Ocean Beach
Photo Gallery
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
- Owner
- National Park
- 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
63°F
Nearby Attractions
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
0.8 miles away
San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is the major zoological park in Northern California and one of the Bay Area’s...
Golden Gate Park
1.8 miles away
If you are planning a trip to San Francisco, you might have heard about Golden Gate Park from friends...
Nearby Lodging
Related Articles
Related Maps
Reviews
New seawall being built at Ocean Beach. The Great Highway will be closed at times and beach access and the promenade will be impacted too.
https://www.newsweek.com/califorina-seawall-construction-san-fransisco-1987420
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.
Can I bring my own fire pit to ocean beach????
Sixteen fire rings hardly seems fair for the entire city!!!