Oceanside Pier
Oceanside Pier
4.5
About
Longest wooden pier on California coast at 1941 feet, 1/3 of a mile, there is a convenience store half way out stocked floor to ceiling with fishing pole rentals, bait, tackle, snacks and beverages, and a whole lot of souvenir's stuffed into a 7X15 foot space. Ruby's 50's diner is located on the end with breakfast to burgers and a view to die for. The pier it self is open 24 hours a day 7days a week
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area

Address
How to get there
  • Oceanside Transit Center • 8 min walk
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See what travelers are saying

  • alisialee
    Independence, Ohio2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Sunset Photos tell the story !
    I saw a video on YouTube of a sunset here. It was filmed in 4K called Oceanside California Beach Pier in San Diego County filmed 3 years ago. It was so stunning that I had to visit this place and we did. Two weeks before our vacation, Ruby's diner at the end of the pier (it is 1 mile long) caught fire. They are on the mend and it is reopening the day after we returned home. I still loved visiting. It was in walking distance of our hotel. The atmosphere is laid back. Families, young teens, surfers, bike riders, skating. They had a few places to get a good meal or snack. At the end of the pier people whale and dolphin watch (we found this out from the locals). Everyone was so friendly. The town comes to life down here at sunset. Please bring your camera. The better the lens, the better the photos. I still have gorgeous photos on my cell phone.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 10, 2024
  • George D
    35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great landmark, but sad it was damaged.
    Last Summer when I Visited Oceanside I decided to Visit the Oceanside Pier. It had been 7 Years since I last Visited Oceanside and I was very glad to be there. A Visitor I met that Day took a picture of me with the iconic pier in the background. Sadly a fire broke out at the old Ruby’s restaurant at the end of the pier just recently which severely damaged the iconic building. I hope it gets repaired and restored, but otherwise the Oceanside pier is still a great place to visit although the end of the pier is closed.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 27, 2024
  • Stephanie C
    Brooklyn Park, Minnesota188 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the visit!
    I really enjoyed visiting this beach! There is a rock jetty on the one side and it was a great place to explore the tide pools and collect sea shells. The sand here is black with flecks of gold in it and there were plenty of places to sit on the beach and enjoy it! The pier itself is maybe good for taking photos of, but not necessarily worth walking down. There are a lot of people fishing off the pier and I was worried we were just in their way. There used to be a restaurant on the end of the pier, but unfortunately there was a fire that took care of it...I think it would be worth visiting once they repair/replace it! Parking is not ample; we found a pay lot for $5 for the day a few blocks up the hill from the beach, so the walk wasn't too bad, but don't expect to find anything closer.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 6, 2024
  • Jim M
    2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oceanside CA Visit
    Stayed at the Springhill Suites on N Myers St. Great location and facility; close to the beach and Oceanside pier. The only drawbacks (or local atmosphere) are the open air bar next door with live music (possibly only during happy hour) and the round the clock noise from the Mission Street railroad crossing for regional, interstate, and freight trains.. Enjoyed visiting the surfing museum, a few blocks from the hotel and the Mission San Luis Rey.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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 bubbles2,049 reviews
Excellent
1,176
Very good
677
Average
166
Poor
23
Terrible
7

Monicawesomeness
Chandler, AZ53 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
We took a walk down the pier at night, the sound of the waves crashing was beautiful. The pathway down the pier is not very even so watch your step i almost tripped a few times. There is a lil souvenir shop on the pier where you can buy lil trinkets or snacks. I had to use the bathroom on the pier and i wish i didn’t, it smelt soo bad in there, the floor was wet and it was very much a don’t inhale and get out as fast as you can experience. I think it would have been better at night because it seemed like most of the ppl their were either fishing or homeless. There was a street performer juggling and a group of guys making music and singing even though clearly drunk.
Written October 7, 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.

KWS
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
In the mid and late 90's I was a Marine on Camp Pen. This area has been so built up with 3 multi story hotel/condo/timeshare buildings. It seems to have made the summers in this area unbearable. The weekends are going to be the worst in this area but in most southern Cali beach towns all weekends are crowded. So plan accordingly. Parking??? The parking in Oceanside by the pier is horrendous, you won't find much. There is a multi story parking garage on Cleveland St. Use it, the price as of my comments is $5 for the day until 0200am, In and out privileges, you pay at a kiosk by the elevators and put in your license plate numbers. If you have mobility issues then avoid this area on weekends in the summer. There are tons of food options around the pier area. Staying at one of the hotels by the Pier be prepared to pay a high daily parking fee.
I was just in Oceanside for a Tahitian dance competition Aug. 5th.
Written August 9, 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.

trdashfield
Powell, OH26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
Right now they are doing repairs to the pier so it's not as glorious as it once was. That and all the rain and storms. The restaurant on the pier is closed but I don't know if it's because of the repairs or it closed and never reopened from 2020.

But it's still a great place to vist and walk on to see the surfers and the sea birds and to view the sunset...when the rain stops.
Written March 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.

HeidiDD
Draper, UT45 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
The Oceanside Pier has a good view and a fun activity to walk up and down, but it’s become pretty run down. Most of the seating and overlooks and sides are taken up by people fishing. One fishermen can take have 5-20 rods set up and they take up space.
It smells of old bait and all the side rails are so dirty and disgusting you don’t want to touch or lean on them.
There are a lots of homeless people walking around and will camp out there!
Cops don’t care about anything crazy happening, they only regulate the tourists!
It used to be my favorite spot in Oceanside, but not anymore!! We used to walk it every morning or evening, but now we only visit once.
Written July 28, 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.

Stephanie C
Brooklyn Park, MN188 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
I really enjoyed visiting this beach! There is a rock jetty on the one side and it was a great place to explore the tide pools and collect sea shells. The sand here is black with flecks of gold in it and there were plenty of places to sit on the beach and enjoy it! The pier itself is maybe good for taking photos of, but not necessarily worth walking down. There are a lot of people fishing off the pier and I was worried we were just in their way. There used to be a restaurant on the end of the pier, but unfortunately there was a fire that took care of it...I think it would be worth visiting once they repair/replace it! Parking is not ample; we found a pay lot for $5 for the day a few blocks up the hill from the beach, so the walk wasn't too bad, but don't expect to find anything closer.
Written July 6, 2024
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.

urbanguy
Richmond, VA5,082 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
We visited the pier in early evening......tons of people, still. This place is great for "people watching." And, of course, that includes surfers to watch. The highlight, for us, was a man fishing for sardines, using only a gold hook as "bait." He brought up 3-5 sardines with just about every cast.
Written April 29, 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
Tucson20,577 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
The sunset views are spectacular; this is when the pier is highlighted in an incredible glow of orange. During the day, the pier is the same old tired deja vu. It still is a pleasant stroll but not all that great. Ruby's Diner is gone but the signage tantalizes us with suggestions of things to come. Surfers still ride the waves along side the pier and the view from the pier back to land is always a treat.
Written May 21, 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.

Patti W
Renton, WA626 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We stayed on North strand for 7 days and walked this pier at least once a day. The scenery is great in any weather. Best free entertainment we can recall on any vacation. Walk at any pace beginning from either a steep incline from beach or gentle ramp from cliff side at main entrance, to reach pier boardwalk. Perhaps a bit bumpy for wheel chair or rollator walker, but manageable for my husband who walks with cane. Great place to watch surfers, fisherman, resident pelican and an egret that drop by frequently to the bait shop. There are free restroom facilities 1/2 way down the pier, a small gift shop with beverages. Multiple benches along the pier length. sit down or take away dining at either end of the pier.
Written February 23, 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.

George D
35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Last Summer when I Visited Oceanside I decided to Visit the Oceanside Pier. It had been 7 Years since I last Visited Oceanside and I was very glad to be there. A Visitor I met that Day took a picture of me with the iconic pier in the background. Sadly a fire broke out at the old Ruby’s restaurant at the end of the pier just recently which severely damaged the iconic building. I hope it gets repaired and restored, but otherwise the Oceanside pier is still a great place to visit although the end of the pier is closed.
Written May 27, 2024
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.

gypsymamma
Minnesota804 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
We enjoyed our brief visit for the people watching and to see what the fisherman were catching, but other than that and eating at Ruby's at the end of the pier, there's no other activities. Parking nearby was difficult, we got lucky and found a space. I'd recommend going either very early or very late.
Written July 30, 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.

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Oceanside Pier - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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