Imperial Beach

Out of the four beaches in Imperial Beach, only Imperial Beach City Beach has lifeguards and showers. Border Field State Park Beach and Imperial Beach City Beach both have restrooms, walking trails and picnic areas. The beach in Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge only has walking trails, while South Imperial Beach does not have any lifeguards or other amenities.

Imperial Beach City Beach and South Imperial Beach offer many activities including swimming, kitesurfing, bodysurfing, sailboarding, boogie boarding, biking paths, skimboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife watching, jet skiing, boating, beachcombing, and sunbathing. However, if you are planning to go in the water near Imperial Beach City Beach and Imperial Beach South Beach, we advise being careful as the water can have dangerous rip currents. The Imperial Beach Pier at Imperial Beach City Beach offers mesmerizing views of the Pacific Ocean and pier fishing spots and has a seafood restaurant. The Portwood Pier Plaza located near the pier also has public art work, picnic tables, and biking paths. The beach in Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Border Field State Park Beach do not offer any recreational aquatic activities as the water near the southern part of the Imperial Beach shoreline has high levels of microbial contamination due to the Tijuana River flowing into the Pacific Ocean here. These two beaches offer few activities including hiking, fishing (in Border Field State Park Beach), biking, and wildlife watching. There is a boardwalk on the beach in Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge which can be used to explore the Tijuana river estuary present here. There are walking and biking trails present near the beaches for exploring the vibrant biodiversity of the wetlands around the Tijuana River, which are present near the beaches. You can view more than 370 bird species present near these two beaches. A part of the beach near Border Field State Park is seasonally closed off to public access since it is the nesting spot for the rare western snowy plover, which is protected under the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. The Monument Mesa present in Border Field State Park near the United States - Mexican Border features a grassy park, picnic areas, and barbecue spots making it ideal for family visits.

All the four beaches of Imperial Beach have different levels of access. Imperial Beach City Beach is located near the intersection of Seacoast Drive and Evergreen Avenue, where you can park on the street at Seacoast Drive. South Imperial Beach is located near the intersection of Beach Avenue and Seacoast Drive, where street parking is also available at Seacoast Drive. The beach in Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge can be accessed from 1680 Seacoast Drive, which also has street parking. Border Field State Park Beach is the hardest to access as the park is often closed to the public due to frequent flooding of access roads during storms. To access Border Field State Park Beach, simply turn from California Interstate Highway 5 to Dairy Mart Road and keep following it until it merges into Monument Road, which leads to the entrance and the parking lot for Border Field State Park. From here you can walk to the beach. 

There are many attractions in the city of Imperial Beach. Dunes Park is a grassy park having arbors, a basketball court, picnic tables, swings, and a public artwork making it ideal for fun family visits. The Imperial Beach Outdoor Surf Museum offers public exhibitions highlighting the evolution of surfboard designs over the years. The Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center is a part of Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and features interesting exhibits showcasing the vibrant biodiversity of the wetlands around the Tijuana River, and also features a gift shop.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near the beaches in Imperial Beach. Crown Landing is an upscale restaurant which offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serving great seafood dishes. A family friendly restaurant is Aroma Thai which offers excellent Thai dishes including pad thai, spring rolls, mango curry and Thai iced tea. Another good restaurant is the modestly-priced El Cilantro which offers outstanding tacos and burritos.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay in Imperial Beach, there are many great options situated close to the beaches. The 4-Star Pier South Resort, Autograph Collection offers many amenities including a spa, a fitness center, a pool, a sundeck, a hot tub, a bar, a restaurant, and bike and watersports rentals. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Sand Castle Inn & Suites which is located conveniently close to some of the major restaurants and attractions in Imperial Beach. Another good and affordable hotel is the modestly priced 2-Star Hampton inn & Suites Imperial Beach San Diego which offers a restaurant, a pool, a gym, and complimentary breakfast.