Treat your dog to a day at the bay or beach at these 8 San Diego County locations (2024)

My 8-year-old English bulldog Star loves the beach.

I first realized this when I took her to walk around Belmont Park and Mission Beach on a February morning in 2018. As we got closer to the sand, she raised her nose, started smelling the beach and was pulling me toward the Pacific Ocean.

She didn’t get into the water there, because dogs are only allowed on most San Diego city beaches after 6 p.m. between April 1 and Oct. 31 and after 4 p.m. the rest of the year. But there is a beach specifically for dogs in Ocean Beach, so we went there. She was crashing into the waves, running where the water meets the sand and swimming near the shore. Since then, I have taken her to as many beaches as I can in San Diego County.

With more daylight now and Memorial Day (the unofficial start to summer) about a month away, it‘s a good time to review local rules and regulations. This guide highlights the eight beaches and bays around the county where canines are allowed, as well as dog rules, hours and parking options.

The south entrance of Cardiff State Beach.

(Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

There are eight California state beaches in the county, and only the Cardiff State Beach allows access for dogs. There is an area ranging about 1.5 miles where dogs can be on the sand and enjoy the ocean. When I went on a recent Monday afternoon in mid-April, it was low-tide and the waters were calm. The waves were breaking far out enough that by the time the water was reaching the beach, it was about ankle to knee high. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=656

Dog rules: Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are only allowed south of Tower 16

Location: Highway 101 south of Cardiff and north Solana Beach

Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset

Parking: Paid parking lot on the south end

JoJo, owned by Katie Kelly, of Los Angeles, runs toward the water at Coronado Dog Beach on Friday, April 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA.

(Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

One of my favorite beaches to take my bulldog to is Coronado Beach. A dedicated area at the north end of the beach is designated for dogs and has a walkway to the ocean on top of the sand to help protect dog paws from the warm sand. Also at the entrance, there are litter bags to pick up dog waste and a water hose to rinse off sand. coronado.ca.us/244/coronado-beach

Dog rules: Allowed off leash

Location: Northernmost area of Coronado Beach, at the end of Ocean Boulevard, across from Sunset Park

Hours: 6 a.m. to sunset

Parking: Street parking

Dogs roam and play in Del Mar where the San Dieguito River flows into the Pacific Ocean.

(Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Watch out for high tide here and the various rules at the dog-friendly beach in Del Mar. When I take my pup here, I try to avoid the area where San Dieguito River flows into the ocean during high tide, because one time she got caught in the current. Also, the water there does rise quite a bit at times and has come up to my chest. The safer areas, in my opinion, are north and south of San Dieguito River. There are public restrooms and waste bags at the north end entrance. delmar.ca.us/206/dog-friendly-beaches

Dog rules: Seasonal rules are applied to different locations along the beach, so be sure to read up online or on local signage. For example, between Sixth Street and Powerhouse Park (south of San Dieguito River), dogs can be on the beach, but must be on a leash throughout the year. From 29th Street to Solana Beach (north of San Dieguito River) dogs are allowed off leash between Labor Day and June 15 and the other months dogs must be on a leash.

Location: South of Via De La Valle on Camino Del Mar

Hours: Recommended hours of dawn to dusk

Parking: Street parking

The south west end of Fiesta Island has a dog park that leads into Mission Bay.

(Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Calm waters, dry grass and dirt trails are what awaitdogs at Fiesta Island. There is a huge park that takes up about one-quarter of Fiesta Island when looking at it on a map. It leads you to the southwest area of Mission Bay. Here is where pups can walk and run the narrow shoreline. The day I want to Fiesta Island, the Mission Bay waters were calmer and felt warmer to me compared to the dog beaches I visited for this guide. The park area is mostly dry grass and dirt trails with rocks. I saw lots of canines on a mid-Tuesday afternoon roaming around free, but also laying their waste, so be careful walking around. I also saw a couple tables under a large tree to sit and relax, plus there are portable restrooms. sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/regional/missionbay/fiestaisland

Dog rules: Can walk and run freely on or off-leash

Location: 1750 Fiesta Island Road, San Diego

Hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day

Parking: Dirt areas on the side of the one-way, one-lane road

The southern end of Imperial Beach is one of two area where dog are permitted.

(Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Imperial Beach has two smaller areas where pups are allowed to roam on the beach: on the north end and south end. This beach is pretty laid back, with mainly locals visiting, according to a few people I spoke with there on a mid-April Tuesday. I didn’t see many dogs on the beach, except for a poodle and a French bulldog, both on leashes. I did see dog waste bag dispensers. Canines are not allowed on the pier, but there is a grass area leading up to the pier where I saw some dogs relaxing along with people. By the pier, there are also public restrooms and an ice cream shop. imperialbeachca.gov

Dog rules: Permitted in two areas on a leash: north of Palm Avenue and South of Imperial Boulevard

Location: On Seacoast Drive, south of Imperial Boulevard and north of Palm Avenue

Hours: Open all day, but lifeguards are on duty from 7 a.m. to dusk every day

Parking: Street parking

People and animals enjoyed a heat wave at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 in San Diego, CA.

(Jarrod Valliere / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The most popular dog beach I have been to is in Ocean Beach. It seems like every time I take mine to this beach, it’s super packed, and it’s probably because it’s the city of San Diego’s only dog beach that is open all day throughout the year. My pup does not like it as much as the other dog-friendly beaches in the county because she cannot run around as freely compared to other busy beaches. sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/ob

Dog rules: Allowed off leash all day

Location: On the northern end of Ocean Beach, where the San Diego River meets the Pacific Ocean

Hours: 24-hours, seven days a week

Parking: A parking lot at 5156 W. Point Loma Blvd., San Diego

Besides Ocean Beach, dogs are permitted on other city beaches like La Jolla Shores and Pacific Beach, but with several restrictions. These two areas are best in my opinion for walking your dog on the beach, but not for them to play in the water, since they have to be on a leash at all times. sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/dogs/bchdog

Dog rules: Need to be on a leash at all times

Location: Various locations

Hours: 6 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31 or after 4 p.m. from Nov. 1 to March 31.

Parking: Various locations