Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, is NBC 7 and Telemundo 20’s annual “Clear The Shelters Day” event. Head to the San Diego Humane Society’s campus on Gaines Street to meet the team and some adorable and adoptable pets. Details here.
If you are looking for a place to cool off with your furry friend this summer, what better place than one of San Diego County’s beautiful beaches?
Here are some dog-friendly beaches in the county, spanning from north to south, that you might want to check out:
Encinitas – Cardiff State Beach
Starting out in Encinitas, Cardiff State Beach welcomes canines as long as they stay on leash at all times.
In order to access this dog-friendly beach, there is a general admission day use parking fee ranging from $12 to $25 per vehicle, or visitors can use their annual California State Parks Vehicle Day Use Pass.
The state beach is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.
Del Mar Dog Beach
Del Mar beaches are split into three areas: North Beach, Main Beach and South Beach. Depending on the time of year that a person visits, there are different rules on whether pups need to be leashed or off-leash.
- North Beach stretches from Solana Beach through 29th Street. Here, dogs are allowed to be off leash in the off season between Labor Day and mid-June. In the summer, between those dates, dogs can get their zoomies out in the morning; off-leash hours are between dawn to 8 a.m. After that time, they must be back on their leash.
- Main Beach is found between Powerhouse Park and 29th Street. In this area, dogs must be leashed between Labor Day all the way through June 15. Between those dates, dogs can run around without a leash between dawn to 8 a.m. The beach is closed to dogs in the summer, between June 16 through Labor Day.
- South Beach, which runs from 6th Street to Powerhouse Park, allows dogs in the area; however, they must be on leash year-round.
City of Del Mar
City of Del Mar
A diagram showing the different rules regarding dog access at Del Mar beaches.
An important note for Del Mar beaches is that leashes may not be longer than 6 feet and owners must clean up after their pets. Penalties for not following the leash laws start at $285.
Fiesta Island
Fiesta Island is located within Mission Bay and is open between 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round.
Leashes are optional between those hours. All of Fiesta Island’s shore is dog-friendly except between April 15 and Sept. 15, when there are two buffer zones for nesting sites, located in the very north and south points of the area.
City of San Diego
City of San Diego
A map showing the areas closed to dogs in Fiesta Island.
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach Dog Beach lies between Mission Bay Channel and Ocean Beach Park. Dogs are welcome year-round and can be off-leash at all hours.
This is a great place for dogs to play with each other and swim in the water.
Photo taken at the dog beach in Ocean Beach during the sunset.
Coronado – North Beach Dog Run
This part of the beach is located in front of Sunset Park in Coronado and offers access to the shore for off-leash pups all year round.
Found near the Coronado’s North Island U.S. Naval Station, this beach offers great views of the Point Loma coast and Hotel del Coronado.
NBC 7
NBC 7
A dog sniffing a sea slug at Coronado dog beach.
Imperial Beach
In the South Bay, there are two areas of the beach that you can take your dog to:
- South of Imperial Beach Boulevard
- North of Palm Avenue
In this area, dogs must be on-leash at all times.
It is important to note that dogs are not allowed on the Imperial Beach Pier.
San Diego City Beaches
Beaches along the city of San Diego coast — such as La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Mission Beach — are open to on-leash dogs after 6 p.m. between April and October, and after 4 p.m. from November to March.
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Lastly, make sure to always bring water for your pet so that they can stay hydrated, especially if out in the sun. And it is always a good idea to bring some toys and towels to dry your dog after a fun-filled day at the beach!