When we lived in LA for a year, we talked about going to the beach but only drove out a handful of times. Isn’t it funny how sometimes you take the things near you for granted? When we moved back to San Diego, I knew I had to take full advantage of being back on the coast and decided to create a bucket list for beaches to check off.
GUIDE TO SAN DIEGO BEACHES
1. Carlsbad Beaches
- Carlsbad State Beach South
- Carlsbad Blvd Beach
- Tamarack State Beach
- North Ponto Beach ✓
- South Ponto Beach
- Ocean Street
- Robert C Frazee (South of Carlsbad Village)
2. Cardiff-by-the-Sea Beaches
- Pipes
- San Elijo State Beach
- Cardiff State Beach
- South Cardiff State Beach
- Cardiff Reef
- George’s
3. Coronado Beaches
- North Beach (dog beach)
- Coronado Central Beach ✓
- Glorietta Bay Beach and Park ✓
- Silver Strand State Beach ✓
- Ferry Landing Marketplace
- Avenida Del Sol at Coronado Shores
4. Del Mar Beaches
- Del Mar Dog Beach / North Beach
- Seagrove Park
- Powerhouse Park
- Del Mar City Beach (divided into north & south of 15th st)
- 4th – 13th St
- 17th – 19th St
- 20th – 24th St
- 25th – 29th St
5. Encinitas Beaches
- Moonlight State Beach
- Boneyards / D Street Beach
- Swami’s Beach
- Sea Cliff
6. Imperial Beach
- Border Field State Park
- Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
- Imperial Beach Blvd
- Imperial Beach Municipal Pier ✓
- Palm Ave Beach
- Dunes Park
- Seacoast Drive
7. La Jolla Beaches (North of the Village, South of the Village, the Village)
- La Jolla Shores ✓ (North of the Village)
- Black’s Beach (North of the Village / nude beach) ✓
- Torrey Pines City Beach (North of the Village) ✓
- The Children’s Pool / Casa Cove (Village of La Jolla) ✓
- La Jolla Cove (Village of La Jolla / best for tidepooling) ✓
- Sea Caves (Village of La Jolla)
- Bird Rock (South of the Village)
- La Jolla Strand Park (South of the Village)
- Windansea (South of the Village / best for surfing)
- Marine Street Beach (South of the Village)
- Hospitals Beach
- Horseshoe
8. Leucadia Beaches
- Stone Steps
- Beacon’s Beach
- Grandview
9. Mission Bay ✓
10. Mission Beaches ✓
- Mission Beach North (has Belmont Park)
- Mission Beach South
11. Ocean Beaches
- Ocean Beach Original Dog Beach ✓
- Ocean Beach & Pier
- Beach Access South of Pier
- Sunset Cliffs Park ✓
12. Oceanside Beaches
- Harbor Beach / the Jetties
- Oceanside City Beach / the Strand
- Breakwater Way
- Pier View North
- Pier View South
- St. Malo Beach
- Oceanside Boulevard Beach
- Buccaneer Beach
- Tyson Street Beach
- Wisconson Street Beach
- Cassidy Street Beach ✓
13. Point Loma Beaches
- Shelter Island Shoreline Park
- La Playa Beach Access
- Cabrillo National Monument & Tidepools ✓
- Kellogg Beach
- Sunset Cliffs Park ✓
14. Pacific Beaches
- Tourmaline Surfing Park ✓
- North Pacific Beach ✓
- Pacific Beach ✓
- Palisades Park Beach
- Loring Street
15. San Onofre Beaches
- San Elijo State Beach
- Seascape Beach
16. Solana Beaches
- Fletcher Cove Beach Park
- Tide Beach
- Seascape Surf
- Del Mar Shores