San Diego Beaches

There are a lot of great reasons to head out to a a beach near you. Hanging out in the sun, floating in the water, and creating memories with your friends and family to name a few.

Locating a beautiful swimming beach in San Diego with plenty of area for beach activities is simple. The following is a list to help you find a beach near you. Search for a beach, your city, or your zip code to filter results.

Beaches Near San Diego

Beaches could be periodically closed because of water quality concerns as a result of unexpected events like bacteria, stormfall runoff, or flooding. Review the beach’s website before you leave for the beach for water quality concerns.

Before going to a beach in San Diego, CA or the surrounding area, check on Google to be sure that it is accessible to the public. It is common that beaches will only remain open for certain months of the calendar year or during specific times of the day.

Rules of the Beach

When you visit a beach in San Diego, there are always rules that you should follow. Nearly all beaches will list the following guidelines:

  • Don’t venture outside of the swimming area.
  • Even if a lifeguard is supervising the beach, understand that you’re swimming at your own risk.
  • Most beaches in San Diego have curfews except for specific dates.
  • Don’t consume alcohol at the beach.
  • Fires could be against the law on most public beaches in San Diego.
  • Never disobey a request from the lifeguard on duty. If they tell you to do something, then you must follow through.

San Diego Beach Checklist

  1. Avoid crowded times. Getting to your San Diego beach when it opens is the best way of avoiding crowds.
  2. Prepare for cold weather. Even if you are expecting warm weather in San Diego, you should understand that the weather at the beach can change without warning. This is especially necessary if you are wanting to go swimming, so pack extra dry clothes such as sweaters, blankets, windbreakers, and socks.
  3. Remember the towels. Don’t forget to pack quite a few beach towels before going to the beach. Bringing towels is especially important if you are bringing young children with you or if you are planning on getting in the water.
  4. Will there be a lifeguard? Many sizeable San Diego beaches staff a lifeguard supervising, however you should never assume that a lifeguard being in attendance. If you are concerned about yourself, little children or anyone else that you will be swimming with, it’s a great idea to take along correctly sized Personal Floatation Devices for those that require them, and also understand that you are swimming at your own risk.
  5. Be ready for bugs. If you plan on going to the beach early in the day or the evening, you should expect that mosquitos, sand flies, fleas and other nuisance bugs could cause an issue.
  6. Don’t swim outside of the roped off swimming area. If there is a ropped off swim area it is probably dangerous to venture beyond the area. There could be dangerous objects under the water, be frequented by boaters, or is unmonitored by a lifeguard.
  7. Bring a mesh bag for your stuff. It’s convenient to find a backpack, tote bag, or waterproof duffle bag to stash beach necessities like towels, buckets, tents, and extra clothes. But these bags trap water from escaping, causing mold problems or just keeping beach essentials from airing out.
  8. Avoid Littering. Don’t contribute to the issue of garbage on the beach. Whenever you take things to the beach, you are expected pick up your garbage. Make sure that you toss out your trash in an appropriate waste or recycling receptacles.