Best Family-Friendly Beaches in Solana Beach

Located on the northern part of the city of Solana Beach, Tide Beach Park is situated below a blufftop residential within the county of San Diego. The beach is narrow and has light brown sand and a rocky reef near its shoreline, and portions of the bluffside near the beach are fixed with embankments to prevent erosion. 

Located on the border between the cities of Solana Beach and Encinitas, Cardiff State Beach - Seaside Beach is a part of a 507-acre state park known as Cardiff State Beach. The narrow beach has light brown sand, and there is a rocky reef present near the beach – the San Elijo Lagoon is also present near the beach. Cardiff State Beach - Seaside Beach has several amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and showers. The beach also allows pets on leash and offers access to people with disabilities. Getting to Cardiff State Beach - Seaside Beach is easy – the access point to the beach is located near 2504 South Coast Highway 101. There is a paid parking lot available near the beach.

Located in the central part of the city of Solana Beach, Fletcher Cove Beach – also known as Pillbox and Pill Box Beach - is one of the most popular beaches of the city. The beach is located below a bluff-top grassy park called Fletcher Cove Park. The beach is named after "Colonel" Ed Fletcher, a renowned local businessman and politician who is credited for commissioning the construction of an access path to the beach along the steep bluff-sides. While the beach is not big, it’s still larger than the other beaches in Solana Beach. Fletcher Cove Beach has lifeguards throughout the year (from 8 am to 6 pm during winters and from 8 am to 8 pm during summers). Fletcher Cove Beach also has showers and restrooms. The grassy park near the beach also has picnic areas, a basketball court, and a kids’ play area. Getting to Fletcher Cove Beach is easy - the access path to the beach is located near 111 South Sierra Avenue, where there is also a free nearby parking lot.

Located on the southern part of the city of Solana Beach, Del Mar Shores Beach Access - also known as Cherry Hill - is situated north of the city of San Diego. Del Mar Shores Beach Access has light brown sand and is narrow. The beach is located below the blufftop residential area of Del Mar Shores and parts of the bluff side near the beach are fixed with concrete and rocky embankments for the prevention of erosion. While Del Mar Shores Beach Access has lifeguards during summers between 10 am to 6 pm, it does not have any other amenities, so plan accordingly. Dogs on leash are allowed in the southern part of Del Mar Shores Beach Access. This dog-friendly area is next to the access stairs for Del Mar Shores Beach Access.