Best Off-leash Dog Beaches in San Diego

There are so many sources out there for the best things to do when visiting San Diego, but the number one thing on my list is definitely visiting an off-leash dog beach and there’s some great ones to choose from. So if you’re planning to visit with your furry friend (which I highly recommend), I’ve rounded up all my favorites in no specific order!

1. Ocean Beach Dog Beach

The Original Dog Beach, also known as Ocean Beach Dog Beach, is an off-leash haven located on the north end of Ocean Beach, 15 minutes northwest of San Diego. Situated between the Pacific Ocean and Point Loma, this beach was the first in the country to be leash free and is one of the last true surf towns left in San Diego. This is definitely part of the charm!

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There’s a parking lot for beach visitors, but spaces can be pretty scarce and tight later in the day so drive a smaller vehicle if you can. Once you successfully find a spot, head north over the ridge to the dog beach and let your pup run wild.

There’s great natural barriers with the ocean and sand bar - just make sure the zoomies don’t lead to the parking lot. You’ll also find plenty of furry friends of all sizes and breeds swimming in the ocean, playing fetch in the sand, digging holes and chasing one another.

There’s no wash station at the beach, so after a good romp in the sand, run your pup over to Ocean Beach Dog Wash, a convenient dog bath half a mile away. They have several grooming tubs with shampoo available, and once your pup is all clean you can take them over to the drying station so there’s no way any sand is ending up in your car.

Ocean Beach Fast FactS:

Dog wash: No
Water fountain: Yes
Dog bags: Yes
Grass nearby: Yes
Parking: Lot and Street
Cleanliness: Very
Address: W Point Loma Blvd and Voltaire St.
San Diego, CA 92107
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

2. Coronado Dog Beach

Coronado Dog Beach is the dog run at the North end of the beach in front of Sunset Park. Dogs can be off leash year-round on this beach unlike all the other beaches along the Coronado Island shoreline. When you get here you will see signs showing the designated off-leash area at the north end of the beach, but keep in mind that dogs must be on-leash from the parking areas to the designated area.

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For scenery, it doesn't get much better than this. On one side there's the beautiful Hotel del Coronado and Point Loma skyline fills the view to the north. Parking is available along Ocean Boulevard, but if you can’t find a spot close to the dog wash it is a rather long walk to the beach, so be sure to keep your dog leashed until you reach the beach. Coronado Animal Patrol maintains a zero-tolerance policy with fines up to $500 for unleashed dogs.

As you’re walking back towards the beach, you’ll pass a dog wash station (really it’s a hose and water fountain) that is in a grassy area off Ocean Boulevard for a quick clean after a successful romp. The path to the beach is also lined with a few clean-up stations in case you run out of bags or need a trashcan.

The dog beach itself spans almost two miles and is set a ways back from Ocean Boulevard. The dog run borders the U.S. Naval Station on the North end and a large trench on the South to designate the dog-friendly/off-leash zone.

As if the sights and scenery weren’t unique enough, the sand on Coronado Beach is extra special with gold flecks of mica deposits throughout. This is relatively rare on beaches and stems from the mineral washing down the Mexican mountains from the Tijuana River and eventually emptying into the Pacific Ocean. (Peep some sparkles below)

Coronado Beach Fast Facts:

Dog wash: Yes
Water fountain: No
Dog bags: Yes
Grass nearby: Yes
Parking: Street
Cleanliness: Very
Address: Ocean Blvd, Coronado, CA 92118
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

3. Del Mar Dog Beach

North Beach in Del Mar is also known as Dog Beach because it’s the only place dogs can be off-leash on Del Mar city beaches. From 29th Street north all the way to Solana Beach dogs can run freely, except during the summer months when they must be on-leash. The main part of this beach is on the north side of the San Dieguito River Lagoon entrance next to Camino del Mar.

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Nine months of the year, dogs are allowed along the entire two plus mile stretch of beach in addition to the City’s two major parks, Seagrove Park and Powerhouse Park.

The scenery here is to do die for. You can enjoy the dramatic landscape of cliffs along the ocean on one side of the beach and then gawk at beach front properties on the other (Doodle Moms fav!).

It may have just been the holiday or day of the week we visited, but there were smaller breed dogs here in comparison to Ocean Beach and Coronado Beach. So if you’re a doggo like me that’s a bit shy with larger/energetic dogs, maybe give this one a try.

Typically there are many volleyball courts set up in the wide flat part of the beach and surfers can break on sand bars near the river mouth and reefs north of it. There’s a trail that leads up to an overlook at James Scripps Bluff Preserve above North Beach that also might be worth exploring. We learned about this after our visit.

Parking can be found along Camino del Mar behind the beach and also at 29th Street. It’s a pretty busy street, so make sure you keep us pups leashed until we’re down in the safe zone on the beach.

Del mar Beach Fast FactS:

Dog wash: No
Water fountain: No
Dog bags: No
Grass nearby: No
Parking: Street
Cleanliness: Very
Address: 3200 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
Hours: Labor Day - June 16 off-leash season

4. Fiesta Island Dog Park & beach

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Named Best Dog Park in 2016, Fiesta Island Dog Beach is a large area of land located within Mission Bay. Most of this island is designated as off-leash for us doggos (woohoo!). There is one main road that goes around the island, and you are able to pull over and park most anywhere along side of the road and let your dog run and be free. Specifically near the dog park/beach is a dirt/sand lot to the right and additional parking towards the back of the park.

Fiesta Island has so much to offer for both us and our humans. Because it is so large (150 acres total; 60 acres fenced in), it is rarely crowded and the park is surrounded by views of Mission Bay, Downtown San Diego, and Sea World. Dogs can enjoy the beach side with lots of waves to play in, or the bay side with much calmer waters. There are also large fields to run around in just up above the sand dunes.

When entering at the dog beach you will find dog bag stations, in case you forgot, and you should bring water along as there isn’t any fountains. There also isn’t a wash station so come prepared. I got the dirtiest at this beach because of the seaweed/wash up at the beach edge and the shrubbery/grassy park area.