Best San Diego Beaches to Visit in the Fall

Fall is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you need to abandon your relaxing beach days. The pleasant summer temperatures in San Diego extend through October, making plenty of outdoor activities available in the autumn months. With nearly perfect year-round weather, a trip to San Diego beaches is the ideal getaway!

With more than 70 miles of perfect, pristine coastlines, it’s nearly impossible to pick the “best” beach to visit in San Diego, but here are a few top recommendations.

Coronado Central Beach

While it fills up quickly in the summer, Coronado Central Beach is an excellent fall beach destination. There are no fees to visit, and there’s parking available on the street or in the parking lot along Ocean Boulevard.

Beachgoers enjoy sunbathing, boogie boarding, bonfires and more. We love it for a picnic date, enjoying snacks, sipping wine and taking breaks to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean.

During the summer months, Coronado Central Beach attracts plenty of visitors. Parking can be a challenge, but you can find free spots in the surrounding neighborhood or in one of the city’s offsite parking lots for a small fee.

The beach sits between the historic Hotel Del and Point Loma Peninsula, and on a clear day you can see the city of Tijuana from the shore. Be sure to being plenty of sunscreen, water, food and a coverup to stay warm while you watch the sunset.

Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach is a lively spot during the summer but makes for much more relaxing waters in the fall. Parking is available at nearby paid lots.

“PB”, as it’s often called, has a party atmosphere reputation, which is well deserved, especially during the summer months. During the fall, Pacific Beach tends to be a little quieter and is one of our top San Diego Beaches for sunbathing and people watching. Along this beautiful stretch of beach, you’ll find a wide variety of activities like rollerblading along the boardwalk, swimming, surfing, beach volleyball and more. Beachfront bars and restaurants are available along the boardwalk, and there are plenty of restrooms, showers and lifeguards on duty.

Many beachgoers park at Belmont Park, a San Diego landmark that is home to the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster, historic Plunge swimming pool, arcade and other attractions. Most of the time, we park along Mission Blvd, which is the main drag that parallels the beach.

Windansea Beach

Windansea Beach, located in La Jolla is the perfect spot for surfing, watching romantic sunsets, and capturing some great San Diego beach photos. Nearly all of our friends ask to take portraits at this beach and for good reason. The various rock formations along the shore make Windansea a striking backdrop for beach photography, and many San Diego beach wedding photos or romantics pictures are shot here. Low tide is the best time to visit, as more rocks are exposed. Since the 1940s, this beach has been a popular surfing spot for locals and visitors alike, and is an official San Diego Historic site.

This delightful dog-friendly beach has free parking on the street and a small parking lot available along Neptune Place.

Our beautiful friend Amy de Leon at Windansea Beach

Black’s Beach

In our opinion, Black’s Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Southern California. Black’s Beach is a secluded paradise that offers some of the best views, especially at dawn and dusk, of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla. Beautiful and isolated, Black’s is located north of Scripps Pier, beneath the Torrey Pines Gliderport and close to UCSD.

Park at the Torrey Pines Gliderport (plenty of free parking available here and along the street) and hike down to Black’s Beach via a steep winding path of natural and manmade steps. When you get to the bottom, take the main trail down or find your own way down to Black’s Beach for a 3.5 mile stretch of black sand beaches and killer surf.

Black’s Beach is part of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and is the southern end of some of the most beautiful and pristine views of the Southern California coast. It should be noted that the north portion of Black’s Beach is a clothing-optional beach.

Carlsbad State Beach

Carlsbad is home to eight beaches that offer a wide array of activities from picnics and camping to tidepooling and surfing.

Making your way to a Carlsbad beach is easy! South Carlsbad State Beach is a five-mile stretch of soft sand only a short walk from Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel. Grab your towel and stroll over to enjoy the sun, a scenic picnic, a walk along the golden coast, tidepooling and even surfing. During the summer, this popular spot fills up quickly, so get there early to snag a spot. If you’re driving, there is a paid parking lot, as well as the option to park along the Pacific Coast Highway during non-peak hours.

If you are closer to Carlsbad village, Tamarack Beach (aka Carlsbad State Beach) is an excellent option popular among families and surfers alike. You’ll find a wide variety of activities like kayaking and rollerblading, but we thing sunbathing and boogie-boarding is just as fun. There is a large public parking lot near the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue, along with street parking throughout Carlsbad Village.

The northernmost beach is Carlsbad City Beach, known for its surf fishing, lagoon exploration and bird watching. Look for parking along Ocean Avenue and neighboring streets. Tip: unlike the other two beaches, Carlsbad City Beach does not offer restrooms or showers. Make this a stop for a visit and set up camp for the day at one of the others!

What are your favorite San Diego beaches?