Moonlight State Beach
Encinitas, CA
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(2,760 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Playground, volleyball courts, fire pits, clean restrooms and a concession stand; reviewers call it well set up for families and consistently crowded. The parking sits above the beach, so it is a walk down and a climb back up carrying everything. Arrive early to get a space at all.
Family-favorite cove beach with lifeguards, a playground, volleyball, fire pits, and easy facilities.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 10+
Happening near here
- La Jolla Open Aire MarketLa Jolla · 14 mi · Sun 9am–1pmFree
- Encinitas Station Certified Farmers' MarketEncinitas · <1 mi · 4pm–8pmFree
- Leucadia Farmers MarketEncinitas · <1 mi · Sun 10am–2pmFree
- Cardiff Farmers MarketEncinitas · 2 mi · Sat 10am–2pmFree
west of I-5 on, Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
Free; lot parking
Map
Tides today
Next low tide
2:45 AM
-0.6 ft — best for tide pools
Next high tide
7:54 PM
6.4 ft
Predictions from NOAA · La Jolla station
What visitors say
- Sherry J★★★★★
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We stopped by Moonlight State Beach while spending the day in Encinitas, and it was the perfect way to start our morning. We arrived around 9:00 a.m. and had no trouble finding parking. Instead of heading down to the sand, we found a bench overlooking the beach and just took in the view for a while. The air was warm with a cool ocean breeze, and people were already setting up their spots for the day. Listening to the waves roll in while the birds flew overhead made it such a peaceful and relaxing way to spend the morning. I was so busy enjoying the moment that I forgot to take many photos until later (always a good sign! 😊). Even from the overlook, the views were beautiful, and it's easy to see why this is such a popular beach. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Encinitas.
a month ago
- Léonie R★★★★★
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Moonlight State Beach is a clean, family-friendly beach with a great atmosphere. During my visit, there were lots of families enjoying the beach and people playing volleyball. The amenities are excellent, including clean restrooms and a restaurant nearby. Parking was easy, which is a big plus. Just be aware that the parking area is on a hill, so you’ll need to walk down to the beach and back up afterward. Overall, a beautiful and well-maintained beach that’s perfect for a relaxing day by the ocean.
3 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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