Harbor Drive and Pacific Street

Beautiful Harbor Beach is Oceanside's largest beach, offering everything from surfing to volleyball. The waves here are steep and fast and if you like tube rides this is the spot.

Harbor Beach has three lifeguard towers, Towers 10, 12, 14. Tower 10 at the south end of Harbor Beach, is nearest the south jetty. Tower 12 is situated in the middle of the beach, and Tower 14, at the north end of Harbor Beach, is near north jetty. Harbor Beach is a beautiful venue that has something to offer everyone.

Amenities: BBQ grills, picnic tables, snack bar, gazebos, fire rings, volleyball courts (you must provide your own net), restrooms, showers, and telephones. Free parking and pay parking lots are available in the lots east of the Harbor.

Break Water

Pacific Street and Harbor Drive

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 Lifeguard Tower 8. The river jetty is where the San Luis Rey River meets the ocean. A sandbar is often formed here and creates a great hollow right hand surf break.

The area at the mouth of the river mouth is usually one of Oceanside's least populated beaches. This is partly because it is open 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.

Amenities: Barbeque grills, picnic tables, volleyball courts (you must provide your own net), fire rings, restrooms and showers. A pay parking lot is located at the east end of Breakwater Way and east of Pacific Street.

Pier Beach

Pier View Way and Pacific Street

The beaches north of Oceanside Pier have much more sand than those south of the pier and provide more space for those visiting the beach. Due to the Pier Amphitheater being situated on the south side of the pier, there are fewer activities and events that occur on the north side and the pier. This often makes for a quiet, more relaxed atmosphere. There are two lifeguard towers north of the pier (Towers 2 and 4). During the summer months, an area is closed to surfing (blackballed) but open for all other water activities. The surfing and swimming area will always be marked with checkered flags and swim-surf signs.

Amenities: Volleyball courts on the sand (provide your own net) and a small pay parking lot right off of the Strand.

The beach area south of the Oceanside Pier is Oceanside's most popular beach. If you don't mind crowds, you will be comfortable here. Because the waves are so consistent, surfing, bodyboarding, and body surfing contests are held at Oceanside Pier throughout the year. There are also various events that are held in the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.

Due the beachgoers in this area, there are 2 lifeguard towers (towers 1 & 3) relatively close together. Lifeguard Tower 1 sits directly south of the pier and Tower 3 sits approximately 300 feet south of Tower 1. During the summer months, the area from Tower 1 south is closed to surfing most of the day. The area will be marked with a black ball as well as swim-surf signs and black-and-white checkered flags that indicate the boundaries. The surfing area is from Lifeguard Tower to 100 feet from the pier and is closed to all other water activities. No water activity is allowed within 100 feet of the pier. Amenities: covered picnic tables, benches, barbeques, fire rings, pay phones, and vending machines. Close to downtown shops and eateries.

Tyson Street Beach

Tyson Street and Pacific Street

Tyson Street Beach, also known as Tyson Street Park, is within walking distance of the Oceanside Pier. Lifeguard Tower 5 is located here. Since the park is just a few feet from the beach, it is great for picnics. Stairs are provided for beach and park access from Pacific Street. Due to crowds in this area during the summer months, it is necessary to prohibit surfing here for the safety of swimmers and waders. The area will be marked with a black ball flag, checkered flag and swim-surf signs.

Amenities: Wide grassy play yard, picnic tables, benches, playground, restrooms, showers, and public phone. Pay parking lot located where Seagaze meets South Strand, while metered parking is available on Pacific Street. Two handicapped parking spaces are available at Tyson Street on The Strand.

Wisconsin Street Beach

Wisconsin Street and Pacific Street.

The south Strand is a one-way, southbound street that parallels the beach. There is a ramp just north of lifeguard Tower 7 for access to the beach. This is Oceanside's least frequented beach due to the beach being narrow. When the tide is high, the water comes all the way to the rocks, leaving very little or no beach at all. The ocean in this area is open to all water activities. The surf break here breaks left and right with small crowds.

Amenities: Snack shop, restrooms, showers, and a public telephone. Pay parking lot and parking along Pacific Street.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach

Oceanside Boulevard and Pacific Street

Oceanside Boulevard Beach offers more actual beach 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., which is designated for swimmers, waders, and bodyboarders 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. The surf here break left and right and is known for it’s hollow fast waves.

Amenities: Parking is available along Pacific Street and the neighboring streets.

Buccaneer Beach

1500 South Pacific Street, 1/2 Mile north of Cassidy.

Barely 150 feet wide, this beach is more like a sandy break in the wall of condos that separates Pacific Street from the Oceanside breakers. You'll find this family beach frequented by sun worshippers working on their tans. While not known for its waves, Buccaneer can produce good lefts and rights with small crowds.

Amenities: Park with jungle gym, full basketball court, barbeque grills, public restrooms, picnic tables, snack bar, showers, and public telephone. Free parking lot.

Oceanside Beaches and Surf Spots Pacific Street Oceanside, CA 92054 Toll Free: Phone: 760-721-1101 Fax:

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