Some of the best beach camping can be foun d at South Carlsbad State Beach…read more Reservations are not the easiest to get. You've got to get online early and keep at it. Luck and perserverance help. If you do snag a spot, you will find great camping sites on the bluff with absolutely stunning views. The crash of the waves at night drowns out any city sounds that might otherwise be heard. It's so peaceful and just lulls you to sleep. Beach access is relatively easy, but there quite a few stairs to traverse. Sites are clean and the grounds are well kept.

Carlsbad is a beautiful city with a lot of nice restaurants and little shops so I opted to try the…read morebeach here today rather than Oceanside where I usually go. I lucked out and found a super close parking spot in the neighborhood across the street. The beach itself was VERY short compared to sand length at other beaches so people were almost on top of each other. There was a pretty intense drop off about half way down the sand so it limited space for people to put down their stuff and lay out. I'm not sure how normal it is at this spot but there was a TON of rocks. It was way too much to be able to enter the water without having them beating your feet and ankles. My friend was bleeding after trying to check out the water. The surf was also a little intense that day so I'm wondering if that had any effect on the rock situation? This was a very clean beach with restrooms at the bottom of the ramp from the street so it did have that going for it but we decided to leave and head for a beach where we could safely go into the water that day. I'll have to come back another time to get a better idea.

Went to this beach for the first time while on a work trip last week…read more There were still quite a few people on the sand to catch the sunset. Had to circle for parking a lil while before finding a spot on a residential street very close to the stairs leading to the beach. Be persistent. Your parking space will find you. Very beautiful stretch of sand within walking distance to many food and drink options.

Tamarack state beach is a nice beach but this time there were so many rocks along it. My grandkids…read morewere getting hit on the legs with the rocks once the water receded. The parking lot is really small, and we were able to find 3 spots after 10am but it's a hassle trying to get out! You get one car waiting for someone to pull out and it blocks and stops everyone else. My husband literally had to ask the guy to move over a bit because 8 cars were waiting in the line behind him to get out. There has to be a better set up to get out of there. All in all, everyone still had a good time, regardless of the rock situation.

I want to say I hate this place so it doesn't get packed…read more But, kinda love it here. Parking isn't horrible, but it's definitely a smaller beach and peaceful

This spot is located between North Ponto Beach and Carlsbad State Beach. It's a local hidden gem…read more Instead of finding hoards of tourists, you'll find a serene beach with cliffs, tidepools, and surfers. Park on the dirt road, find the secret staircase and head downstairs. Things to keep in mind...no bathrooms, no lifeguards.

Beach is clean with a free parking lot just above. At the entrance there's a nice little…read moreplayground, a concessions stand with actual options beyond your standard hotdogs and burgers. We came on a cloudy day so it wasn't really crowded and we found free parking in the lot up the hill, just above the beach. The lifeguard station is right there so there was a sense of added safety as my kids learned to surf. Beach was clean, people were chill, and we'll def be back!

We came here as a family and really enjoyed it. I actually believe this beach was recommended to…read moreme, and it was everything they said it would be. The beach was nice and the water felt really good, not too cold, which made it even better. My daughter had a blast playing in the sand and just being free, and my husband loved it too, especially since it was his first time being in warm ocean water. We were able to find a spot that wasn't overly crowded, which made it feel even more peaceful and relaxing. Overall it was just a really good beach day and I would definitely come back.

My favorite part of this beach is the ocean street entrance by the lagoon…read more It's more of a local spot, but tourists find us in the summer lol. It's definitely a quieter beach area, which is my vibe. Parking can be rough since it's only (free) street parking, and during the summer it fills up fast! Get there early, and you can typically get a spot quickly.

Very accessible beach, fantastic sand, lots of different entrances, perfect for swimming, people…read morewatching, walking, running, anything beachy. There are bathrooms, there is still this feeling of having anything you need from downtown just right outside this beautiful beach bubble. Clean and easy to find parking too.

This is definitely a hidden gem amongst the San Diego beaches…read more There's a smallish strip of beach that sits between a bluffside hotel and a jetty. There's limited free parking, but there's a pay lot at the south end that is smallish for a beach parking lot. I think it is $15 but not sure. We arrived a little after 10am and some of the early crowd was just leaving so we got a spot off the road. This weekend....what a relief! It was 100+ degrees in most of San Diego but because of morning marine layer it was maybe mid-70s. Obviously, all of the beaches would be similar in that regard, but there weren't a lot of people while we were there and that was the huge win. There is an upper and lower beach that was separated by a rocky patch that was likely eroded sand. We set up shop on the beach that was closer to the water, unsure if the tide was going to come up and wash us away. It didn't though, so it was perfect!

South Ponto beach is a popular beach in Carlsbad. There is some free parking along the street or…read morepaid parking in a private lot operated by the State Parks. You can have a bbq using an electric or gas grills. Charcoal is no longer allowed nor wood bonfires. The beach closet to the paid parking lot and the Alila Marea hotel has too many rocks so I prefer the beach closest to the campground because it has less rocks. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but you can walk along the street or in the campground with your furry friend.

I love running and tonight our Monday night run group had a route where we would pass this park but…read moresince I was already jogging solo and almost up to 3 miles of jogging, I took a short break & stopped here to take in how beautiful this beach park is. Its just beyond gorgeous and I know in the summer, there are concerts here (so I will come back for that). I didn't get down to the beach tonight (there are stairs down from the park) but I need to do that before summer is over. Restrooms available here too. Lovely park and there is a parking lot connected. I will definitely be back!

Been to this park a couple times .. once by myself and once with family. It's so nice here! There's…read morea small lot which makes parking kind of tricky, especially on the weekends.. however there are street parking and another lot across the street if you're lucky. There's a playground for kids to enjoy.. lots of park bathroom stalls available (with toilet paper and soap)! And the beach is only a short walking distance away. The views are spectacular and we all had a great time enjoying the scenery

The sand is sooo soft! Beautiful sunsets it was a little overcast when we went but still a good…read moretime. Stairs lead you straight to the water or take the ramp right off the pier.

Our yearly beach visit. We stay close by at the worldmark at wyndham timeshare. We been coming here…read morefor 14 years. Then on the walk back, we visit the ice cream shop. Nice beach and easy walk. Thanks Oside!

Love the experience we have here always. If you want a killer workout for your legs, def rent the…read morebike. The kayak was somuch fun as well. Easy to move around once you get use to it.

Brought my family here for the weekend, and I was quite unhappy…read more The staff exhibited unprofessional behavior and displayed rudeness, along with inappropriate comments. The water was extremely dirty and had a foul odor. I won't be bringing my family back to this filthy lagoon.

Difficult to find parking but my friend and I parked far away and were there as part of our daily…read more10K steps challenge. For people going there to surf I see the difficulty in having to carry the board walking for a while Beacons is a wonderful beach like everything in Encinitas/Leucadia. Enchanting atmosphere, beautiful houses around, trees, flowers, birds...is a piece of paradise. I don't like too much having to go down that zig zag to go to the beach but it is always magical, especially when you haven't been for a very long time and rediscover this great spot.

When I'm dog sitting I like to walk to this beach as the views are beautiful... especially during…read morethe sunset. The doggy enjoys this walk as well. The top area was a bit of a hazard, as they had a few sinkhole issues. From recent visit I see they have improved the area and it looks really nice, and much safer. I have walked all the way down to the beach a few times, but the long trail down can be exhausting especially when carrying all your beach necessities. Overall, love the views and will continues to enjoy the walks.