Guide to San Diego's Best Beaches

The ocean is a major San Diego attraction. San Diego County has 70 miles of beach along the Pacific Ocean. Deciding which beach is most appropriate can be a difficult decision. Fun Diego Family is mapping out the entire San Diego coastline. This is our guide to San Diego’s Best Beaches.

The San Diego County coastline starts on the border of Mexico and runs to the city of Oceanside, into the Camp Pendleton Marine Base before it ends in at San Clemente in Orange County. Our guide to San Diego Beaches starts right at the border and lists each beach in order, heading north.

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Descriptions

A beach listed as Family-Friendly means it is good for basic swimming. In addition, it is the type of beach where there is sand and places to spread out.

Family-Friendly, Active: The beach is located in an area with places to eat and other facilities beyond just a basic restroom. Often, these beaches are in an active urban area with shopping and other activities.

Family-Friendly, Isolated: This means that the beach is not near other activities beyond a basic restroom. In many cases, these are state parks that charge a parking fee. This can be a great option if you are willing to pay and don’t want the larger crowds at the active beach.

Family-Friendly, Isolated, Access: Some San Diego beaches are free but isolated because they are hard to reach. In many cases, this is because they are along a bluff. Visitors either need to climb down a long staircase or walk along the beach from the end of the bluff. If you do not mind walking these beaches can be a great option.

Scenic: San Diego has a rocky coastline and many beaches are not appropriate for swimming. Scenic beaches are great to visit in winter, but not really where you go for a typical summer day out at the beach. In many cases, they can be popular surfing spots.

We would also note that some beaches are better suited for going during low tide. Make sure and check out the tide charts.

San Diego Tide Chart

Recommendations

In most cases, visitors will look for a beach near where they are staying. If you are staying near Legoland, it makes no sense to drive an hour to the South County beaches. The good news is that every region of coastal San Diego will have a good beach option.

At Fun Diego Family the beaches we go to the most are the Torrey Pines State Beaches, La Jolla Shores and Seaside which is part of Cardiff State Beach. These beaches are closest to our house. We like the convenience of the state beaches, so we invest in an annual California State Park which pays for our parking. If we were just visiting California, we would probably pay the $10 to $25 per vehicle entry fee that the state beaches charge.

Note, we are only including the oceanfront beaches. There is also the San Diego Bay and Mission Bay. Both these areas have beaches that provide sandy area and calm water great for small children. We have a separate guide to those beaches.

Check our guide to Best Mission Bay Beaches.

Best Mission Bay Beach Guide

San Diego’s Mission Bay is one of the city’s prime attractions. There are all kinds of water-based activities and 27-miles of shoreline. This is our guide to the various Mission Bay beaches and picnic areas. The focus is on helping visitors find the best Mission Bay beach for a specific activity. Overview Mission Bay is […]

South San Diego County Beaches

Our Guide to San Diego Beaches starts literally at the U.S./Mexico border

Border Field State Park, Scenic
Imperial Beach, Family-Friendly, Active
Silver Strand State Beach, Family-Friendly, Isolated, Fee
Coronado Central Beach, Family-Friendly, Active
Coronado Dog Beach, Family-Friendly, Active

Check out our guide to hotels in Coronado and South Bay to find hotel suggestions

Where to Stay San Diego: Coronado and South Bay

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 on Coronado “island” […]