All The Best Beachside Playgrounds in San Diego
Beachside Playgrounds are one of the best kids combos in San Diego! You've got the best of both worlds here with endless playground time, endless beach time and views for days. Come at sunset with some takeout for a truly incredible evening together.
This will be a running list of awesome beachside playgrounds in San Diego as I come across them. I'll keep adding to this post and updating it as we adventure around.
Table of Contents
(Ocean-Side Playgrounds)
(Mission Bay-Side Playgrounds)
(San Diego Bay-Side Playgrounds)
photo in order: Jamie L via Yelp, Audrey B via Yelp, Audrey B via Yelp, Ashley G via Yelp, Caleb T via Yelp, Candace S via Yelp
🤸🏻♂️ Seagrove Park - Del Mar (ocean-side)
📍 1601 Coast Blvd., Del Mar 92014
Parking: Metered street parking & a pay lot right across the street
Bathrooms: Yes, but they're a little far away from the playground. You have to run across the large grassy field, so if your little has to go right away, you'd better pick him up and start running. ;)
Playground: Infant & regular swings, slides, 1 play structure, large sand box, small and easy out & back walking trail just behind the sand box.
Terrain: Packed gravel at the play structure, rubber, cement walkway, some sand & grass
Features: The train runs right next to this playground and all the kids go running up to the fence to see the train. Coastguard helicopters and airplanes fly right above, along with pelican formations gliding along the coast. It's right next and part of Powerhouse Park so walk down the grassy area, down a slight hill onto the beach!
Caution: If you take the small walking trail behind the sand box, BE CAREFUL and DON'T let your kids run ahead of you because it leads right up directly to the train tracks!! As long as you don't go up the little hill to the train tracks, just go out & back for a nice little walk about and catch you'll some amazing views of the coastline.
What's Nearby: pending
photos via Yelp: Vicki C - playground, Michael B - grassy area, Keith A - beach view, Michael B - panorama, Deb N - bathrooms, Ravi S - parking,
🤸🏻♂️ Fletcher Cove - Solana Beach (ocean-side)
📍 111 S Sierra Ave., Solana Beach 92075
Parking: Small parking lot nearby, but it fills up quickly on weekends and in the summer or you might find some street parking.
Bathrooms: Yes, they're close to the playground, just across the small grassy field.
Playground: Infant & regular swings, slides, play structure, small rock climbing wall
Terrain: Rubber, a large grassy area nearby that's perfect for picnics
Features: The playground is on a bluff overlooking the ocean and the beach down below. To get to the beach, you'll have to walk a short ways down some stairs.
Caution: n/a
What's Nearby: pending
photos via Yelp: Leroy T - playground, Michael B - panorama, Raymond A - beach view, Lorena S - facilities, Joe S - facilities, Samahna S - tables,
🤸🏻♂️ Moonlight Beach - Encinitas (ocean-side)
📍 400 B St., Encinitas, 92024
Parking: Large parking lot is up on a bluff and you'll have to walk down a mildly steep paved pathway down to the playground and beach. It fills up fast on weekends and in the summer and nearby street parking is limited as well. TIP: Have the driver drop off kids & adult at the beach and then go find parking and do the same for leaving the beach; this way you won't have to lug kids & gear all the way to/from the car.
Bathrooms: Yes, they're a little walk away from the playground down towards the concession stand.
Playground: Infant & regular swings, slides, play structure, jungle gym
Terrain: Sand, a large grassy area nearby that's perfect for picnics and the cement boardwalk
Features: There's a concession stand for food & gear rental. They have some cool events here during the year. On Sundays in the summer they host a summer concert series. The beach is wide so there's always a spot to spread out. A concession stand operates during the summer. The sunsets here are amazing!
Caution:
What's Nearby: pending
photos via Yelp: Elena A - playground, Vincent L - swings, James P - bathrooms, Regis K - beach
🤸🏻♂️ Kellogg Park Playground - La Jolla Shores (ocean-side)
📍 6200 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, 92037
Parking: Large parking lot nearby, but it fills up quickly on weekends and in the summer
Bathrooms: Yes, they're a little walk away down the boardwalk, but not too far
Playground: Infant & regular swings, slides, play structure, jungle gym
Terrain: Sand, a large grassy area nearby that's perfect for picnics and the cement boardwalk
Features: The beach here is great because it's long and wide so you'll always find the perfect beach spot. It's a great spot for surfers, kayakers and scuba divers; which my kids love watching them come and go.
Caution:
What's Nearby: pending
photo by me @famdiego
🤸🏻♂️ Oceanside Pier Playground - Oceanside
📍 120 The Strand N, Oceanside, 92054
Parking: The best place to park is in the FREE parking garage at Seagaze Dr. + S Cleveland St., you'll have a quick 10 minute walk over. Otherwise it's metered or off-street parking; which is hard to find and could be a long walk to the playground.
Bathrooms: Yes
Playground: Play structure & slides
Terrain: Rubber base underneath play structure, but otherwise it's mostly soft sand all around
Features: There are lots of booths and food vendors all along the boardwalk here, including bike and surrey bike rentals too.
Caution: tba
What's Nearby: tba
photos: Calvin N.H. via Yelp
🤸🏻♂️ Fanuel Street Park on Mission Bay - Pacific Beach (bay side)
📍 4000 Fanuel St., Pacific Beach, 92109
Parking: Free parking lot just down the street, but it's small so it fills up quickly. There's also free street parking nearby.
Bathrooms: Yes, they're close by between the parking lot and the playground
Playground: Swings (4 regular & 2 infant), slides, 2 play structures for bigs and littles, a few seal sculptures that are perfect for kids to ride on
Terrain: Sand, a large grassy area nearby that's perfect for picnics and the cement boardwalk
Features: This a perfect beach for little kids because the bayside water is calmer and shallow.
Caution: The boardwalk curves around in front of this playground with lots of people jogging, walking, roller blading and biking so be careful that your kids don't get in their way
What's Nearby: pending
photo: Vincent L via Yelp
🤸🏻♂️ Mission Point Park - Mission Beach (bay side)
📍 2600 Bayside Ln, San Diego, 92109
Parking: Plenty of free parking right next to the playground. It fills up quickly on weekends and holidays.
Bathrooms: Yes, right next to the playground
Playground: Swings (only 2, no infant seats), slides, climbing structures. Partial shade from nearby trees and small shaded top on playset, but this doesn't cover much.
Terrain: Sand. There's a large grassy area nearby on the peninsula with a rock jetty, but the playground flows into the cove-side with a large wide soft sandy beach.
Features: A long flat paved trail loops around the peninsula to this playground that flows into the nearby bay-side boardwalk. Fire pits are on the nearby beach and
Caution: Rock jetty nearby, parking lot is very close to playground.
What's Nearby: pending
photos via Yelp: Conrad R - playground, Gail P - playground pathway, Gail P - boardwalk, Joe T - beach
🤸🏻♂️ Spanish Landing Park East - Harbor Island
📍 3900 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, 92101
Parking: Paid parking lot with plenty of spaces
Bathrooms: Yes
Playground: Play structure, slides, picnic tables, flat paved boardwalk runs for miles along this bayside, views of the marina.
Terrain: Rubber around the play structure and sandy beach after that. It's right on the beach with packed sand that flows right into the quiet cove tucked behind Harbor Island. This is a very gentle part of the bay so there are no waves and the water is usually pretty mellow.
Features: It's right across from the airport so this is our go-to spot when doing airport pick-ups or drop-offs. Skip the cell phone waiting lot and come here to let the kids runs around until your guests' plane lands.
Caution: tba
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