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The San Diego area is huge and getting around can be a challenge.  Choosing a general location to stay is essential for maximizing the enjoyment of a visit to San Diego.  Fun Diego Family has created a detailed guide to each of San Diego’s major areas   This is our guide to staying in the beachfront cities north of San Diego, an area known as North County Coastal.

Overview

The North County Coastal area is the beachfront area of San Diego that runs about 20 miles from the north border of San Diego to Oceanside.  This area includes the towns of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.

Each town has its own unique identity including their own central beachfront shopping and dining area.  These are located along the 101 Coast Highway.  The I-5 interstate runs north/south about a mile inland.  There are many chain hotel options and some resorts directly off the freeway.

Legoland in Carlsbad is a key attraction in the North County Coastal area.  However, driving to downtown San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Sea World can take a long time on crowded San Diego freeways.  Note that Del Mar is 20 miles closer to downtown San Diego than Oceanside.

For those that want to visit downtown there is the Coaster Commuter Rail that runs from Oceanside to San Diego’s downtown harbor front.  There are stations in most major towns.  However, it should be noted that outside of downtown and Old Town San Diego, most major attractions are not within walking distance.  For more information go here.

Nearby Attractions and Activities

• Legoland is the big-ticket attraction in the North County Coastal area.  However, the general Southern California beach scene is a major attraction in its own right.
• Disneyland and the attractions of Orange County are also within striking distance.  Disneyland and Legoland are 60 miles apart.  This makes the region a great place to stay for visitors that want to explore more of Southern California.
• Each city has its own central area with shopping and nearby beaches.  These are briefly discussed in the next section.  However, notable attractions for visitors to the general area include:
• Torrey Pines State Reserve is technically in San Diego, but it borders Del Mar and is worth a visit for its hiking and scenery.
• The Del Mar Fairgrounds is a classic that offers the San Diego County Fair in June through July 4^th, horse racing mid-July through Labor Day and seasonal events throughout the year.
• Cedros Design District in Solana Beach is a must for lovers of boutiques, art galleries and architecture/specialized home remodeling.
• Lovers of flowers and all things botanical will love this area.  The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas is great for not just plant flowers but also has attractions to keep children entertained.  Encinitas was known as the poinsettia capital.  The popular Christmas plants were almost entirely grown here by the Eckes family who cultivated their production.
• In springtime, the Carlsbad Flower Fields by Legoland are a popular seasonal attraction when the flowers are in bloom.
• Carlsbad is also known for its strawberry fields.  Right by Legoland is the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. In addition to strawberry picking during season (February to July) there are pumpkin patches and corn mazes in the fall.
• Also next to Legoland is the Green Dragon Tavern Museum.  This is a restaurant and free museum focused on the revolutionary war period.  It is part of a California effort to give educational opportunities to school kids who are not able to travel to the historic East Coast sites (Knotts Berry Farm in Orange County has a full replica of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall).

Key Locations and Notable Lodging

Del Mar

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Del Mar is a small town on the border of San Diego, just north of La Jolla.  The actual town runs about two miles along the beach from Torrey Pines State Beach in the south to the border with Solana Beach at the racetrack and Via De La Valle.

The actual town of Del Mar only goes a few blocks inland.  However, much of the surrounding area, including Del Mar Heights and even Sorrento Valley, is often considered part of the Del Mar area.

Del Mar has a wonderful range of beaches and some nice dining options along Camino del Mar (Highway 101).

Hotel options along the coast tend towards casual inns and boutiques.  The L’ Auberge Del Mar with wonderful ocean front views is the most luxurious beachfront property.

• Check prices for the L’Auberge Del Mar on Booking.com
• Check prices for the L’Auberge Del Mar on HotelsCombined

A few blocks down there is a Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar which offers a prime location at a lower price than similar beach properties. Next door is Hotel Indigo, a boutique hotel overlooking the ocean.

• Check prices for the Best Western Premier Del Mar on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Best Western Premier Del Mar on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Hotel Indigo on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Hotel Indigo on HotelsCombined

There are also some small lodging options right along the coast.  Wave Crest Resort is a boutique resort along the bluffs overlooking the central Del Mar beach.

Going a mile inland there are many choices that cater to business travelers in the area.  These hotels are right off the I-5 freeway.  This includes the large San Diego Marriott Del Mar, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn and others.

• Check prices for the Marriott Del Mar on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Marriott Del Mar on HotelsCombined

Note these places often call themselves Del Mar but actually they are part of the city of San Diego.  This area and the next-door Sorrento Valley is home to San Diego’s high-tech corridor.  Many of the brand name hotels are along Mira Mesa Blvd close to the offices of companies like Qualcomm.  One advantage of staying in this area is it is home to some of the best breweries in the country such as Green Flash, Ballast Point, Karl Strauss and AleSmith.

Probably the top resort in San Diego is the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.  In 2019 it was one of only 11 properties to get a Triple 5-Star award from Forbes Travel Guide.  The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is on 400-acres in a beautiful secluded area (in San Diego city limits).  Fun fact: The Rolling Stones stayed here on their 2015 tour.  You can see where we recreated the hike Mick Jagger did from the Fairmont Grand resort.

• Check prices for the Fairmont Grand Del Mar on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Fairmont Grand Del Mar on HotelsCombined

Solana Beach

Solana Beach is another small town that runs about two miles along the coast north of Del Mar.

Solana Beach is a popular area for vacation rentals.  The rentals in Solana Beach tend to be clustered along the south end of Sierra Avenue on a bluff overlooking the ocean.  This is a very quiet area favored by retirees.

Stay in Sunny San Diego with these vacation rentals from Vrbo!

Also, on Sierra Avenue is a Holiday Inn Express and a Courtyard by Marriott.  Both places are within walking distance of downtown Solana Beach, the Cedros Design District and the beach at Fletcher Cove.

• Check prices for the Holiday Inn Express Solana Beach on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Holiday Inn Express Solana Beach on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Courtyard Solana Beach on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Courtyard Solana Beach on HotelsCombined

Encinitas

Encinitas runs about 5 miles along the ocean with three separate beach communities, Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the south, Encinitas proper, and Leucadia at the border with Carlsbad.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea has some prime beach front dining along an area known as restaurant row.  Encinitas has a great little downtown with shopping and restaurants running south from Encinitas Blvd to the Self-Realization Fellowship Gardens.  Leucadia is known as the more funky area for surfers and hippies.

Beach front lodging in Encinitas is limited.  The small Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge has a prime location two blocks from the beach.

As you go inland there are several chain hotels off the I-5 freeway.  This includes a Best Western, Hampton Inn, Days Inn and Quality Inn.

There are also some bed-and breakfast options and small boutiques such as the Inn at Moonlight Beach.

Carlsbad

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Carlsbad is a rapidly growing city of over 100,000.  Being home to Legoland it is the central location for many visitors to San Diego’s North County Coastal area.

Carlsbad has all kinds of lodging options including brand name hotels, vacation rentals and several luxury resorts.

Most of the chain hotels are located near Legoland off of Palomar Airport Road.  Beachfront properties tend to be smaller inns and boutique lodging.

Legoland is about 3 miles from the center of Carlsbad area known as Carlsbad Village.  The village sits right on the ocean with some nice shopping and dining options.  However, lodging in Carlsbad Village is limited.

Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort has one of the best locations in the area on the beach in the center of the village.  Across the street is the small Ocean Palms Beach Resort.  The more upscale Beach Terrace Inn is several blocks north.  Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel is several blocks to the south.

• Check prices for the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Ocean Palms Beach Resort on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Ocean Palms Beach Resort on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Beach Terrace Inn on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Beach Terrace Inn on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel on HotelsCombined

In terms of chain hotels on the beach there is the Best Western Beach View Lodge.  Three miles south of the village the Hilton Garden Inn has a prime beach front location.  Holiday Inn Express and La Quinta have locations near the beach in South Carlsbad.

West Inn & Suites is right on the freeway, but it is within walking distance of Carlsbad State Beach (and only a mile from Legoland).

• Check prices for the West Inn & Suites on Booking.com
• Check prices for the West Inn & Suites on HotelsCombined

Carlsbad is an extremely popular choice for beach front rentals.  There are many options, especially in the Carlsbad Village are and along Carlsbad Blvd.  Many rentals have spectacular ocean views.

 

The Carlsbad area is loaded with resort options.  Legoland has its own resort.  Across the street from Legoland there is a Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa and Marbisa Carlsbad Resort, part of Hilton Grand Vacations.

• Check prices for the Legoland Resort on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Legoland Resort on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Marbisa Carlsbad Resort on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Marbisa Carlsbad Resort on HotelsCombined

Several miles south of Legoland there are the Aviara resorts surrounding Batiquitos Lagoon and the Aviara Golf Club.  This includes Park Hyatt Avira Resort and Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara.  The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is also a prime resort with its own golf course.

• Check prices for the Park Hyatt Avira Resort on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Park Hyatt Avira Resort on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara on HotelsCombined
• Check prices for the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on HotelsCombined

Along the ocean there is the Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, operated by Hilton.  This is more like a beachfront hotel than the more luxurious resorts inland.

• Check prices for the Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach on HotelsCombined

Oceanside

With a population of 175,000 Oceanside is the largest city in North County San Diego.  Oceanside is home to the massive Camp Pendleton Marine base which starts at the north end of the city and runs 15-miles along the coast until it reaches the end of the county at the Orange County border.

Camp Pendleton is one of the largest undeveloped areas of coastal Southern California.  Oceanside functions as the center of the Camp Pendleton community.  Thus, much Oceanside lodging and housing is geared towards the military.

However, Oceanside is exploding as a vacation community. The center of Oceanside is located around Highway 101 (South Coast Highway) near the Oceanside Pier.  This is a nice small-town area with quaint shops and restaurants.

In 2020, Hyatt is in the process of building two high-rise resorts on the beach by Oceanside Pier.  Current options in the area include Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort and the Springhill Suites Marriott Oceanside.

The other major beachfront area of Oceanside is a mile north at Oceanside Harbor.  This area has a nice waterfront village with shops and dining.  WorldMark Oceanside has a prime location over the harbor. Next door there is a Days Inn, Holiday Inn and the Harbor Inn & Suites Oceanside.

• Check prices for the WorldMark Oceanside on Booking.com
• Check prices for the WorldMark Oceanside on HotelsCombined

• Check prices for the Harbor Inn & Suites Oceanside on Booking.com
• Check prices for the Harbor Inn & Suites Oceanside on HotelsCombined

For more budget minded travelers there are several chain hotels at the intersection of highway 76 and Interstate 5. These places are nothing special, but they are within walking distance of the pier and harbor.

Conclusion

The booming North County Coastal area of San Diego has a population approaching half a million.  In many ways it functions as its own vacation destination in between San Diego and Orange County.

Many of the resorts are perfect for families and groups that want to have many options.  Day trips to Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo and the major attractions of Southern California are all available.  Of course, there is also the option to just stay near the ocean and soak up some sun.

This area is also on one of the few train lines in the southwest.  It is possible to catch a train not only to downtown San Diego but also up the coast to Disneyland, downtown Los Angeles and even all the way to Canada.

For the Coaster Rail south to San Diego go here for information.

For the Amtrak operated Pacific Surfliner to Disneyland and points north go here.

San Diego Hotel Guides

San Diego is our home so we don’t stay in too many hotels in the area. However, we love to travel and have all kinds of experience with maximizing lodging choices.

A starting point is our San Diego Hotel Guide and Tips. This guide applies to travel in general, but has some more San Diego specific advice.

The Where to Stay in San Diego post is designed to help visitors pick a specific area of San Diego.

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