamber of Commerce committee suggested turning Mission Bay into a tourist and recreational center to help expand the city's mostly military community. In the late 1940s, they converted it into what is now beautiful Mission Bay Park. The park offers many recreational activities, including paths for walking, jogging, and biking, volleyball nets plus playgrounds for children.

Pacific Beach
Nestled between Ocean Beach and Mission Beach is San Diego's Pacific Beach. "PB", as it's called by many local residents, is known for Crystal Pier, lots of clubs, shops, bars and coffee shops. This mostly younger crowd can be seen rollerblading, jogging and biking at the Pacific Boardwalk - the ultimate way to people watch.

La Jolla
La Jolla Beach is known for its lavish hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques. It's also a nice spot for spa-goers, surfers, tourists, and nature lovers. La Jolla Beach offers both fun and relaxation at its four distinct beach locations: Children's Pool, Windansea Beach, La Jolla Cove and Black's Beach.

Children's Pool
Children's Pool is a tiny cove protected by a concrete breakwater. It was once a safe swimming area for children, but now it has become more of a safe have for sunbathing sea lions and seals. It is suggested that visitors and children come as spectators to watch the marine mammals in all their glory.

Windansea Beach
Windansea Beach is known for its beautiful scenery and surf breaks created by underwater reefs. This area is not recommend for children since surf breaking is too dangerous for kids to play safely in the water. This is one of the few beaches in San Diego that is challenging for skim boarders and experienced surfers, rendering it one of the most desirable locales for expert surfers in the area.

La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is known for the some of the clearest water in San Diego and perhaps the most photographic vistas in the area. The cove is an ideal location for scuba diving and snorkeling, offering underwater reefs with plenty of marine life, like sea anemone, starfish, frequent views of seals, and the occasional grouper fish.

Black's Beach
Black's Beach, formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach, is jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California. Still referred to as "Black's," the beach is well-known for its nudist area (clothing optional) that extends from Mussel Rocks in the north to Salk Institute Road in the south. There is a glider port above the cliff overlooking the beach for hang gliders, paragliders and remote-controlled gliders to soar.

Del Mar
Located in North County 20 miles north of San Diego, Del Mar is home to two beautiful beaches bordering north of the Torrey Pines State Reserve and next to "Where the Surf Meets the Turf," the famous Del Mar Racetrack. This upscale beach community is one of the most popular cities in North County with its great beaches, fairgrounds, and horseracing. It also has one of North County's best cycling routes.

Solana Beach
Right off Highway 101 north of Del Mar, Solana Beach is 1.7 miles of pure beachfront. Divided into four beach areas - Fletcher Cove, Tide Beach Park, Seascape Surf, and Del Mar Shores - this upscale, surfer-hip community offers plenty of activities for residents and visitors alike.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Located between Solana Beach and Encinitas in North County, Cardiff State Beach offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing, with many tide pools to explore. The designated camping areas are an affordable way to vacation and enjoy the sunset with the locals and surfers. The area also has some of San Diego's favorite beachfront restaurants, such as the Beach House and Charlie's by the Sea.

Encinitas
Named by local residents who used to come to the area for midnight picnics in the early 1900s, the Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas is just a few blocks west of downtown and offers flat, sandy beaches, ideal for a picnic or a day of sun tanning. The beach also features swimming, surfing and fishing as well as a recreational facility with equipment rentals for volleyball and tennis. Most would call it a family and locals kind of beach.

Leucadia
Known by the locals as Beacon's," Leucadia State Beach north of Encinitas is an old-fashioned small, rocky beach that's only 11 acres in size. It's secluded location and unique reef formation makes it a great area for surfing. Although it's mostly a local hang out, it's a perfect discovery for visitors looking to blend into the scene.

Carlsbad
Located just north of Encinitas, Carlsbad beaches are a big attraction for visitors and beginner surfers. The north Carlsbad coastline has series of small beaches and low cliffs right along the Coast Highway, offering prime Pacific Ocean views and easy access to the beaches. Camping at South Carlsbad Beach is the best way to be near the beach and hear the waves at night. Popular beach areas in this region include Tamarack, Warm Water Jetty, and Terramar.

Oceanside
With 3.5 miles of sandy-white beaches, Oceanside beaches offer a variety of playful activities, including surfing, body boarding and volleyball. These world-class beaches are also host international surfing and skating competitions as well as IronMan triathalons, and speed boat and outrigger races. Oceanside's largest beach, Harbor Beach, features deep-sea fishing boat, whale watching, kayaks rentals and shopping at the adjacent Marina Inn.

Dog Beaches & Parks
Play on the sand and take a dip in the ocean with your canine companion at San Diego's local dog beaches. Let your dogs run free and rule the pack at San Diego's best dog parks.

Tide Pools
Usually found on rocky shores covered and uncovered daily by the rising and falling ocean tides, San Diego's tide pools are beautiful and diverse. The best time to visit tide pools is when the tide is low. A 1.0-foot tide is okay, but viewing is even better when it's minus 1.0. Have fun exploring and learning about shore crabs, hermit crabs, sea anemones and more. Remember to follow the "Rules of Conservation."

Surf Report
Check the surf report at your local beach of choice. See if conditions are too poor to surf, fair or good, and get ready to ride the waves.

Beach FAQ
Whether you are a visitor traveling to the beautiful San Diego beaches or a local San Diegan, we have the answers to your typical beach-life questions!

Beach Life
Visit our Beach Life section for a unique perspective on what makes San Diego beaches special.

Activities