North Ponto Beach

Located in the city of Carlsbad, North Ponto Beach is a narrow beach situated at the north end of the South Carlsbad Campground. North Ponto Beach is a part of the South Carlsbad State Beach park and is the northern access point of the park. 

North Ponto Beach offers few amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and a campground. North Ponto Beach is well-known for its excellent water quality as it is located next to Encinas Creek.

There are many fun activities at North Ponto Beach including swimming, scuba diving, fishing, and surfing – the beach is a popular surfing destination.

Getting to North Ponto Beach is very easy – after you get off of the 405 San Diego Freeway, turn west and drive down to the beach’s paid parking lot on the southbound lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard.

If you are looking for attractions near North Ponto Beach, you can drive 30 minutes to the famous San Diego Zoo, a non-profit wildlife sanctuary that is home to 3,500 rare and endangered animals and over 700,000 plants. San Diego Botanic Garden is a botanical garden that has been awarded ‘Readers’ Choice 2019’ and ‘Top 10 Botanic Gardens in North America’ awards by USA Today 10Best. Spread across 37 acres, it features the nation’s biggest bamboo collection and 29 uniquely themed gardens including the well-known Hamilton Children’s Garden. If you like golfing, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole beachfront golf course that offers a driving range, golf shop, and restaurant. Another great attraction near North Ponto Beach is the San Dieguito Heritage Museum at the Heritage Ranch which displays historical photographs and artifacts from the city of Encinitas.

If you get hungry, you can drive 12 minutes to many restaurants near North Ponto Beach. The vegetarian-friendly Italian restaurant Maurizio's Trattoria Italiana serves pasta, spaghetti, meatballs, lasagna, salads, and artichoke appetizers. The Roxy Encinitas is a 20th century-themed American family-friendly restaurant with live music and cocktails – it also has special vegan options. Another good restaurant near North Ponto Beach is Modern Times Far West Lounge that was mentioned in "8 of San Diego’s Hottest New Restaurants and Bars" by Visit San Diego and "Where to Eat and Drink in San Diego" by Wine Enthusiast.

If you are looking for a hotel near North Ponto Beach, there are many hotels within a 20-minute drive. If you are looking for a luxurious option, the 5-Star pet-friendly hotel Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego boasts a pool, bar, spa, restaurant, fitness center, golf court, and tennis courts. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa is a 4-Star pet-friendly hotel that is spread across 21 acres and offers many amenities including a pool, lounge, restaurant, spa, gym, and ping pong tables. Hampton Inn Encinitas Cardiff Beach Area is a pet-friendly 3-Star hotel featuring a pool and fitness center. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near North Ponto Beach, the 2-Star Quality Inn Encinitas Near Legoland has a pool, spa, and gym.