With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego treats sunbathers, surfers and boogie boarders to many beautiful beaches, all diverse. Whether you’re playing volleyball, hiking on seaside trails or catching waves, you can find it all here
Oceanside City Beach (aka The Strand) 200 N. The Strand, Oceanside
The classic Southern California beach offers a vast shoreline for catching rays and building sandcastles, but is famous for its 1,954-foot long wooden pier, with a 1950s-style diner at the pier’s end. Surfers will find a home at this beach as well, with the summer surf averaging 4 to 7 feet.
South Carlsbad State Beach 7201 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad
Happy campers can be found at this state beach. Children can ride their bikes around and boogie board on the uncrowded beach below. The charming village of Carlsbad is an easy walk from the beach offering abundant dining and shopping options, like those at Village Faire Restaurants & Shops.
Moonlight State Beach 400 B St., Encinitas
Moonlight’s name traces back to the early 1900s, when residents used to have midnight picnics at this pretty, peaceful place. It has since undergone a major renovation and now features a new concession stand, showers/bathrooms, and great park for kids, complete with a grassy playground area.
Cardiff Beaches Pacific Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas
Long a haven for local surfers, Cardiff-By-the-Sea is flanked by San Elijo State Beach and Cardiff State Beach and extends north to Swami’s Point in Encinitas. This stretch of coastline offers expansive sandy beaches, towering cliffs and arguably the best surfing in Southern California.
Fletcher Cove Beach 111 South Sierra Ave., Solana Beach
Those who prefer an ocean view without having to get sand between their toes will like Fletcher Cove, as its park is the main attraction, with level grassy areas, a small playground and benches that invite reading.
Del Mar 1700 Coast Blvd., Del Mar
Del Mar Beach stretches from 15th Street near Seagrove Park and Powerhouse Park northward to the cliffs at Dog Beach. Del Mar Beach is a great place for surfing, walking and jogging. The beach is generally sandy with some cobblestones.
A popular swimming spot lies near the main lifeguard station at 17th Street.
La Jolla Cove 1100 Coast Boulevard, San Diego
Tucked between sandstone cliffs, lovely La Jolla Cove attracts divers, snorkelers and kayakers, who like exploring the protected area without boogie boards, surfboards or flotation devices. Paddle close to sea lions and brightly colored schools of fish with La Jolla Kayak, a premier ocean outfitter at La Jolla Shores, a beach community home to gentle waves and Kellogg Park, a sweet spot for picnics.
Pacific Beach 4500 Ocean Ave., San Diego
While tourists and teens congregate at Mission Beach, many of the city’s longtime surfers hang out at Pacific Beach, specifically at Tourmaline, about a mile north of PB’s Crystal Pier.
Mission Beach 3000 Mission Blvd., San Diego
San Diego’s most iconic beach, known for its Coney Island-like feel, teems with both land and water activities. Joggers, bicyclists, Rollerbladers, and casual strollers ply the oceanfront boardwalk leading 3 miles north to Pacific Beach. Filled with upscale, pastel-colored homes, hotels and condos, along with cottages and beach apartments, it’s a favorite among locals and tourists. Mission Beach is also home to the amusement park Belmont Park, famous for its Giant Dipper roller coaster, which was originally built in 1925, but has since been restored.
Ocean Beach 5059 Newport Ave., San Diego
Laid-back perhaps best describes this funky and cool beach, where drum circles and sunset gatherings are common. Situated between the San Diego River and the hills of Point Loma, Ocean Beach is perfect for surfers riding waves created by jetties.
Coronado Beaches 1800 Avenida de las Arenas, Coronado
White, glistening sand attracts both locals and tourists to Coronado’s beaches, which include Coronado Central Beach along Ocean Boulevard; dog-friendly North Beach; Glorietta Bay, offering a great view of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, a large grass-filled park, playground equipment and a small beach area; Silver Strand State Beach; and the Coronado Ferry Landing Shops & Restaurants (with a small beach to get your toes wet) adjacent to a fishing/ferry pier.
Imperial Beach 10 Evergreen Ave., Imperial Beach
Home to the IB Sun & Sea Festival, a sandcastle-building competition, Imperial Beach draws a huge crowd each July. Surfing, body-boarding and swimming are popular activities in this South Bay city, along with fishing off the Imperial Beach Pier. A few blocks north, discover Dunes Park, a pretty waterfront facility with a playground, basketball court, public artwork and a sandy beach.
