Carlsbad City Beach

Pin Icon
Located along Ocean St with various accesses to the beach. Public access is provided by the city at Carlsbad Village Dr, Grand Ave, Christiansen Way, Beech Ave, & the north end of Ocean St.
Carlsbad City Beach is a state park operated beach that is known for clean sand, stunning views and surf fishing. It's a popular beach for sunbathing and relaxing.
Todd Sarouhan
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you make purchases through them, I may be compensated at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Why you'll love this beach
Why you'll love this beach
Explore the Clean Sand and Stunning Views at Carlsbad City Beach
Carlsbad City Beach
Overview
Things to Do
Bundle & Save
Popular Activities
Get There & Parking
Featured Activity
Know Before You Go
Stay Nearby
Similar Beaches

Highlights

Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking
Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking

Overview

Carlsbad boasts over seven miles of sand and surf. The town is a delightful village with great shopping and eating.

Carlsbad City Beach is the northernmost beach in the city. Carlsbad City Beach is actually part of Carlsbad State Park. There are many properties overlooking the beach at Carlsbad City Beach making beach access a bit tricky, however the city does provide access to the beach via easements along the side of the properties that are next to the beach.

The public can access the beach via the following streets; Carlsbad Village Drive, Grand Avenue, Beech Avenue, and Ocean Ave.

Things to Do

Fishing
Fishing
Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving
Sunbathing
Sunbathing
Surfing
Surfing

Why You Should Visit This Beach

Stunning Sunsets

Carlsbad might be most-known for Legoland California, but its beaches are some of the nicest in the area. Carlsbad City Beach beaches feature endless hours of fun in the surf and stunning sunsets.

Activities at Carlsbad City Beach

Carlsbad City Beach is known for its swimming, sunbathing and surf fishing. During the surf fishing season (May through October), board surfing is prohibited. Surfing does not mix well with surf fishing as the surfers can get hooked on the surf fishing line. With Tamarack Surf Beach close by, surfers don’t have to worry about not having options.

If you are looking to do any diving, surfing or fishing you can rent equipment from many places in Carlsbad. The town is very friendly to tourists.

Visitors should respect the beach and clean up when you get ready to leave. Leave no trace of your visit.

Bird Watching

If you enjoy birdwatching, go to the northern end of the beach. Buena Vista Lagoon is a popular place to watch wildlife. The lagoon houses over 100 species of birds, 18 of mammals and another 14 amphibians and reptiles. It was California’s first Ecological Reserve.

Bundle and SAVE!

Kids looking at knight at LEGOLAND California
Visit LEGOLAND California!
Create family memories at LEGOLAND California! Admission is included with your All-Inclusive Go City pass - enjoy over 60 rides and attractions! Bundle admission with Birch Aquarium at Scripps or the Safari Park for the ultimate day of savings!
Buy Now
Local Tips
What attractions are included with a Go City San Diego pass?

Attractions that you can visit with a Go City San Diego pass include:

The San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, SeaWorld, Safari Park, LEGOLAND, Harbor Cruise, USS Midway Museum, the NAT Museum, Whaley House, PETCO Park Tour, iFLY San Diego and many, many more!

Want to save more? Use our exclusive discount code GVSD5OFF to save an extra 5%!

How to Get There & Parking

Free Parking
Free Parking
Street Parking
Street Parking

Getting to Carlsbad City Beach

Getting to Carlsbad City Beach is pretty easy off the I-5. Take Carlsbad Village Drive and head west until you get to Ocean St, then take a right. There are many access points to the beach from Ocean St. The following access points have stairs that lead you to the beach: Carlsbad Village Drive, Grand Avenue, Christiansen Ave, Beech Avenue, and at the end of Ocean St at Rue Des Chateaux.

Local Tips
Looking for Parking?
Park anywhere along Ocean Street and go to the closest beach access stairway. There are 5 access points along Ocean St; Carlsbad Village Dr, Grand Ave, Christiansen Way, Beech Ave, & the north end of Ocean St.

The Coaster from San Diego stops at two stations in Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Village Station offers easy access to the Carlsbad City Beach, North Carlsbad State Beach and Tamarack Beach. Bikes are available to rent in town, but many people take their own bikes on the Coaster.

Parking at Carlsbad City Beach

The best place to park is along Ocean St and the parking is free. Pay attention to the signs to make sure you understand the regulations before parking.

Featured Activity

San Diego Harbor Cruise on San Diego Bay at Sunset
San Diego Harbor Cruise
Enjoy this ‘San Diego Top Pick Award’ winner as you set sail on a three level luxury ship providing 360-degree views of San Diego’s scenic beauty. Relax for a 1-2 hour narrated tour, learn about the city from the bay.
Buy Now

Know Before You Go & Tips

Lifeguards
Lifeguards
No Alcohol
No Alcohol
No Camping
No Camping
No Dogs
No Dogs
No Glass Containers
No Glass Containers
No Motorized Vehicles
No Motorized Vehicles
No Smoking
No Smoking
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
Shade
Shade
Weddings Available
Weddings Available

Insider Tips

Lifeguards

Lifeguards are only seasonal. If lifeguards are important to you, contact the main lifeguard tower to know whether anyone is covering the beach while you’re visiting. It’s recommended that you never turn your back on the ocean.

Facilities

Restrooms and showers are not available on Carlsbad City Beach. The closest restrooms are at Magee Park on Beech Ave & Carlsbad Blvd only a few blocks away from the beach entrance at Beech St.

Getting Married on the Beach

Getting married on the beach is allowed, but you do need to contact the San Diego Coast District Office of State Parks Department special events coordinator to make a reservation and get permit information.

Dogs Prohibited

Dogs are prohibited on all Carlsbad beaches. Dogs on leashes are permitted on the city’s trails. There are other dog-friendly beaches along the San Diego coast. Try Dog Beach in Del Mar or Fiesta Island in Mission Bay Park.

Know Your Limits

Rip currents are common, and know how to recognize a rip current. Typically, the water has a bit more ripples and can be more murky. If you get caught in a rip current, you need to remain calm. Swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the rip current.

Fishing License Required for Fishing

Anyone 16 or older needs a license to surf fish in California. When in doubt, ask the rangers for information and any regulations about size limits. California does have two free fishing days each year. Contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to find out what days you can fish without a license.

Beach Rules

Carlsbad City Beach is actually a state-run beach. The beach is only open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Some parking lots do not open until 7 a.m. Glass and alcohol are prohibited on the beach. Dogs are also prohibited on the beach. Fires are not allowed at any time on the beach. It is also important that visitors do not feed the wildlife.

Carlsbad City Beach
is Known For:
Swimming
Swimming
Know This:
Lifeguards
Lifeguards
This Month's Forecast
63°F / 78°F
Sunny in October
Nov
56°F / 73°F
Sunny in November
Dec
51°F / 68°F
Sunny in December
Jan
51°F / 67°F
Sunny in January

Stay Nearby

Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
Family Friendly
3 Star Rating3 Star Rating3 Star Rating
Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
from $175 / night
View Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Carlsbad
Near Legoland
3 Star Rating3 Star Rating3 Star Rating
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Carlsbad
from $161 / night
View Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach
Near Legoland
3 Star Rating3 Star Rating3 Star Rating
Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach
from $164 / night
View Hotel
Show more San Diego Hotels >>