San Diego Beaches

Information about San Diego Beaches, find the best San Diego beach for camping or a San Diego Vacation Rental on the beach. A list of the best beaches in San Diego here.

The beaches in San Diego County are some of the prettiest of all the Southern California Beaches.

We asked a lot of locals in San Diego, and they think that the Coronado Beach, the Ocean Beach and the Mission Bay Beaches are the best beaches in San Diego.

But everyone have different ideas of what makes a beach the best, so you make the decision for the best beach in San Diego for you personal preference.

The Silverstrand Beach is wide and sandy, and you can park your self-contained RV there for an overnight camping vacation in San Diego right on the beach.

Point Loma is home to Sunset Cliffs, a narrow and rocky beach, but quite secluded and popular with surfers.

If you have kids, they will enjoy the tidal pools at the La Jolla Cove beach. La Jolla is a suburb by the sea in north San Diego, and the coastline and San Diego beaches are very beautiful there.

And further north in San Diego County the beaches in Encinitas, Del Mar and Carlsbad are also very spectacular.

If you are looking for a good surfing beach in San Diego, I recommend the Pacific Beach, the Tourmaline Surfing Park Beach and the Del Mar Beach.

SILVER STRAND STATE BEACH: It's named for the tiny silver shells on the sand here. Located between Coronado and Imperial Beach, called the The Strand by locals, it's a favorite with families for it's wide sandy beach, gentle surf, fire rings, surf fishing and the yearly grunion runs. There are two San Diego beaches here, one on the ocean side and the other on the bayside, that is accessable through a pedestrian tunnel. The bayside has warm, calm waters, great for kids.

OCEAN BEACH SAN DIEGO: Known locally as OB, it has a hippie like atmosphere from the 1970's. The pier area's south end, is a popular hangout for surfers. It's a mile long beach that's fun for swimming volleyball playing and sunbathing. Dangerous rip currents can occur, so be aware. Facilities such as showers, picnic tables and volley ball courts are available. The main street is Newport Avenue with surf shops, cafes, and a few original headshops.

DOG BEACH SAN DIEGO: Located at the north end of Ocean Beach, it's one of the San Diego beaches that's a haven for dog owners. Leashes are optinal here, so you can let your dog run free to chase Frisbees, and play with other dogs. It's open 24 hours. There are even posts with plastic bags to pick up after your pooch.

MISSION BEACH: It's located close to the Belmont Amusement Park. The boardwalk, called the The Strand, is loaded with skaters, and bicyclists. It tends to get very busy, and crowded during summer weekends, and holidays. Fourth of July is so busy, that I don't recommend you come here, unless you like traffic jams and overwhelming crowds.

MISSION BAY BEACHES: This is one of our favorite San Diego beaches. Perfect for kayaking, sailing, waterskiing and windsurfing. The 27 mile long shorelines are protected from the Pacific Ocean waves. It has sandy beaches, coves and inlets, and provides an idyllic picnic setting. A great place for biking, as the bike paths winds for miles along the shoreline. The wide grassy areas are wonderful for spreading a blanket and having a romantic picnic on the beach.

PACIFIC BEACH SAN DIEGO: Famous for its Crystal Pier that has hotel bungalows right on the pier. This is a beach for hanging out, and do some people watching. There is a promenade which runs along the beach, that's great for bicycling, skating or just walking. This beach is also a popular vacation destination in San Diego. The hotels close to the beach here, are booked solid during summer. Pacific Beach is located north of Mission Beach in San Diego.

CORONADO BEACH: Located on the Coronado peninsula, this beach has the famous Hotel Del Coronado as a back drop. It's a wonderful wide sandy beach, with lots of room for a secluded sunbathing spot. It's very popular with young families, as the surf is calm, and it's sort of quiet and uncrowded, compared to other San Diego beaches. To the south is the Silver Strand Beach.

WINDANSEA BEACH: This beach has huge waves caused by an under water reef, and is very popular with experienced surfers. It's also known as a romantic beach for its secluded sunbathing spots. It is a fabulous place to watch the sunsets. This beach is not a good beach for young children. It's located close to La Jolla off La Jolla Boulevard.

LA JOLLA SHORES: One of San Diego's most popular family beaches. It can get unbelievable crowded during the summer, so you should come early to be sure to get in. We love the bluff top Kellogg Park for it's picnic areas and beautiful ocean views. The beach is a white sandy strip with gentle surf, perfect for small children. The La Jolla Underwater Ecological Reserve is directly offshore, and is very popular with divers who are ever present.

BLACK'S BEACH: Also known as the Nude Beach. It's a hard beach to access, so it's very secluded, and notorious for it's nude sunbathers. It's located bewteen Torrey Pines State Beach and La Jolla Shores, and the only ways to get to it, is via a 300 foot cliff (very scary), or via a mile long walk along the beach from either the south or north end during low tide. Hang gliders usually launch off the south ends cliffs.

TORREY PINES STATE BEACH: Here you'll find miles of sandy beaches beneath high sandstone cliffs. The tide pools during low tide are teaming with sea creatures, that kids and grown ups alike find fascinating. This beach is one of our favorite San Diego beaches because it's usually uncrowded, and we love the natural beauty of this beach park. You can park your car at the Torrey Pines State Reserve, or by the gliderport on top of the cliff.

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