Humphreys Convenient San Diego Beach Guide

With miles of scenic coastline, San Diego’s beaches are easy to find, but it can be difficult to choose which one to spend the day at. Some are sandy, some are rocky, some offer great lookout points for sunsets, and some are secluded ¾ but all of them are guaranteed to be breathtaking. In order to help you pick the perfect spot for a day at the beach, we’ve put together a quick and easy San Diego beach guide. Read on to learn about the county’s most popular playas.

Ocean Beach

Offering four beaches in one, Ocean Beach offers something for just about everyone. Bring your furry friend for a day at the dog beach, your board for a session at the surfing-only area, your family to enjoy the swimming-only section, or just yourself if you want a calming stroll along the sand. This waterfront paradise features restrooms, a fishing pier, fire pits, and more.

Location: 3.6 miles from the hotel

Mission Beach

One of the most popular beaches in San Diego, Mission Beach is in the center of it all. Offering boardwalk restaurants, shops, and attractions, this beach puts everything you need right at your fingertips. The ideal location for a beach day with kids, Mission Beach has something for everyone.

Location: 5 miles from the hotel

Pacific Beach

Just around the corner from a number of entertaining bars and restaurants, and just off of the boardwalk, lies beautiful Pacific Beach. Spread out in the warm sand and watch the surfers catch waves, or walk along the pier and see what the local fishermen were able to pull in that day. Swimmers and surfers are separated to ensure everyone has a safe day in the water.

Location: 7 miles from the hotel

Coronado Beach

Retreat to Coronado Island for a relaxing, picturesque day at the Coronado Beach. Enjoy a long stretch of sand with plenty of room for the entire family and a wide range of beach amenities, including restrooms, lifeguards, picnic tables, and fire pits. Popular Coronado restaurants are within walking distance of the sand in case you get hungry in the middle of your beach day.

Location: 11 miles from the hotel

La Jolla Shores

This stretch of sand is popular among all kinds of beach goers. Swimmers, sunbathers, and surfers flock to this mile-long crescent of sand to enjoy the non-stop waves and beautiful weather. La Jolla Shores is also a popular launching ground for scuba diving and kayaking. Speckled with fire pits, restrooms, picnic tables, and convenient parking, La Jolla Shores is a great backdrop for a day of fun with the whole family.

Location: 12 miles from the hotel

Imperial Beach

The southernmost beach town in California, Imperial Beach is just five miles from Tijuana, Mexico. This beach is an ideal spot for catching annual events and competitions, including the U.S. Open Sand Castle Building Contest, held here for the past 31 years. The beach is known for its good surf and offers amenities that include lifeguards, firepits, and more.

Location: 18 miles from the hotel

Solana Beach

Take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train up to Solana Beach to discover a mellow oceanside paradise offering artsy shopping, farmers markets, and lovely vistas. The small, protected inlet of Solana Beach is ideal for swimming and surfing and is situated just a few blocks from the train station.

Location: 22 miles from the hotel

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Located in San Diego’s North County, Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a friendly oceanside town home to pristine beaches, beautiful cliffs, and amazing sunsets. The community is friendly, the surf culture is deep, and the living is easy in this scenic coastal town. San Elijo State Beach offers a wide range of amenities such as campgrounds, a snack bar, and a surf school. Just south of San Elijo State Beach is Cardiff State Beach, which is ideal for beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, and surfing. You’ll also find the Cardiff Beach tide pools nearby, which are fun to explore during low tide.

Location: 24 miles from the hotel

Oceanside

Travel to Oceanside for its classic wooden pier, New England style harbor, quaint bungalow neighborhoods, amazing year-round weather, and most importantly, the three miles of coastal Oceanside beaches. Popular with surfers and volleyball players, the beaches in Oceanside boast a number of amenities, including lifeguard towers, fishing piers, and volleyball courts.

Location: 37 miles from the hotel