Pacific Beach Activities & Nightlife

by

Location: Pacific Beach (10 Miles / 20 Minutes Northwest of Downtown San Diego)

Features: Most Popular Beach Area for College Students in San Diego with access to a Boardwalk, Restaurants, Bars, and Shops

Lifeguard station in Pacific BeachPacific Beach Highlights: The three-mile stretch of wide sandy beaches from Pacific Beach in the north to South Mission Beach is the most popular beach area in San Diego. Pacific Beach is usually referred to as PB. Both the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach communities consist of vacation rentals, college students, and the young-at-heart who enjoy the active lifestyle opportunities provided by the beaches and adjacent Mission Bay Park. The young crowds are particularly attracted to Pacific Beach because they can enjoy food and drink at over 150 restaurants and bars.

Beach Activities – The beach area is a place to see and be seen.

Boardwalk in Pacific BeachMany will be working on their sun tans while others will be tossing around frisbees or bouncing a ball between beach paddles. There are designated areas for surfing. A lifeguard station at the end of Grand Avenue and another one farther north are manned year-round. Other lifeguard stations are only open during the summer months. Showers and restroom facilities are only available at the end of Grand Avenue and near the end of Pacific Beach Drive.

To watch all of the activity, there is a narrow boardwalk extending the entire length of the beach area. Along the boardwalk, visitors will find a small handful of bars, restaurants, and shops. The boardwalk from Pacific Beach south to Belmont Park is the most crowded.

Restaurants in Pacific BeachVisitors navigating the narrow boardwalk will have to watch out for a combination of joggers, cyclists, and in-line skaters.

Concrete fire pits are available in various locations for visitors to create an evening bonfire. You must bring your own wood or charcoal.

Visit the City of San Diego web site page for Pacific Beach and North Pacific Beach for more details.

Beach Rentals – You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas as well as bikes, in-line skates, and surf boards in advance from Cheap Rentals. You should also be able to find other rental shops along the beach near the ends of Garnet and Grand Avenues.

Motel in Pacific BeachBeach Weather – Visitors can enjoy the beaches in San Diego year-round. However, finding ideal beach weather during the winter and spring is hit or miss. The best beach weather occurs from July to October. Ocean water temperatures are usually around 70 degrees during the summer and 60 degrees during the winter. Learn more about San Diego weather.

Restaurants & Bars – PB offers over 150 restaurants, bars, and shops. Most are found all along Garnett Avenue, with an additional high concentration of options on Grand Avenue near the beach and along Mission Boulevard. Most provide a laid back atmosphere and many are geared towards college students and singles.

Shops in Pacific BeachHowever, there are a small handful of fine dining restaurants and upscale bars scattered throughout the area. The local Union Tribune Newspaper has put together the best list of bars in Pacific Beach with brief descriptions. Since there are so many restaurants in the PB area, Yelp.com provides the best way to find restaurants in Pacific Beach.

Information on Visiting Pacific Beach

Directions from Google Maps to 4500 Ocean Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109. (This is the address for the Crystal Pier Hotel, which extends out over the ocean at the end of Garnet Avenue.)

Traffic – Pacific Beach is 2.5 miles from highway I-5. Traffic is stop-and-go most of the way to the beach along Garnet and Grand Avenues. There are people pulling in and out of street parking spots and retail establishments all along both roadways. Traffic is especially bad on holiday weekends as visitors head to the most popular beach area in San Diego County. Also, expect delays when driving into Pacific Beach during the weekday evening rush hour. This is when traffic also backs up on highway I-5 for those heading southbound to the Grand and Garnet Avenue exit. (Learn more about San Diego traffic.)

Parking – Free street parking is the primary parking option in Pacific Beach. Keep an eye out for a handful of spots that have time limits. Most visitors will look for parking on side streets near Grand and Garnet Avenues. The closer you get to the beach, the harder it will be to find a spot. There are a few unmanned pay lots that charge $5 – $10.

Transit – Buses serve Pacific Beach. (See San Diego Transit Information for bus schedules and information for the online Transit Planner.)

Related Attractions – For those looking for a quieter beach outing, head a mile south to the bay side of Mission Bay Park where the crowds are much smaller, the beaches are fairly empty, and the water is much calmer. Mission Bay Park also offers a number of water sports and boating.

Find More Attractions with Similar Themes or Location: Beaches & Surfing, Communities, Mission Bay, Shopping Unique Places, Walking / Jogging |

Help others find things to do and see! Share your ideas.

Connect with Facebook

Or, fill in the form below:

  • Join our great San Diego Tours or Create Your Own Adventure!

    "Having trouble dreaming up the perfect trip...TourGuideTim has you covered...use his comprehensive website to design your own adventure." - Los Angeles Times
  • Translate Travel Guide

  • Search for San Diego Attractions

  • Follow-us to Explore San Diego

    TourGuideTim on Facebook     TourGuideTim on Google+ TourGuideTim on Twitter TourGuideTim on Pinterest TourGuideTim on YouTube