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    Silver Strand State Beach

    3.4 (258 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    beach view looking north
    Monty D.

    We visited here the day before the Fourth of July on a late afternoon, and you can see from my pics the solitude that had. The cool beach air and open spacing made us feel like we had a private beach. We enjoyed our slow paced, leisurely stroll along the low surf. There are public restrooms and rinsing stations by the parking lot, and on your way out. The solitude maybe partly due to the occasional beach closure due to pollution, so check before you start your trip. There aren't any vendors so make sure to bring your sunscreen and goodies with you.

    Laurie H.

    Silver Strand State Beach, and San Diego was extremely peaceful. Where we were there was hardly anybody there at the end of our beach. We went at high tide, saw the shell search, was not as profitable as it would have been during low tide. There is a $7 fee if you want to stay for a couple of hours, and a $15 fee if you want to stay for the day. My sister and I just walked to the beach and listened to the waves and rejuvenated our souls.

    On the beach
    Jared F.

    Beach and surrounding area is very clean. Beautiful waves and not many people in the winter time.

    Closed sign
    Shanna P.

    I have been coming here for around 50 years. First time they've had to close the beach due to contamination so disappointing. The snack bar is not even open and we're just entering the summer season. Tijuana is ruining our beach if you plan to camp here make sure you understand that the beach is closed and they will not let you go in the water, you can go on the Bayside, can't believe this is been going on so long ! for such a wonderful beach with many families here trying to enjoy it!

    Dulce R.

    Unfortunately Chula Vista Marina is being redone and there is almost no beach access from the street. So we decided to come here and check out silver strand. I have been in San Diego for 5 years now I had never been to this beach. Having been here twice now with the 1st time being July 4th holiday... we figured since the drawback is paid parking, $20 on the 4th of July and $15 this past weekend with no holiday that it would draw a different crowd. We do like this beach as it is cleaner than some of the other beaches we have been to and can drive up and unload as well as pack up & load the car being right there. The downfall as mentioned earlier is the paid parking. They do have a sign up right now for stingray, as well as contamination. It is not that bad of a drive from San Diego or even if you live in Imperial Beach it's a hop, skip and jump away. The road is rarely busy and if you are coming by walking or bike there is a pedestrian tunnel that can be used. The cool part is the kids can ride the boogie boards without going to far out... careful as the waves are vicious lately!

    Carlos A.

    We stayed at the RV park two nights. It was pretty nice, though a bit crowded and expensive. That's pretty much what you get in San Diego however. The camp hosts were awesome and helpful. There is no sewer at each site, and it's $10 to dump on top of the $65/night. Each pedetal has a 20/30/50a power connection and water. There is a large sand berm right by the "beachfront" spaces, so you really can't even see the beach at all. Bathrooms are large and clean. Make careful note of the fact that they lock the gates--both in and out--very early in the evening. So we had to have our guests move their car A MILE AWAY so they could leave later that night. I guess this might help slow down traffic and maybe petty crime? Overall, in San Diego everything is overpriced and small, so this is a decent choice. The helpfulness of the people was good.

    Anne C.

    This is the beach i like to go to. Even during busy summer days, it is not quite as packed as the other beach areas north and south of silver strand. Especially in the off season, it's calm and relaxing. Lot's of parking with a small fee. Limited amenities, but there are restrooms and showers to rinse off at. Pretty clean, I have nevef noticed any big issues with littering. We were never really a beach going family.. but during this frightening pandemic, it has been a great place to go.

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    Not welcoming for pets. No real place for dogs to potty. No pet waste bags. Staff was just so so.

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    3 years ago

    2 nights in a row that they lock up the bathrooms by 6:20 pm whe they claim to lock at 7pm

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    Silver Strand State Beach Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Silver Strand State Beach

    Are there fire rings there right now?

    No. There are ember cans but no rings. There was a sign that said "No open fires"

    Planning on Driving from PHX on 29OCT Can you have a Small Portable Fire place for (burning Wood Only) making S'mores on Beach?…

    As of July 2023, as long as the portable fire pit you bring is 6" off the ground, you can use your own pit on the beach. No permit is necessary.

    For enclosed grey tank req't, does an enclosed portable one count? Meaning sink is built in on aframe, empties into enclosed wheeled unit underneath and is taken with when…

    if the unit is self contained and you leave no trace..should be fine

    Are there fire pits on the beach near the campground?

    My friend says yes

    Can we tent camp on this area for at least a night? And is bbq allowed?

    Asphalt only --- No tent camping. Camping is available for self-contained recreational vehicles, motorhomes, or trailers only, per Coastal Commission regulations. Minimum requirement is a built in sink with an enclosed drain system, and a portable… Read more

    Do they take credit cards for parking?

    Yes, they accept credit cards.

    Are handicap drivers, those with a placard, required to pay the day fee?

    "For persons with permanent disabilities, this pass entitles the bearer to a 50% discount for vehicle day use, family camping, and boat use fees at California State Park operated units"

    Are dogs allowed?

    On leashes yes but not on the beach or on the bay side.

    Is there tent camping allowed?

    Tent camping and sleeping outside of RV are not allowed. Only self contained camping vehicles are allowed. The camping vehicle must contain at least a portable chemical toilet and a built-in sink with an enclosed grey water system.

    How's the camping?

    We went camping at the Silver Strand State Beach campground and our thousands of dollars mountain bike and other campers' electric bikes were stolen. There is no security at all at this campground from thieves. When the lights are out, the thieves… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Silver Strand State Beach

    After my divorce, I was lucky enough to find a cool pad right on the beach in Imperial Beach.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    Point Loma Tide Pools - Infographics

    Point Loma Tide Pools

    4.7(140 reviews)
    6.4 miPoint Loma

    Yes, you should absolutely visit the Point Loma Tide Pools but know before you go:…read more 1. Only come during low tide. There are two low tides and two high tides a day. The information is available online. I believe the tide pools are closed during high tide and for very good reason. 2. The tide pools are located within the Cabrillo National Monument park which means you will have to pay to visit them. This isn't like going to the beach for free. We paid $20 and you can visit both the tide pools and the monument/lighthouse, if you like. 3. Yes, parking is tough but the lot is fairly large and the spots turn over regularly. Apparently, there are two lots. I completely ignored the "LOT FULL" sign and found an open spot in seconds. 4. Wear shoes appropriate for climbing on and over rocks. This isn't like going to the beach and dipping your tootsies in the water. If you have decent balance, even better. You don't want to fall on these rocks. This ain't "a day at the beach." This is straggling over rocks to find sea life in tide pools. This is a spectacular location for tide pooling. You will probably see crabs, including lots of hermit crabs, anemones, small fish, and maybe even medium-sized fish. We even saw an absolutely enormous sea hare (or sea slug). It was black as night and easily half the size of a small cat. We also saw a brittle star, which is a type of small, squiggly star fish. You could spend an hour to two hours here and this is a must-do attraction if you live in San Diego or are visiting. You cannot find this kind of tide pooling just anywhere.

    TIPS/NOTES Entry: Pay/show ID and pass through Cabrillo…read moreNational Monument Fee Entry Booth to get to the Tide Pools. Parking: two lots adjacent to trails lead to the Tide Pool. Restroom: available on site. Hours: 9am-4:30pm - a shame this spot isn't open til sunset.

    Photos
    Point Loma Tide Pools - Gorgeous views.

    Gorgeous views.

    Point Loma Tide Pools - Paved path

    Paved path

    Point Loma Tide Pools

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    Balboa Park - Outside the Botanical Garden

    Balboa Park

    4.8(2.9k reviews)
    6.7 miBalboa Park

    I spotted this tree that spoke to me while riding on the way to breakfast at Hash House. After…read moreleaving breakfast, we came back to Balboa Park it was a peaceful and grounding experience before heading to the airport to return home. That moment honestly made me decide the park was a must-visit. I ended up stopping by afterward just to walk around, release some stress, and enjoy the calm energy. I even found myself just sitting in a tree, hugging two or a few, and taking in the quiet; especially in the Trees for Health Garden, which felt fitting for the whole experience. It was a simple but meaningful stop that added a peaceful pause to the end of the trip before heading back to the airport. I even met a squirrel that I chat with; I named him James. While I was chatting with him, he even place his paw on his chest as if he was asking me "are you speaking to me?" It felt great speaking to my own little grandma Willow tree moment.

    Yes - park and museums are lovely, but for me, I just didn't love Balboa Park…read more Didn't hate it but if you are someone with just a weekend in town, I think there are better options for afternoon activities in the zillions of things there are to do in SD. All I'm saying is don't get fooled making this a top of your list, must do-thing. Go if you REALLY want to, but don't feel like you missed out if you made a different selection.

    Photos
    Balboa Park - Nativity Display

    Nativity Display

    Balboa Park - 04-11-2025 Natural History Museum admission $24 adult, $14 child, $20 military

    04-11-2025 Natural History Museum admission $24 adult, $14 child, $20 military

    Balboa Park - Botanical garden

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    Botanical garden

    La Jolla Shores - Thanksgiving '25

    La Jolla Shores

    4.4(564 reviews)
    16.6 miLa Jolla Shores, La Jolla

    La Jolla Cove is one of the best spots in San Diego. The water is super clear, the views are…read moreunreal, and seeing the sea lions up close makes it even better. Great place to relax, walk around, or just catch a sunset.

    A SAN DIEGO GEM This was my 'go-to' beach in the late 80s…read moreand 90s as a teenager for sun-worshipping and beach bonfires. Now in my 50s, I go less now -- maybe once a year, but on a recent visit we enjoyed a nice long walk from end-to-end and back and were lucky enough to catch some spectacular marine life in the tide pools near the pier. LOTS TO EXPLORE On one end of the beach, you will find the Marine Room restaurant and La Jolla Beach and Tennis club, along with mansions on the cliff edge, while kayakers from nearby tour and rental shops get safety briefings and enter the water. At the other end, you'll find Scripps Pier, Scripps Institute of Oceanography and if you're there at the right time, numerous tide pools with bright orange starfish and sea anemone. In between, you'll find grassy Kellogg Park, a tot lot, showers and restrooms, sinks and hand dryers. LOCALS AND TOURISTS The beach is about a mile long and comfortably deep in low tide. It attracts an international crowd, families, couples, surfers, teenagers, lovers, sun-worshipers, surfers, joggers, strollers, you name it. WHAT WOULD MAKE IT 5 STARS? There's a limited parking lot immediately adjacent to the beachfront, but I usually have to find parking on the street, not an easy task in peak season. As with all beaches in San Diego, it lacks vendors along the beach, so if you need a shop or get hungry or thirsty, either bring your own or seek out one of the clothing stores, restaurants or cafes along nearby Avenida de la Playa. La Jolla Shores is one of San Diego's nicest beaches in my opinion. Helpful?

    Photos
    La Jolla Shores - La Jolla Shores

    La Jolla Shores

    La Jolla Shores - La Jolla Shores

    La Jolla Shores

    La Jolla Shores - La Jolla Shores

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    La Jolla Shores

    Silver Strand State Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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