About Mission Beach:
Mission Beach has everything you'd expect from a stereotypical Southern California beach: volleyball players crashing in the sand, rollerbladers wearing next to nothing, bicyclists and skateboarders showing off. This two-mile long urban beach is sandwiched between houses and a paved boardwalk. The centerpiece of Mission Beach is Belmont Park, a seaside amusement park.
Mission Beach runs from its south end at the San Diego River channel to just north of Belmont Park.
Mission Beach Fees:
-
Entrance Fee: None
Parking Fee: None
Creature Comforts at Mission Beach:
- Restrooms
- Picnic tables
- Lifeguards daily, year-round at the foot of Ventura Place, but in summer only on the rest of the beach, usually on duty from 9:00 a.m. to dusk
- Food nearby: You can find all kinds of food at or near Belmont Park.
- Alcohol is allowed on the sand between noon and 8:00 p.m., but not on the boardwalk or in the parking lots.
- No pets allowed
Mission Beach Activities:
- Belmont Park, one of California's oceanfront amusement parks
- Bike path
- Bonfires on the south end (get firewood at Mission Market, Mission at San Gabriel)
- Surfing
- Swimming, lifeguard on duty in summer
- Volleyball
- Walking path
- A half mile off the coast here are a series of manmade shipwrecks, placed to create an artificial diver's reef
Lodging Near Mission Beach:
- Mission Beach Vacation Rentals
- Beach Cottages: Cottages on the boardwalk, north Mission Beach. $$$
- Best Western Blue Sea Lodge: On the beach boardwalk. $$$
- Catamaran Hotel: Just across the street from the boardwalk. $$$$
- Crystal Pier Hotel: Just north in Pacific Beach, but noteworthy for its location on the pier. $$$$
- Pacific Shores Inn: About two blocks from the beach. $
- Surfer Beach Hotel: Stylish property on the beach boardwalk. $$$$
Highs and Lows at Mission Beach:
Misison Beach is a favorite with locals, who enjoy all kinds of activities here. Compared with similar beach towns in Los Angeles' South Bay, it's a bit unkept.
Beachgoer Beware:
- In summer, San Diego beaches are subject to red tides.
How to Get to Mission Beach: To get to Mission Beach, exit I-5 at Grand Avenue. When you reach Mission Boulevard, turn left. Park in the lot near Belmont Park or take Mission Boulevard all the way to the end and turn right to find a parking lot near the volleyball nets. You can also get to the boardwalk from any of the walking streets that intersect Mission Boulevard.
