South Carlsbad State Beach

Located on the southern shoreline of the town of Carlsbad in the northern part of San Diego County, South Carlsbad State Beach is a part of a state park with a three-mile-long beach that is situated below a blufftop campground. South Carlsbad State Beach has light brown sand and sparse amounts of vegetation and portions of the beach are also pebbly and filled with cobblestones that are often buried under the sand. 

The beach offers numerous amenities including lifeguards from April through October, showers, and restrooms, and the nearby campground also offers firepits and a camp store. South Carlsbad State Beach also offers accessibility for people with disabilities. 

South Carlsbad State Beach offers many activities including swimming, fishing, tide pooling, paddleboarding, skimboarding, surfing, sail boating, boogie boarding, kitesurfing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, wildlife watching, diving, beachcombing, and sunbathing. If you are planning to go into the water near South Carlsbad State Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known for rip currents. You can fish in South Carlsbad State Beach - popular catches here include halibut, surfperch, and corbina. The beach is also a great scuba and skin diving spot – you can explore a variety of underwater flora and fauna including a variety of marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating whales between December to April.

Getting to South Carlsbad Beach is easy - it’s located near the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Poinsettia Lane. Free parking lots are present near the beach towards the southern and northern ends of South Carlsbad State Beach Campground, and from here you can take different access paths to the beach.

There are many attractions near South Carlsbad State Beach. The Museum of Making Music has interesting exhibits detailing how music and musical instruments are made and also hosts live musical performances throughout the year. LEGOLAND California is an exciting theme park that has a variety of thrilling rides and attractions for kids featuring numerous interesting LEGO models, snack carts, retail shops, and sandy-wading beach areas. Another option is the Magee House which was built in the 19th century and is now the home to Carlsbad Historical Society – it features educational exhibits and also has a vivid rose garden featuring 15 different kinds of roses.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near South Carlsbad State Beach. Campfire is an upscale restaurant offering a pleasant outdoor camp-themed ambiance and serving delicious New American dishes. Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana offers excellent pasta, veal marsala, and Italian desserts which are served in generous portions. If you’re looking for a modestly-priced restaurant, Village Kitchen and Pie Shoppe is known for its breakfast dishes including sandwiches, pancakes, omelets, and burgers which are served in generous portions.

If you are looking for a hotel near South Carlsbad State Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, A Hilton Resort and Spa offers numerous amenities including a restaurant, a lounge, hot tub, spa, fitness center, pool, and a fire pit. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a convenience store, fitness center, a pool, a hot tub, and a bicycle rental. If you like camping, the South Carlsbad State Beach Campground accommodates both RVs and tents and offers numerous amenities including water and electrical hookups, a camp store, laundry, showers, restrooms, fire pits, and an RV sanitation station– and it also provides a beautiful Instagram-worthy view of the Pacific Ocean.