BEACH HIGHLIGHTS

Encinitas, which includes Leucadia and Cardiff-by-the-Sea, has about 5 1/2 miles of coastline, with 3 state beaches and 5 small beaches. All of the beaches are hidden below seacliffs, except for Moonlight State Beach and Cardiff State Beach.

Good Walking Beaches

As with many beaches in North San Diego County, Encinitas beaches are ideal for walking and jogging. The beaches are wide and sandy in many places, and seem to go on foreever, with only one small break at the San Elijo Lagoon inlet. To cross, all you need to do is take a short hike across a nearby bridge.

Coast Hwy 101 Scenic Drive

Coast Hwy 101 runs along side nearly the entirety of Cardiff State Beach, making this portion of highway a beautiful scenic ocean drive.

Cardiff Town Center is within walking distance of Cardiff State Beach and San Elijo State Beach. Restaurant Row, a series of restaurants along Coast Hwy 101, is located next to Cardiff State Beach.

ENCINITAS BEACHES

Grand View Beach
Beacons Beach
Stone Steps Beach
Moonlight State Beach
D Street Beach
Swamis Beach
San Elijo State Beach
Cardiff State Beach

From north to south

Grand View

Grand View beach is located at 1700 Neptune Ave, in a quite Leucadia neighborhood. The beach has a pleasant atmosphere. A long wooden stairway connects the street above with the beach below. There are no restrooms. The closest restrooms are at South Ponto Beach, about quarter mile north.
• Beautiful view from top of stairway.
• Good walking beach
• Good surfing beach
• Parking on neighborhood streets.
• Outdoor showers on stairway.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

Beacons Beach
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Beacons Beach is located at 948 Neptune Ave, in a Leucadia neighborhood. The beach is a popular surfing spot due to the reefs. A dirt trail winds its way down a cliff to the sand below. The beach is pleasant and secluded. There are no restrooms. The closest restrooms are at South Ponto Beach or Moonlight State Beach.
• Good romantic beach
• Good walking beach
• Good surfing beach
• Beautiful view from cliff top.
• Restrooms and outdoor showers.
• Near Leucadia Coast Hwy 101.
• Small parking lot atop cliff overlooking beach.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

Stone Steps
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Stone Steps is a small beach below cliffs. A tall, steep stairway traverses the cliffs from the street to the beach below. The beach is a popular surfing spot due to reefs. Like the Encinitas beaches to the north, this beach has virtually no amenities. There are no restrooms. The closest restrooms are at Moonlight State Beach to the south.
• Good romantic beach
• Good walking beach
• Closest food N. Coast Hwy 101
• No restrooms
• Parking on neighborhood streets.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

Moonlight State Beach
map | photos
One of the best all-around beaches in San Diego County, this beach is tops for family, romance and walking. Weddings are sometimes performed on the beach. Many social gatherings and events take place there throughout the year. This beach is packed with amenities and gets packed with people during Summer. A loading/unloading zone is located at the end of B Street.
• Great family beach
• Great romantic beach
• Great walking beach
• Permanent volleyball courts
• Snack concession (seasonal)
• Permanent lifeguard station
• Grassy area with picnic tables
• Children's playground
• Restrooms
• FIre pits
• Large parking lot on short bluff overlooking beach.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

D Street Beach
This is a small beach just south of Moonlight State Beach. A wooden stairway connects the street with the beach. While the beach has no amenities, Moonlight Beach is very close by.
• Beautiful view from top of stairway.
• Good walking beach
• Good surfing beach
• Parking on neighborhood streets.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

Swamis Beach
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Known as Swamis, this beach is one of the county's most popular surfing spots, and has one of the county's best tide pools. A long wooden stairway winds its way down the tall cliffs to the beach. A parking lot is located on the cliffs, overlooking the beach.
• Good romantic beach
• Good walking beach
• Closest food is nearby S. Coast Hwy 101
• Sea Cliff Park, next to parking lot
• Restrooms, near parking lot
• Showers on stairs
• Parking lot on cliff top
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

San Elijo State Beach
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This long narrow sandy beach is hidden below tall ocean cliffs, making it secluded and hard to access. Pipes reef is popular with surfers. The beach can be accessed from the campground above at several points, and a parking area south of the campground, via stairways. Coast Hwy 101 runs pararllel to the beach along the cliff tops, with beautiful views. Next to the highway, San Elijo Cliffs Path stretches from Swami's to the San Elijo Lagoon overpass.
• Good family beach
• Good romantic beach
• Good walking beach
• San Elijo State Beach Campground atop bluff
• Scenic view from cliff tops.
• San Elijo Cliffs Path
• Coast Hwy 101 next to beach atop cliffs
• Closest food is nearby Cardiff Town Center.
• Restrooms at campground
• Large parking lot at south end.
• No alcohol
• No dogs on beach.

Cardiff State Beach
map | photos
Cardiff State Beach is one of the county's most popular surfing spots and open to Coast Hwy 101. Coast Hwy 101 hugs this stretch of beach. The lagoon is on the other side of the highway.This beach has two main sections at either end connected by a long stretch of sand: the north section is next to a parking lot and several restaurants; the south section, called Seaside, also has a parking lot.

Each section has a reef, popular with surfers. A long, sandy beach connects the two sections, making it ideal for walking and jogging. This expand of beach is generally less crowded and more secluded.
• Good family beach
• Good romantic beach
• Good walking beach
• Restaurant Row at north section
• Parking lots at north and south sections
• Restrooms at parking lots
• No alcohol
• Dogs allowed leashed on beach.