Beach guide
Ocean Beach and Ocean Beach Pier
San Diego, San Diego County, CA
Overview
Ocean Beach is a wide beach about a mile long in the San Diego community of the same name, broken up by several rock jetties. It's a laid-back neighborhood beach used by surfers, families, volleyball players and dog owners. It's also one of nine San Diego beaches with a permanent, year-round lifeguard station.
Dog Beach
At the north end, Dog Beach is San Diego's only 24-hour beach for dogs. Dogs are always allowed off leash there, and owners are responsible for control and clean-up. Standard dog laws apply on the rest of the beach and are strictly enforced.
The Ocean Beach Pier
The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier opened on July 2, 1966. It was conceived as a no-fee sportfishing pier. Storms and high surf damaged it repeatedly in 2023, and the City now lists it as closed to the public and planned for replacement. As of August 2026 the replacement was still in environmental review, with a cost estimate of $170–190 million. Don't plan a fishing trip here until the City announces a reopening.
Facilities
The City lists restrooms, showers, fire pits, parking, volleyball near the north end and beach wheelchairs. Alcohol, glass, smoking and camping are not allowed. Even when the pier is open, local law bans swimming, wading, surfing or skin diving within 75 feet of it.
Getting there & access
Pier status
The City's lifeguard page lists the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier as closed to the public and planned for replacement. The replacement is in permitting and environmental review, so check the City's Ocean Beach Pier Renewal page before you go.
Dog Beach
Dog Beach is the sandy area at the north end of Ocean Beach, at the west end of the San Diego River Floodway. It's open to dogs off leash 24 hours a day.
Beach wheelchairs
The City lists beach wheelchairs at Ocean Beach. Ask at the lifeguard station or call 619-221-8899.
Swimming and surfing zones
Lifeguards normally post a black-and-yellow checkered flag between swimming and surfing zones. Swimming, wading, surfing and skin diving are prohibited within 75 feet of the pier.
Amenities
- Lifeguard station — Permanent, staffed year-round
- Dog Beach — 24-hour off-leash dog beach at the north end
- Restrooms — On site
- Showers — On site
- Fire pits — Containers only; no fires midnight–5 a.m.
- Volleyball — Near the north end
- Beach wheelchairs — Listed by San Diego Lifeguards
- Parking — Listed among the beach's amenities
Rules & official resources
- Dogs may be off leash at Dog Beach 24 hours a day; elsewhere, dogs are barred from the beach 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Nov.–March) or 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (April–Oct.) and must be leashed at other times
- No alcohol, glass containers or smoking on the beach, walkways, park areas or adjacent parking lots
- Fires only inside fire containers, never between midnight and 5 a.m.; fuel no more than 12 inches above the container rim
- No swimming, wading, surfing or skin diving within 75 feet of the Ocean Beach Pier
- The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier is closed to the public pending replacement
Common boat service needs here
Rinse and store paddlecraft
Surfers, paddlers and small-boat owners in OB live close to salt air and sand. A fresh-water wash after each session keeps boards, kayaks and trailers from corroding.
Find Boat Detailing & Washing providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 7, 2026