San Elijo State Beach
Also known as San Elijo SB
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $8 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 753-5091
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In San Diego County, about 2 miles southwest of Encinitas, San Elijo State Beach covers about 553 acres.
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent 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 | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
Dawn to sunset
Additional Length Info: 35’ for non-hookup sites and 24’ for hookup sites
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 (Regular) | $8 |
| Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate) | $20 |
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 (Regular): $8.00 • Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate): $20.00
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, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: beach.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in campground. Dogs not allowed on beach.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Located on the San Diego Coast, San Elijo State Beach offers camping, swimming, surfing, showers and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorkelers and divers.
Campground Address
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, RV/Trailer Campsites w/Hookups, RV Dump Station, RV Access
Max trailer: 35 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 35 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
PicnickingFishingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingBikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent 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
San Elijo State Beach offers swimming, surfing and picnicking. The beach extends along old Highway 101 (Route S21) 3/4 mile north from San Elijo Lagoon's entrance channel, near the community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Phone (760) 753-5091 for more information.
Camping
Six campsites are designated accessible. Site surfaces are either fully or partly paved, and water spigots have accessible controls. In the combo restroom/shower building, the toilets are accessible, but the showers may require assistance reaching controls and the coin box.
Beach/Shore Access
A beach wheelchair is available via a self-service check out storage cabinet at nearby Cardiff State Beach. 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
- Chesterfield Drive
Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007 - Nearest town
- Encinitas — about 2 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.0217, -117.2841
- Phone
- (760) 753-5091
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
San Elijo State Beach extends along Coast Highway 101, 3/4 mile north from San Elijo Lagoon's entrance channel, near the community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Exit Interstate 5 at Encinitas Blvd., head WEST. Turn LEFT on So. Coast Hwy. Follow the Coast Hwy. south, about 2 miles.
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