Is San Diego swimmable?

With 113 kilometers (70 miles) of gorgeous coastline and tons of beaches, you'll enjoy lots of great swimming spots in this city. San Diego has warm waters, sandy shores, and plenty of activities for water recreation enthusiasts.



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But if you're looking for the best time to visit San Diego for water sports, here's some helpful intel. The hottest ocean temperatures occur in August, with the official records recording the water temperature of 68° F. Conversely, expect the ocean to be at its coldest in February when the temperature can dip to 57° F.

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  • San Diego.
  • La Jolla Shores. La Jolla Cove. Pacific Beach. Sail Bay. Mission Beach. Coronado Central Beach.
  • Hotel del Coronado. La Valencia Hotel.
  • Best of Hotels.


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The majority of lakes in San Diego do not allow swimming. However, there are a couple of exceptions. Los Rasalies Lake is about 45 minutes from the city. This hidden gem is serene and quiet.

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San Diego's best beaches: Here's our Top 10 list
  • Del Mar. ...
  • Encinitas (Moonlight State Beach) ...
  • Imperial Beach. ...
  • La Jolla. ...
  • Mission Beach. ...
  • Ocean Beach. ...
  • Oceanside. ...
  • Pacific Beach. Jeremy Caveness, left, and Ryan Guest watch the sunset after a surf in Pacific Beach.


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La Jolla Cove is a very small beach, tucked between sandstone cliffs. Because of its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. With small surf in the summer months, the north facing La Jolla Cove is ideal for swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers.

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The best time to visit San Diego is late fall and mid spring; shoulder season. You'll see the ideal mix of lower prices, have an easier time getting into restaurants, and you won't have to battle the rush of summer tourists. October through early November and April are the overall best months to visit San Diego.

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Park at the South Mission Beach jetty and head out on the paved walkway known to locals as the Mission Beach Boardwalk – or, at low tide, walk the beach. Either way, drink in great gulps of salty sea air – and savor the eye-candy.

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Although it's usually relatively calm and safe at this location, there can be surf, especially in the winter. On a normal day, the sharks can be found just beyond the surf in 4-8 feet of water, even shallower on a calm day. You don't need serious dive equipment, just a mask or swim goggles will do the trick.

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Does San Diego or Los Angeles have better beaches? San Diego County has cleaner beaches than Los Angeles County. They're also less crowded, making the waves easier to pick up for surfers. Los Angeles has top surf beaches but they tend to be overpopulated due to the sheer number of LA tourists each summer.

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Known for its laid-back hippie beach vibe, Ocean Beach, San Diego—also referred to as “OB”—is a favorite of locals and visitors looking for a chill, off-the-beaten-path experience in Southern California. Located just north of Point Loma, the small coastal neighborhood sits at the very end of Highway 8.

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1. San Onofre State Beach. A staggering 2.5 million visitors annually make San Onofre one of the top 5 most visited state parks in California. You'll find San Onofre State Beach north of Oceanside, past Camp Pendleton, in the northernmost part of San Diego County, and partially in San Clemente, Orange County.

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The Least Crowded San Diego Beaches and Surf Spots
  • Carlsbad - “Turn Arounds” at South Carlsbad State Beach.
  • South Oceanside – St. Malo Beach.
  • San Diego - Torrey Pines / Blacks Beach.
  • Solana Beach – “Rock Piles”
  • San Diego – Ocean Beach Sunset Cliffs.


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