13 Best Beaches in San Diego

Photo Credit: Unwind

• Best for: A family-friendly day out.
• Address: 919 Ocean Blvd., Coronado, CA

Pack the car with all your favorite beach toys because Coronado Beach is one of the go-to California beaches for family fun—and yes, that even includes four-legged members!

Coronado is a wide beach extending 1.5 miles long near Hotel del Coronado. That’s plenty of sand to pitch your umbrella and towels without worrying about high tide. The lifeguard station’s presence means kids will swim safely, and the north end is a designated dog beach section. Warm up around the onsite fire pits for evening bonfires after sunset.

2. La Jolla

Photo Credit: amadeustx

• Best for: Spotting marine life.
• Address: 1100 Coast Blvd. (at Girard Ave), La Jolla, CA

From the scenic views to marine life, there’s plenty of eye candy at La Jolla Shores. Get ready to see why this area is so popular for marine life lovers.

The protected La Jolla Cove gives calm waters with high visibility. Snorkeling and scuba diving let you see California’s state fish, the Garibaldi. Look out on the edge of rugged cliffs to spy sea lions and harbor seals (you’ll likely smell them before seeing them). Explore the Children’s Pool, where anemones, crabs, and sea stars get deposited during low tide. Before you leave, check out the Scripps Pier, a haven for oceanography research and iconic photos beneath the pier.

3. Mission Beach

Photo Credit: JosephRouse

• Best for: Strolling the beach boardwalk.
• Address: 3000 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA

Mission Beach is a slender peninsula sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. While beaches on either side offer exciting water activities like surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking, the onshore activities land it on our best beaches list.

The beach setting is perfect for strolling along the 2-mile-long boardwalk. It’s home to Belmont Park, an oceanfront amusement park with a famous Big Dipper roller coaster and pay-as-you-go fun. Visit the rental shops to find everything from snorkeling gear to surfing lessons. There are plenty of places for grub, like the Beach House Grill and Sandbar Sports Grill.

For a more laid back part of the beach, stay on the southern end at South Mission Beach.

4. North Beach (Dog Beach)

Photo Credit: Simone Hogan

• Best for: A day out with your dog.
• Address: 3902 29th St, Del Mar, CA

Let your pets enjoy the beach fun at one of the top pet-friendly beaches in San Diego. North Beach is affectionately called Dog Beach because of its open dog policies. During the off-season, pets can splash around the ocean without a leash.

North Beach extends 1.5 miles along the Del Mar coastline until the Solana Beach community border. You’ll see dogs of all sizes running along the beach, lying in the sand, or joining their owners in the water.

You can pay homage to pups long gone at the Dog Beach Memorial Garden.

5. North Pacific Beach

Photo Credit: Willophotoss

• Best for: A vibrant atmosphere.
• Address: 4960 Ocean Blvd., San Diego, CA

Leave the kids behind because this beach attracts San Diego’s party crowd. “PB” typically refers to Pacific Beach, but ‘party beach’ is just as fitting.

Pacific Beach feels like a youthful beach town full of teen spirit. You’ll see wide-eyed college students exploring the area’s dive bars, surfers telling stories of their time at the nearby Tourmaline Surf Park, and tourists enjoying ice cream and Dippin Dots on Crystal Pier. A few of our favorite venues for food and drinks are PB Shore Club, the Local Pacific Beach Bar, and Lahaina Beach House.

6. Oceanside Harbor Beach

Photo Credit: NoyanYalcin

• Best for: A little of everything.
• Address: N Pacific St, Oceanside, CA

Oceanside is a relaxing coastal town 35 minutes from San Diego within San Diego County. Harbor Beach is the largest of seven beaches, making it an excellent destination for visitors with big groups. There’s truly something for everyone to ensure the entire group has a great time.

Rock jetties protect the main beach area for swimmers and surfers. The broad sandy beach is ideal for sunbathing or playing on the sand volleyball courts. Explore marine life offshore with whale-watching tours from the nearby Oceanside Harbor, or rent boats for your own water excursion. The Oceanside Harbor Pier is a popular fishing spot, and the kids can run around the onsite playground. Also, picnic tables for everyone to meet up afterward and enjoy lunch together.

Be sure to check out Harbor Village for dining and shopping after your beach day!

7. Imperial Beach

Photo Credit: Eleni Mavrandoni

• Best for: A beach with smaller crowds.
• Address: 10 Evergreen Ave Imperial Beach, CA

Imperial Beach brings a new meaning to Southern California—in fact, it’s the southernmost beach town before reaching the US-Mexico border. And since you’ll pass several other beaches on our list before arriving at this one, it’s significantly less crowded.

With fewer crowds, you’ll have more room to enjoy leisure activities like surfing, swimming, and fishing on the Imperial Beach Pier. There’s also plenty of room on the beach to construct massive sandcastles uninterrupted by other beachgoers. If you’re in town for the summer, you can check out the Sun & Sea Festival for sandcastle art.

8. Carlsbad State Beach

Photo Credit: Sherry V Smith

• Best for: Active beachgoers.
• Address: 101 Tamarack Ave, Carlsbad, CA

We all love a day of relaxing in the sun. But some beachgoers prefer to spend their time being active. Carlsbad State Beach will be your favorite if you fall into this category.

Also called Tamarack Beach, these shores are full of activities for the water and land. Cool off from the San Diego sun with swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, and scuba diving. Head up to the Carlsbad Seawall to join the locals in roller skating, jogging, and biking on the coastal bluffs.

Parking here is plentiful, so finding a spot won’t be as challenging as some of the other beaches on our list.

9. Windansea Beach

Photo Credit: Zack Espinoza

• Best for: Surfing.
• Address: 6800 Neptune Pl, La Jolla, CA

Looking for the best waves? Windansea Beach is one of the best beaches in San Diego for surfing. The underwater reef systems create the ideal water conditions to grab your surfboard and hang ten!

Surfs up every day at Windansea Beach. You can find eaves averaging 4-6 feet tall, with record-breaking waves surpassing more than 20 feet. If you’re not ready to take on these monstrous waves, watching and cheering on the pros from shore is also a great pastime here!

Swimming is not recommended at this beach because of the strong currents and rocky shore.

10. Moonlight State Beach

Photo Credit: Marcus E Jones

• Best for: Easy beach access.
• Address: 386 B Street, Encinitas, CA

If it’s your first time visiting San Diego, the parking situation at most beaches will surprise you. It’s common to drive around for a half-hour or more looking for an empty space, and you’ll have to either pay or walk far to reach the beach. If you’re tired of circling the block, reroute your GPS to Moonlight State Beach, where you’ll have the best chance at snagging a spot close to the beach.

This beach is located north of San Diego and has a large free parking lot on the beach. Hop out, and you’ll be ready to enjoy all your favorite beach activities—swimming, volleyball, and sunbathing. It’s a family-friendly setting with fire pits lit during the evenings and free summer concerts.

Other facilities at this beach include restrooms and outdoor showers.

11. Sunset Cliffs Beach

Photo Credit: lucasinacio.com

• Best for: Scenic sunsets.
• Address: 1024 Cordova St, San Diego, CA

The name says it all. Located on the Point Loma Peninsula, Sunset Cliffs ranks as one of the top beaches in San Diego for catching the sunset. Crowds start to form at golden hour on the rocky bluffs and beach below for breathtaking views of the sun sinking into the Pacific Ocean.

Watch your footing at Sunset Cliffs. The path starts on the steep cliff, but there are footpaths that lead down to the beach. Arrive while there’s still sunlight to explore the unique cliff formations from erosion and tide pools.

12. Torrey Pines State Beach

Photo Credit: Glowing Earth Photography

• Best for: Rugged natural views.
• Address: 12600 North Torrey Pines Road, San Diego, CA

The natural scenery at Torrey Pines State Beach is truly breathtaking. It’s part of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, known for its rugged coastline and Torrey Pines perched on the cliff tops.

Take in the views from the beach and hike the nearby coastal trails. Low tide is the best time to visit the beach when there is more sand to stroll along. As a bonus, experience a bird’s eye view of the beach with hang gliding and paragliding from the nearby Torrey Pines Gliderport.

13. Black’s Beach

Photo Credit: Alexandre Moraes

• Best for: Au naturel sunbathing.
• Address: 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Dr, La Jolla, CA

Sometimes, California gets so hot you may want to shed a few layers. Black’s Beach has a liberal swimwear policy. Here, clothing is optional, and no one will look twice if you decide to go au naturel. It’s located adjacent to Torrey Pines Beach but in a much more secluded spot at the foot of a 300-foot cliff.

Enjoy tanning without the tan lines, and let your entire body experience the soft, warm sand. This is also a popular surfing spot with large waves.

Finding Accommodations Near San Diego Beaches

Accessibility is always important to remember when visiting the various beaches in San Diego. Finding nearby accommodations will save lots of time for arriving and even the trouble of finding parking. Check out our available San Deigo Vacation Rentals to find the place to call home after a day at one of these world class beaches!