Planning a day out at the beach with your pup is no easy feat, as there are plenty of factors to consider: parking, hours of operation, leash rules, etc. Look no further than our comprehensive guide to the best dog-friendly beaches in San Diego to ensure that you and your dog will have a great time soaking up the sun and surf.
Here are the top San Diego beaches where your canine companion is welcome:
- Fiesta Island
- San Elijo State Beach
- La Jolla Shores
- North Beach
- Ocean Beach / Dog Beach
- Coronado Dog Beach
While there are more dog-friendly beaches in San Diego than these six, we’ve looked into the reviews to consider parking, leash rules, and general etiquette to determine which spots would be most fun for both dogs and people.
Fiesta Island
1590 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109
Hours: 4 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Dog area: All areas off-leash except for the Youth Campground and Least Tern nesting sites
Where to park: No parking lots; drivers can park anywhere along the road as you drive along the one-way loop.
Good for: Anxious dogs who want a lot of space
Located within Mission Bay, Fiesta Island is a popular place for runners, cyclists, water-lovers, and adventurous dogs, too. For dogs, you’ll find trails, sandy dunes, plenty of beach, spacious grassy fields to walk on, and water to swim in. Pet parents should note that the park is not equipped with bathrooms, garbage cans, or running water, so be sure to bring water, bowls, and waste bags.
Many pet parents love Fiesta Island, though warn others to keep their dogs within the fenced-in dog areas to avoid running into occasional dangerous pieces of debris on other parts of Mission Bay.
San Elijo State Beach
2050 S Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, 92007
Hours: Dawn to sunset
Dog area: Allowed on campground, as well as on a small part of the beach
Where to park: Parking only allowed within the campground
Good for: Dogs who don’t require lot of space
San Elijo State Beach is a campground located along the San Diego coast that offers camping, surfing, and swimming. Dogs are generally only allowed on the campground—and must remain inside an RV overnight—but are permitted to be on the beach on the south side of the jetty, south of Lifeguard Tower 16. Former beach-goers note that the area for dogs is small, and they must remain on leashes.
Reddit users note that San Elijo is a very popular spot and camping reservations are incredibly difficult to come by, so pet parents may want to look elsewhere.
La Jolla Shores
8200 Camino del Oro, San Diego, CA, 92037
Hours:
April 1 – October 31: Dogs allowed before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m;
November 1 – March 31: Dogs allowed before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
Dog area: No limitations
Where to park: Parking lot on Camino del Oro, where the street intersects with Calle Frescota; street parking also available
Good for: Dogs who love a leashed beach walk
Known for having the gentlest waves in all of San Diego in the summer, La Jolla Shores Park is a one-mile stretch of beach in San Diego where dogs are allowed during certain hours of the day, as long as they’re on a leash. Beachgoers can surf, swim, picnic, play volleyball, and scuba here on this popular beach. People have noted that parking is often a challenge, but those with dogs should have an easier time, as they’re only allowed on the beach during non-peak hours.
North Beach aka Dog Beach
3200 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Hours: Dawn to sunset
Dog area: From 29th street north to Solana Beach
Where to park: Free all-day parking along both sides of Camino Del Mar from 22nd Street north to 29th Street; other paid street parking available and enforced
Good for: Active pups on the off-season
A beach located in Del Mar, North Beach allows dogs off-leash during the off-peak months, AKA between the day after Labor Day through June 15. From June 16 to Labor Day, dogs can only be off-leash from dawn to 8 a.m., but are allowed on the beach during other hours while leashed with a dog license attached to the collar.
Beachgoers love how kid-friendly and fun this particular beach is—with shallow waters for children and plenty of volleyball games along the sand. Water fountain and portable restrooms are available. Note: Don’t confuse this beach with North Pacific Beach, which is not dog friendly.
Ocean Beach / Dog Beach
5156 W Point Loma Blvd., San Diego, CA, 92107
Hours: 24/7
Dog area: Northern end of Ocean Beach
Where to park: Free parking at 5156 W Point Loma Blvd Lot with additional street parking available
Good for: Dogs of all sizes
San Diego’s only 24-hour beach for dogs, Dog Beach is an area at the northern end of Ocean Beach where dogs can always run free without a leash. The popular beach is beloved by dogs and their pet parents, with many praising the large area of sand and open ocean, as well as a calmer inlet to the side that may be better suited for smaller pups. Pet parents also praised the shallow waters, perfect for playing catch with their dogs. They note that sometimes it gets packed on the weekends and isn’t always the cleanest.
Coronado Dog Beach
100 Ocean Blvd., Coronado, CA, 92118
Hours: 6 a.m. to sunset
Dog area: Western part of the Coronado Beach shore, directly across Sunset Park on Ocean Boulevard
Where to park: Free parking on surrounding streets, including Ocean Blvd.
Good for: All dogs
Coronado Dog Beach is a separate section of Coronado Beach where dogs can run leash-free. Pet parents love this beach, its cleanliness, space, and gorgeous views but note that leash enforcement is strict, so dogs must stay in the designated dog beach area. Pet owners should note that restrooms for humans are available on the no-dogs-allowed section of Coronado Beach, and plenty of signage indicates that dogs aren’t permitted there.
There’s also a convenient hose-off area at the beginning of the dog beach pathway to rinse off dogs before they get back in your car.
Tips for a Better Beach Visit With Your Dog
Beaches that don’t allow dogs
While several beaches in San Diego are dog-friendly, many do not allow them. San Diego beaches that are not dog-friendly include:
- Torrey Pines State Beach
- Fletcher Cove
- Moonlight State Beach
- South Ponto Beach
- Beacon’s Beach
Bringing your dog to a beach where dogs are not allowed may result in a hefty fine. These no-dog rules exist to:
- Protect and preserve wildlife
- Prevent waste
- Protect dogs from dangerous tidal patterns
Best beach etiquette for you and your dogs
Pet parents should ensure their dogs have the proper vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and are outfitted with a collar and identification tags in case they get lost.
Dog-friendly beaches are often heavily populated with other pups, so your dog should feel comfortable playing around others as well as following commands from their pet parent. Because of the many factors to consider with an off-leash beach—other dogs and people, open water, potential waste or hazardous materials, etc.—dogs who aren’t obedient should probably be left at home.
Aren’t quite ready for a trip to the beach with your pup? Consider hiring a San Diego pet sitter to keep your dog company while you hit the sand.
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