Oceanside Harbor Surf Spot
The Oceanside harbor is
is the last beach located in the San Diego County and it's
definitely a beach to check out for some fun waves and good
times with friends or family.
Location:
The harbor in Oceanside
is the last actual beach located in San Diego County. The
harbor itself is located in North Oceanside and is just
North of the pier. The roads that lead around the harbor can
be somewhat tricky so make sure to follow the signs to where
you wish to go.
Click Here for Directions
The Parking Scenario:
As you
arrive at the Oceanside Harbor, you will see an abundance of
parking spots and lots to park in. However, most of these
lots require a fee to park or are toll parking spots. The
fee is $5 - $10 depending on how long you will be there. If
you turn right as you see the beach and head to the boat
ramps and more additional parking. These spots are reserved
for people using the ramps and such so please park either in
a pay lot or park further away from the beach and walk in.
The pay
parking lot along the beach at Oceanside harbor
I would
like to note that as you are heading West toward the beach,
there will be a very large pay parking lot. The East side,
which is next to the shops and restaurants did not seem to
be a pay parking lot but park there at your own risk as I am
not sure of the laws and posted regulations.
The
possible free parking with the beach in the distance and the
stores and restaurants behind
Beach Accessibility and Conveniences:
The
beach access is pretty straight forward at the Oceanside
Harbor, walk about 200 yards and you are in the water! It
doesn’t get much better than that in my book so enjoy the
soft sand and fun waves.
The view
looking South from the harbor toward the Oceanside Pier
There
are a number of conveniences and useful things located at
the Oceanside harbor. First off, there are many public
restrooms located near the beach and parking lots. These
restrooms are maintained by the city and are usually decent
in cleanliness. On busier weekends, make sure to note that
they probably haven’t been cleaned in too long so wear some
sandals or shoes in there.
The
restrooms located along the parking lot and beach
Toward
the North end of the beach, just pass the boat ramps, there
is a full playground that is perfect for kids. There are a
few separate sections and a swing set which seems to be a
popular place during the summer months. These playgrounds
are definitely a must for any family spending a day at the
beach.
The
playground located at the North end of the beach
Up
against the parking lots, you will see several awnings,
tables and benches which are awesome for picnics or a nice
dinner at the beach. Most of the areas are equipped with a
BBQ or fire pit as well. During the summer months, I
recommend getting to the beach very early if you wish to
occupy one of these spots for the day. They get filled up
very quickly and most of the time, families and groups of
people stay until the sun is far past set.
The BBQ
pits and benches
Lifeguard:
There
are lifeguard towers located up and down the beach at the
harbor and they are operated all throughout the summer
months. In fact, I have been there a few times in the Spring
and Early Autumn and lifeguards were working in the towers.
On top of the towers, they are usually lifeguard vehicles
patrolling up and down the beach all day.
Because
the harbor is a very nice beach for a family, the lifeguards
are on full alert for a child in trouble so help them out by
keeping an eye on any close surfers or family members in the
water. Because of the jetties and harbor walls, rip tides
and strong currents can occur so please take that into
account and be careful out there.
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