8 Best San Diego Beaches
If you know anything about San Diego, you know that it’s famous for its incredible beaches. Regardless of when you’re planning a trip, a visit to this Southern California destination isn’t complete without spending some time at the beach. That said, given how large the county is, narrowing down what beaches are actually worth visiting can be a challenge.
I grew up in San Diego, and still visit the area multiple times a year. To help you plan your visit, I’ve created the ultimate guide to the best San Diego beaches worth adding to your itinerary.
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The Best Beaches in San Diego
Now, let’s talk about what beaches are worth visiting in San Diego. Note: in this guide, we’ll start on the north side of the county, and make our way down the coast.
1. Cerezo Bluffs/Terramar Beach in Carlsbad
Cerezo Bluffs (also known as Terramar Beach) is a San Diego hidden gem. This beach has gorgeous coastal bluffs, as well as fun small caves to explore. On top of the bluffs is Terramar Point, where you get incredible, sweeping views of the coastline. It’s a great spot for taking in the view or going for a walk along the coast without actually going down to the sand.
Note: be sure to check the tide before heading to Cerezo Bluffs, as the water can go all the way up to the bluffs during high tide. I like to use this website to check tides.
2. Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach
Fletcher Cove is one of my favorite beaches in San Diego. The beach itself has a gorgeous coastline with pretty bluffs, and it’s also super walkable. At the entrance of the beach, there is also a park with a playground and picnic tables where you can hang out and enjoy the ocean breeze (bonus: they put up a Christmas tree at the park around the holidays).
What’s also great about Fletcher Cove is that it’s within walking distance of Solana Beach’s main shopping and dining hub. South Cedros Avenue is a fun spot to grab a bite to eat and do a bit of shopping before or after your beach visit. Lofty Coffee and Barefoot Coffee Roasters are both excellent options if you need a caffeine fix. I also recommend Culture Brewing for beers, and Claire’s on Cedros for amazing breakfast and lunch food. You’ll find plenty of additional stores and restaurants on the 101, as well.
3. Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas
Whether you’re looking to lay out a beach towel and catch some rays, jump in the water, or go on a coastal walk, Moonlight Beach is the place to be. The spacious beach has picturesque coastal bluffs, and while it can get crowded (especially in the summer), there’s still plenty of space for visitors. During low tide, you can even walk down to Swami’s Beach – a famous surf spot. Much like Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach, Moonlight is also close to the top stores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops in Encinitas.
If you’re curious about visiting Encinitas, check out my guide on The Best Things to do in Encinitas. I break down activities in the area, as well as the best eateries and places to grab a drink.
4. Torrey Pines State Beach and Natural Reserve
If you want to get some coastal hiking in, you’ll want to make your way to Torrey Pines State Beach and Natural Reserve. There are some incredible trails right on top of the bluff at the reserve that look over the coastline, offering some of the best views in San Diego. Guy Fleming Trail is a great option if you’re looking for a short, easy loop – but keep in mind this trail doesn’t take you down to the beach. If you do want to go down to the beach, you can connect to the Beach Trail from Red Butte, Yucca Point, and Razor Point Trails (if you want a shorter hike, you can just do Yucca Point Trail and connect to Beach Trail).
If you are planning on hiking down to the beach, make sure you check the tides first! During high tide, you won’t be able to access the beach.
Note that this area gets crowded, especially on weekends and in the summer. If you’re lucky, you may be able to get a parking spot at Torrey Pines Beach Parking or the North Beach Lot (fees are required). Otherwise, you’ll need to street park on N Torrey Pines Road. For all three of these parking options, you’ll need to walk uphill up Torrey Pines Park Road to get to the trailheads. There is some parking available near the trailheads, although it is limited.
5. La Jolla Shores Beach
This spacious, mile-long beach is a great place to check out if you’re in or around La Jolla. Unlike the other beaches mentioned so far, this actually has a long open stretch that isn’t broken up by bluffs or rocks, so you have a lot of space to spread out. That said, you still get beautiful views, and can see the pier up north and the rocky cliffs of La Jolla down south. There’s also plenty of grassy areas on either side of the parking lot if you want to hang out and avoid the sand. You can also stroll along the boardwalk to get a nice oceanside walk in.
6. La Jolla Cove Beach
If you’re visiting La Jolla, you can’t forget to stop by La Jolla Cove – arguably one of the most scenic San Diego beaches. The small cove is surrounded by bluffs and tide pools, making it a great place to take photos and explore. The waves are also somewhat blocked in this area, so the water is a bit calmer than other beaches in the area.
La Jolla Cove is much more compact than La Jolla Shores, but is one of the top spots for anyone interested in snorkeling, scuba diving, or just swimming. This beach (and the area surrounding it) is also the best place to spot sea lions! There’s also a walking path and park above the beach where you can take in more views along the coast line.
Keep in mind that La Jolla Cove is very popular and very small. If you’re looking for space to spread out (and want some semblance of peace and quiet), this isn’t the place to go.
For the 21+ crowd planning a San Diego vacation, I highly recommend adding at least one brewery stop to your itinerary. Check out my guide on the Best Breweries in San Diego.
7. Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a lively, bustling spot with tons of open sandy space. This means there’s plenty of real estate available for you to lay out your beach towel and catch some rays. That said, keep in mind that it is popular and can get very busy. Beyond the actual beach, what makes Mission Beach stand out is the boardwalk, which features bars, restaurants, and shops. You even have Belmont Park, a retro beachside amusement park featuring rides and carnival games.
8. Coronado Beach
This iconic San Diego Beach sits in front of the historic and scenic Hotel del Coronado. This hotel opened in 1888, and has been known to host numerous celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures over the years. From the beach, you can also walk to plenty of popular restaurants, bars, and shops on and around Orange Avenue – one of the main roads through town. The beach itself is super spacious, with plenty of room to lay out. The northern part of the beach is also dog-friendly, so bring your pet along with you!
What to Pack for Your San Diego Beach Vacation
Let’s talk about the essentials you’ll want to bring for your beach vacation:
- Umbrella: For those that are driving in and have room in their car, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a beach umbrella. If you’re on the market for a new one, I highly recommend the Wondershade Ultimate Portable Umbrella. While it’s a bit more expensive than your standard beach umbrella, the extra features make it worth it. It has a tilt feature that allows you to easily and effectively block the sun as it moves throughout the day. The umbrella also has attached cup holders and hooks where you can hang your towels. Even better, it packs down into a compact bag.
- Beach Cooler: If you’re planning on spending a full day out in the sun, you’re going to want to bring some lunch, snacks, and drinks. Be sure to have a cooler on hand to keep your food fresh!
- Beach Towels: I recently tried the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel while on vacation and I’m hooked. These towels are super lightweight and dry quickly, so no need to worry about lugging around a damp towel. Since the fabric is thinner, it’s also easier to fully shake off the sand at the end of your beach day. Bonus: they come in a ton of different colors.
- Sunscreen: Obviously, sunscreen is a necessity if you’re hitting up the beach. Two water-resistant sunscreens that I regularly use and highly recommend are the Supergoop Play SPF 50 (for the body) and the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion (for the face). Both feel lightweight, and I particularly like that the Sun Bum sunscreen leaves more of a matte finish on the face.
- Sunglasses: If you’re spending lots of time in the sun, you’re going to want some good sunglasses. My favorite sunglasses are the WearMe Pro Reflective Lens Round Trendy Sunglasses. These are super affordable but high-quality – I’ve used my pair almost daily for at least a couple of years and they’ve held up great!
- Hat: Beyond just wearing sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat is one of your best tools for keeping your face protected from UV rays. One of my favorite hats is the Brixton Women’s Joanna Hat, which is comfortable, cute, and effectively able to keep my face in the shade. It’s also easy to pack in a suitcase!
Here are even more San Diego travel guides to help you make the most of your vacation:
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