Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach (the beach) is centered around the Crystal Pier in the Pacific Beach District of San Diego, California. This is a popular spot for sunbathing, playing in the waves, and surfing.

Ocean Front Walk is a paved pathway that runs behind Pacific Beach and continues south behind Mission Beach to the end of the peninsula. This is a popular bike path and is lined with shops and restaurants at Pacific Beach.

Crystal Pier is a public fishing pier during the day and has a great vantage point to look at the city, the beach, and the surfers below.

There are a lot of lodging options in the area, but on the pier there are unique Cape Cod-style cottages for rent. These small individual units make up the Crystal Pier Hotel and staying there would provide a more memorable trip to Pacific Beach. Plan your stay on Crystal Pier well in advance as the cottages are usually booked out for months.

Pacific Beach is a very popular beach and since street parking is your best option it may require a long walk to get there unless you get an early start on the day.

North of Pacific Beach is North Pacific Beach (a bit quieter) and south of Pacific Beach Drive is Mission Beach (a busier place with an amusement park too). All three of these beaches are part of The Strand.

Address

Grand Ave & Mission Blvd
San Diego, CA 92109

Phone

619-221-8899

Other Names

Crystal Pier

Owner

City Beach

Pet Details

Leashed dogs allowed on beach before 9am and after 6pm from April-Oct. (changes to 4pm Nov.-March).

Fees

Free street parking and paid lots nearby

Activities

Surfing, Bodyboarding, Swimming, Sunbathing, Fishing, Biking, Walking, Running, Volleyball

Amenities

Fishing Pier, Paved Bike Path, Lifeguards, Restrooms, Showers, Benches, ADA Accessibility

Links

Water Quality
Water Temps
Tide Chart
PB Surf Report