The 45-acre Encinitas beachfront has a fabulous centerpiece: Moonlight State Beach. Among the most popular of the San Diego area’s many fine beaches, it’s an obvious go-to introduction to the joys of the North County coastline.
It’s also the most kid-friendly of the Encinitas beaches, a wonderful place for the whole family to soak up Southern California sunshine. (Or, perhaps, moonshine: The beach gets its name from early-day Encinitas beachgoers who enjoyed midnight oceanside picnics here.)
15 Reasons to Love Moonlight Beach in Encinitas
I’ll drill down on some of the main attributes that make Moonlight Beach beloved—among Encinitas locals, San Diegans, concierge desks, and out-of-towners alike. Here are 15 solid reasons to love Moonlight State Beach.
1. The Easy Access
Exit the I-5 freeway at the Encinitas Boulevard exit and head west. You’ll end up right at the doorstep of Moonlight State Beach. (More detailed directions are at the end of this post.) It’s located in the center of the expansive Encinitas seaboard.
It’s not only how directly you can drive to the beach. It’s also how readily you can get your bare feet on those swoony sands. Unlike at most Encinitas beaches, which come fortressed by (lovely) bluffs, you can walk out onto Moonlight Beach just about straight from street level.
Downtown Encinitas is also within quick walking distance of Moonlight State Beach, so sampling the charms of both popular things to do in Encinitas is no trouble at all.
2. The Friendly Waters
The gently sloping foreshore at Moonlight Beach makes it one of the best places in Encinitas actually to get out in the Pacific Ocean. There’s also a designated (and lifeguarded) swimming-only zone.
3. The Year-Round Lifeguards
And speaking of lifeguards, Moonlight serves as the oceanfront headquarters for the City of Encinitas’s Marine Safety Division, with the Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center overlooking the strand.
Lifeguards watch over the beach from this tower in every season, amplifying the sense of security for anyone looking to get wet. Seasonal lifeguard towers also pop up along the beaches here between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
4. Tennis, Anyone?
Encinitas’s just-about-perfect year-round weather is conducive to hitting a ball. Moonlight State Beach has its own tennis courts.
No-pressure practice or high-intensity family doubles match? Either way, it’s a joy to serve, volley, and drop shot to your heart’s content alongside a beautiful Southern California beachfront.
5. How About a Little Beach Volleyball?
Tennis is all well and good, but nothing beats beach volleyball for iconic sand-between-your-toes exercise. Moonlight Beach offers three courts. Be aware that they’re in high demand. Pro-level players often practice here, which can be a blast to watch.
6. The Fire Rings
Moonlight State Beach comes outfitted with first-come, first-served fire rings. There aren’t that many San Diego County beaches with fire pits, so Moonlight’s are a treat for classic Southern Californian beach bonfires.
7. The Restrooms & Showers
Moonlight Beach sets you up for full-day fun along the Encinitas oceanfront with large, well-maintained restrooms and outdoor showers for post-dip rinse-offs.
8. The Playground
Moonlight State Beach includes a grassy park complete with a nicely designed playground, upping its appeal to families with young children. The ability to run from the ocean to slides makes this beach a top pick for things to do in San Diego with kids.
9. The Picnicking-Friendly Setup
Ample picnic tables and grills at Moonlight Beach mean you get to enjoy some al-fresco meals between surfside jaunts and boogieboard sessions.
10. The Equipment Rentals
Boogieboards, in fact, are available to rent at Moonlight, as are surfboards and wetsuits, in case you want to try your hand at those friendly breakers offshore.
11. Surfing and Surfing Lessons
Encinitas is world-famous in the surfing community, and Moonlight Beach is a great place to get a taste for it if you aren’t already a veteran hang-10er. Surfing is allowed at Moonlight outside of the swimming-only zone.
Multiple surf schools offer lessons here. It’s an awesome way to experience one of the defining aspects of Southern California culture under expert tutelage and in a (usually) forgiving environment.
12. Walking Between Encinitas Beaches
The continuity of the Encinitas beachfront and the centrality of Moonlight means you can—when tides permit—check out other stretches of sand on foot. Walk north to Stonesteps Beach or south to D Street Beach and Boneyards.
Other Encinitas beaches have their own distinct feels, especially those backed by the steep bluffs that Moonlight lacks. If you have the time, moseying to additional city beaches—not least Swami’s, the most hallowed Encinitas surfing spot—is definitely rewarding. (The Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center dispenses free tide books, by the way.)
13. The Moonlight Beach Snack Bar
Soaking up the sand and surf at Moonlight is bound to work up an appetite. Even if you neglect to bring a picnic lunch, you can still satisfy that appetite at certain times of the year. There’s a concession stand called Beach Wolf with a great menu of food and drinks, from breakfast sandwiches to carnitas tacos and beyond.
You’ll just want to be sure to check hours before you go, as it’s open in the spring and summer. They sell grill packages to use at the nearby firepits also — how cool is that? (Fun fact: My husband worked at the Moonlight Beach Snack Bar as a teenager.)
14. Southern California Sunsets
As with just about any San Diego County beachfront, Moonlight gives you front-row seats to breathtaking Pacific Ocean sunsets. That nightly show is all the more enjoyable around one of those blazing beach bonfires. What a way to cap a day on the North County shore.
15. Annual Events
Moonlight Beach is the sand-and-surf venue for various annual happenings, making it reliably one of the places to be in Encinitas.
These include various surf competitions, concerts, and a Mixed Doubles Volleyball Tournament. Then there’s the famous Wavecrest Woodie Meet in September, an absolute photo-op of a vintage car show.
Moonlight Beach Rules & Regulations
Moonlight State Beach is open daily from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. (This means you can get a taste of its moonlit beauty if you’re so inclined.) The parking lot is available from 5 a.m to 10 p.m.
While Moonlight is part of the California State Parks system, the City of Encinitas operates it. As at other city-run beaches, dogs are not allowed here.
You also can’t have alcohol, glass, or portable grills. Smoking at the beach is similarly a no-no.
Moonlight State Beach Directions & Parking
As already mentioned, Moonlight State Beach is easy to reach. Encinitas Boulevard turns into B Street west of South Coast Highway 101, and B Street continues westward to end at Moonlight Beach.
Parallel-running C Street to the south leads to the Moonlight State Beach parking lot. This is a fee lot that includes ADA-accessible spaces fronting B Street.
If the lot’s full—or you don’t want to pay—you can do as many beachgoers do and find free street parking in the immediate neighborhood. You’ll see folks unloading beach gear and people off B Street before driving off to hunt out a streetside parking space.
Summing up Moonlight Beach’s Irresistible Charm
If you’re visiting Encinitas, California, as a family, Moonlight State Beach is the best option for quality time on the sand. It simply offers the most amenities of any North County San Diego beach.
You can choose Encinitas hotels near Moonlight Beach to avoid parking a car. Many people do.
The spot’s a great choice for kids’ birthday parties. Given the volleyball courts, board rentals, snack bar, and see-and-be-seen atmosphere in the summer months, it’s also appealing to teens. It stands among the very best family beaches in San Diego and has made my list of the best family beaches in California.
By the way, the city issues Special Events permits on a limited basis for Moonlight Beach, in case you’re smitten enough with the location to consider, say, tying the knot here…
Katie Dillon
Leave a Reply