Guide to San Diego County Beaches (2023)

FAQs

Guide to San Diego County Beaches? ›

The least crowded beaches in San Diego are San Onofre State Beach, areas of Torrey Pines State Beach, and Black's Beach. These beaches tend to receive fewer visitors because access requires some walking, hiking, and/or an entrance fee.

The least crowded beaches in San Diego are San Onofre State Beach, areas of Torrey Pines State Beach, and Black's Beach. These beaches tend to receive fewer visitors because access requires some walking, hiking, and/or an entrance fee.

La Jolla Shores Beach is the best beach in San Diego because not only is there a wide stretch of sand for general beach-going, it's also an access point to the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. This human-made ecological reserve is home to an abundance of sea life with unusually clear water for California.

Torrey Pines State Beach is located between La Jolla and Del Mar and one of the most scenic beaches in San Diego. Towering above the sandstone cliff is the Torrey Pines Reserve with some great hiking trails. Torrey Pines State Beach is long and wide you can walk all the way to Del Mar from here.

Roughly 30 minutes from downtown, Solana Beach is a great place if you want to be close to the beach but not too far from central San Diego. One of the more laid-back neighborhoods, there are a number of great juice bars and coffee places to relax at.

Known for its laid-back hippie beach vibe, Ocean Beach, San Diego—also referred to as “OB”—is a favorite of locals and visitors looking for a chill, off-the-beaten-path experience in Southern California. Located just north of Point Loma, the small coastal neighborhood sits at the very end of Highway 8.

Mission Beach, in the heart of San Diego California, has a concrete boardwalk that stretches about 2 miles from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach. It's a great place to walk on a sidewalk if you like to be where the action is.

Coronado Beach

Wade into the gentle waters full of swimmers, paddle boarders, and surfers, or, when you're not exploring the beach's salty tide pools, join a seaside volleyball game.

Hands-down, Mission Beach is the go-to San Diego beach for families. You've got it all here, including a 2-mile long boardwalk for walking or biking, an amusement park and plenty of sand and water!

The late summer and early fall months from August, September and October are invariably the best, while the late winter and spring (February to April) are the least predictable.

What beach has the softest sand in San Diego? ›

Mission Beach is a favorite for San Diego residents and for good reason: miles of soft sand, surfing and other water sports to enjoy, and a vibrant dining and nightlife scene.

Coronado Beach is considered by many to be the prettiest Southern California beach. The clear blue waters, white sand shoreline, and iconic sunsets make Coronado Beach one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California.

La Jolla's biggest draw for locals and visitors alike are the beautiful beaches. During the summer and autumn months, the surf is relatively gentle, with warm waters in 70s. Swimmers, snorkelers, scuba divers, kayakers and surfers can enjoy the golden sands of La Jolla Shores, the Cove and Windansea.

Coronado is one of San Diego's most popular beaches with soft white sand, many watersports, and the iconic Hotel Del Coronado as the backdrop.

Some of the best spots to catch the phenomenon are places farther away from the San Diego lights, including Torrey Pines State Beach, Sunset Cliffs and Solana Beach.

Park in the Birch Aquarium parking lot and if you can, park in the back of the parking lot. You will see a small trail once you reach the back of the parking lot. Cross over the small bridge and then begin your ascent up the short trail. You will quickly see this La Jolla swing.

La Jolla Cove: The Ultimate Spot to See Seals in San Diego

La Jolla Cove is part of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and Marine Park. You'll find the seals framing the north and south end of the beach.

Why is it called Blacks beach in San Diego? ›

Black's Beach was named for the Black family who had a horse ranch overlooking the beach. They sold the land, and then it was subdivided into La Jolla Farms lots. The Farms' residents retained the Black family's private road to the beach.

What San Diego beaches are good for shell collecting? One of the best areas for finding shells would be at the north end of Tourmaline Surfing Beach in the Pacific Beach section of San Diego -- which also has a nice parking lot.

As it turns out, the sand is largely composed of an iron ore called magnetite, which, as its name suggests, is highly magnetic. It's derived from the erosion of igneous rocks in the Sierra Nevadas.

Marine Street Beach

If you're hoping to have a relaxing day soaking up the sun or playing in the waves, this is one of the best beaches in La Jolla!

Located on the San Diego Coast, San Elijo State Beach offers camping, swimming, surfing, showers and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorkelers and divers.

The Oceanside Pier is worthy of a visit and walk to the end and back. Otherwise, the beaches, restaurants and appearance of Carlsbad is more appealing than Oceanside. Carlsbad also has the Outlet Malls, Legoland, and a few resorts and golf courses to offer.

So Mission Bay, La Jolla cove, some of the Coronado beaches (facing the city, not the ocean), will be the warmest water, and “warmer” is still relative. Take a wetsuit, just in case. Where are the best beaches in Florida's west coast? Where are the best views of San Diego?

With lovely weather, sunny coastlines, and the tempting waves of the Pacific Ocean beckoning from the shoreline, San Diego is the perfect place to go swimming, surfing, and so much more.

The southern region of San Diego is known as South Bay. Within this region lies the laid-back beach town of Imperial Beach, which is the southernmost beach in California. This is the only beach that backs up to the U.S.-Mexico border. For years, this community has dealt with sewage leaks infiltrating their beaches.

What is a family friendly beach in San Diego? ›

Beach parks with shade • Dunes Park, Seacoast Dr., Imperial Beach. 619-423-8328. Ellen Browning Scripps Park, Coast Blvd. near La Jolla Cove.

Rainfall follows a seasonal distribution pattern, with much of the region's precipitation occurring between December and March.

High season is considered to be June and July. The cheapest month to fly from United States is January. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest San Diego flight deals. Bank of America operates ATMs at San Diego International Airport (SAN).

The cheapest time to go to San Diego is the beginning of the year. The months of January and February see the fewest travelers coming to the city. Airfare and hotel rates typically reflect this slow off-season, and visitors are welcomed with some of the cheapest prices you'll find all year.

Black's Beach Basics. With arguably some of San Diego's best waves, Black's Beach can be found in the vicinity of the University of California San Diego campus, at the southern end of Torrey Pines State Beach and north of La Jolla Shores.

That world-famous sand.

Everything you've heard about Siesta Beach's sand is probably true. Made of nearly pure quartz crystal, it's fine, white, and powdery. It feels nice and soft on your feet and doesn't get too hot when temperatures rise.

Iconic Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its many attractions, but perhaps none more so than its splendid, white-sand beach.

Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur is famous as the “purple sand beach.” But that's not its only claim to fame: beautiful Keyhole Arch, which sits just offshore at Pfeiffer Beach, is one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur.

Pfeiffer Beach, Los Padres National Forest, California

While driving through California's Big Sur, you'll discover both breathtaking mountain views as well as expansive blue seas — and the pink sands at Pfeiffer Beach.

What is the name of the most famous beach in California? ›

Santa Monica Beach and Pier

Arguably California's most famous beach, Santa Monica features 3.5 miles of sand, stunning sunsets, and mountain views. The 1,600-foot Santa Monica Pier is an icon all its own.

La Jolla. The epicenter of beachfront luxury, La Jolla is arguably the most prized city in San Diego. As a result, homeowners searching for beach homes in La Jolla will find some of the loftiest price tags in California.

In Malibu, the most expensive beach town in the US, one neighborhood along the surf has earned the moniker "Billionaire's Beach." Music mogul David Geffen reportedly sold his home there last year for $85 million.

Malibu, Laguna, Crystal Cove, Doheny Beach, Carlsbad, and Pismo Beach are the cleanest beaches in California.

Both Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers have houses there. The Fairgrounds and Racetrack is a good place to begin your search. Rancho Santa Fe has been a favorite haunt of Bing Crosby and Howard Hughes. Let's not forget about Phil Mickelson, Bill Gates, and Jenny Craig.

Whether to stay in downtown San Diego or La Jolla depends on the activities you hope to enjoy during your visit. La Jolla is minutes from the beach, quiet, and luxurious, whereas downtown is urban, bustling, great for nightlife, and easier to visit many of the city's attractions.

It is suggested that the Kumeyaay name for the area was transcribed by the Spanish settlers as La Jolla. Another suggestion for the origin of the name is that it is an alternative spelling of the Spanish phrase la joya, which means 'the jewel'.

If you're looking for a gorgeous and perhaps secluded beach to swim morning laps, perhaps it's Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, the Imperial Beach Beaches or Silver Strand State Beach, all great options for serious swimmers looking for a San Diego swimming experience that will meet and exceed expectations for great waters ...

La Jolla Cove is free to explore and open 24 hours per day, though swimming is never recommended without a lifeguard present.

The late summer and early fall months from August, September and October are invariably the best, while the late winter and spring (February to April) are the least predictable.

What are the best months to visit San Diego? ›

The best times to visit San Diego are March through May and September through November. You can find some great deals on travel rates during the low seasons in comparison to the peak summer season.

Beaches and bays - Alcohol is prohibited on San Diego's beaches and Mission Bay Park. Alcohol is also prohibited in parking lots adjacent to beaches and beach parks. Posted signs provide rules regarding alcohol policies.

What beach in California has the clearest water? La Jolla Cove is widely known to have some of the clearest water anywhere.