Best Beaches In San Diego

San Onofre State Beach – Starting on the northern end of San Diego area beaches is and situated near Interstate 5 (I-5) in San Clemente, San Onofre is one of the state’s most popular beaches boasting some of the best surfing on the west coast.

Oceanside Beaches – Further south along the coastline and considered the quintessential Southern California beach experience, Oceanside boasts easy access with fewer parking hassles, boardwalks and a pier.

Carlsbad Beaches – one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets and where the locals go for enjoying the sand and surf almost any day of the year.

A vacationer’s paradise!

Leucadia Beaches – comprised of Leucadia State Beach and Encinitas County Beach, as well as three popular surf spots, including Grandview, Beacon’s and Stone Steps.

Encinitas Beaches – a short drive down I-5, consisting of Moonlight Beach, Swami’s and Boneyards.  

Solana Beach – a hidden gem with high cliffs lining the water’s edge. It’s difficult to access, but once you’re there, you have the lay of the land and a secluded beach to call home.

Del Mar Beach’s Seagrove Park  – a public park overlooking the ocean, and its very own Del Mar Dog Beach; the northern coastal town of Del Mar is home to just over 4,000 ocean-loving residents

Torrey Pines State Park  – travel southbound and you’ll find this popular family-friendly beach spot with bathrooms, showers, lifeguards and lagoon for the kids.

La Jolla – known as “The Jewel” of San Diego, not just luxury homes and upscale shopping, it’s also home to some of the best beaches and reefs in the state including La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove. Lawn bowling, hang gliding and surfing – there’s plenty to do oceanside when you’re in La Jolla.

Pacific Beach – travel further south and find this beach, with its funky beach bars and taco stands. Now you’ve arrived in San Diego!  

Mission Beach – centrally located to the city, it’s the closest you’ll find to a classic East Coast beach, but with the laid-back attitude only Californians have. A bit east of Mission Beach is Mission Bay, which offers a network of waterways, inlets and islets.

Take a Trolley beach tour for a relaxing way to experience San Diego’s beaches

A really cool way to get around the aforementioned beaches is Old Town Trolley’s La Jolla and San Diego Beaches Tour. Check out some of the area’s most popular beach spots on this day-tripper tour that takes you from rocky cliffs to tide pools and everything in between.

Ocean Beach – just around the hills of Point Loma, Ocean Beach is a go-to for surfers, sunbathers and swimmers.

Coronado’s Perfect Beaches – voted as one of America’s best beaches by The Travel Channel, Coronado’s sandy beaches glisten with mica mineral sand.

Imperial Beach – nearly into Tijuana and home to the Sandcastle Competition, Imperial is one of California’s most popular spots for surfing, body boarding and swimming. They also host their very own Imperial Beach Surf Dog Contest.

With 70 miles of pristine coastline along the Pacific Ocean, it’s no wonder why San Diego and its surrounding areas have become one of the most popular destinations in the world for fun and sun in the surf and sand.

So grab your beach chair, apply that sun block and explore some of the finest beaches in the world.