Central Beach

Pristine, family-friendly beach known for its wide, sandy shores and sparkling ocean views. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and beach sports. The beach is clean, with gentle waves ideal for all ages. Stunning sunsets and the iconic Hotel del Coronado make it even more charming 😎

Clean beach. Sparkling water. Water is chilly. Caution: the waves can get very big.

Brought the kid to take a dip into the Pacific in late March 2024 (yeah cold, but he's young and his blood's on fire) and were disappointed to find "beach closed due to bacteria" signs up and down the beach. A lifeguard truck seemed to be pulling out towards the water and calling swimmers back from the surf. A little research and I see the Tijuana River is dumping millions of gallons of human sewage out near Imperial Beach and it's led to closures of Coronado pretty often the past two years. Gross. This is an environmental disaster, and such a shame for a beautiful beach. The hotel was also under construction on the facade, so the trip through all that bridge traffic was a washout. Should have gone straight to Point Loma, I guess, and we'll strike Coronado off our list until "swimming in human excrement" is not on the menu.

Nice beach, nice restrooms, lots of lifeguards, not too busy. Gross water and notice was posted to not enter the water due to high bacterial levels from contamination.

It's really beautiful when the tide is low! Try to go on a weekday to avoid crowds and find parking.

Beautiful, clean beach for families, picnics, and sunbathing! We parked off Loma (free unlimited-hour street parking) and walked over within a few minutes. We sat to the left of the little dip in the sand (closer to the hotel) and found there to be far fewer people, though we would’ve had plenty of space regardless - the beach is huge (wide and long!). There is a free public restroom/bathroom directly behind the lifeguard tower. If you’re on a sand dollar hunt, I found two that were fully intact! Great beach, highly recommend.

Memories, memories. Great place to hang out, bring your family to, and also meet new people and have long-lasting relationships. There's a group of people who play volleyball every Sunday at 1300/1pm. Check it out.

Beautiful place to go in San Diego!

Pristine, family-friendly beach known for its wide, sandy shores and sparkling ocean views. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and beach sports. The beach is clean, with gentle waves ideal for all ages. Stunning sunsets and the iconic Hotel del Coronado make it even more charming 😎

Clean beach. Sparkling water. Water is chilly. Caution: the waves can get very big.

Brought the kid to take a dip into the Pacific in late March 2024 (yeah cold, but he's young and his blood's on fire) and were disappointed to find "beach closed due to bacteria" signs up and down the beach. A lifeguard truck seemed to be pulling out towards the water and calling swimmers back from the surf. A little research and I see the Tijuana River is dumping millions of gallons of human sewage out near Imperial Beach and it's led to closures of Coronado pretty often the past two years. Gross. This is an environmental disaster, and such a shame for a beautiful beach. The hotel was also under construction on the facade, so the trip through all that bridge traffic was a washout. Should have gone straight to Point Loma, I guess, and we'll strike Coronado off our list until "swimming in human excrement" is not on the menu.

Nice beach, nice restrooms, lots of lifeguards, not too busy. Gross water and notice was posted to not enter the water due to high bacterial levels from contamination.

It's really beautiful when the tide is low! Try to go on a weekday to avoid crowds and find parking.

Beautiful, clean beach for families, picnics, and sunbathing! We parked off Loma (free unlimited-hour street parking) and walked over within a few minutes. We sat to the left of the little dip in the sand (closer to the hotel) and found there to be far fewer people, though we would’ve had plenty of space regardless - the beach is huge (wide and long!). There is a free public restroom/bathroom directly behind the lifeguard tower. If you’re on a sand dollar hunt, I found two that were fully intact! Great beach, highly recommend.

Memories, memories. Great place to hang out, bring your family to, and also meet new people and have long-lasting relationships. There's a group of people who play volleyball every Sunday at 1300/1pm. Check it out.

Beautiful place to go in San Diego!

Everytime I visit Coronado Beach, I always get such incredible views of the beach especialy at sunset. I can't compare these sunsets to other places in San Diego because it is very unique. Love being there.

A beautiful gold speckled beach along Ocean Blvd. The view is amazing with the Point Loma mountain to the far left side, and the San Diego Bay entrance in between. There is a dog beach at the end of Ocean once you get to the large grassy area. It's all street parking either along Ocean, or at any of the many residential streets. They do have restrooms, and beach shower spray posts. It's always a great time out here!

Amazing beach and easily accessible from downtown San Diego. We rented out umbrellas and chairs from Hotel Del Coronado. Quite a chill place. So many food options around in walking distance. Had a great beach day with family.

Mom and I walked all over this beach and really enjoyed it it's absolutely stunning and not too populated. Parking was easy for us to find on the street but maybe just got lucky.

So busy, very easy to get to. Has a man made area to explore when the tide is low. So many shells at this beach! I was amazed!! However, when we went there was a sewage spill and the water was not safe to swim

Two words: tide pools! This clean beach is not for dogs (you can walk them on a leash on the paved pathway). The minerals in the sand literally look like gold dust. My son loved splashing around in the tide pools but in mid day, all we saw were shells. We never found a rinse off station which is a huge con. On a Thursday mid morning, we found plenty of parking at the free parking lot on Avenida de Arenas but I could see how it could be packed on a weekend. There are many places to eat at Hotel del Coronado but we went to Miguel's Cocina on other side of resort. We did check out the shops at Hotel del to find a baby hat but didn't find one. You can also rent beach chairs through Hotel Del's website but we opted out as we were only there one hour. Gorgeous beach and views are abundant!

Best beach ever!!! Clean and beautiful. Highly recommend for a peaceful beautiful day with a sprinkle of military aircraft's above.

Coronado Beach is located in the beautiful city of Coronado, CA, right across the bridge from San Diego, or off the Silver Strand. The beach was voted on one of the best beaches in America, and I can clearly see why! Parking is fairly easy as to where there is free parking on the side of the street. There are a lot of fun things to do on the beach, from playing volleyball or surfing and even just laying out getting that fresh San Diego Sun! The sand is white, and there are even rolling hills on the beach. They have lifeguards on station as well as beach trucks that patrol up and down the strip, making sure everyone is safe. They have the lovely hotel Del Coronado looking off onto the beach as well as a couple of beach bars. There are no dogs allowed on the beach or sand, but right down the strip, there is a dog beach where dogs are allowed in a gated fenced beach. There are sidewalks where you will find families taking long beach walks, riding bikes, or my personal favorite runners running along the beach sidewalk. Overall, this is a must visit when in Coronado to just soak up the sun and experience the chill atmosphere and visit a clean beach. I promise you that you will find yourself here more than you imagined because if you're not going to the beach weekly and living in San Diego, then most likely you're wasting your money living here in Americas finest!

Coronado was such a beautiful place despite the almost panic attack I had going over the bridge!! Lol there is a giant mat that walks you out almost all the way out to the waves. There is gold flecks in the sand and you can hear the military helicopters flying through the clouds to land. The whole family really enjoyed this beautiful beach and easily one of my top favorites. Cannot wait to come back! Thank you beautiful Tina M for the recommendation!!

Such a beautiful beach. It was so clean and there was a lot of street parking. We came for the Sunset and it did not disappoint.

Beautiful beach just off from Hotel del Coronado with lots of sand and very roomy. The hotel itself is extremely expensive bt amazing, and the beach can be accessed for free and by parking nearby. We have been here a couple hours and it's very peaceful and serene. Definitely a place to visit and add to your bucket list if you like beaches.

Wow what a nice beach. I had ventured out to Coronado to plane spot at the Naval base there and since the approach path goes right over it, it was a great place to set up. I will caution you I was there mid week around noon and parking was not too bad, but come a weekend it would be a tough spot to find parking. It is a nice long beach and fairly wide providing plenty of room for people to spread out. As a bonus at the north end is the aptly named Dog Beach where you 4 legged family can romp. Temperature was perfect for a May in San Diego as well. The area I accessed the beach from was closer to the Northern end and it is a residential areas with very in the way of services. But the views are fantastic and if you are into ship and plane watching the Northern end cannot be beat.

Let's face it; the San Diego area has some insanely gorgeous beaches. I mean, that's what they're essentially known for, right? The beach and the sun! But Coronado Central Beach.... Lawdy, Lawd, laaaaawd! This beach is in a league of its' own. FIRST of all. It's Coronado... not San Diego. And, don't chu get it twisted. When it comes to island life, the beaches are just... different. I can't really explain it but... it's just something that you have to experience for yourself. Coronado Central Beach is just a short drive over the bridge from San Diego, but it feels like your worlds away. Let's talk about it; that super soft white sand. Those gorgeous shallow waves. Those amazing city views on either side of you. This is what you'll be able to enjoy whilst spending a lovely day on this beach. Easy parking on the street and and easy trek out to the water. But despite this, it wasn't overwhelmingly crowed because there's literally so much space here. This beach feels like it stretches on for miles. There's also a nice walking path that overlooks the beach. It's the perfect place to get some cardio in while admiring the beauty. And if you're a beach napper like me, you will looooove Coronado Central Beach! It's so warm and comfortable here which makes it easy relax and fall asleep. It's just a gorgeous beach all around. So again, we all know that SD has some amazing beaches! And of course, I'll never take away from that. But Coronado Central Beach just hits a little differently. It's worth the short trek over the bridge to explore.

Want to catch an easy access beach in San Diego? Perfect destinatiom spot for those visiting - Grab a few blankets, some snacks, & your favorite person(s) and watch the beautiful sunset or sunrise. Perfect quiet time, a secluded place to have conversation, and enjoy special moments with your loved ones.

Can't swim in the water as it's contaminated with piss and shit and all sorts of other hazardous chemicals. The beach is beautiful. The scene is fun and walking up and down the strip is worth a trip. Downtown is super cool as well.

We had a great time at Coronado Beach! Unfortunately the water was closed due to high levels of bacteria. The shimmering sand is beautiful. I wish there was a shorter walk to reach the sand like at some of the other beaches. The long walk is hard for people with mobility issues. Other than that, this is a magical beach.

This is the best beach in all of San Diego County. It's picturesque and the sand is white and so silky soft!! The Del is an iconic hotel where the beaches are amazingly perfect. Dogs are welcome here!!

So beautiful I didn't want to leave, living here right on the beach waking up everyday to such a beautiful view are very fortunate. The water was so warm.

This is one great beach!!! While staying here for a few days, one of my daily highlights was coming here and running along the paved path passing all the hotels. There is a large military presence here, with the huge Naval Air Station that dominates the northern part of this beach, you will see naval aircraft passing overhead and landing here pretty consistently. You will also see a mix of tourists walking along the path, locals hanging out, and military personnel running and working out on the sand, especially in the morning. Seeing them brought me back to my military days (4 years in the U.S. Army), always a good memory. Parking near the beach is definitely a challenge, I was fortunate that my hotel was only a few blocks away. The paved path is about 1 mile long, then it's all sand walking after that, I really enjoyed seeing the cruise ships off in the distance. I thoroughly enjoyed myself here!!

Coronado is so freakin dreamy. So many heart eyes for this beach. If you're visiting SD I definitely recommend making a trip to Coronado. Hopefully a picnic on the beach will be part of your experience! There are several local spots with takeout just a few blocks away. I think one of the coolest things about this beach are the accessibility options. I had never considered what goes into a beach day for someone in a wheelchair until I visited this spot. They offer beach accessible wheelchairs free of charge at the Central Beach Lifeguard Tower. Okay so they are CURRENTLY being serviced from what I just read, but hopefully if you need them they will be back up - I'd call first. Even without the rentals I've never seen a beach with such a long wheelchair ramp on the sand. You can really get out and onto the beach here- I had never considered how difficult that would be at most other SoCal Beaches. Glad to see some are starting to plan for that!

After a long drive we stopped by Coronado Beach before checking in to our hotel. Our girls had never been to a beach yet and we thought it would be perfect after so many hours in the car to let them play. They have been wanting to go for some time now. It was late afternoon and the drive through Cornodo Island to get there was beautiful. I could have spent hours looking for shells and enjoying all thr unique ocean life that washes up on shore. I loved watching the seagulls steal food and toys they thought were food from people. Everyone was so friendly. Our girls had a blast. There were a lot of people out on boards. There was no fee where we parked which was nice. There were a few places to eat and get drinks as well.

It's always a pleasant drive here and a retreat from a busy day or week or month. Not an issue when it comes to parking, there is always somewhere along the whole stretch of the beach. Whether just relaxing on beach chair, playing some sports, eating, exercise, walk towards the Hotel, it just works as a therapy. It's a little island that gives a feeling to be somewhere far from San Diego though not really.

I love this beach. It's my safe place. The beach is kept well, it's beautiful, clean, no pollution/no litter, and just peaceful. Tourist come here for the hotel Del and so that's probably why it's kept in the best shape. I love the view of the city, the hotel and ocean day to sunset and even at night. It's a magic place. The boardwalk is tiny, but mighty. Lots of people here from all walks of world. I befriended people renting out a house, asked them to greet me as a cowboy and they said they really were cowboys from Texas! Awesome memories in this place, nothing but nice happy people come here :)

Love the beach but don't count on the lifeguarding. In 2023, the lifeguards missed my kid getting swamped in a rip current. When I spoke to the manager the next day, I was told about the dangers of nature generally and heard nothing further. The error occurred in clear view of the first lifeguard tower adjacent to the dog beach. Don't count on lifeguarding here.

It is STUNNING!! The cleanest beach with crowds. After our golf cart drive around. We walked about 10 mins from the rental to Coronado Beach. The locals and visitors are different here compared across the bay. The atmosphere and vibes just allowing us to let our guards down. So much more etiquette and politeness all around. It is the safest beach or town we've ever visited. Thanks to our military service members! Definitely family and kids friendly environment! Go visit Coronado!!

Love Coronado - had always visited the other side of the island and not the beach but we did this time with the kids and they loved it. The water wasn't super cold so it was nice to get the feet in the water. Kids loved playing with the waves and sand. Showers are close by too for convenience. Plenty of food options although expensive and very touristy but the pizzas were amazing. Beautiful day out!

Nice beach with public restrooms and grilling areas. They have these mats on the sand to make it easier to walk. Parking seems a little crazy. That to me was one of the downfalls. I liked watching the military planes. There are large chunks of kelp that wash up. Interesting for people not used to that lol! You can also get lucky and find some nice shells or sand dollars.

It's rated one of the top 10 public beaches in the world, if not the best. The sand is silky smooth, the view is gorgeous and the space is massive. No matter how many ppl are there you can always find a spot for you and your crew. And my crew is sometimes like 50+ ppl. The best spot IMO for overall is by the lifeguard station. There's the wide open space, the close street parking, the bathrooms, the volleyball nets and did i mention the bathrooms? that's key when you're with kids and also if you want a place to rinse down afterward. I vote it the #1 beach in the world.

Great beach to go to. Park can suck a little but worth it! Best beach in the SD area.

This is definitely one of my favorite beaches!! The only downside is the fact that parking is solely street parking, so you may have to drive around a bit until you find a spot. Trust me, it's worth the search! Since there's no boardwalk, it's fairly quiet and very relaxing. It doesn't typically get too busy, but even if there's a lot of people, you can still find a relaxing spot. This is the perfect place to tan, play Spikeball, hang out with friends, or walk along the shore with your feet in the water! I personally don't go into the water further than calf height, but my friends loved playing in the water as well! I love this beach so much! It's always worth the drive to Coronado and the time spent searching for a parking spot.

This is a great place to enjoy some ocean views and a cool breeze. You can enjoy a great walk or run and relax and enjoy. If you have a chance this is a great place to visit.

A calm and chill beach to chill with family, friends, and pets. We came here after hanging around GasLamp in search for a change of scenery. In all my times down in SD, I had never been to Coronado or this beach until now. The neighborhood along the beach front path is so dreamy....I hope to live somewhere as beautiful as this in the future! Parking along the beach is kind of hit or miss it seems -- you gotta circle around a bit and hope that someone is leaving just at the right time. Once we got to the beach, everyone (especially my dog) was so happy. There is tons of space along the water to grab a spot and just chill which we all really appreciated. I did feel like compared to other SD beaches, there are a lot of other ones that I prefer like Mission Beach. The Coronado Beach was nice, especially if you are staying at the Coronado Hotel, but it isn't a typical white sand beach that you see in some other areas. Because it is kind of an independent island area, there aren't lots of shops around or things happening. This could be preferable for a lot of people, especially if they are looking to chill and relax with some space. On the other hand, I kind of wish there was a little bit more going on so that I could grab a bite to eat or grab a drink without fully packing up and leaving the beach! If you are in the area, I think this beach is worth seeing but probably not the only beach you will want to check out.

The beach is absolutely gorgeous and is always super clean and very family friendly. The historic Coronado hotel sits along this beach and the town of Coronado as a whole is very walkable and features many different access points to the Beach. Parking can be tough to find so if you are staying at a hotel or with family or friends on the island do yourself a favor and skip the parking Olympics, opt to walk instead of driving.

I LOVEEEEE this beach. Like any other place in SD, parking is on the street or in the neighborhood if you can find a spot. The beach itself is clean and the water is clean. Both the water and sand have specks of gold in it. Really gorgeous in the sun. We spent some time in the water and of course walked over to the Coronado hotel to check it out. It's owned by Hilton now, but it's a gorgeous hotel. Great place to spend the day!

I forget how beautiful Coronado Beach is. I used to visit as a kid but it's been a long, long time. I remembered how magical it is on my most recent visit. The sand is apparently imported from Hawaii (as told during Hotel Del orientation). But, what adds to the magical quality is how this beach literally glitters. It's like someone dumped a bunch of gold glitter into the water! This glittering effect is from mineral mica. It creates an UNREAL effect at sunset or any time of day really. You can rent some beach chairs and an umbrella from the hotel (even if you're not staying there) and park your keister at the beach ALL day. There were definitely more people around 11am, but it cleared out pretty quickly before sunset. It's not a small beach either so there's plenty of room to spread out! It's good people watching though with plenty of couples taking engagement, wedding photos. The sand sculpture artist seems like staple here too & he's always creating some magnificent creations! Note that if you decide to picnic here -- the seagulls are pretty aggressive and comfortable with humans. One came up and snatched up an entire bag of beef jerky! We were able to get it back though, ha.

Coronado Beach is one the best beaches in SoCal I have been too! The beach was super clean, sand was soft, and water looked clearer then most. Free street parking was easy to find during COVID, late morning, on a Saturday. There are also meters and paid lots all around the area but free street parking is the best option if you can find it. No dogs on the beach. Was not super busy the weekend I went. People were spread out well but no masks on. I was fine with it since we were in our own space. Depends on peoples comfort levels. First time here. Never went pre covid because it is always crazy packed. Kiddos had a ton of fun, will be back!

Once you find parking it's a pretty chill beach. It almost feels like it is a hidden gem. Not a ton of rocks so there is plenty of room to relax and swim. Every time I've been here it's never been over crowded which a bonus if you've been to other beaches.

We came here on a late Saturday morning. Unable to find street parking we parked in the Hotel Del Coronado garage. It was a short walk to the beach from there. The windy condition and chilly weather did nothing to deter beach lovers. The wide open beach with soft white sand under a picturesque blue sky seemed so inviting. We picked a spot practically in front of the iconic hotel. It's nice that we could access the hotel for restrooms and shop at its many stores. We were able to apply validation from purchases at the hotel stores to defray the expensive parking charge. There's a popular taco stand conveniently close by for food and drinks. We're glad that our grandkids could walk on the beach and put their little feet in the ocean water.

Beautiful. I spent an entire afternoon on the beach. Into the evening I walked the entire beach... from the top end with the dog beach, to the bottom end near the resort hotel. Its stunning. Stay for the sunset!!!!!!! I took a million photos on this beach. I imagine it is packed outside of COVID season... I was lucky to be few of the sparse enjoying my solo outdoor time. Phenomenal. Be sure to visit. There are bathrooms too!

The water is currently contaminated so there is a notice posted. There are volleyball nets available and places to sit and eat. Or you can bring your own items and make your own fun!

Coronado beach is absolutely amazing. There is Mica mixed into the white sand that gives an appearance of glittery gold. It's washed in with the tide from a mountain in Mexico. It's pretty cool. The beach is located right at the end of the Navy runway and you get to see some really cool jets flying around and landing. The beach itself is huge so you'll have plenty of room to spread out. The view out to the Monument Cliff is breathtaking and pictures will do it no justice. There are about a dozen great places just a short walk from the beach that are great for lunch or dinner. Highly, highly recommend Coronado Beach.

This is a beautiful clean beach located in Coronado My first time here. Weather was awesome. People/families are socially distancing. Sand is so soft and smooth. I can't wait to come back here again

Clean, not too crowded, gorgeous views, amazing sunsets. Peaceful. Perfect. This was my mother's favorite place to vacation. I remember her saying to me in 2017, before her first trip here for her 70th birthday, that she was excited to watch the seals. I hadn't ever known her to be a big lover of nature... and then I realized there was a Navy base at the other end of the beach. Ahhhh.... It all made perfect sense lol. In 2019, her ashes went out to sea here, straight out from the coast. So this place will always be special to me.

Hotel Del Coronado is here and you can walk around it a bit. My boyfriend liked the architecture of the hotel. It was cool to see it in person. The beach is pretty big and beautiful. There were lots of people walking around and taking pictures. There is a taco place on the beach but it wasn't open yet so we got lunch somewhere else. A good spot to relax and take in the view.

The coastline offers wide sandy beaches with sparkling sand, courtesy of the mineral mica, which draw visitors from around the world. With its elegant gardens, old-world mansions, quaint shops, and oceanfront dining with spectacular sunset views, no wonder the charmed small town has been named as Coronado, the crowned one in Spanish. It's joyous to pend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, or maybe rent a bike and tour the island via the beachfront boardwalk, let alone it's such a plus to encounter with a beach wedding ceremony. The romantic atmosphere has added more colors to the spectacular sunset moment.

Really really nice beach. Amazing ships pass through here, the view of the beautiful homes surrounding and the many family and friends that visit here. Makes For an amazing time spent. We came here a little later in the day, so the wind definitely picked up and it became cooler out. There is a nicely built lifeguard tower insight and you can also have a bonfire with proper disposal location insight. The cool part about here as well, is that if you google or fly above this beach. There are some sand hill dunes that spell out coronado beach. A must visit beach of many offered while down in the area

The price of admission is well worth it. With the Covid-19 Social Distancing taking place, the beach is les crowded and looks more beautiful with less people laying out and loitering. Parking was much easier. The restrooms were so much cleaner. I felt safe here as there were signs posted up at each entrance. There was also a few Military and Civilian Police driving by, which helped ensure safety guidelines were being followed. Always a great place to enjoy a relaxing stroll and to take in the fresh ocean breeze. I'll be back again to enjoy all the things in life I've previously taken for granted prior to the current pandemic. Please stay healthy and be safe my peeps on FB! We will all get past this and learn to enjoy the little things.

I've lived in San Diego for eight years now and this is still my favorite place for a beach picnic and sunset. There are fire pits available but if you want to get one of them you've got to go early in the day and steak your claim. Anytime I have friends and family in town this is definitely on the list of places we go. But no need to wait for friends and family, it's also a wonderful place for a date night for my fiancé and me. Never fear if picnics aren't your thing, it's so easy to walk down to the Hotel del Coronado and grab a cocktail from one of their beach side bars in a plastic cup and take a little walk along the water. This is the biggest, cleanest and most beautiful beach in the area. I swear the sand even sparkles with little flecks of gold! If you have a dog they have a dog beach all the way to the north of the island that you can bring your pup to frolic in the surf. We also really enjoy laying on the sand and watching the planes and helicopters takeoff and land from the Naval base nearby, very Top Gun... #BEACHMODE

Coronado beach is great for any families or those looking for a great sunset view. Recommend seeing the sunset at least once if you are visiting Coronado for the first time. More of a older/family crowd, if looking for beach parties I would suggest going up to PB.