Ocean Beach San Diego Day Trip Things To Do

The Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego is home to an eclectic group of residents, from aging hippies to young families, all with a strong sense of pride in their area. As the locals call it, a day trip to Ocean Beach (or OB) is a fun adventure for the whole family.

Ocean Beach Pier

Today, visitors to OB enjoy a walk on the pier. The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier is the second-longest pier on the West Coast and is often recognized as the longest concrete pier in the world. The pier is a popular fishing spot, and no license is required to fish from the pier.

Fishing gear can be rented from the shop adjacent to the cafe on the pier. The end of the Ocean Beach pier provides excellent views down the coastline and of the surfers in the water below.

Ocean Beach Tide Pools

On the beach, the foot of the pier, is a tide pool area that makes for some fun exploring during low tide. The cliffs are a popular walking and jogging area along Sunset Cliffs. This is a magnificent spot to catch the sunset, mainly on a clear day.

Dog Beach

The beach in OB stretches from the foot of Newport Avenue north to the San Diego River. The northernmost part of the beach is OB’s famous Dog Beach. There is a large parking area at the end of Voltaire Street. Dog Beach provides a leash-free beach and water exploration for dogs.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

The south end of OB is home to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. This park is right on the shoreline, between Adair and Ladera Streets. Head south on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, and you won’t miss it. There are beautiful coastal bluffs, sea caves, and arches. Location Ladera St, San Diego, California. Website.

Newport Avenue

Newport Avenue has many antique and collectible shops featuring fun things. It is fun to browse the shops, from furniture to dishes to old toys and textiles. You will probably say, “Hey, I remember those.”

Ocean Beach Dining Options

Consider grabbing a bite after you have worked up an appetite from strolling the pier and the shops. Ocean Beach has a range of dining options. However, one of the big draws is Hodad’s, a burger and fries joint featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Hodad for Burgers

Hodad was also rated as one of the five best hamburgers in the country. Yes, it’s that good! The interior of Hodad features hundreds of license plates from all over the world, funky beach décor, and a portion of a Safari van that you can eat inside. 5010 Newport Ave San Diego, California. Website.

If burgers are not your style, there are several other restaurant and cafe options to sit and enjoy the passing scenery. Many restaurants with outdoor seating are dog-friendly, adding to this neighborhood’s fun and casual vibe.

Ocean Beach Events

Ocean Beach also has some fun seasonal events, which draw many visitors from outside the neighborhood. A few blocks from Newport Avenue, Wednesday night, is closed for the Ocean Beach Farmers Market. The market boasts locally-grown fruit and vegetables, sweets, flowers, other food products, and hand-made crafts from artisans.

Ocean Beach Street Fair

In June, the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-off attract thousands of revelers to Newport Avenue. They enjoy over 200 vendor booths, multiple stages of live music, a chili cook-off with local celebrity judges, and more. On July 4th, there is a spectacular fireworks display off the pier. The first weekend in December features the annual Christmas Parade.

Ocean Beach History

Ocean Beach dates back to the late 1800s when two developers built a resort and subdivided lots. The hope was to attract San Diego city dwellers to the coast. Because it was a 2.5-hour carriage ride from downtown San Diego, it never really took off then.

In the 1910s, OB eventually connected downtown with a ferry and rail line. People were drawn to the area by Wonderland, a beachside amusement park. Sadly, the park was washed away by high tides in a very stormy winter.

Getting There

From southbound I-5, take the Sea World Drive exit, turn right, and follow Sunset Cliffs and Ocean Beach signs. From northbound I-5, take the Sunset Cliffs/Ocean Beach exit and follow the signs.

There is parking along Newport Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and several parking lots along the beach. If you want to make a weekend of it, there are beachside lodging options and a few B& Bs.

Sunset State Beach Camping

Newport Back Bay Loop Trail

Shake Shack Cyrstal Cove