Live the California dream
Over 3.5 miles of white sandy beaches make Oceanside the ideal place for sunning, surfing, and sandcastle building. Take a leisurely stroll along the water or bring your pole for some great surf fishing.
With plenty of parking and easy beach access, Oceanside presents one of the finest beach areas on the west coast. Harbor beach alone offers more than 16 acres of clean level sand, and handicap “sand" wheel chairs are available for use at each lifeguard tower. Enjoy a day at the beach and don't forget your sunscreen!
Oceanside Pier
The historic Oceanside Pier is a prized community resource as well as a monument to its citizens' persistence in seeing that a pier remains a part of its oceanfront recreational facilities. At its current 1,942 feet in length, it remains one of the longest wooden construction recreational piers on the West Coast. From its reach, viewers can peer into the entrance channel of Oceanside Harbor, a 900 + boat recreational marina that sits along the northwest borders of the city. The pier is a recreational common ground for Oceanside, a place where young and old, fisherman and surfer, tourist and residents mingle, stroll, and sit to watch the waves or the sunset while enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. While a fishing license is required for surf fishing on the beach, no license is needed for fishing off the pier.
Oceanside Harbor
Stand Up Paddle, Kayak, Boat, Outrigger Canoe, Dine, Picnic, Fish
Unlike most ports, all boats are visible from a two-lane asphalt drive encircling its shoreline. Fine restaurants, picnic tables, and a Harbor Village with shops, eateries, and a lighthouse, along with the nearby Harbor Beach combine to offer the seafarer and motor visitor an enchanting experience of color and atmosphere. Oceanside's Harbor is a mecca for sportfishing, whale watching, boating and other water-oriented activities. The Marina inside the harbor has sloops ranging in length from 25-51 feet. Transient moorings and limited RV beach camping are available. Oceanside Harbor Days is a scheduled annual event held the 4th weekend in September.
Oceanside's recreational opportunities are geared to fit every lifestyle. The city boasts 4 golf courses, numerous tennis courts and over 6 miles of beachfront roadway just perfect for jogging, biking or rollerblading. Known as a mecca for watersports, our 260 slip Harbor has a convenient boat launch area and offers services for boat, kayak and jetski rentals. Try your hand at surf fishing along our coastline, or simply drop a line off the end of our 1972 ft pier and wait for the fish to bite. Oceanside also hosts numerous amateur and professional surfing contests through out the year.
Bicycling
Whether your in to taking a beach cruiser around the strand, or prefer a day-long ride down to San Diego, Oceanside is a great place for bicycling enthusiasts.
Designated the only bike-friendly city in San Diego County by the League of American Bicyclists, Oceanside is home to two bike trails:
- San Luis Rey Bike Trail : Path along San Luis Rey River from College Blvd to Downtown Oceanside
-Coastal Rail Trail (Starts around Broadway and Vista Way) heads south 44 miles into San Diego
Whale Watching
Whale and dolphin watching excursions are available year-round from the Oceanside Harbor. Enjoy a private trip with a few friends or join in with a large group as you see some of the most amazing ocean wildlife in the world. After your excursion, you can enjoy any one of a number of great restaurants in the beautiful Harbor.
Arts, Culture, Museums & Entertainment
Oceanside's Cultural Arts community is thriving and is becoming an enterainment Hub for North San Diego County! From local events like the First Friday Artwalk and Days of Art, to Artists Alley and our unique museums and galleries, Oceanside has much to offer in the area of Art, Culture and Entertainment.
Surfing is one of the most popular activities in Oceanside. With almost a 4 mile span of beautiful Southern California beaches, Oceanside is one of the most popular surfing destinations on the West Coast. Surfers of all abilities can find a home here; during the summer months groms (beginner surfers) can take a lesson at one of the many surf shops located along the coast lines.
However for more advanced surfers the best swells tend to hit Oceanside in the colder, winter months. It's pretty common in the winter months to see swells that are well above the height of an average man, surfers call those size ways “over head.”
No matter what level of surfer you are, or what length of surfboard you ride, Oceanside is one of the most fun places to surf in California
Wisconsin Street Beach
Wisconsin Street Beach is located at Wisconsin Street and The Strand. The south Strand is a one-way, southbound street that parallels the beach. There is a ramp just north of lifeguard Tower 7 for access to the beach.
Oceanside Boulevard Beach
Oceanside Boulevard Beach offers more actual beach than its neighbor, Buccaneer Beach. All along the beachfront, there are private homes facing the ocean. During the summer months there is an area directly in front of the lifeguard tower (Tower 9) approximately 200 ft., that is designated for swimmers, waders, and bodyboarders only.
Tyson Street Beach
Tyson Street Beach, also known as Tyson Street Park, is within walking distance of the Oceanside Pier. Lifeguard Tower 5 is located here. Since the park is just a few feet from the beach, it is great for picnics. Stairs are provided for beach and park access from Pacific Street.
Pier View South
The beach area south of the Oceanside Pier is Oceanside's most popular beach. If you don't mind crowds, you will be comfortable here. Surfing, bodyboarding, and body surfing contests are held at Oceanside Pier throughout the summer. There are also various events that are held in the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.