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San Onofre is located off interstate 5 in San Clemente. You can't miss it because it surrounds the nuclear power plant. This is mainly a surfers beach with breaks like Old Man's, Churches and Trestles. The northern portion from Trestles to Old Man's has a rock bottom and are day use areas. The southern portion features high bluffs with RV and tent camping and dirt trails that lead down to large sandy beaches. These beaches are known to surfers as 'trails' for the 6 trails that connect the bluffs to the beaches.
TIP: Want to try surfing? Go to a pier where there are lifeguards or try a surf school like Eli Howard's at San Elijo State Beach, Carlsbad or Safari Surf in Mission Beach.
San Onofre
Interstate 5 & Basilone Road
San Clemente, California 92672
(949) 492-4872
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Oceanside is located at the northernmost corner of San Diego County. It is part harbor and part wide sandy beach. The Oceanside Pier offers opportunities for surfing and fishing. Within the harbor are fishing charters, restaurants and accommodations. Oceanside is the closest city to Camp Pendleton Marine Base and many Marines live here and frequent its beaches.
Oceanside
Pier View Way & Pacific Street
Oceanside, California 92054
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Carlsbad is located between Oceanside and Leucadia. Carlsbad offers sandy beaches (most with bluffs), several estuaries, sand dunes and a state beach. The most popular beach area is at the end of Tamarack Avenue. The southern portion offers opportunities for camping. Kahuna Bob's Surf School is situated at the north end of the campground.
TIP: This is one of the best campgrounds we've seen along the ocean from California's central coast to the southern border. The camping portion of park is located just south of Palomar Airport Road. Check out our CAMPING page for more details on camping at South Carlsbad State Beach.
Carlsbad
Tamarack Avenue & Carlsbad Boulevard
Carlsbad, California 92008
(760) 438-3143
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Encinitas is located between Carlsbad and Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Encinitas has several small beaches backed by high bluffs including Beacon's (Leucadia), Swami's and Moonlight. Because these beaches are not visible from the main highway, they are usually less crowded than other nearby beaches. These are great beaches for relaxing, surfing and swimming. Many of Encinitas' beaches are accessible from Neptune Avenue, which parallels the ocean. The website we provided below gives great details on location and provides pictures.
TIP: One of Leucadia's best surf breaks (Beacon's) is located at the end of Leucadia Boulevard. Watch for KOTIJA JR. taco stand at the corner of Leucadia and PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)... great fish tacos after an epic day in the waves.
Encinitas
Leucadia Boulevard & Neptune Avenue
Encinitas, California 92024
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Cardiff by the Sea is located between Encinitas and Solana Beach. Cardiff consists of two state parks (San Elijo and Cardiff), which frame the San Elijo estuary and lagoon. Both feature wide sandy beaches, public restrooms and showers. Check out our CAMPING page for more details about camping at San Elijo. Eli Howard Surf School is located within the campground.
Cardiff by the Sea
Birmingham Drive & San Elijo Avenue
Cardiff by the Sea, California 92007
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Solana Beach is located between Cardiff by the Sea and Del Mar. Solana offers narrow sand beaches backed by bluffs filled with homes. Fletcher Cove Beach Park ('Pillbox' to the locals) is the most popular beach in Solana. Lomas Santa Fe Drive dead ends at Fletcher. Other beaches can be accessed off Sierra Avenue but these narrow beaches can be limited during high tides.
Solana Beach
Lomas Santa Fe Drive & Pacific Avenue
Solana Beach, California 92075
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Del Mar is located between Solana Beach and Torrey Pines. Del Mar is known best as being the place where the "Surf Meets the Turf", refering to the Del Mar Racetrack adjacent to the ocean. Del Mar offers many miles of wide sandy beach. Steep cliffs rise on the southern end where the beach is accessed by questionable trails.
Del Mar
Via de la Valle & Camino del Mar
Del Mar, California 92014
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Torrey Pines is located off highway 101 between La Jolla and Del Mar. This state beach offers a large sand beach for swimming and surfing and public restrooms. The bluffs above are a reserve offering short hiking trails and a bike trial overlooking the ocean. The rarest pine tree is protected and abundant here. Black's Beach is at the southern end of the state beach and is popular with surfers and nudists.
Torrey Pines State Beach
Genesee Avenue & Torrey Pines Road
San Diego, California 92037
(858) 755-2063
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La Jolla is located between Torrey Pines and Pacific Beach. Pronounced 'La Hoya', any San Diegan will tell you the best place in San Diego is "La Jolla". The beaches to the north are wide sandy beaches backed by high bluffs. Just a little to the south is Scripps Pier, which is located below the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The pier offers fishing and surfing oppportunities. At the heart of La Jolla is La Jolla Cove where the water is crystal clear and snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking are popular activities. Kayak and snorkel equipment rentals are available. Several caves that are only accessible by kayak line the rocky coastline to the south. Sandy beach coves dot the rocky shore as you head further south.
NOTE: Check out our Cool Towns page for more details on La Jolla
La Jolla
Torrey Pines Road & Prospect Place
La Jolla, California 92038
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Pacific Beach is located between La Jolla and Mission Beach. This beach offers a long stretch of wide sandy beach that blends with Mission Beach to the south. Crowded beach neighborhoods creep right up to the beach. Many stores, eateries and accommodations can be found throughout the region as well as many surf shops that rent equipment. The Crystal Pier offers a hotel right on the pier. Paved bike paths continue south to neighboring cities.
Pacific Beach
Garnet Avenue & Mission Boulevard
Pacific Beach, California 92109
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Mission Beach is located between Pacific Beach and the Mission Bay jetty entrance. Mission Beach blends with Pacific Beach to the north and continues with the dense urban dwellings creeping up to the beach. It is basically a large sandbar that separates the Pacific Ocean from Mission Bay. Many stores, eateries and accommodations can be found throughout the region as well as many surf shops that rent equipment. A paved bike path continues from Pacific Beach. At the heart of Mission Beach is the Belmont Park amusement park. You can't miss the large wooden roller coaster. The east side of Mission Beach is Mission Bay offering calm water beaches, boat & kayak rentals, picnicking, restaurants and accommodations. Sea World is located at the southern end of Mission Bay.
TIP: Want to try surfing? Go to a pier where there are lifeguards or try a surf school like Safari Surf.
Mission Beach
Mission Boulevard & Mission Bay Drive
Mission Beach, California 92109
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Ocean Beach & Sunset Cliffs is located south of Mission Beach and ends to the south at Point Loma. Ocean Beach features a large sandy beach, a VERY long pier and a dog beach at the northern end along the jetty. The pier offers opportunities for fishing and surfing. A coffee shop and bait shop reside at the halfway point. Ocean Beach has all the amenities including public restrooms, showers, a nearby skate park, lifeguards and plenty of shops and eateries. To the south, the beach tapers into Sunset Cliffs and rocky shoreline where tidepool exploration is popular. Continuing further south will put you at Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument where a visitor center awaits and biking, hiking and tidepool exploration are popular activities.
TIPS: A special 'beach wheelchair' is available for use at the main lifeguard station near the intersection of Santa Monica Avenue and Abbott Street. In addition, a temporary rubber walkway is available for rolling wheelchairs across the sand to the water's edge.
Ocean Beach Pier
Bacon Street & Niagra Avenue
San Diego, California 92107
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Silver Strand State Beach is located 4.5 miles south of the upscale city of Coronado on Highway 75. Silver Strand is basically a long sandbar that separates San Diego Harbor from the Pacific Ocean. This is a long, wide beach with volleyball nets, fire rings, camp spots, public restrooms and showers. Beaches on the harbor and ocean sides are separated by pedestrian tunnels that go underneath the roadway. Activities include surfing, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, water skiing, volleyball, biking, skating, boating and beach parties.
Silver Strand
5000 Highway 75
Coronado, California 92118
(619) 435-5184
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Imperial Beach is located between Siver Strand and the Mexican border. This beach features a large sandy beach with less amenities than other San Diego beaches. The Imperial Beach Pier offers fishing and surfing opportunities and a bait & tackle shop is at the end of the pier. The Tijuana Slough and National Wildlife Refuge reside to the south offering excellent opportunities for walking, hiking and bird watching within the estuary.
WARNING: Swimming and surfing is not recommended from the Tijuana Slough and south due to high polution levels.
Imperial Beach Pier
Evergreen Avenue & Ocean Lane
Imperial Beach, California 91932
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