Del Mar Beaches and Parks
Ranked #4 in Time Magazine’s “100 Greatest Beaches in the World,” Del Mar’s 15th Street Beach is quintessential small-town San Diego, California. The expansive Del Mar Beaches are situated along coastal bluffs and provide a stunning backdrop for vacationing families, local surfers, swimmers, and sunbathers.
Del Mar’s coastal parks
Powerhouse Park and Seagrove Park are located just above the 15th Street surf break, providing a picturesque turf-meets-surf stretch. The two coastal parks provide excellent spots for picnics, playgrounds, and playdates.
There is a Del Mar beach to fit any vacation preference: take your pick from the River Mouth which is as broad as it is wide and very dog-friendly; north Del Mar City Beach, where all the action is; and south Del Mar City Beach, which is long, cliff-lined and isolated, perfect for long walks or jogs.
With the quaint and luxurious shops and restaurants of Del Mar Village within walking distance of the sand and the legendary Del Mar Race Track nearby, Del Mar beaches liven up with visitors and locals, especially during the summer months.
Popular Beach Activities in Del Mar
Locals and visitors alike love to surf, swim, and sport along with Del Mar beach San Diego. Here are some suggested fun-in-the-sun activities to make the most out of your time in Del Mar!
Del Mar Beach California is a well-known surfing community with plenty of prime surf breaks along its two-mile coastline. The northern half of Del Mar City Beach in California, from 15th Street to The River Mouth, is one of north San Diego’s best surf spots, with good swimming, intermediate surf waves, and easy access at every block. As always, check the Del Mar Surfline report before paddling out!
Jogging and bicycling is best south of 15th Street along the coast.
Playing volleyball at River Mouth (aka Dog Beach) is a favorite past-time of local “Del Martians.”
Best sunbathing in Del Mar include the 17th street beach and the Powerhouse Park grassy area under the torrey pines shade – directly south of the L’Auberge Resort.
Take a drive down the coastline on Historic Highway 101 (aka Camino Del Mar) and enjoy the vibrant beach communities along the way that capture the true essence of a Southern California vacation.
Go whale watching! The annual Gray Whale migration can be witnessed twice a year from the Del Mar shore. An excellent place to see them is at Seagrove Park, at the foot of 15th Street, but any high point along Del Mar’s cliffs and bluffs will give a great vantage point. To the north of the city, the beach narrows as the bluffs take up much of the area right around the border to Solana Beach. Their spouts can be seen for miles on clear days.
At certain times of the year, the reefs are exposed and there are fun tide-pools to explore.
For scuba divers, the reefs just outside the surf zone are teeming with beautiful local marine life such as fish, sea urchins, pacific spiny lobster, rock scallops, and even abalone.
The Powerhouse Park Community Center is open June-September from 10am to 6pm and until 5pm October-May. Public restrooms are located under the stage area at the Powerhouse Community Center and at both the 17th Street and 25th Street Lifeguard Towers.
For more activities in Del Mar Beach San Diego, check out the Outdoor Recreation and the Itineraries pages.
North Beach, or as locals affectionately call it – Dog Beach- is located north of 29th Street and stretches nearly one-half mile to the border with Solana Beach and Pacific Surfliner Amtrak Train.
Del Mar Main Beach address: 1700 Coast Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 North San Diego County, California
