La Jolla Shores Park

Beach Features

Stretch your legs along the mile-long coastline of La Jolla Shores Park, where sand meets the Pacific Ocean. This park offers both a beach and grassy areas suitable for different activities.

The main feature is the wide, sandy beach with gentle waves - good for swimming, surfing, or wading in the water. The typically clear water makes it popular for snorkeling. Behind the beach sits Kellogg Park, a spacious grassy retreat fantastic for spreading out a blanket, enjoying a picnic, or tossing a frisbee around.

Looking north along the beach in the late afternoon

Photo: Pasco Olivier (CC BY 2.0)

Marine Life

La Jolla Shores has interesting underwater surroundings. The beach borders the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, creating a sanctuary where marine life thrives in abundance.

If you time your visit right, you might find yourself sharing the shallows with leopard sharks and rays - don't worry, they're harmless and make for an unforgettable wildlife encounter. The clarity of the water makes this spot particularly rewarding for snorkelers eager to explore the vibrant ecosystem below the surface.

Visitors walking on the sandy beach

Photo: Miles Gehm (CC BY 2.0)

Notable Landmarks

Keep an eye out for the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier standing tall next to the park. Though it belongs to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and isn't open to the public, it adds character to your beach photos and frames the coastline beautifully.

As evening approaches, you can watch the sunset over the Pacific, with colorful reflections on the water.

Checkered flag marks swimming and surfing areas

Photo: Jason Rosenberg (CC BY 2.0)

Amenities and Activities

You can find all the essentials here to make your beach day comfortable. Restrooms, indoor and outdoor showers for rinsing off that stubborn sand, and a playground where kids can burn off extra energy. For evening gatherings, the park offers fire pits where you can stay warm while stargazing - just be sure to claim one early as they're quite popular.

La Jolla Shores is an ideal launch point for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding adventures, with rental shops conveniently located nearby. For safety's sake, the beach has designated zones for swimmers and surfers, so everyone can enjoy the water without worry.

Palm-lined beachfront next to the park at sunset

Photo: Pasco Olivier (CC BY 2.0)

Access and Facilities

There's a dedicated parking lot, but it fills up fast - especially on sunny weekends and throughout summer. Your best bet is arriving early or being prepared to hunt for street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The park is thoughtfully designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind, featuring pathways that lead directly to the beach area. You'll discover restroom facilities at both the north and south ends of the parking lot. While they're kept clean, be prepared for potential lines during the busiest hours of the day.