Carlsbad State Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 720-7001
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Alert The Tamarack day use parking lot is currently closed to vehicles. The area remains open to pedestrians and bicyclists. Recent summer swells and high tides have eroded significant sections of Carlsbad State Beach, including the Tamarack parking lot. Additional high surf and coastal… (more)
and high tides have eroded significant sections of Carlsbad State Beach, including the Tamarack parking lot. Additional high surf and coastal flooding is anticipated. It is unknown when the lot will reopen to vehicles. Check back for updates.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Weather Partial Closure — Current/Anticipated FloodingThe Tamarack day use parking lot is currently closed to vehicles. The area remains open to pedestrians and bicyclists. Recent summer swells and high… (more)
The Tamarack day use parking lot is currently closed to vehicles. The area remains open to pedestrians and bicyclists. Recent summer swells and high tides have eroded significant sections of Carlsbad State Beach, including the Tamarack parking lot. Additional high surf and coastal flooding is anticipated. It is unknown when the lot will reopen to vehicles. Check back for updates.
Posted by the park 2026-09-10. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 34 acres, Carlsbad State Beach lies in San Diego County, about 4 miles west of Carlsbad.
The park supports snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
6:00am- 11:00pm
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle at most parks (vehicles of 9 people or less, walk/bike-in free); per person at State Historic Parks and museums; amounts vary by park and are listed on each park page.
Statewide fee rule from California's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
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, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: carlsbad state beaches.
Are dogs allowed? Dogs Dogs are prohibited on Carlsbad State Beaches
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Overnight facilities: RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
FishingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingBikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- RV camping
✓ 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
Carlsbad State Beach is a small 14-acre beach located at the foot of coastal bluffs in the City of Carlsbad. The beach is located on Carlsbad Boulevard (State Route 21) stretching from approximately Oak Avenue to just north of Canon Drive. Phone (619) 688-3260 during regular business hours for more information.
Locally referred to as Tamarack State Beach or Tamarack Surf Beach, this is a popular parking lot within Carlsbad State Beach. It is accessed at the intersection of Carlsbad Blvd and Tamarack Ave at approximately 4100 S. Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Picnic Area
Two of five picnic areas on the paved walkway are generally accessible. High-low drinking fountains are accessible. Parking includes 4 designated accessible spaces.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Tamarack Av & Carlsbad Bl
Carlsbad, CA 92008 - Nearest town
- Carlsbad — about 4 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.1474, -117.3455
- Phone
- (760) 720-7001
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is located on Carlsbad Boulevard, Highway S21 at Tamarack in Carlsbad.
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)
“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