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About Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California

Ocean Beach is a large sandy beach spanning the entire Sunset District of San Francisco from Cliff House south to Sloat Boulevard, a distance of three miles. It’s a popular place for beach lovers looking for space for sunbathing, beach walking, tossing a Frisbee, and exercising their dogs (leashes required south of Stairwell 21).

The widest part of Ocean Beach is the north end where Golden Gate Park faces the ocean. If you haven’t explored this massive park before, we highly recommend getting a map and finding all there is to see.

Like all the beaches along the coast in San Francisco, Ocean Beach is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You’ll find a large free parking lot with an entrance at Sloat Boulevard and there are street spots all along the west edge of the Sunset neighborhood near the Great Highway with crosswalks to the Esplanade and stairs to the beach.

The Esplanade, a paved pathway at the north end of Ocean Beach, is superb for walking and you could extend your trip into Golden Gate Park or the San Francisco Zoo.

Bonfires are allowed in fire rings known as the Ocean Beach Fire Pits which are provided between stairwells 15 through 20. Watching sunsets from this west-facing beach is spectacular.

When the wind is kicking (most of the time) you can find windsurfers riding in the wild waves along Ocean Beach. Note that swimming is dangerous here due to cold water temperatures and strong rip currents.

Address
Great Hwy & Sloat Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone
415-561-4700
Park Name
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Pet Details
Dogs allowed off leash if under voice control except from Sloat Blvd to Stairwell 21 where leashes are required
Fees
Free parking
Activities
Beach Walking, Surfing, Walking, Running, Biking, Sunbathing, Windsurfing, Kiteboarding
Amenities
Restrooms, Promenade, Paved Bike Lane, Dunes, Zoo, Fire Pits
Map of Ocean Beach
San Francisco County, US
2:26 am, March 28, 2024
temperature icon 52°F
L: 51° H: 55°
Feels like 51.08 °F scattered clouds
Wind gusts: 5 m/s
UV Index: 0
Precipitation: 0.02 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 7:00 am
Sunset: 7:29 pm
Humidity 92 %
Pressure1017 mb
Wind 5 m/s

Nearby Beaches

Golden Gate Park Beach

1.4 miles away

Golden Gate Park Beach is technically the northern part of Ocean Beach within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The...

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Fort Funston Beach

1.8 miles away

Fort Funston is the southernmost beach on the Pacific Coast side of San Francisco and is part of Golden...

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Sutro Baths

2.1 miles away

The ruins of the Sutro Baths are an historic site on the western waterfront of San Francisco. In March...

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Nearby Attractions

Nearby Lodging

Reviews

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Rated 5.0 out of 5
April 12, 2023

Per the National Park Service website, fires are only allowed in the designated fire rings between stairwells 15 & 20.

Also, no fires permitted November 1 – end of February. And no fires permitted from 9:30PM – 6AM.

Admin
Rated 5.0 out of 5
April 12, 2023

Can I bring my own fire pit to ocean beach????

Sixteen fire rings hardly seems fair for the entire city!!!

Robin M