Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach
4
About
This beach in San Diego is a popular spot for its sun, sand, and surf. Other than its lively surfing scene, you can bring your furry friends to the dog-friendly beach, or take a stroll along the pier to watch the waves and try your hand at fishing—it's one of the only places in San Diego where you can fish without a license. During low tide, head down to the tide pools and see what creatures you can spot, or check out the cool shops along Newport Avenue and Voltaire Street. Explore Ocean Beach and other spots on a beach tour in San Diego, hop on a whale-watching tour, or drive through the neighborhood on a go-car adventure. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Neighbourhood: Ocean Beach
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We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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489 within 3 miles
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312 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- Travels With MartinBoston, Massachusetts37 contributionsEnjoying Ocean BeachI love staying here any time I come to San Diego. It's nice to watch the surfers as the sun sets over the pier. Lot's of good shops and restaurants. There are plenty of folks living on the street down there, but they are mostly good people and mind their own.Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 6 October 2023
- Randy L1 contributionIt's not for everyone but I love itThis may not be a family beach but it's a great place. There are homeless there, yes. There are homeless people all over San Diego, it's just a fact of life. The homeless people might ask for money but they don't bother anyone. Ocean Beach is a party area. Yes, it smells like weed. Weed is part of the California experience. If you are bothered by weed then go to LaJolla Beach or Coronado Beach. Those are the pricier areas to be in. Ocean Beach really has a lot of partying and weed use but Mission Beach and Pacific Beach have weed use too. Ocean Beach has some cliffs and a pier and a dog beach. If you are on the pier around sunset you can usually see dolphins swimming at the surface of the water off in the distant area. Ocean beach is also good for watching surfers. There is a Italian sandwich shop called Poma's about 0.3 to 0.5 mile away from the beach and they have some great food. There are other great restaurants there too but Poma's was my favorite spot to hit. About a mile south of there is Sunset Cliffs which is a romantic spot to watch the sunset. It's not a place for uptight people but for open minded people who want to have a good time it is a great place to go.Visited June 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 2 January 2024
- Kevin PDublin, Ireland6 contributionsGreat vibe.The beach itself is not the most beautiful but the connected town Newport is brilliant. It has great vibes, cafes, restuarants, bars and shops. I read some reviews about homeless. I was not aproached or bothered by anyone the whole day i spent there .Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 March 2024
- Wendy JSalt Lake City, Utah91 contributionsDifferent in the Best WayI love Ocean Beach. It's definitely not for everyone, there are unhoused people but not as many as I've seen in other parts of San Diego. I was there alone walking around and I never felt unsafe nor did anyone bother me for money or anything like that. Everyone was just chilling and minding their own business. The shops are eclectic, there are lots of great places to eat, and it is honestly very clean. I stop by OB anytime I'm in the area, I love the vibe there.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 29 March 2024
- msc008Ottawa, Canada47 contributionsGreat sand beachGreat beach with wide sand sections. Good swimming/boogie boarding spot by tower 2. Get a firepit early if you want to have a sunset fire. Dog-friendly dog beach section. Lots of birds and wildlife along the river side. Saw a falcon fly by with a fish in it's talons. Good idea to shuffle your feet wading out to avoid stingray stings. I got a painful reminder of that this trip. My girls wanted to go in the surf every day instead of going to theme parks. The colorful characters in OB are part of what makes it what it is. They are friendlier than some demanding tourists. The pier has fallen into disrepair and is no longer usable. Will be interesting to see if it is rebuilt in coming years.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 21 April 2024
- Eric HSan Diego, California38 contributionsLove OBOB is too good. Got here in January, haven’t left. Not gonna leave either. OB literally has everything a person needs. As I’ve read a few reviews, OB is not full of homeless, addicts, etc. OB DOES NOT smell like pee and poop, stop it. What you’ll find is really cool neighborhoods, gardens, murals, amazing foods, kind people, friendly happy dogs, great shops and barrels on a bitchin beach.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
866 reviews
Excellent
402
Very good
259
Average
107
Poor
55
Terrible
43
Andrew K
Chicago, IL9 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
Do you like boundary less homeless people? Dirtbags? Crappy dive bars filled with aggressively drunk dirt bags? Zero parking? Then ocean beach is the community for you! You too can pretend you are part of a "seaside hippy community" with "character." You can witness the nightly brawls on Newport Avenue as you dodge meth heads on your way back from the dirtiest beach in San Diego.
I hate when I have to go to this part of town because my other friends refuse to grow out of their 24 year old dive bar phase. Avoid OB if you have kids or standards.
I hate when I have to go to this part of town because my other friends refuse to grow out of their 24 year old dive bar phase. Avoid OB if you have kids or standards.
Written 1 October 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.
Sharonfpower
Fairhaven, MA2,421 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
One of the worst beach experiences in San Diego. This beach is filthy. The streets are littered with trash and homeless population everywhere. They crap on the sidewalk and you can smell urine. The public bathrooms were disgusting. People sleeping on the beach. The businesses that are near the beach are decent but too bad you feel unsafe walking around the beach there.
Written 9 August 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.
Candice
1 contribution
Mar 2021 • Family
As a Southern California native we have been all over San Diego, but had yet to visit OB... WELL it’s pretty awful!!! I would never go back again, not a beach if you have children. It is reminesent of Venice beach; very dirty and so so so many homeless. Which is sad because it’s not their fault that they fell upon hard times lol but the asking for alcohol or asking if we wanted to buy weed was a bit much. Please visit a nicer beach such as ocean side, solana, Del Mar, Encinitas, or even La Jolla! Because if you have a family and visiting, lol you will be very surprised when you get here!
Written 17 March 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.
Steve A
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
The condo I rented was very good and the pier was nice but the area needs to be cleaned up. Everywhere I went, I'm stepping over homeless people. Wife didn't feel safe walking by the beach because you would have groups of kids blocking the path. The beach itself was fine but I wouldn't go back.
Written 16 August 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.
Wendy J
Salt Lake City, UT91 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
I love Ocean Beach. It's definitely not for everyone, there are unhoused people but not as many as I've seen in other parts of San Diego. I was there alone walking around and I never felt unsafe nor did anyone bother me for money or anything like that. Everyone was just chilling and minding their own business. The shops are eclectic, there are lots of great places to eat, and it is honestly very clean. I stop by OB anytime I'm in the area, I love the vibe there.
Written 29 March 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.
msc008
Ottawa, Canada47 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Great beach with wide sand sections. Good swimming/boogie boarding spot by tower 2. Get a firepit early if you want to have a sunset fire. Dog-friendly dog beach section. Lots of birds and wildlife along the river side. Saw a falcon fly by with a fish in it's talons. Good idea to shuffle your feet wading out to avoid stingray stings. I got a painful reminder of that this trip. My girls wanted to go in the surf every day instead of going to theme parks. The colorful characters in OB are part of what makes it what it is. They are friendlier than some demanding tourists. The pier has fallen into disrepair and is no longer usable. Will be interesting to see if it is rebuilt in coming years.
Written 21 April 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.
Wendy B
12 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
My husband and I rented a house on Ocean Beach with another couple who have a young child. There were "campers" all around our property and all along the beach. Strange activity during the day but especially after dark. Yelling, loud music, burning trash to name a few. Down stairs we were afraid to open our doors or even the curtains. The smell of Marijuana day and night. It's just a rough area period. We spent Beach time at Coronado Beach to relax and not be stressed by all of the crazy things going on by our Beach house. Keep your children close to you and don't go out after dark. I have stayed on both Mission Beach and Mission Bay and felt safe. Avoid Ocean Beach!!!
Written 19 September 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.
HealthProfessor
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Couples
We stayed in a lovely cottage near the beach. Not a swimming beach. Didn't feel safe due to all the mentally ill, homeless folks going through trash cans outside our Airbnb and all around the area and town. Lots of substance use. Reeked like marijuana and urine as we walked to the coffee shop in the OB town. The town is a party town. Not my cup of tea!
Written 18 July 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.
dennis b
1 contribution
Sept 2022 • Family
the homeless have taken over this area. Any time of day you would have to step over people sleeping on the sidewalks-public urination (male and female) was common even though public restrooms were a few feet away. Was probably a nice area some time ago.
Written 30 August 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.
Kim M
Sammamish, WA100 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
I took my dogs down to Ocean Beach around 1pm recently. I found a parking spot and was getting my dogs out of the car and in front of me there were 2 obviously homeless men going through the garbage. As I continued to the boardwalk I passed many many homeless people. Some obviously living out of their cars in the main strip as well as some camped out in a park close to the lifeguard station. I walked by the public bathroom by the beach and the stench was awful. Very very dirty area. Disappointed to say the least. I was on the look out for a place for my husband and I to have dinner that night but after my quick walk there I was not coming back. I feel bad for the few restaurants there and the shops and really hope the city can get their act together and clean it up. We will not be back to this area sadly.
Written 25 January 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.
We are thinking about making a 3-4 day trip with our pup. We have been to the OB a few other trips and know about dog beach. But overall, are most places dog friendly? We don’t want to leave him behind all the time.
Written 3 August 2022
Our family of 5 (3 teenagers) will be staying in OB for a week this month - our flight comes in early however our check in is 4pm. Looking for recommendations on how to spend 6+ hours... hopefully some of the time indoors.
Written 4 October 2018
Do you have a rental car? If so, drive down the peninsula to visit the beaches to the south of ocean beach. There are some great rocky areas you can join out into the ocean. This is against the law. I would only advise to do it if the locals are doing it. The waves hitting the rocks are great there!!!! You're hotel would probably let you check in a little early. Give them a call to find out. Of course, you're near Sea World which is a fun place to EXPLORE our oceans.
Written 5 October 2018
Dear Judith, I am looking for a one day "getaway" to do some brainstorming with a writing partner. Can you tell me about the accommodation?
Written 20 September 2018
If you drive down the peninsula that Ocean Beach is the basis. You can drive South towards the end of the peninsula. The area is FANTASTIC with the strong Pacific Ocean waves hitting the coastal rocks. This area inspires my with deep thought of relaxation. If I was a writer, this section of the coast line can give a lot to expiration of the beauty of our oceans.
Written 2 October 2018
Wondering about safety and family environment. Anything we should know before we book ? Thinking about ocean beach hotel ?
Written 12 August 2018
I think Ocean Beach is great! There are some homeless in the area, which is common for beach areas. I don't think you should have any issues.
Written 11 September 2018
Are there places nearby that rent out fishing poles or beach canopies?
Written 28 July 2018
Crystal Pier Bate and Tackle on the Crystal Pier rent poles!! I'm not sure if there is a place that rents canopies.
Written 4 August 2018
is possible to go from Ocean Beach to La Jolla by bike?
Written 29 June 2017
We are planning on visiting with family March 1-5. We have many things planned and really want to fish off the pier during our visit. I know it is open 24 hours. Is it easy to see at night? We will be getting there around 5 and are excited about watching the sunset. But I was a little worried about fishing so late. Any advice?
Written 15 January 2016
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