South Carlsbad State Beach

South Carlsbad State Beach

South Carlsbad State Beach
4.5
About
This nearly five-mile stretch of beach is popular with families but also draws surfers and skin divers to the water and runners and cyclists to the boulevard bordering the beach.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,769 reviews
Excellent
1,162
Very good
490
Average
90
Poor
13
Terrible
14

Indiana_Jonesse
San Francisco, CA6,998 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
The beach side has many spots to park for free to stop and retreat to watch the sunset. We walked along the beach side while we waited for the sun to come down. Each moment displayed a different shade of amber of the sun’s rays. We waited until the sun fully sank on the horizon and enjoyed the magnificent moment. It is a daily routine for many people (locals) as you notice they bring their pets and take their walks. There are many well maintained walkways.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gregory H
Palomar Mountain, CA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
This state beach is very popular and if you want to stay over in the campgrounds you'll have to get a reservation months (or even a year) in advance. Parking is sometimes difficult and you have to park on highway 101. Very beautiful beach though and a lot of locals park a block or two away from the state beach cliffs, then walk to gain access. If you're early enough you can buy a day pass for Ponto to park. California State also has space for yearly passes. Several accesses to beach.
Written December 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tyrrellsadventure
Glendale, AZ95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
I spent my 60th birthday at this beach and it was perfect! The beach is big and beautiful and relaxing. The sand is super fine so it’s super soft. It was great to watch the surfers and feel the ocean breeze. We were there on a Monday so it wasn’t crowded like on the weekends. Fortunately, we were able to walk to the beach as parking is limited. You have to walk down quite a few steps to get to the beach and of course walk back up when you leave. It was all worth it and I definitely want to come back to this beach.
Written May 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,520 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
From our launching point (just below Carlsbad Inn), we could walk towards Oceanside (until the creek flow stopped our hike) and then, in the other direction up to and including the sea wall walk. We could travel past the lagoon and smoke stacks before continuing our walk all the way to the Carlsbad campground part of the beach. All in all, it was about 6 miles round-trip.

At some points, our walk detoured slightly up to the Carlsbad Boulevard, past a small park and a touching memorial to a young man whose life ended way too soon. These are the things we miss when we are zooming along in our cars but these things leave the biggest impressions.

A huge raptor carried away a ground squirrel in its talons, surfers plied the waves, volleyball practice was in full swing, cliff caution signs reminded us of the fragility of these sandstone bluffs and paths wove around the preventative netting. During our week long stay, the beach walk was our favorite activity and the scenery/activities always had something new to see.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,520 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Okay, it is a big 5 mile+ coastline (I got that) but, in Carlsbad near the Fish House Restaurant, this is where the "city" enters the picture and separates itself from the state. In our opinion, the city part is the best part of the beach.

Walking down the stairs near the Carlsbad Inn and you are in the city part of the beach.

At about the point where Carlsbad Blvd. comes barreling into Ocean Street (bye bye city beach), the "state" beach takes over. '' Rule of thumb: Ocean Street fronts the city beach. Carlsbad Blvd. fronts the state beach.

We like both but feel it is important to know the difference between the two stretches of beach. Such nitpickers are we!
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

StigJim
Alliance, OH713 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Maybe it is the time of the year, or that we were in the wrong place near high tide, but we were underwhelmed. The section of beach we walked was narrow and had lots of rotting seaweed. It did appear to be popular with surfers, though, and some of what appeared to be a surf club caught some decent waves. As a beach for walking or putting out a beach chair, it pales in comparison to many in South Carolina, the Hawaiian Islands, and other popular beach locations I’ve visited.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Our OC Adventures
San Clemente, CA32 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Parking was just awful and the guy who was enforcing it was even worse. I witnessed him screaming at someone who was simply asking a question. The beach was also quite littered with trash ... discarded masks and gloves which was so gross. It feels weird to leave a bad review of a beach, but this is one that we will not be returning to.
Written July 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Northern_Traveler00
California78,249 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Lots of free parking if you don’t mind walking, and since we were here for a walk . . . You get about two miles in the path along the beach plus the sidewalk above, past lots of surfers and sand and beach. Very popular with runners and walkers.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,520 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
Actually, these are 2 different stretches of beach but are lumped under one umbrella here on TA so, here goes:

North Ponto Beach is very rocky and maybe it has its charm. Nicest part are the sunsets. Because it was close for us (walking distance) from Seapointe Resort, we ended up here almost every night. Not too much else to do. Would not go out of my way to come here again if given choices.

South Carlsbad State Beach is adjacent to a very active camping site. We walked through it a few times on our way to the beach. If this is your cup of tea, then go for it.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kkoleary
Scottsdale, AZ776 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
We went in March so the crowds are small and parking easy. Short walk along water is nice or just laying on the sand and watching the surf, either are doable. This is not necessarily a large beach so if parking is full I can assume beach will be crowded.
Written March 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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