Best Beaches In San Diego Near Me

4worldlovers: Mission Beach is San Diego’s lively take on the classic boardwalk beach town with nearly two miles of oceanfront boardwalk, numerous rental shops and Belmont Park, a boardwalk amusement park, featuring the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, originally built in 1925 but since restored, the Beach House Grill, miniature golf, bumper cars, rock climbing and an arcade.

A popular beach with the 20-something crowd, there are plenty of bars in Mission Beach and adjacent Pacific Beach, and a hot nightlife scene for young adults and the young at heart.

There are also a host of activities for the whole family to enjoy including biking, beach volleyball, boogie boarding, surfing, whale watching, sport fishing and scuba diving.

A short walk across Mission Beach’s main thoroughfare leads you to the calm waters of Mission Bay, home to SeaWorld San Diego and the largest aquatic park of its kind, surrounded by grassy parks, playgrounds, picnic tables and miles of paved sidewalks. Rent a sailboat, take a leisurely bayside bike ride, or watch the kids play in this one-of-a-kind oasis.

Most of the action in Mission Beach centers around Belmont Park at the intersection of Mission Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive, where you can ride the roller coaster and other amusement rides, rent a bike, play some games or grab a bite.

South Mission Beach offers a slower pace from the bustling activity in the Belmont Park area. The beach gets even wider as you go south, with lots of room to relax on the sand or try some beach volleyball.

There are great spots for fishing at the end of the road at South Mission Beach Park, where you can cast off the jetty and watch the boats pass in and out through the Harbor Channel. You'd never know it to look, but a half-mile off the coast are a series of shipwrecks, placed here to create an artificial reef and a diver's haven for underwater exploration.

Don't count on finding parking on any of Mission Beach's narrow and densely inhabited residential streets and, if you do, check the signs before you count yourself lucky. Slightly better odds can be had at the public lots around Belmont Park, Santa Clara Point and South Mission Beach Park. Otherwise, this is a good place to visit by bus or bike.

There are plenty of lifeguard and bathroom outposts that line the beaches of Mission Beach.

Swimming, but in designated areas in the summer. Watch for signs.

4worldlovers: Black's Beach, formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach, is jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California.

Black's Beach is a 2-mile long, sandy strip situated at the base of majestic 300 foot cliffs. The glider port atop the cliffs overlooks the beach where hang gliders, paragliders and remote controlled gliders can often be seen soaring.

Black's Beach is one of nine beaches that has permanent lifeguard stations patrolled by San Diego Lifeguards.

Access to Black's Beach is very difficult due to the high cliffs and unimproved and unmaintained trails. The safest access is from adjacent beaches to the north and south, but this access may be obstructed by high tides or surf. The cliffs of Black's Beach are unstable and slides can occur without warning, so it is best to stay well away from them.