Ocean Beach

Beautiful sandy beach with dunes with public parking. Popular with surfers, kite surfers, dog walkers and families. The surf is inviting but the water is cold so a wetsuit is advisable. Can be windy or foggy but in January the weather was calm and sunny.

A great recreational area that’s soon to be even better thanks to the permanent closure of the Upper Great Highway. Clean up crews need to rotate through the parking area more frequently but there have been improvements compared to years past. The Beach Chalet and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden are a stone’s throw away; the shops on LaPlaya St are also close by; mediocre grocery store but decent cafe/deli/diner food options. Please be kind to your fellow visitors: do not litter or idle your vehicle needlessly.

Just could not believe my eyes watching the sunset it was such a surreal experience. Would recommend this place for anyone looking to catch up sunsets.

Love coming here when I visit San Francisco and it's chill but there are a lot of homeless and crime here when I was here. Be aware when you walk on the great highway after 8pm there are some people who camp in car and come out to rob you in the ocean beach parking lot

Beaches are best when deserted and the skies are grey , hills are blue , pink light in the horizon , and it’s mid November ! Love the silhouettes of surfers to catch the highs tides

First time at the Pacific Ocean. So beautiful. I found a few sand dollars. Loved the clean beach.

Get your beach mat and loved ones to watch the sunset at this beautiful beach. You would see people with families and dogs, enjoying the water or just sitting, relaxing with a snack. Parking could be a task though.

Wow breathtaking view and amazing walk

Love going to Ocean Beach I grew up around 44th district and going to the beach and walking my dogs was my favorite thing todo. They were hosting a sandcastle beach thing at ocean beach which was really nice for the kids and adults to come look at

Compared to SoCal beaches, Ocean Beach is not the prettiest, but it's become a place of solitude and nostalgia with its frigid waters, periodic sand dollars, and Corgi Con.  I recommend wearing shoes (at least until you're closer to the shore.) Besides the cold sand, there are the occasional needles and glass shards hidden in the sand near the Great Highway.

While mostly cold, there are a handful of days when this beach can actually be warm and it almost feels like a Southern California beach. To walk the length of Ocean Beach from the Zoo area to Camera Obscura is about 3 miles and takes about an hour walking. Lots of people like to go running here and it gets busy when it's warm. It's mostly flat but there are some sand dunes for more resistance from Lincoln to Noriega streets. I love all the cute nearby beach coffee places: Taraval-Avenues and Andytown Sloat- Java Beach at the Zoo La Playa-Java Beach Café and Andytown Noriega-Devil's teeth

4/6/2024 was one of those beautiful days. Karl owns this turf on mist days. So happy he took the day off. Parking is plentiful if you lean away from the Richmond side to the Sunset side. The beach is groomed by the heavy equipment forming a nice approachable beach. I believe bon fires are once again an approved activity. Call ahead to confirm.

This beautiful beach is great for picnicking and napping, which is exactly what we did on a Sunday afternoon. So peaceful, and plenty of space to hold a considerable amount of visitors as it's the largest beach in SF, though we didn't have to deal with any crowds on a cool spring day with the sun shining after the rains, and instead we enjoyed watching all the adorable dogs running around on the smooth sand. Listening to the calming sounds of the waves, and taking in the views of the endless ocean and sky, there's not much more I could ask for. Also, tons of parking in the dedicated lot or street parking along the great highway make it more accessible for visitors.

Ocean Beach is a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach. It's adjacent to Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway runs alongside the beach. We came and enjoyed hanging out here, even though it was quite windy.

My favorite beach in the bay area. It's easy to get to by car and there are plenty of lots to park and pack a bag to hit the beach. I spent many an afternoon on a blanket here with friends and good food. Being from the midwest, it's hard to even process what look at an ocean so often is like. I can still hear the sounds of the water to this day. I love that this is the pacific ocean, and not the bay. You can see out endless blue water. Even walking around and hitting the surf side restaurant lends itself to such beautiful views. Definitely one of my favorite spots to getaway too, just a few miles from my apartment.

We just made a really quick stop here while driving around for the afternoon. It was just a typical beach for me. It was so cold out so I didn't go out my toes in the water which I regret now! I hope to come back again when it's warmer and enjoy it to its fullest.

I came here around noon and it was still kind of foggy and chilly. I was surprised to see that there were some brave souls scattered throughout the beach considering it wasn't anything close to beach weather. A lot of people were here to play volleyball as all the nets were taken. I didn't have trouble finding parking but I can see how the parking lots would fill up on a warm day. A lot of people were still taking walks, jogging and biking near the beach. I tried walking on the beach but I think after walking for half a mile, everything just started to look the same with no end in sight so I gave up and headed back to my car. My only concern about coming to Ocean Beach would be the restrooms. I couldn't find a porta potty or anything so I highly recommend you use the restroom before coming here. Thankfully my next destination was Lands End and they had a restroom at the lookout. The best part about going to the beach today was hearing the waves crashing, hearing the seagulls chirping and feeling the breeze hit my face. These are things I don't really get to experience where I live. Even though it was cold, I felt alive being out here.

A really nice spring day to stroll on the beach. The gushing waves were loud and soothing. Always interesting to observe what's get washed onto the shore. Today I see what looked liked mussels but upon closer observation they were soft and hollow. What could they be? Nature always arouses curiosities.

We walked to this beach from the tulip garden. The tulip garden was at the wind mills. And we saw the beach when we left the garden. It's nice, breezy, and sunny. We saw the waves. We saw some cute dogs running on the beach. We sat on the tall hedges separating the beach from the sidewalk. This beach is great. Had a fun stop here.

My favorite crabbing beach ...the beach is plenty long,wide with decent parking provided you get out there early ..you can also catch the muni to the Judah/ocean beach location and walk across the road. You'll see plenty of surfers/anglers and people just out for a walk ..even when overcast and cold it's a great beach...I mainly go here to crab snare for Dungeness...crabbing here is very good. Campfires are allowed I believe but only during March and October. Always a good day

We walked around and took pictures of the sutra baths, Golden Gate Bridge from our view. Love love being my ocean!

Review #700. On a recent sunny day, my fur baby dragged me down to the beach. We walked along the shoreline in a relatively safe distance, enjoying the sand and the smell of the ocean. He would prance along, pause, sniffs, looks back at me, tongue out (is that a smile?) and continue on, and then repeat. It never fails to amaze me that people surf and swim here. Especially on rainy stormy days. Lots of sneaker waves and rip currents, plenty of signs warning about them, too. Aside from the occasional walk on the sand, I actually prefer to view, appreciate and photograph this beach from afar. According to the parks conservancy, this area (Sunset and the Richmond districts) bordering this beach were at one time, a vast sand-dune. And the development of these areas came in the late 19th century when we had a stem railroad that would bring people out to play by the beach. Playland at the Beach was an amusement park that is no longer here, but I have seen photos of it. Cliff house was here, but now closed due to the pandemic. You can see the ruins of the Sutro Baths still. Should you want to experience this beach and it's surrounding in person, Ocean Beach is 3.5 miles long, so this makes for a nice walk or jog. Most of the time, it's cold here, so wear some layers.

Ocean beach is amazing. We were super lucky and had front parking. It was clean, not too crowded and the sand didn't stick to everything like I feel it does at mission beach. Perfect views and plenty of spots to eat with a view. Definitely one of my favorite beaches and can't wait to come back!

We love going to ocean beach with our puppies!! There's an off leash rule, and our dogs can run freely on the beach. We always make sure to bring doggy bags, so nobody steps into any poop grenades. The beach is constantly changing due to weather and sometimes it's high tide so the cove area on the far right is not open other times we've been able to walk all the way around to the other beach at Lands' End!! Either way, we've always had a great time, and although it's colder, weather are huskies. Love it!!

Ocean Beach holds a special place in my heart. While it may not be the most picturesque beach, I love its vast open space along the sandy shore, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. It's the perfect spot to witness stunning sunsets, take leisurely walks, or fly a kite on sunny yet windy days. Warm nights call for bonfires with friends, and the ample parking area allows for convenient car-side sunset viewing. However, improvements are needed, such as fixing the road in the parking lot and upgrading the garbage disposal system. Wish they'd also add a nice restroom. Despite these minor issues, Ocean Beach remains one of my favorite local destinations to relax and unwind.

The city of San Francisco needs to put many more rip tide warning signs up. I live on a hill overlooking the beach, and I've seen Coast guard search and rescue boats, helicopters, fire engines and ambulances out there searching the waters many times. I've seen a big muscular kayaker nearly drown in the Seal Rock area. I'm aware of a group of children who drowned in ankle deep water. The wind coming off the water will blow sand in your eyes, nose and mouth. Most of the time, even on warm, sunny days, you can't relax on the beach without a warm overcoat.

What can I say Ocean Beach will always have a special place in my heart even when I move out of the Bay Area. Both sides of Great highway is closed on the weekends and the street side next to small great highway on weekdays. Great place to go for a run by the Oceanside, rollerblade, play beach volleyball, bonfires during summer. It's connected to Golden Gate park if you wanted to do a long run/bike. My take: Sunsets on ocean beach are immaculate. Would drive here just to watch it. Street parking available (or parking lot but it gets busy). FYI Be careful of your belongings. I've had my car broken into, nothing shown, but people took some stuff in my trunk . Just be careful like rest of sf.

Just chilling here for a little bit, quite relaxing!! Ok it's cold, so wear something warm! Sun set at 5:45-6pm today 2/24/23z

Favorite open space in SF. The hubby and I go here at least a couple of times per week for barefoot walks/runs. It's fascinating to see how every day is different and how the tide changes the landscape even during the course of an excursion. The resident snowy plovers are a threatened species. Favorite west coast bird!

Last week, we stopped by Ocean Beach to beat the gnarly heatwave that hit Northern California. I'm so glad we came because we had a fun time, it had been many years since I last visited, and it was honestly nice to see that not a lot has changed. It's dog-friendly (a huge plus in my book, as so many places in the Bay Area area these days aren't). I waded in the water but opted not to swim due to the potential risk of riptides, but I saw plenty of people surfing and swimming- to each their own. I would not recommend trying to park here. As plenty of other reviews have noted, it seems like a prime spot for car break-ins. We saw smashed glass on the sidewalk walking in and in the neighborhood where we parked. The only part I wish people would be a little more conscientious about is having their dogs under voice control and/or leashed when appropriate. We saw an off-leash pitbull maul an off-leash husky whose owner was hurt in the scuffle. The whole scene was a bummer, frightening for us and other beachgoers, and could have been avoided by both dogs either being leashed or well-trained enough to be under voice control. It's also worth noting we had several super sweet and well-trained dogs approach us on and off leash, so I hope what we witnessed was a rare anomaly.

Plenty of parking spaces and across a restaurant for bathroom access. There are no portable bathrooms though on site at the beach. Please arrive hours early for reserving a pit for bonfire.

The ocean beach is a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no high rises, basically the waves and the seabirds on the westernmost border of SF, adjacent to Golden Gate Park. It's great for strolling and flying kites, though the water is frigid and the currents hazardous for only the most experienced surfers.

Three miles of beach where our average temp is 55 F ( 13 C ) the bulk of the year, but we do tend to get a few warmish days in September when it averages 60 F ( 15.5 C ). It's really an amazing place that you can get away from the crowds, and Surf (Wet Suit Required), enjoy some time with your fur baby, hike, or enjoy an evening bonfire. Also the Great Highway that parallels the beach closes Friday at 12pm through the weekend, and becomes a shared space for recreation. I took a moment this late afternoon just to marvel at the coast, nature, and to smile seeing the surfers in the water enjoying the waves that were being kicked up by an incoming storm. Just another great day in San Francisco. Btw: you can always get wood for a Bonfire via the Safeway at 850 La Playa St.

It was an unusually warm evening & I was lucky enough to catch this beautiful sunset. On a Sat.evening it was quite populated, so everyone is having the same idea of taking advantage of the weather & ocean view.

This is a beautiful beach, especially at night when the bonfires are blazing, people have speakers with music, rave lights, fireworks, stars in the night sky, the whole shebang. I would definitely come back here. Though I literally just lost my keys here and just called to tow my car :'( keep track of your keys people

May places have changed over the years in San Francisco, but the Pacific Ocean at this Ocean beach seem to remain the same. From the scent.. the sand dollars, the breeze, the sands that linger in your hair, and the solid portion of ground where your feet sinks in by the shoreline. This place is nostalgic for me and I'm sure for many others as well. This is worth stopping by even as a tourist. Although I would not recommend parking by the cliff house with anything exposed as it has become a smash and grab area. Along the entire ocean beach, there are plenty of parking to choose from especially when you're down by SF zoo area.

It was a beautiful day, one of those sunny and warm winter afternoons. We had never been to Ocean Beach so we decided to headed there. Once there, since I am in a wheelchair, we realized other than the parking there wasn't any way for me to get closer to the water. We noticed a restaurant across the road from Ocean Beach, on the back side of Golden Gate Park by the windmills. Being a little hungry, we decided to have a relaxing 2-1/2 hour lunch on 2/27/24, while watching the surfers. I believe the restaurant was called Beach Chalet and had wonderful food and drinks.

Favorite go to childhood beach! After spending the day in San Francisco before it was time for me to go home I said I had to go to the beach even if it was 50° and nearing night! It's just as beautiful as I remember, far and wide, strong winds, and high tide. Perfect sand that's hard from moisture so it doesn't stick to your shoes or skin! I probably stood out there for an hour just admiring and taking in the fresh air. I miss the Bay! Makes me wish I was a kid again.

Came to this beach cause it was right across from the restaurant we had reservations to. The beach is ok. Way better than Galveston Tx thats for sure. Lol. There was a lot of debris in the sand probably from the storms they had In January. So I was a bit hesitant walking through barefoot. Once you make it closer to the water, the area was much cleaner. I was able to find my first sand dollar which they actually had a few wash up while we were walking through. It was nice to walk along the water and watch the surfers ride the waves. Collect sand dollars. And watch the doggies chase the birds. Lol. It was very relaxing. Bring your blankets. Find a clear spot and chill in the sand a bit. Very nice way to escape the "city" for a while.

I love going to ocean beach when I'm stress out. It's so beautiful. Remember to bring warm clothes. It does get cold. You can't bear the sunset

I love going to this beach. There are places to have bonfires, the sandy trek to the water is vast, and it's refreshing to step into the water.

Beautiful long stretch of a beach (about 3.5 miles worth) located in the Outer Richmond neighborhood (and Lands End Trail isn't too far from here) with free parking and is dog friendly for those pups looking to stretch their legs and have some fun in sun. This beach seems to be less populated by tourist and more so with locals. According to our friends (who are from the area), this beach typically isn't crowded. This seemed to be the case when my husband and our little girl dog came on a Thursday morning around 10 am. This large beach does have a few fire rings, in which you can have a bonfire. But these fire rings are only found between stairwells 15 through 20. Although the waves look like fun, please note that that swimming is not recommended here, as the rip currents are very strong here (there are signs placed to warn you). If you are a beach person (or your dog is a beach bum) and have nothing to do on an afternoon, consider spending your time here (it can get cold and windy here by the way). Please note that there are very few restrooms available, with only 3 available. One is located on the other side of Great Hwy, from Sloat Blvd to Judah St (One on Sloat, Taraval and Irving St). But am not sure if they are currently open during the pandemic, so do plan accordingly.

I like long sunset walks on the beach... oh! Oops.. this is Yelp. I'm a total beach whore, day or night, year-round; doesn't matter which season it is.. it's always beach weather! Ocean Beach, by far, is my all-time favorite spot. It has it all !! Sand dunes, cliffs, cave, hike, shells, boulders for interesting views, structures, and views for days. It's such a long continuous stretch with enough space that it feels like you're on your own private beach. Sure, it gets busier towards Land's End and the Sutro Baths, but by then, you're so busy with nature's playground that it doesn't even matter. For the active folks, there's a stairway up by Sutro Baths that takes you onto the California Coastal trail. For the scenic folks, there's a cave path that leads to a nice viewing of the ocean and a concrete slab to chill on (if you dare climb pass the railings). Rocks and boulders are abundant to clamore upon for better sunset views. During certain seasons, the beach is littered with giant sized sand dollars. EVERYWHERE. I'm not talking about those tiny dime-sized ones in SoCal beaches. These are the size of your fist! No, not super saiyan's fist, but big enough. Sorry, no other seashells though. The best part is being able to share this amazing spot with your best friend. Like all places in SF, Ocean Beach is dog friendly. That wins extra points in my book! I wanted to be greedy with this place and not share, but a place this great is no secret. Ocean Beach is so beautiful, I'm sure it's made plenty of panties drop, regardless of fog city weather.

Ocean Beach is a pretty awesome place. For any of the major events there are bonfires all over the beach which does make it almost impossible to breathe. But this is definitely one of California's better non-swimmable beaches.

Love this beach. I love coming on a weekday because there is plenty of parking. I wouldn't swim here as there is a risk of rip tides but it's still great for lying on the beach and listening to the waves or also just getting your feet wet in the Pacific. There are a few public restrooms available along the beach which I really appreciated because finding a public restroom in San Francisco is like a full time job! Also the bathrooms are clean and well maintained. All in all a great city beach that is definitely worth a visit!

wild. This is a review for the very long beach at the west end of SF...have been coming here since I was very young almost since I was born. I recall playland. The dangerous tunnel at Judah. The old great highway where people used to drag race and I too drove very fast. Overall it is much cleaner and safer now both on the sand and on the human made surfaces. This is not Coronado or Kaanapali, but if the weather supported it would we not have all the carnival stuff and shops and crowds? From Fort Chronkite south to Pescadero there are lots of cool spots. Most could use better restroom facilities...I recommend stops at all. Slowly. Bring a book and snacks.

Ocean Beach is beautiful on a clear day, but bleak and dreary on a foggy day. Ocean Beach is located in the western part of SF, and spans the Richmond and Sunset districts. Typically this area doesn't get good weather, so when the sun is shining and there's a gentle breeze, Ocean Beach is a pleasant treat. Right now getting to Ocean Beach is a little bit cumbersome and very trafficky as the Upper Great Highway, which eventually connects to Highway 1, is currently closed to road traffic. That means there are fewer ways to get to Ocean Beach, and fewer ways to traverse the entire length of the beach. Parking can be quite difficult, especially in the more popular areas (e.g. Lincoln Ave to Judah area) given that there are a bunch of businesses there, and the vicinity of the N-Judah turnaround. Parking definitely is more limited when the weather is good, as locals all want to flock to the beach (yes, even during COVID). Anyhow, if you're looking to park, you have better luck past Noriega and southwards on the Great Highway or in the 40's avenues parallel to the Great Highway. My usual route? I usually like walking up from Noriega to Beach/Park Chalet along the paved trail parallel to the Great Highway. For any Pokemon enthusiasts, there are a bunch of water pokemon along this trail, and even more in the Beach/Park Chalet area (which is right next to Golden Gate Park). Definitely check out this beach when the weather is nice. But even then you still might need a light jacket in the event of any sudden fog rolling in or strong chill. Otherwise, skip if weather is foggy and dreary.

The sunsets at ocean beach are stunning!! It's very easy to get to this park by bus. There's many bus lines nearby. Nice area overall perfect for picnics

I can say how lucky I feel to have Ocean Beach within reach! So much beauty SF can share! Breathing in the fresh ocean breeze (During covid with my mask on ) My respects to Mother Nature

Ocean Beach is a great beach next to Golden Gate Park. If you park in the right lot, you can see the windmills inside the west edge of the park. There's three and a half miles of sand and surprisingly, most of the visitors are locals. Not sure why more out-of-towners don't end up there, but that's what happens. At one time, extensive sand dunes separated Ocean Beach from the rest of San Francisco. Late in the 1800s, a steam railroad was added to bring guests to a posh resort. The Cliff House and the Sutro Baths, the latter of which is now ruins, came later. I love to bring lunch and watch people and the seagulls come and go.

Ocean Beach was peaceful. I've been twice. Both on gloomy days but this place still brings me so much joy. The waves crashing is sweet sound to my ears. The hills of San Francisco can be an obstacle in getting to the actual beach if you were like me who was walking. The winds were a little much so it got cold but I enjoyed my time nonetheless.

It's my family's place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Enough said. Also, collecting sand dollars, shells etc.

Amazing beach to be at and enjoy the beauty of ocean beach.. Recommend to go there early to find good parking spot.

Came here after a long day in the city to wooosaaaa, also wanted to watch the sunset, then the moonset. A very cold and windy 43 degree evening in late March. A great place for bonfires but at the looks of things only 3 campfires (a real bonfire has to be at least taller than you, am I right or am I right? As the (apx) 30 mph gusts hit, red hot embers filled the night sky, and scattered the really cold group of people. Looks like the people who had set their pit deeper in the sand had blocked most of the wind, but still a challenging task of tending the fire. Lots of sussy people crawling out as the sun started to set, if you're not used to feeling secure in the city, I would suggest brining a big group with you (strength in numbers). Also, I'd suggest bringing a flashlight as you walk over the sand, I've personally had some close calls with getting stuck by numerous sand hazards. Was able to capture a quarter waxing crescent moon above Venus.

It was a really nice sunny labor day weekend this year so I wasn't surprised to see a lot of people on the beach. We decided to pick a somewhat isolated spot to get away from the crowd as much as we could help it. Where we were was fine, but near the water there were just so many people who didn't seem to be even remotely attempting to respect the shelter in place order - many of them just walked around without any mask on, as if nothing at all were happening in this world. It was foolish, of course scary, and definitely dangerous especially when people started to get comfortable and take the current ongoing covid situation lightly. I wish there were someone with some authority there to monitor the situation and how close of proximity people were gathering. Regardless, overall it was a really nice day to be at the beach. The water was blue, the san was white and hot, and our dog was definitely super excited to be there. It was a great day to be oustside and lay down your beach towel and just hang out. The beach seemed clean too despite the much partying that had been going on since the start of the long weekend.

At first driving past Lands End you think oh what a beautiful site. As you drive closer and park it's a whole different view. I remember this beach being so clean back in the days. Now I am so disappointed with the sight of this place. It's filthy and smells like piss. The area needs a major maintenance!! Im so surprised people are brave enough to hang out on this beach. There's no telling what type of bacteria, fungus, shit or needles you may find. Granted from afar, the beach looks decent but there is so much gross up close. The filthy tagged up walls with dog poo bags lying around, use the garbage cans pet parents!!!! You weren't lazy to pick up the dog poo, now find a garbage can and throw the bag in there!!! That is so annoying! The benches need to be replaced, the stone walls can use a fresh paint, definitely need more trash cans and repaint the parking lots. Everyone just guessing what's a parking slot. And with all the kids curious to look through those view monitors. Parents keep your children away from those filthy rusted waste of space! I hope someone is paying attention to the sight of these beaches. Summer is here and we need a safe place for families to come back to!

No Burn Season: Nov 1 to Feb 28/29. Bonfire Season: March 1 to Oct 31 (legally) Exceptions: Spare The Air Days - no burning. Permitted times: 6am to 9:30pm in the 16 (free) fire pit rings between Stairwells 15 to 20 provided by the National Park Service on a FCFS basis. Tips: BYO firewood. ABSOLUTELY NO WOOD PALLETS. THESE CONTAIN NAILS & nobody wants to step on your rusty nail barefoot. Totes not a good time. Accelerants such as lighter fluid not allowed, "clean burns" only (is there really such a thing tho?) Put out your fires with water & not sand which only is insulates your coal/firewood. Easy peasy to bring a bucket and scoop up some free ocean water to do so. Reminders: No glass allowed on the beach. They also say no alcohol but who we kidding. Pls pack out what you pack in. Plenty of trash receptacles throughout which may or may not be hella full depending on if the sun's out of if Karl The Fog is hovering over The Sunset. Parking lot closes at 10pm daily. Rangers occasionally come out and shoo people away after hours.