South Carlsbad State Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 438-3143
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
.jpg){kind=link}
In San Diego County, about 3 miles southwest of Carlsbad, South Carlsbad State Beach covers about 117 acres.
The park supports snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Water access includes 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. Call the park to confirm.
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) | $10 |
| 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): $10.00 • 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; south carlsbad state beaches.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in campground. Dogs not allowed on beach. Dogs are prohibited on South Carlsbad State Beaches
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Campground Information
This San Diego beach features camping, swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing and picnicking. The large bluff-top campground is very popular, especially in summer. Stairs lead to the beach.
Park Information
Park Alerts & Notices
Dogs are prohibited on South Carlsbad State Beaches
Travel Tips
Campground Address
7201 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Check in time is at 2:00pm. Please plan your travel times accordingly as there is not early check in available.
NOTE: The campground entrance is not accessible directly from Poinsettia Ln. Drivers must continue NORTH on CARLSBAD BLVD and make the first legal U-Turn at Breakwater Rd
The Camp Store
The Camp Store is located near the entrance of South Carlsbad State Beach and is open for lunch and dinner. It offers a pizza-based restaurant serving beer and wine overlooking the ocean, a general store for basic supplies such as ice and firewood, as well as a beach rental program. Live music is featured with a variety of local artists. Additional information is available at www.thecampstore.com.
Read more from the park
On-site parking is limited. Patrons are recommended to carpool, rideshare, or park nearby and walk into the park.
Photos of South Carlsbad State Beach!
For additional visitor services at South Carlsbad SB click here.
The Camp Store
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
South Carlsbad State Beach features swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing, picnicking, and camping in a bluff-top campground. The beach is in the San Diego area 3 miles south of Carlsbad on Carlsbad Boulevard. Phone (760) 438-3143 for more information.
Camping
Dispersed between the north and south ends of the campground, 10 standard accessible campsites (#16, #77, #87, #97, #108, #119, #126, #148, #153, and #184), and 3 hook-up accessible campsites (#134, #216, and #219), are available. All sites are paved, level, spacious, and have accessibly designed tables and fire rings. Paved tent spaces do not allow use of tent stakes. All combination buildings in the campground have accessible restroom and shower facilities and include a single accessible parking stall.
Read more from the park
The Camp Store (operated by a concessionaire) is located near the campground entrance. The Camp Store is open for lunch and dinner and offers a general store for basic supplies. Accessible parking for the store is available on the north side of the building. Route is generally accessible.
Picnic Area
The South Ponto Day Use Area includes accessibly designed picnic tables. Ample accessible parking is available. Routes, restroom, and outdoor rinsing shower adjacent to the parking lot, are accessible.
Beach/Shore Access
In the campground, four sets of stairways, spaced along the north and south end of the campground, lead to the beach. The beach access ramp between campsites #180 and #179 is no longer recommended as an accessible route to the beach from the campground. The ramp has become very narrow toward the bottom due to coastal erosion and may soon be closed completely for public safety concerns. Best access to the beach is from the South Ponto Day Use Area.
The North Ponto Day Use Area includes accessible parking and an accessible vault toilet, however, best access to the beach is from the South Ponto Day Use Area.
In the South Ponto Day Use Area, the route to the beach is accessible. A beach wheelchair is available via a self-service check out storage cabinet. Contact park staff at the campground entrance kiosk to complete the release of liability form and obtain the combination code to the storage cabinet, or call (760) 438-3143 for more information.
Exhibits/Programs
The campfire center, adjacent to The Camp Store, includes accessible seating. A single adjacent accessible parking stall is available. Route is accessible.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 7201 Carlsbad Blvd
Carlsbad, CA 92008 - Nearest town
- Carlsbad — about 3 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.1016, -117.3186
- Phone
- (760) 438-3143
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is located 3 miles south of Carlsbad on Carlsbad Bl. Take Interstate 5, exit Poinsettia Ln. Go west to Carlsbad Bl, turn north. Make a legal U-turn at Breakwater Rd (1st light). Proceed south on Carlsbad Bl to campground entrance on right.
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: Powerplant Paradise (Unsplash).jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Marcel Fuentes marcel_fuentes
“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