Cardiff State Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- $12 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 720-7001
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Cardiff State Beach is a 509-acre beach in San Diego County, in Solana Beach.
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance gate | Gates open at 7am and close at Sunset. | ||
Official wording
Gates open at 7am and close at Sunset.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use (Demand Based Pricing Minimum) | $12 |
| Vehicle Day Use (Demand Based Pricing Maximum) | $25 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use (Demand Based Pricing Minimum): $12.00 • Vehicle Day Use (Demand Based Pricing Maximum): $25.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs are allowed at Cardiff Reef and Seaside, South of Tower 16, but must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Dogs on Beach Dogs are permitted on Cardiff State Beach. All dogs must be on a 6’ leash and under owners control at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
FishingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingBiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview Located on the San Diego Coast, which has been called the Riviera of the West, Cardiff State Beach has a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water. The site offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing. Phone (760) 753-5091 for more information. Beach/Shore Access During the summer season, a beach access mat is placed at Lifeguard Tower #15 to provide a firm and stable surface to the mean high tide line. A beach wheelchair is available via a self-service check out storage cabinet. Contact park staff at the San Elijo State Beach campground entrance kiosk to complete the release of liability form and obtain the combination code to the storage cabinet, or call (760) 753-5091 for more information.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 2570 S Coast Highway 101
Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007 - Nearest town
- Solana Beach
- Coordinates
- 33.0028, -117.2780
- Phone
- (760) 720-7001
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is located one mile south of Cardiff on Old Highway 101.
Entrance gate: Gates open at 7am and close at Sunset.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Cardiff Beach looking north.jpg — Public domain (released by the author), Bovlb
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology