Silver Strand State Beach

Silver Strand State Beach gives day-use visitors and RV campers access to beaches on both sides of Coronado Island. The ocean-facing beach is about two miles long and is great for sunbathing, beach walking, and wind sports. At the bay beach it’s easy to swim or go for a paddle (kayaks and SUPs can be rented).

The ocean beach at Silver Strand State Beach offers sun and sand – lots of it. This is a superb place for long beach walks. Unfortunately the campground is nothing more than a paved parking lot for RV’s so tent camping is not allowed.

Since Silver Strand State Beach is so close to San Diego, it is a popular place on sunny days, but because of the size it is easy to get away from crowded areas. Lifeguard towers are staffed during the summer and on sunny weekends when more folks will be in the water. South of the park entrance there is over a mile of protected habitat called Silver Strand Natural Preserve where it’s great to walk barefoot at the water’s edge (no lifeguards in that area).

At Crown Cove Beach across the highway on San Diego Bay the state park comes with an aquatic center, kayak and boat rentals (reservations required), and calm waters for safe paddling or swimming.  Walking the shoreline of the bay is possible with about 1.6 miles of shoreline. Tables (some shaded) and grills are provided at Crown Cove near the aquatic center should you want to picnic there. Three pedestrian-only tunnels go under Silver Strand Boulevard from the park’s day-use parking lot to the bayside beach. The northernmost underpass leads directly to the aquatic center.

The state park boundaries on the ocean beach are just north of the campground and south of the nature preserve. The other side of these fences are US military properties that are closed to the public.

Beach address: 5000 Highway 75, Coronado, CA 92118

Activities: Beach Walking, Sunbathing, Volleyball, Camping (self contained vehicles), Swimming, Surfing, Biking, Boating, Kiteboarding, Bonfires, Fishing, Birdwatching (in the preserve).

Amenities: Campground, Picnic Tables, Fire Rings (in summer), Restrooms, Showers (cold), Lifeguards, Picnic Tables, Paved Bike Path, Dunes.

Dogs: No dogs allowed on the beach or on the Crown Cove side, but ok in campground and parking lots if on a leash.

Parking: The park has a large paved day-use parking lot which is first-come first-served and has automated machines for paying the required fees.

Park hours: 7am to 9pm in summer, 8pm in spring & fall, and 7pm in winter. The gates get locked at those times so prepare to get out before they lock ’em up.

Address

5000 CA-75
Coronado, CA 92118

Phone

619-435-5184

Park Name

Silver Strand State Beach, Silver Strand Natural Reserve

Owner

State Park

Fees

Fees for day-us parking and camping

Links

Water Quality
Water Temps
Tide Chart