Looking for a change of pace? Moving to California offers a unique lifestyle, and Southern California in particular is a hub of activity. SoCal is known for its sandy beaches, diverse food scene, trendy arts and music scene, and entertainment industry.
If you want to live by the water, San Diego is the place for you. We’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of places to live in San Diego County where you can ditch the snowplow and justify buying a surfboard.
The 10 best beachfront neighborhoods in the San Diego metro area in 2025 are:
- Carlsbad
- Coronado
- Del Mar
- Encinitas
- La Jolla
- La Playa
- Mission Beach
- Ocean Beach
- Pacific Beach
- Solana Beach
Carlsbad
Carlsbad is in the northern part of San Diego County and has several beaches, including Carlsbad State Beach and North Ponto Beach. Residents enjoy the variety of restaurants and cafes near Carlsbad State Beach along Carlsbad Village Drive, making it easy to grab a bite to eat after a day in the sun.
In addition to stunning beaches, Carlsbad is home to the LEGOLAND California theme park, where LEGO enthusiasts can enjoy more than 60 rides based on the brand’s most popular collections. The Museum of Making Music is right next door to LEGOLAND and offers exhibits showing the history of music and live music events celebrating various artists. The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch offer a more tranquil outing, with 55 acres of ranunculus fields to explore.
Coronado
Coronado is a peninsula in San Diego Bay, just off the coast of Downtown San Diego. Coronado Beach is the main attraction within walking distance of Coronado’s downtown area, but Silver Strand State Beach is another standout, located along the narrow sand spit between Coronado and Imperial Beach.
Coronado’s downtown area offers plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance of the beach, but residents also enjoy a short ferry ride to Downtown San Diego. This proximity to Downtown San Diego allows residents to enjoy the attractions, like the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, or events in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Del Mar
Del Mar is a beach city sandwiched between La Jolla and Solana Beach. Over two miles of sandy beaches line the coast, making plenty of room for residents and visitors alike. Torrey Pines State Beach is next door and is known for its sandstone cliffs.
But Del Mar is more than just a beach town. Residents can enjoy events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds across the San Dieguito River. Moving here from Lexington, Kentucky? You’ll feel right at home at the Del Mar Racetrack at the fairgrounds, where you can attend horse races at a track that dates back to the 1930s!
Encinitas
Just north of Del Mar is Encinitas, a beach city bordered by the Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and the San Elijo Lagoon to the south. Moonlight State Beach is the city’s main attraction, having earned its name and reputation from the local popularity of midnight picnics in the early 20th century. Cardiff State Beach is another popular beach, located in the southern corner of Encinitas and perfect for surfers.
For renters who prefer land activities, hiking trails at San Elijo Lagoon and Ecological Reserve and San Dieguito Lagoon both offer breathtaking views. The San Diego Botanic Garden is also in Encinitas and has over 5,000 plant species spread across 37 acres.
La Jolla
La Jolla is consistently ranked as one of California’s best beach destinations. This small corner of San Diego boasts seven miles of coastline, offering plenty of space for fun in the sun. According to the City of San Diego, La Jolla Shores has some of the calmest waters in San Diego. On the contrary, Windansea Beach is a popular spot for surfers because of its strong waves.
The University of California San Diego is in La Jolla, giving residents easy access to the university’s events and facilities. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography elevates the beach town atmosphere, and the institution’s Birch Aquarium is one of the only aquariums in the U.S. that houses Little Blue Penguins.
La Playa
Translating to “the beach” in Spanish, La Playa lives up to its name. This neighborhood sits along San Diego Bay on the Point Loma Peninsula and is home to the aptly (and redundantly) named La Playa Beach, where beachgoers can watch boats sail by.
While the La Playa neighborhood itself is quiet, the nearby Roseville-Fleet Ridge neighborhood has plenty of locally owned restaurants serving fresh seafood, and the nearby Point Loma Park hosts the annual Point Loma Summer Concerts series.
Mission Beach
Mission Beach is a sand spit in the middle of the Golden Strand, the stretch of beaches from Pacific Beach Point to the Mission Bay channel. Beachgoers enjoy sunbathing, beach volleyball, and bodyboarding in the ocean’s gentle waves. On the bayside, Mission Point Beach along Mariner’s Basin and Santa Barbara Cove both offer quieter areas perfect for paddleboarding.
Because Mission Beach is such a small area, the beach shapes much of the community’s amenities. The Mission Beach Boardwalk spans the coast of the area and is lined with restaurants, bars, and cafes. Belmont Park sits in the middle of the boardwalk area and features old-school amusement park rides and games.
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is just across the Point Loma Peninsula from La Playa, just below the Golden Strand. Its location on the ocean side of the peninsula makes it a better destination for surfing, and the Ocean Beach Pier is perfect for fishing. While other beaches in the San Diego metro area prohibit dogs on the beach, Dog Beach in Ocean Beach is the exact opposite. In 1972, it became one of the first official leash-free beaches in the U.S.
Ocean Beach offers plenty of ways to enjoy the sea breeze. Robb Athletic Field is a huge public recreation center where residents can play pickup basketball or try some new tricks at the city’s first skatepark. Newport Avenue is full of restaurants, cafes, and bars that offer patio seating and ocean views. Snap some golden hour photos at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, and keep an eye out for California gray whales migrating in February!
Pacific Beach
Residents of Pacific Beach enjoy beaches in every direction. Pacific Beach is the main attraction, but Tourmaline Surfing Park and the bayside beaches in Mission Beach are also popular spots. Anglers will enjoy fishing on Crystal Pier, a historic wooden pier known for its cottages and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
Don’t feel like washing sand out of your hair? Kate Sessions Memorial Park offers plenty of space for picnics, a game of frisbee, or your dog’s zoomies, all with panoramic ocean views! Restaurants along the boardwalk at Pacific Beach offer oceanfront dining experiences, allowing customers to enjoy the sound of the ocean over fresh seafood dishes.
Solana Beach
Just north of Del Mar, Solana Beach is an upscale coastal town with 1.7 miles of beaches. Fletcher Cove Beach Park is a standout, consisting of both a sandy beach and a grassy park with a playground, basketball court, and picnic area. Fletcher Cove Beach Park hosts the Concerts at the Cove series every summer, which highlights local talent and brings the community together.
Solana Beach has plenty to do on land, too. The San Elijo Lagoon to the north has lots of hiking trails, like Annie’s Canyon Trail or the Gemma Parks Trail. For some retail therapy, the Design District along Cedros Avenue occupies two and a half blocks with boutiques, cafes, and art galleries and hosts a weekly farmers market all year.
Ready to make the move?
If San Diego’s sparkling beaches have caught your eye, take the next step with Apartments.com! Whether you’re looking to catch some waves or just to lie in the sand, Apartments.com has the tools to help you find the perfect place. Navigate housing across neighborhoods with our customized search engine and use our customizable filters to narrow your search by price, amenities, and floor plan.
Wherever you are and wherever you’re going, the options are endless with Apartments.com.
