Oceanside Beaches

Oceanside California Beaches
Visitors can revel and relax at over 3.5 miles of sandy beaches in Oceanside. Popular beaches include Harbor Beach, Breakwater Way, Pier View North and South, Tyson Street Beach, Wisconsin Street Beach, Oceanside Boulevard and Buccaneer Beach. A main beach attraction is the Oceanside Pier, which is the longest over-water wooden pier in California (1,942 feet).


Surf Culture
Oceanside is known for its consistent surf and world-class surf conditions. The city has hosted several major surfing events including US Pro Longboard Championships, NSSA Surf Competition, USSF Surf Competition and World Bodying Surfing Championships. Oceanside also is home to the California Surf Museum, which chronicles the history of surfing through art, photography, film, artifacts and special events.

Breakwater Way

This is a quiet, family beach located just south of Oceanside Harbor. It is popular with surfers and volleyball players. Surfers, however, will have to walk down to the jetty in the summer months when the beach is closed to surfing in front of Lifguard Tower 8. The river jetty is where the San Luis Rey River meets the ocean. A sandbar is often formed here and creates a good surf break. The area at the river mouth is usually one of Oceanside's least populated beaches. This is partly because it is open for surfing only, and because it's a bit of a walk from the parking areas. Children often like to play in the river mouth; this is not advised because it poses a safety concern due to the strong currents and the potential for high levels of bacteria in the river.

Facilities: Breakwater Way has showers and restrooms, some picnic tables and barbecue grills. There is also a volleyball court.

Parking: a pay parking lot is located east of Pacific Street. There is also metered parking along Pacific Street.

Directions: from Interstate 5, take the Coast Highway exit, west; turn left onto Coast Highway. Travel two blocks to Surfrider and turn right. When you reach Pacific Street, turn right and continue three blocks to Breakwater Way. The pay parking lot will be on the east of Pacific Street.


Buccaneer Beach

Buccaneer Beach is Oceanside's smallest beach with a lifeguard tower (Tower 11); however, the beach offers other activities due to the park located across the street. Buccaneer Beach is located approximately one mile north of our city's southern border. During the summer months, the water directly in front of the lifeguard tower and between the rocks that border the neighboring homes is designated for swimmers, waders and body boarders only. As a safety precaution, this area is closed to surfing and is marked by two checkered flags and swim-surf signs. The area outside of the flags is open to surfing and to all other types of water activity.

Facilities: Buccaneer Park is located just across the street from the beach. The park has a large grass area, jungle gym, basketball court, picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms, shower, snack bar and public telephone.

Parking: there is a free parking lot available directly across the street from the beach.

Directions: if you are traveling north on Interstate 5, take the Vista Way exit. From the exit, you will proceed west until you reach Coast Highway, turn right; continue to Cassidy Street and turn left. Cassidy Street will take you to Pacific Street; turn right on Pacific Street and travel half a mile to Buccaneer Beach.

If you are traveling south on Interstate 5, take the Cassidy Street exit west until you reach Pacific Street. Turn right on Pacific Street and travel half a mile to Buccaneer Beach.

Harbor Beach


Beautiful Harbor Beach is Oceanside's largest beach, offering everything from surfing to volleyball. The Oceanside Harbor, adjacent to Harbor Beach, has many amenities including the Marina Inn Hotel and a variety of shops. In the harbor, you can sail, spend the day on a deep-sea fishing boat, whale watch, rent kayaks or visit the marina. Fishing is an option from the jetties. Harbor Beach has three lifeguard towers, Towers 12, 14, 16. Tower 12, at the south end of Harbor Beach, is nearest the south jetty; Tower 14 is situated in the middle of the beach, and Tower 16, at the north end of Harbor Beach, is nearest the north jetty. Harbor Beach is a beautiful venue that has something to offer everyone.

Facilities: the area behind each lifeguard tower has picnic tables, barbecue grills, gazebos and showers. There are restrooms and telephones, a snack bar and some volleyball courts (you supply the net and ball). There are 24 fire rings along Harbor Beach.

Parking: there are a number of parking lots in the Harbor beach area.

Directions: From Interstate 5, take the Harbor Drive exit, west; Harbor Drive will take you directly to the entrance of the Harbor.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach

Oceanside Boulevard offers more actual beach area than its neighbor, Buccaneer Beach. All along the beachfront, there are private homes facing the ocean. During the summer months there is an area directly in front of the lifeguard tower (Tower 9), approximately 200 ft., that is designated for swimmers, waders and body boarders only. For safety precautions, this area is closed to surfing and will be marked by checkered flags and swim-surf signs. There is a very large rock that sits in the surfline approximately 300 feet south of the lifeguard tower and can be seen at low tide.

Facilities: there are no restrooms located at this beach. There is a shower. The closest public restroom is either Buccaneer or Wisconsin Street beach.

Parking: parking is available along Pacific Street and other neighboring streets.

Directions: from Interstate 5, take the Oceanside Boulevard exit; go west to the beach and to Lifeguard Tower 9.

Pier View North
If you're looking for a quiet, relaxed
atmosphere, Pier View North is the
place to come. With a wide, white
sandy beach, come to swim, boogie
board, and play volleyball.
Facilities: restrooms, showers.
Parking: One pay parking lot just north
of the Pier, one on the corner of
Mission Ave and Myers St, and on
Surfrider Way, ½ block east of Pacific
St. There is also metered parking along
Pacific St.
Directions: From I-5, take the Mission Ave Exit, west; continue on Mission Ave approximately 1.5
miles to Pacific St and Oceanside Pier will be on the right. There is beach access from Pacific St at the
Pier and Surfrider Way.

Pier View South
Oceanside's most popular beach, is located south of
the Oceanside Pier.
Surfing, body boarding and body surfing contests are
held at the Oceanside Pier throughout the summer.
There are also various events that are held in the
Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.
The Pier itself is also a beautiful walk and a popular
fishing spot and at the end of the Pier is Ruby's, a
50's style diner.
Amenities include: picnic tables, benches and
barbecues.
Facilities: playground equipment, restrooms and
showers
Parking: there are pay parking lots located south and
north of the Pier. Another pay parking lot is located
one block east of Pacific St on Mission Ave and
Myers St. There is also metered parking available on
Pacific St.
Directions: From I-5, take the Mission Ave Exit, west. Continue until you reach Pacific St.

Tyson Street Beach
Tyson St beach, also known as Tyson
St Park, is within walking distance of
the Oceanside Pier. Just a few feet
from the beach, it is a great location
for picnics. Stairs are provided for
beach and park access from Pacific
St.
Amenities: picnic tables, benches,
children's playground.
Facilities: restrooms, showers, and a
public telephone are available.
Parking: metered parking available on
Pacific St. The nearest parking lot is
located one block east of Pacific St
and one block north of Tyson St on the corner of Mission Ave and Myers St. There are also two
handicapped parking spaces available on The Strand.
Directions: From I-5, take the Mission Ave Exit, west. Proceed west on Mission Ave to Pacific St,
turn left on Pacific St and continue for about ½ mile until you reach Tyson St.

Wisconsin Street Beach
Wisconsin St and The Strand.
This is a beach with an attitude.
When the tide is high, the water
often comes all the way up to the
rocks.