Discovered this amazing beach on the way to another landmark. Long Beach with a lot of space to run and walk along trails. Many surfers along practicing and many pet owners too. Quiet and fun beach. Ample parking available for free too. It is also close to the Golden gate park and the Dutch windmills section. Will definitely visit again. read more

I love coming to this beach. It's so beautiful. There is free parking. We always get there early so there is plenty of parking. It does fill up fast. No bathrooms but there is a Safeway a few minutes away. read more

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The sunsets at ocean beach are stunning!! It's very easy to get to this park by bus. There's many bus lines nearby. Nice area overall perfect for picnics read more

Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Now let me tell you something. San Francisco is always cold except during the month of September for some reason because it is exceptionally warm that month. Anyways, anybody living in California right now can tell you that living here is difficult because of our current massive heat wave. My husband and I live in Roseville and it is triple digit heat almost every day this month. On my husband's birthday, we wanted to take a break from the heat so he decided he wanted to go to Ocean Beach. We took the long 3 hour drive to the city. When we arrived to the beach, I was wearing a pair of yoga pants, a tank top and a sweatshirt. My husband wore a pair of shorts and a t shirt. We brought our beach chairs, towels and a cooler with water and food. When we settled down, my oh my, it was FREEZING! The air felt like ice and the high winds made it worse. I was shivering to death and my feet turned a slight shade of blue. We tried to enjoy the moment and we when took our food out of the cooler, it blew away from us because the winds were so high. It was hard to enjoy ourselves because the wind and the cold created a very uncomfortable feeling for us. I was almost craving that 100 degree heat. It's funny how our bodies work; when it is cold, we want to be warm or hot; when it hot, we went to be cold. Needless to say, we packed up our stuff and ended up exploring Golden Gate park instead; we were only at the beach for five minutes. On a positive note, the beach is beautiful however with the extreme cold and fierce winds, it was hard to just relax and enjoy the moment. read more

Ocean Beach - The water is so clean and blue - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Not much to review other than it was a pretty awesome Beach; very clean; some dogs; bicycle riders; good parking and clean bathrooms! Super relaxing! Wish I had more time to hang out - definitely stop by if you are in the area! read more

Ocean Beach - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

I nearly forgotten about the Seas and waters anyways the 29 Muni will pass by it also the 71 Muni. I recommended getting on ur scooters mopeds or cars to drop by, u will see the Sunsets not to confused with the Sunset Area because u are literally in the Sunset District biggest district. Bored urself over no pretty women advice bring plenty of bottle water, it is decent for a sprint or bicycle ride or scooter ride because u can easily catch the 38 bus to downtown & to bus stops being A to B to C to D or E or alternative routes your destinations. Don't get into water unless ur a Expert, no life savers. read more

I've always appreciated the speech and I've been coming here for as long as I can remember. My partner and I appreciate coming here and having a picnic and just taking in the ocean. Overall this is a family friendly beach but given its location it can get pretty cold and windy. read more

Ocean Beach lays on a huge stretch along the Great Highway. Whether you plan to swim or build a sand castle, you've come to the right place. It's beach friendly for people of all ages and pets. What I like most about Ocean Beach is that it's just a few minutes walking from Golden Gate Park and has tons of space to lay your things down, literally anywhere and relax. Ocean Beach doesn't get better than with beautiful weather during the summer or a nice coastal breeze from the Pacific during the Spring. Parking can get crowded but nothing beats a relaxing day soaking up the rays. read more

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Came here for our maternity photoshoot on a Sunday afternoon. It was a rainy day earlier in the day so I didn't have high hopes, but as we were approaching SF from south bay, the sun came out! It turned out to be such a gorgeous afternoon. There were quite a few people out: hanging out, running along the paved path, strolling along the beach. Thankfully, this stretch of beach is vast so we never felt crowded. The beach is extremely clean. I could not recall seeing any trash at all during my time on the beach. I also love that dogs are able to be off leash here. Our pup had a great time. There was plenty of parking available. I'd love to come back and just chill. read more

I went to SFSU for undergrad and never took advantage of going to this beach. I only started going now since our family adopted another dog who is very active. We've gone twice this summer, once when it was foggy and overcast and the other time when it was warm and sunny. I will say that if you can park near Taraval, there is a pretty large and clean bathroom. Love that the beach is very dog friendly. All the dog owners are really respectful of each other and the beach. read more

Now this is apart of my childhood. A really calm environment with nice crowds. High tide (5am) is the best time to find sea shells and go for a jog... well anytime is good for a jog but at 5am there isn't to many people on the beach to run around or small children to look out for. Now at night there are bond fire pits BUT make sure you wrap things up by 11pm because the sheriff will come around and stop the party for you! Only thing I don't like is there's not to many bathroom options. The ones that are available are very spaced out and not very clean. read more

Ocean Beach - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

So my little elderly dog got attacked today by an "off-leash" dog who's owner was walking him in the leash designated area of Ocean Beach. Since my dog was "on-leash", he couldn't run away and his owner could not get to their dog fast enough to control/stop him. Saying, "He's friendly..." "I'm sorry..." "He's never done this before..." Does NOT make it OK... You're f'ing breaking the law!!! I grew up here in SF and Ocean Beach has become more and more congested with people and irresponsible dog owners. Over the years I've seen out of control dogs knock elderly people/kids over, attack other dogs, their owners, harass wildlife, and give grief to the Park Police/Park Rangers who are trying to enforce this area to be safe for ALL, not just a self-righteous few, in order to protect this public space, environment, and the restoration of nature to this beautiful area. Most of the regular owners/walkers here are totally cool but even they cannot make up for those who overlook/ignore their ethical and moral responsibility to control their dogs at ALL times!!! read more

Ocean Beach - Obey the rules!!!! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

#132/2016 I used to take my little boy there at least twice a month and hold onto his tiny toddler hand and wade in the ocean until he was shin deep. I'd swing him and he'd laugh merrily as the waves crashed into us, "Do it again!" Winter came and the weather became wilder and the waves, a whole lot bigger. I read of "sneaker" waves and anxiety washed over me; neither of us knew how to swim especially against a strong undertow. Soon after, a father and teenage son got swept out from the beach and the son was never found; it was time to find a new spot until the weather calmed. We go back occasionally and to Land's End where we can look at the Pacific from a distance or from the caves at Sutro Baths. The waves crash mightily yet the cave wall protects you from getting too close to the wild, cold Pacific. Be careful when you're on Ocean Beach. As a wise English professor used to say, "Nature isn't cruel, it's indifferent." read more

Ocean Beach - Beautiful sunset, January 2, 2017. - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not the cleanest Beach on earth but HUGE, therefore I love to throw kicked back bonfires or just watch the sunset. Of course, Ocean Beach is picture worthy especially on sunny days, and definitely a place to hit when SF hits its warm days with clear blue skies and warm rays from the sun. It's so pretty when the sun reflects against the water and you can see it glisten. If you want to throw a bonfire, you have to reserve a spot, you can not just randomly claim a fire pit and start a bonfire. read more

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It's a nice beach not overly crowded pretty clean and chill. The weather was overcast that might be why it's not crowded. A they have life guards on duty the bathroom's are outhouses read more

This place is great but oh my god it's so cold and dangerous to swim in! I know the patriarchy convinces women they must wear bikinis on the beach and look sexy (which is overkill since you just have to have a pulse to get hit on on the beach by straight men) but it's seriously cold. There are riptides. Like they don't even have lifeguards cuz it will encourage people to swim. Etc etc. also the cats that drive here are super entitled and evil. The great highway part is rad where they closed it off ti vehicles though. read more

Love this empty beach. When I mean empty, not as crowded as other beaches that I frequent. Parking is easy, there's lots of space and the best part is that it's free! A great place to relax or take a walk. If you are heading to the Sutro Baths, make sure to drop by here first. I did and enjoyed it. I'll be back again when in the area. Maybe set up and enjoy one of their fire pits. From the first time I visited here to my most recent, nothing has really changed, which is great. It's good to know some towns maintain a calmness. read more

Amazing views! On the map Ocean Beach doesn't look like much, but when you get there it's bigger than you think. It's a pretty amazing view, especially if you get there for the sunset, which I did. It's no LA though. It has great waves if you're a surfer. Obviously colder in the winter. The smell of fresh ocean air is so calming and warming. However, it is usually packed. There's tons of tourists and locals. Barely any parking. read more

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Nice beach and good place for a run, walk or get together. Lots of space and parking in the area. It's not the type of beach to go swimming in because it's so cold, but still a good place to go on a sunny day. read more

It's been awhile since we've been to a beach, so it was nice to head to San Francisco and visit Ocean Beach. This was the second time for our little guy and we hope to visit again soon (and many other beaches). First of all, this beach was clean. It was litter free of trash, which made us feel comfortable to walk barefoot. My one dislike was the fire pits. Yes it's cool to have a fire on the beach, but it leaves debris everywhere! We actually didn't take our shoes off until we passed the fire pit section. I wonder how the fire pits effect the birds and animals. The walk from the parking lot to the actually ocean was a bit of a walk with a two year old. I mean the beach is long, so many people can enjoy it at least. Once we got to put our feet in the ocean and feel the wet sand sink beneath us, nothing else mattered. Families played nearby, dogs off leash ran about (some owners should keep their animals a bit closer to them), birds flew above...the relaxation and connection to earth was mesmerizing. Parking was convenient, but filled up quickly. We went in the mid afternoon, so we got lucky. I definitely recommend checking this beach if you need a beach fix that isn't to far from Sacramento. read more

Ocean Beach - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

In High School, I used to come to Ocean Beach with my friends for bonfires, hanging out and just enjoying each other's company. It was a fun time in my life and very carefree. More than a decade later, I moved to San Francisco and used to jog down to the beach regularly. Now, in my fat old age, I rarely ever get to Ocean Beach. But something came over me and I decided to walk/jog down here last Thursday, June 30th around 7pm. It was a nice sunny day. Not too much wind as the beach can get super windy. It wasn't too bad last week. There were people working out, people riding horses, and others just chilling and having a great time. Some were even playing in the water, but for me, Ocean Beach is too cold, so I don't really get in the water. After jogging to the beach on the Richmond side, I walked along the water to the Sunset side and back. It was nice and relaxing. I remembered why I love this beach so much. Sure, Ocean Beach is not like a Southern California Beach, but it's still a quick getaway from the bustle of the city. And I will always have fond memories of nightly bonfires on the beach. read more

Ocean Beach - Ocean beach - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My favorite place to escape and the reason I choose to live in the Sunset. This beach will never get old. read more

Ocean Beach - Heaven - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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How do you review Mother Nature? The answer is "very carefully" (...clap of thunder erupts). Ocean Beach is not the prettiest beach in the world, but this is the only one you can easily get to within San Francisco, so that in itself, should make it a five-star attraction. In fact, having a meal out in the Sunset or the Richmond could easily end with a sunset view of this long stretch of sand if you don't mind the graffiti on the sea walls. See my gallery and judge for yourself. Where I get into wishful thinking mode is how attractive it must have been when the Sutro Baths, Playland at the Beach, and the Cliff House were in full flower. Now, one is a skeletal infestation of weeds and gnats, one didn't leave a trace except the Camera Obscura, and one is a tourist magnet for those who want to pay a hiked-up premium for their vista-view dining. But close your eyes and hear the Pacific come greet you. Not the warm Pacific from your Hawaiian honeymoon, but the old man Pacific that comes crashing with its cold hands slapping the seashore with curmudgeonly fury. It's still worth it. read more

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This was my backyard growing up, from bonfires to almost drowning due to sneaker waves, good times =) It was literally my own "Play Land". Now, I educate my kids on keeping a clean and healthy ocean, and most of all, don't ever swim at this beach (any beach w/o lifeguards) especially during Indian Summer (hottest months in SF Sep-Oct). I've seen way too many ambulances, firetrucks, and news crew growing up, people do not heed the warning signs. Too many ppl have drowned here and swept away by the waves. Every year, over 850 students from San Francisco and Marin County schools converge on Ocean Beach to protect their watershed, Bay, beach, and Ocean - "Kids' Ocean Day". I enjoy participating and bonding with my son and his classmates while explaining how important it is to keep our oceans healthy. We all need to keep our oceans clean. read more

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I love Ocean Beach. Walking down the beach, listening to the waves, watching the boats come in and the fog horns. Sometimes I need to remind myself how lucky I am and come down to the beach to watch the waves roll away. I inspect every cool rock and shell, the kid in me would fill her pockets with them. I like leaving my footprints in the sand and getting my feet wet on a winter day. read more

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Whoever gives this beach less than five stars is not a true born and raised Californian. What's not to like about the beautiful vastness of the Pacific Ocean? It makes you feel so small, yet you can appreciate it all at the same time. I've been to Cliff House a few times and the sunsets are something worth witnessing at least once. The water will always be icy cold, but it's still so perfect. The weather was still summer-y today (low 70s) so it was beautiful out. There are so many cute dogs scampering around. They leave their footprints in the sand and I can just imagine their happiness beaming as they trotted along the coastline. We are so blessed to have such a sight here! Simply lovely. read more

Ocean Beach - Love the Pacific Ocean! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I nearly gave it 4 stars, then I remembered: It's nature. Haha. Love this beach and how responsible folks generally seem that visit--I've only had to pick up after people a couple of times, so it's great that most of the time everyone does their bit. It's mostly clean and well looked after. Certainly not a swimming beach for most of us, since the riptides / cross tides are pretty wild and lots of people have gotten into trouble here. The signage makes that pretty clear, but to me just looking at how quickly the seabed shelf dips in a short distance shows it's not exactly a paddling beach. Mind you, the water's really chilly, so you'd be needing a wetsuit in the least at any rate. (If you're unbrave, like me.) I love swimming and body boarding so a little sad I can't cope with the waves, but just walking along the shore is magic. Great for spotting birds--various gulls, pelicans, and other winged friends are here. Not to mention the crows and ravens! Additionally, I'm really into those huge woodlouse looking isopods. In summary: I'm really lucky to have this magic spot nearby. read more

What's that nursery rhyme, "when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid"? Sounds like Ocean Beach to me. People don't go to San Francisco to go to the beach. But if it's there, then why not? Here's why not: The weather is probably too cold and windy. If it's not, then the water is still too cold. Not much parking. No restrooms near the Cliff House. On the other hand, if things work well, it's a good, fun place. It's huge and stretches for a few miles, so you can run a dog, fly a kite, play football or frisbee, or snuggle with your lover, and not interfere with anyone else. (I saw all those things on my last visit, including a young couple that started kissing for a *long* time, the water then came around their feet, and they kept kissing in the cold water. Ah, young love!) Few to no parking restrictions, a rarity in San Francisco, so you could stay all day. The sand's angle into the ocean is so low that you can walk out a very long way and still not be up to your knees in water. The amazing thing is that you only need to look behind you and see the flats and row houses fronting the Great Highway to know that you're still in The City. It's not Stinson Beach - it's not even Baker Beach - but it works well if the weather is right. read more

Came here on a Sunday at around 7:00 pm - we decided to drive along the Great Hwy coming back from Golden Gate Park to enjoy the views of the ocean. On a whim we decided if we could find parking, then we'd explore a bit... ended up finding parking at the lot next to the intersection at Sloat Blvd, and luckily for us our parking spot was facing the beach! It's pretty easy to go down to the beach area since it's just a hill of sand, though I'd recommend wearing some sort of footwear since there was bits of glass in the sand. If you like lovely strolls along the beach, this is a perfect place since the views were great. The waves are pretty powerful here and it's recommended you don't swim unless you're surfing. I did like hearing the sounds of crashing waves around us. If you walk further north you'll eventually find a pier to walk to. Near that area we spotted a lot of people doing some hard core fishing in the waves - it looks like you can catch a decent amount of fish! There were a variety of people just hanging out on the beach, playing with their dogs, etc. Since we came in the late evening, it was easier to find parking and not as crowded, but we were able to enjoy the golden hue of the beach. My favorite part was when we stuck around to watch the sunset - IT WAS GORGEOUS. Our parking spot in front of the beach was perfect because we could sit in the car and watch the sun set. The wind is pretty strong here (hence the waves) so it gets pretty chilly. I'd recommend bringing a jacket or blanket to keep you warm if you need to watch the sun set from outside. If I'm ever in the area, I'll definitely stop by. This was a perfect way to end a great day. read more

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Oh how fresh the ocean breeze is. I was raised with the beach in my backyard and it was the first time I had the opportunity to see the Pacific as it was my first time visiting the West Coast. I was coming from the Golden Gate Bridge on a bike and stopped by the beach to take in the gorgeous view. Here you will see people enjoying their dinner, running, walking, reading, parked in their cars, and more all enjoying the view. It is definitely a peaceful site to see. read more

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We always come here and I always find it so relaxing and peaceful. We always bring our furbaby and he loves running around but still gets scared of the water coz its too cold. Well, I am too!. Lol!... we can't swim here as the water is freezing even though the weather is warm or hot. We make sure we bring chairs, blankets and food so we can hang out and enjoy every bit of it. Love that it is so clean and not too crowded here. The ocean's view, fresh air and sound of the rolling waves is so calmlng. The Cliff House and Sutro Baths is next to it so you can also have a mini tour and you get an amazing view from the top as well. I noticed that there are some people who looks like volunteers who picks up and cleans with trash. Sometimes even families with kids that go together holding a trash picker sticks. They seem to be residing just around the neighborhood. What an awesome view and knowing they do really care of their environment. It makes us more aware of our sorroundings and to really treasure our nature even more. Will keep coming back here read more

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A really pretty, big beach. The sand is nice. They allow dogs which is nice. Bon fire pits are provided in certain spots for night hangouts. Just don't leave anything in your car, I see so much broken window glass on the parking lot ground from smash-n-grab burglaries. One of my favorite spots in SF though! read more

I've walked several times now from starting point of zoo to either Seacliff or the GG Bridge. Great time of exercise and enjoying the expansiveness of the ocean. When it's sunny, what a great thing to experience! Nice part of SF, especially near Sutro and land's End! read more

Ocean Beach - Recently hiked from lake Merced to GG Br via this!! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I truly love Ocean Beach. My mom and I try to walk 5K starting at stall 25 to the GGB lookout every Saturday morning. Pros: - I've been to one bonfire on the beach. You can bring a portable grill, tents, chairs, music, etc... it's a great time even when it's overcast and windy - which it is more than likely. - Roasting marshmallows and making s'mores is the way to go! Don't forget to bring your own sticks (I suggest extra long ones because the pits are fairly large) and firewood. - For most of the year parking is pretty easy. It's the rare warm days where it gets super packed. - Frequent volunteer clean up! There are always a bunch of people volunteering to clean garbage on and off the beach area. Not sure who sponsors but they provide buckets, gloves, and trash pickers. Cons: - People are savages. Often times when I visit on Saturday mornings people leave their beer bottles, food scraps from the night before. The garbage is only so big so people tend to leave a huge piles on the floor. - Beware when it's windy. Sand pellets will fly in your face! read more

Ocean Beach - Chalk art on the stall - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ocean beach is where I went to my first bonfire... and met my boyfriend the same night. It rocks because you can legally have bonfire parties on the beach and let your dogs play off-leash. Make sure to put your 'drink' in nondescript bottles, don't bother others and use an actual pit for your fire and you should be good-to-go. We've also been back a couple of times with my doggie. It's not the best sunning or vacation beach but for bonfires and doggies... it's 5 star! A couple weekends ago, we went back for another bonfire, 6 months after our first. We'll definitely be back. See ya there! read more

I love the beach and this really is pretty - the views are amazing and it's so nice to have it so close to home. My husband and I took a walk here last month on a nice sunny Sunday, we parked up by the Lands End Trail and walked down taking snapshots along the way - The view from the Cliff House is so pretty even with a small amount of mist rolling in from a distance. I can imagine this being the perfect place to spend a lazy summer afternoon. I wouldn't say I agree with some of the reviews claiming it dirty though as on my visit here it was lovely and clean. read more

Ocean Beach - The beach from the Cliff House - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ocean Beach is one of the most inexpensive places to visit in San Francisco! There's plenty of parking and most of what you can do is free! I was fortunate enough to have time to chase sunsets recently. Admittedly, the sunset took place behind some clouds but I'm familiar with the scene. It's been ages since I've hung out here and it was interesting to be surrounded by several cars from Sacramento. Must've been the long weekend! It was a windy day so actually getting out of the car was impossible. Well, unless you're ok collecting sand in your hair (and ears and nose)!! Ha! Growing up, I was spoiled with Ocean Beach being so close. Many nights and mornings were spent here working on my list of lofty goals, being a rebel with a 40 oz and J (ok, much hasn't changed), jogging the trail, kissing the cool mist, bond fires during the summer... You won't find a ferris wheel, amusement park, or row of palm trees but nearby is the San Francisco Zoo (for all you animals!!) and a lot of restaurants. Bring a jacket! read more

Ocean Beach - 1800/1800: where the sky meets the sea | ocean beach, san francisco, ca | 2018 - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Day or night Ocean Beach is a great spot for a time out, for digging your toes in the sand, or a splash in the waves. On busy sunny days it can be a challenge finding parking, but even on the busiest days it's chill vibes + a huge stretch of beach & sand for the masses to enjoy! I used to bonfire here with friends all the time as a young adult. The fire pits that have been added since are a nice, needed touch. read more

Ocean Beach - Ocean Beach street art - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I experienced the most sunny day I've ever had at Ocean Beach with the temperature at 73 degrees. I think I've only been to Ocean Beach when it was cold and foggy as that is typical Sunset District weather. You can bring your dogs and go running near the water, but definitely no swimming because the water is cold and the waves are strong. This ain't that kind of beach. I enjoy Ocean Beach even on it's cloudiest coldest days, but man, that sunshine yesterday just lit everything up and made everything sparkle. The Great Highway where cars used to drive through were blocked off (probably because of Covid) and people were biking through including my two friends and I. We rented Lyft bikes via the Lyft app. and biked all the way from the Great Highway by Ocean Beach, to Golden Gate Park, and then back. Sutro Baths is also in the distance past Golden Gate Park, which is also a great place to check out for hiking and beautiful scenery. Everyone on the beach seemed to be social distancing appropriately in their groups. read more

I've been to a lot of beaches, and this is one of the more beautiful beaches in California. And it wasn't crowded, the people here are friendly and the beach looks very clean. There are Mountain Views on the north side of the beach and many cafés surrounding on the east. You should come out and enjoy a day of fun! There was also a lot of parking and bathroom so very assessable facilities. read more

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