South Imperial Beach

Located in the city of Imperial Beach, South Imperial Beach is situated in the southern part of San Diego County. The beach has light brown sand and is located near a residential area. The beach starts from the south of Imperial Beach Boulevard and stretches all the way to the southern end of Seacoast Drive. The beach is not as large as the neighboring and more popular Imperial Beach City Beach, yet it is still wider than most Southern California beaches. Portions of the beach have been fixed with man-made rocky embankments to prevent erosion. South Imperial Beach does not have any lifeguards or any other amenities, so prepare accordingly. However, the beach allows dogs on leash. 

South Imperial Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, snorkelling, diving, paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, boating, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, skimboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, body surfing, boogie boarding, and wildlife watching. If you are planning to go into the water near South Imperial Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known for having rip currents. Nevertheless, the water near the beach is also home to a number of animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins and migrating whales (between December and April).

Getting to South Imperial Beach is easy - it is located near the intersection of Beach Avenue and Seacoast Drive, where street parking is also available. There are also many paid and free parking lots available near the beach.

There are many attractions in South 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 on the vibrant biodiversity of the wetlands around the Tijuana River. It also has a souvenir shop.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near South Imperial Beach. Crown Landing is an upscale restaurant which offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves great seafood dishes. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Imperial Beach offers a delicious range of salads, pasta and pizzas. Another good restaurant is the modestly priced El Cilantro which offers outstanding tacos and burritos.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay near South Imperial Beach, there are many great options situated nearby. The 4-Star Pier South Resort, Autograph Collection offers numerous 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.