12 Most Popular Beaches in San Diego

If you’re looking for one of the best beaches to go swimming in San Diego, look no further than La Jolla Cove. This gorgeous beach is protected from strong currents and rip tides by the rocky point, which means the waves are perfect for a relaxing dip in the ocean, even for beginner swimmers and young kids. Scuba divers and snorkelers also frequent the calm, clear waters.

La Jolla Cove comes complete with a wide, sandy shore perfect for beachside activities like getting a tan, taking pictures of the sea lions that sometimes sun themselves on the nearby bluffs, playing a few rounds of beach volleyball, and watching the sunset in the evening.

It’s easy to see just why this beach is one of the most popular options on the West Coast if you’re looking for an ideal place to enjoy a lazy afternoon.

Like many other Southern California beaches in the La Jolla neighborhood, La Jolla Shores beach is a popular choice for vacationers seeking somewhere to unwind and enjoy the rays. It’s most well-known for its excellent swimming, as there are few waves, as well as its extra large sandy shores with plenty of space to lay out your towels and beach umbrellas.

La Jolla Shores is a vacationer’s paradise, thanks in part to its popularity, which has allowed many businesses to support themselves just off the coast. Enjoy authentic food at one of the many restaurants and street cafés scattered along the shoreline, take a peek underwater with a full day snorkel rental with your Go Pass, and enjoy other San Diego favorites like kayaking and paddle boarding.

While plenty of La Jolla beaches have challenging waves, the calmer and more consistent waves of this La Jolla beach, formally known as La Jolla Shores beach, make it the perfect spot for beginners to rent a surfboard or take some surf lessons as well.

Looking for a beautiful beach with plenty of white sand and calm waves perfect for swimming? You’ll find it at Coronado Central Beach!

Right in the heart of Coronado Island, this beach is a great spot for a laid-back afternoon soaking up the sun and some of enjoying the clear, calm waters that make San Diego so famous.

Coronado Central Beach is considered one of the most popular beaches in San Diego for families, with kid-friendly stretches of flat, sandy shore where you can prop up an umbrella or canopy. It offers plenty of space for sunbathing and other fun activities like biking or strolling along the shoreline. There are also plenty of photo opportunities, where you can capture the beautiful coastline and a breathtaking sunset.

If you’re in search of somewhere you can surf with an incredible beach to match, make sure to head to Pacific Beach. It’s part of a very popular stretch of beaches known as The Strand, and it more than earns its place as an ideal vacation spot as a picturesque San Diego coastline.

Pacific Beach offers beachgoers a whole host of fun activities for all ages. Beginner surfers can rent a surfboard and enjoy the waves, while those seeking a more relaxing beach day experience are free to swim and sunbathe. Other water activities popular on the beach include paddle boarding, body surfing, and kiteboarding. You will also be able to find a lifeguard at the lifeguard stations every day of the year!

Even if you’re not keen on getting in the water, you can still enjoy yourself at Pacific Beach. Make sure to check out the boardwalk, which is popular with surfers, skateboarders, runners and walkers alongside the usual family crowds.

Mission Beach is one of the many San Diego beaches with major attractions nearby. Not to be confused with Mission Bay, a man-made bay not far from the beach that’s great for picnics, paddle boarding, swimming and surfing, Mission Beach faces west along the Pacific Ocean.

Just a few short steps away from the beach you’ll find Belmont Park, an amusement park with plenty of rides and games for kids and young adults. Combine a trip to Belmont Park with any of the other excellent attractions included with the Go City San Diego pass for a fun-filled day at a fraction of the standard cost.

While the boardwalk park is exciting, don’t forget to spend some time on the beach too! Mission Beach is most well-known for its surfing, which is suitable for all skill levels. There’s also plenty of space on the beach, so you can play a few games of beach volleyball, go for a jog, or just soak up some sun.

Powerhouse Park is located at the southern end of Del Mar South Beach & 15th Street. The park has a wide grassy area that’s great for all kinds of outdoor activities. Whether you’re planning on enjoying a brunch picnic, taking a scenic walk, or playing frisbee, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather.

Next to the park is a beautiful beach that’s more well-known with locals than it is with the usual tourist crowds. This makes it an excellent spot for a secluded getaway and one of the most popular beaches in San Diego for couples. The beach itself is fairly narrow here, but there are some excellent waves for intermediate-level surfers who want to rent a board and dive in.

The low tides at Del Mar Powerhouse Park and Beach make it an excellent spot for beachcombing, and you may even spot a tide pool or two. Hit the scenic trail along the bluffs nearby if you’re looking for the best views for photo ops.

Moonlight State Beach is another picturesque beach that makes for a great romantic getaway for couples. As the name implies, the beach really stands out in the evening, with plenty of space for gathering around a fire pit and watching the sunset.

The beach has designated sections for surfing and swimming. The waves tend to be calm and welcoming to beginner surfers, which means swimmers don’t have to worry about avoiding many strong rip tides. All of this makes Moonlight State Beach an ideal place for relaxation and one of San Diego’s most popular beaches.

Just a little ways off from the pier, you’ll find Pier View North, one of the most popular beaches in Oceanside. Like many Oceanside beaches, this is a great spot for surfing, though North Beach generally maintains a laid-back atmosphere with fewer challenging waves in the warmer months. Still, these waves can get quite large during the winter, so consider taking a few surfing lessons to brush up on your skills.

Beachgoers can also kayak and paddle board, and many people fish off the pier. Additionally, Pier View North offers a great chance to check out some local wildlife. Pelicans frequently land on the pier, and if you look closely, you just might spot a dolphin or seal among the waves.

Beach access is fairly limited at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. You’re not going to find the typical sprawling, sandy, family-friendly beach here. What you will find, however, is a pristine coastline view and an excellent point from which to watch the sunset in the evening.

The setting sun reflecting on the glittering ocean waves makes for a can’t-miss photo opportunity, which is part of the reason why Sunset Cliffs is one of the most popular beaches in San Diego for millennials. Other common activities include surfing, birdwatching, hiking the trails, and checking out the tide pools at one of the best named beaches in San Diego, No Surf Beach.

North Pacific Beach is just as popular with families looking for a getaway as it is with those looking for beginner-friendly water sports. Notable features include the tall bluffs that protect the beach from excessive beach and the nearby boardwalk. Of course, one of the biggest draws at this beach is the surfing and the big open sandy beach!

While the waves aren’t especially challenging here, they’re great for beginners fresh from their first surfing lesson and ready to try out what they’ve learned. The best waves arrive at medium to high tide, and since there are few rocky outcroppings, visitors can enjoy a relaxing and safe experience. For added safety, there are lifeguard stations on the beach in case of any trouble.

Other popular activities at North Pacific Beach include paddle boarding, kiteboarding, fishing, swimming, and windsurfing. There’s even a dedicated family area for vacationers and locals with younger children.

Located just off the highway in Solana Beach, Fletcher Cove Beach is an ideal spot for families. It offers a nearby park with picnic tables, a secluded cove protected from strong waves and winds by the surrounding bluffs, and a breathtaking view overlooking the Pacific Ocean at sunset.

During low tide, there’s plenty of space to spread out and do some sunbathing and light swimming. Rent a paddle board or kayak and enjoy the calm waters, or wander the beach and check out the tide pools. As high tide approaches, Fletcher Cove Beach becomes an incredible spot for some laid-back surfing and bodyboarding.

Fletcher Cove Beach is also home to the annual Fiesta del Sol music festival, one of the biggest events on beaches in San Diego.

With so many amazing beaches throughout San Diego, it can be tough to name just a few as many beaches are popular to different people for many different reasons.

Others worth mentioning and exploring for yourself include Ocean Beach Dog Beach, an especially popular dog beach in San Diego and for pet lovers of all types, Imperial Beach home to diverse wildlife, birdwatching and casual surfing and Silver Strand State Beach, one of Coronado Island’s finest and most popular beaches.

Also considered for our list of the most popular beaches in San Diego were Black’s Beach and Windansea Beach, two of the most iconic and popular surf beaches in Southern California.

South Mission Beach, home to a popular boardwalk and The Dana on Mission Bay, a family-friendly hotel and amazing place to stay during your trip to San Diego and Del Mar City Beach, home to miles of sand and the five star L'Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa, a real treat for those looking for a bit of luxury on their trip are also both very popular and worth exploring during your trip to San Diego.