Moonlight Beach Encinitas

Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is the local teenager hangout with all the essentials - boys, girls, beach volleyball, snack bar, nearby pizza and nightly bonfires at the beach firepits. A short walk will get you to downtown historic Encinitas, a charming surfing town. You will find surfers along the entire 6 miles of coast of Encinitas California beaches, which includes the Leucadia beaches and Cardiff beaches. This is one of my favorite San Diego beaches in north county.

The beach is just the right size, has plenty of free parking and is right near the charming downtown Encinitas district. Everyone loves Moonlight beach!

Nearby attractions include the San Diego Botanic Garden, Swami's beach and the meditation gardens at the Self-Realization Fellowship temple.

Moonlight Beach Encinitas Information

Location: Pacific Ocean at the end of Encinitas Blvd, in Encinitas, Cal.

Directions to Moonlight Beach Encinitas by Car and Train: see below | Google Map

Parking: Free parking one block from ocean between B and C streets. Also free street parking available.

Getting There: Short walk to the beach from parking areas.

Things to Do: Walking, jogging, beach volleyball, boy and girl watching, sunbathing, swimming, bodyboarding, surfing, beach fires in firepits, walk south to Swamis or north to Stonesteps Beach or Beacons Beach at low to moderate tides. You might also enjoy a visit to Dave's Rick Garden at 200 B street where you and the kids can paint a rock for free, and add it to the collection of other rocks painted by locals and travelers of all ages.

Things to See: Young people at the beach, sunset over the Pacific Ocean, coastal erosion if you walk north or south along the beach at low tide, historic Encinitas

Facilities: Restrooms, showers, changing rooms, trash cans, playground, grassy park

Services: Snack bar in summer, many restaurants, bars, surf shops, rental shops along historic 101 just a few blocks away.

Best Restaurants:There are so many to choose from it is hard to name a favorite. If pizza is on your mind, try Leucadia Pizza. For an interesting hot buffet or salad buffet, try Lazy Acres market. For breakfast, try the Potato Shack Cafe. For lunch or happy hour, try the Bier Garden of Encinitas. For tacos, try The Taco Stand.

High Tide Access: Good access to Moonlight Beach. High tide (more than 3 feet) can block access north or south as you walk along the beach, but Moonlight beach itself has good access. For more information see San Diego tides

Lifeguard: Lifeguards during summer.

Dogs: No dogs allowed.

Things NOT to Do: No alcohol, no glass containers, no smoking, no littering, no disturbing noise, no overnight sleeping, camping or parking.

Disability Access: Some disabled parking and access.

Hazards: Rip currents.

Other Encinitas Beaches - Leucadia and Cardiff Beaches

Encinitas has a fantastic beach town culture, and is worth a visit to the historic 101 strip of Bohemian style shops and restaurants.

Just south of Moonlight Beach is D Street beach access point. Boneyards beach runs from D Street south to Swami’s point, a famous surfing spot.

Just south of Swami’s in Encinitas, California is Pipes, a nice surfing break, and beyond that, San Elijo State Beach campground, a very popular San Diego beach camping spot, followed by Cardiff Reef on the south end of the campground where the cliffs end. Cardiff State Beach at the southern end of Cardiff is best known for its restaurant row along the beach (and allows leashed dogs on the beach).

Going north from Moonlight is Beacons Beach, formally called Leucadia State Beach, a long narrow beach that runs for about 3 miles from popular and crowded Moonlight State Beach to the south and South Carlsbad State Beach to the north. Along the way you will encounter Stonesteps Beach, and Grandview Beach access points.

If Moonlight beach is too crowded for your liking, just head north or south and the beach gets quieter. You can walk all the way south to Swami's and beyond at low tide, and north to Carlsbad Tamarack Beach at low tides.

Directions to Moonlight Beach Encinitas

Moonlight Beach Encinitas CA Driving Directions - From Interstate 5 in Encinitas, take Encinitas Blvd. west to the Pacific Ocean. There is a large free parking lot between B and C street just one block from the ocean.

Google Map

By Train - You can easily reach Encinitas Beaches (Moonlight Beach) from the San Diego Coaster Train. It is 3 blocks from the Encinitas train station. Note: The Coaster trains have limited service on Saturday, Sunday and holidays, currently running only 4 trains a day. Be sure to check the current schedule for train service.

Google Map Coaster Train Station

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