Oceanside Beaches

Oceanside Beaches

Soak up the rays! Oceanside offers a vast shoreline for tanning and building sandcastles. During the summertime, it’s quite pleasant for swimming and other water sports. Surfers will find a home at this beach as well, with the summer surf averaging four to seven feet. Surfing is restricted during the summer months to certain areas. During the evening, utilize one of the campfire sites available on the beach to toast marshmallows. Picnic tables and barbecue areas are available.

Oceanside Beaches are a quintessential Southern CA beach experience. Conveniently located between San Diego and Orange County off the Interstate 5, miles of sandy beach are ideal for sun worshiping and surfing. A long pier welcomes strollers and anglers, and Downtown Oceanside sprouts from the Pier, offering dining for even the budget conscious. Compared to the luxury minded beach resorts of Newport Beach, Carlsbad, Solana Beach or Encinitas, or urbane La Jolla, Oceanside has a more gritty, low to mid scale, almost nostalgic feel about it. Think of a beach town before the upscale condos and luxury resorts and $$$ restaurants, and you’ll see what I mean. Recent construction may signal a new, more upscale future however. This means that the Dairy Queen may soon be joined by a sushi bar as well as a branch of the highly regarded Cohn group of restaurants. More to follow. Also a plus? Oceanside is easy to get to. The transit center, walking distance to the sand, hosts regular service from Amtrak, Metrolink, Coaster and Sprinter rail services, as well as being an NCTD bus hub.

On Thursday nights there is a marketplace set up just a block in from the pier with lots going on and music playing…a very fun, festive atmosphere. The surfing in Oceanside is best at Wisconsin, Forster or Oceanside Blvd!

Beach and Pier Rules and Regulations:

• Glass containers are prohibited
• Alcohol is prohibited on all city beaches, jetties, the pier and all parking lots
• All dogs are prohibited on all City beaches throughout the year.  You may walk your dog on a leash on the Strand.
• Fires are allowed in the designated City fire rings ONLY.  No fires are allowed from 11:00pm to 6:00am daily.  There is no curfew on fire rings at Harbor Beach. All wood must be no longer than 30 inches in length and must not be allowed to rise above the height of the fire ring more than 2 feet. You must attend your fire at all times. Any unattended wood will be removed and disposed of. No chemically treated wood is allowed. The use of pallets is forbidden. Do not cut or break apart wood on the beach, street, walkways, or parking areas. When finished, extinguish embers or fires with WATER ONLY – NOT SAND! If you wish to bring your own barbecue, it must be elevated off the ground. Coals must be removed or disposed of in the hot-coal container located at Tyson Street Park, or Harbor Lot 12 on Harbor Beach, or in a fire ring.
• Overnight camping is allowed in the Harbor Beach area in Lot 11B year round. Lot 12 mid- September to mid- May only.
• All swimming and body boarding areas are marked with a black-and-yellow checkered flag. If you wish to surf with a hard surfboard you must be outside of this area. A yellow flag with a black dot identifies a swimming-only area.
• No dogs, alcohol, glass containers, bike riding, roller blading, overhead casting, sitting on the rails, or jumping off the pier. When in the water, you must remain at least 100 feet away from the pier at all times. Paddling through or shooting the pier on a surfboard is prohibited.
• All picnic areas and fire rings are first-come, first-served. You cannot hold your spot with a “Beach Chair”; there must a person standing by.
• Parking your car on the strand is prohibited at all times. If you wish to load and unload your vehicle, you may use a turnaround, such as the one at “Surfrider” and The Strand.

Oceanside Beach
1540 Harbor Drive North
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-1101
Hours: 6am to Midnight Monday thru Sunday
Website

View Larger Map

Buccaneer Beach

Buccaneer Beach is Oceanside’s smallest beach with a lifeguard tower (Tower 11) and is located about one mile north of Oceanside’s southern border. During the summer months, the water directly in front of the lifeguard tower and between the rocks that border the neighboring homes is designated for swimmers, waders and body boarders. For safety, this area is closed to surfing and is marked by two checkered flags and swim-surf signs.

Facilities: Buccaneer Park Park is located just across the street from the beach. The park has a large grass area, basketball court, barbecue grills, restrooms, shower, snack bar, picnic tables and public telephone.

Parking: There is a free parking lot available directly across the street from the beach.

Directions:
From the I-5 N, take the Vista Way exit and proceed west until Coast Highway and turn right. Continue to Cassiddy Street and turn left. Cassidy Street will take you to Pacific Street. Turn right on Pacific Street and travel half a mile to Buccaneer Beach.

From the I-5 S, take Cassidy Street exit west until Pacific Street. Turn right on Pacific Street and travel half a mile to Buccaneer Beach.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach

All along the beachfront, there are private homes facing the ocean. There is a lifeguard tower (Tower 9) during the summer months that is active. For safety precautions, this area is close to surfing and marked by checkered flags and swim-surf signs.

Facilities: There are no restrooms located at this beach. There is a shower. The closest public restroom is either Buccaneer or Wisconsin Street beach.

Parking: Parking is available along Pacific Street and other neighboring streets

Directions: From I-5, take the Oceanside Boulevard exit, go west to the beach and to Lifeguard Tower 9.

Wisconsin Street Beach

Wisconsin Street Beach is located at Wisconsin Street and the Strand. The south strand is a one-way, southbound street that parallels the beach. There is a ramp just north of the lifeguard Tower 7 for access to the beach. This is Oceanside’s least frequented beach due to the beach being narrow. When the tide is high, the water often comes all the way up to the rocks, leaving little beach at all.

Facilities: Restrooms, Showers and public telephone

Parking: Small pay parking lot is located directly behind the lifeguard tower on The Strand. There is also parking along Pacific Street.

Directions: From I-5, take Oceanside Boulevard exit,g go west. When you reach the beach, turn right and travel less than one mile to reach Wisconsin Street.

Tyson Street Beach and Park

Tyson Street Beach/Park is within distance of the Oceanside Pier. Due to crowds in this area during summer months, it is necessary to prohibit surfing here for the safety of swimmers and waders which is marked with a black ball flag, checkered flags and swim-surf signs.

Facilities: Restrooms, showers and public telephones. The park has a large grassy area, picnic tables, a playground and benches. There are also 2 available handicapped parking spaces on the The Strand.

Parking: Metered Parking available on Pacific Street. The nearest parking lot is located one block east of Pacific Street and one block North of Tyson Street on the corner of Mission Avenue and Myers Street.

Directions: From I-5, take the Mission Avenue exit, west. Proceed west on Mission Avenue to Pacific Street, turn left on Pacific Street and continue for about 1/2 mile until you reach Tyson Street.

Oceanside View South

The beach south of the Oceanside Pier is Oceanside’s most popular beach. Surfing, body boarding and body surfing contest are held at the Oceanside Pier throughout the summer and there are various events held in the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.

The pier offers a beautiful walking place and a popular fishing spot as well. No water activity is allowed within 10 feet of the pier.

Facilities: There are many covered picnic tables, benches and barbecues, fire rings, restrooms, showers, vending machines, payphones, and a McDonald’s stand. The pier itself offers fishing, a bait shop, payphones, restrooms and a Ruby’s diner at the end of the pier.

Parking: There are pay parking lots located south and north of the pier. There are also pay parking lots one block east of Pacific Street on Mission Avenue and Myers Street. There are also metered parking available on Pacific Street.

Directions: From I-5, take the Mission Avenue exit, west. Continue until you reach Pacific Street and you will be in the pier area.

Breakwater Way

This is a quiet family beach located south of Oceanside Harbor. It is popular with surfers and volleyball players. A sandbar is often formed here and creates a good surf break. The area at the river mouth is usually one of Oceanside’s least populated beaches. Children often like to play in the river mouth, but it is not advised because it can poses a safety concern due to the strong currents and the potential for high levels of bacteria in the river.

Facilities: Breakwater Way has showers and restrooms, some picnic tables and barbecue grills. There are also a volleyball court.

Parking: A pay parking lot is located east of Pacific Street. There is also metered parking along Pacific Street.

Directions: From I-5, take the Coast Highway exit, west. Turn left onto Coast Highway. Travel two blocks to Surfrider and turn right. When you reach Pacific Street, turn right and continue 3 blocks to Breakwater Way. The pay parking lot will be on the east of Pacific Street.

Harbor Beach

The beautiful Harbor Beach is Oceanside’s largest beach, offering everything from surfing and volleyball. In the harbor, you can sail, spend the day on a deep-sea fishing boat, whale watch, rent kayaks or visit the marina. Fishing is an option from the jetties.

Facilities: The areas behind each lifeguard tower has picnic tables, barbecue grills, gazebos and showers. There are restrooms and telephones, a snack bar and some volleyball courts. There are 24 fire rings along Harbor Beach.

Parking: There are number of parking lots in the Harbor Beach area.

Directions: From I-5, take the Harbor Drive exit, west. Harbor Drive will take you directly to the entrance of the Harbor.

San Onofre State Beach

A very “au naturel” state beach. It is one of the world’s best nude beaches.

Address: Off Interstate 5 at Basilone Road Oceanside, CA 92055
(949) 492-4872

View Larger Map

Oceanside California