San Diego Beaches: Oceanside Pier Beaches
As its name implies, Oceanside is a classic beach town. There are several beach areas, but the center of action are the beaches north and south of the Oceanside Pier.
- Beach Type: Classic wide sandy beach
- Access: Directly from street
- Parking: Free and paid parking in neighborhood
- Facilities: Full restrooms
- Good For: Laying out in the Sun, scenery, hiking, swimming, surfing, family day at the beach, lagoon exploring, kayaking, paddleboard, fishing, shopping, dining
- Not Good For: Lack of crowds
Oceanside is at the far north boundary of San Diego at the entrance to the Camp Pendleton Marine base. Camp Pendleton is huge and runs along the next 20 or so miles of San Diego coastline to Orange County.
Being home to the military, Oceanside is a large and growing area. The downtown neighborhood along the beach has seen significant renovation with new shops, restaurants and hotels being added. The Oceanside Pier sits in the heart of this area.
At 1,942 feet, the Oceanside Pier is one of the longest on the West Coast. The original pier was built in the 1880s but has gone through several iterations over the years. The current pier was finished in 1987.
Check out our full guide to San Diego Piers for more info.
The beach area around the Oceanside Pier is often referred to as The Strand. There is a wide boardwalk for walking or biking that runs along the beach by the pier. The beach to the south is called Pier View South Beach and to the north it is logically Pier View North Beach.
Right by the pier there is an outdoor amphitheater, the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, named after the late San Diego Chargers legend from Oceanside. This venue is host to regular events, especially during the summer. Many of these events are free.
The Oceanside Pier beaches are classic family beach locations with something for everyone. There is parking along the streets or in the multiple paid parking lots downtown (prices vary by time of year, but it is usually under $10). Like most beaches, the main challenge on busy days is spaces filling up.
Pier View North Beach tends to be less crowded. Pier View South Beach has more picnic tables, BBQs and fire pits. The areas are right next to each other so you can pick your spot when you arrive.
The Oceanside Pier is a great attraction. There is free fishing from the pier with no permit required. There is a bait shop which is also home to the famous Charlie the Pelican. At the end of the pier is a Ruby’s Diner restaurant.
In terms of dining and shopping, downtown Oceanside has all kinds of options within walking distant. At the foot of the pier is a Tin Fish location, popular for fish and chips. There are also several food stands. Within a few blocks there are many restaurants to choose from.
Downtown Oceanside also is great for shopping and viewing the historic landmarks. A two block walk from the pier is the California Surf Museum. A full guide to the historic landmarks, dining and many other activities can be found on the official Oceanside visitor’s site.
Oceanside is an up-and-comer in north San Diego. New luxury hotels are being built by the pier and downtown restoration is ongoing. For a classic sandy beach experience, the Oceanside Pier Beaches are the best in north San Diego.
For more information on San Diego Beaches check out our full guide.
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