Best Family Beaches in San Diego

At Sitterwise, we know San Diego, so let us help you out with a good choice for a family beach outing!

An informal poll about the best beaches for families among Sitterwise staff came back pretty unanimous. CORONADO!

Here’s why:

It’s BIG! It can get crowded in front of the Hotel Del, but if you want a little extra room, move a little north and you can get lots of sand to yourself. Plenty of room for the kite, frisbee, or football.

It’s clean! The sand and the water are among the cleanest in the county. With occasional exception, there is usually very little seaweed to deal with in the water or on the sand.

There’s lots to do! There are normal beach things to do, like building sandcastles and playing in the water, but there’s more at Coronado. The added fun includes occasional flyovers from military planes heading to NAS North Island. (Don’t worry, it’s not constant!) There are firepits at the far north end of the beach, but you might need to get there early to snag one. And of course, there's the Hotel Del! Visitors are welcome to stroll through the historic hotel and check out its boutiques, including a great little ice cream shop.

Here are some other good beaches for families:

If you want the urban feel and don’t mind crowds when you go to the beach, Mission Beach is be a good choice. There’s surf. There’s sand. And just steps from that sand is Belmont Park, described as San Diego’s beachfront amusement park. Think roller coaster, arcades, restaurants and shops.

Looking for a beach in North County? South Ponto Beach in Carlsbad is a gem. You may have to pay to park (street parking also available), but the good news is the parking is close to the sand. It’s clean sand and blue water, so it’s perfect for a walk, run or playing in the water. It’s also a great place to catch a sunset!