One of the best things about spending time at Del Mar Plaza is how close you are to the water. Like, genuinely close. You can finish lunch, throw on some sandals, and be standing on sand in under ten minutes. We’ve done it more times than we’d like to admit.
But here’s the thing. Most people default to the same stretch of beach every time they come out here. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, Del Mar has over two miles of coastline, and some of the best spots are the ones you might walk right past. So we’re sharing a few of our favorites, for surfers, for sunbathers, for the dog parents, and for anyone who just wants a quieter morning by the ocean.
Consider the Plaza your home base for all of it.
15th Street Reef
Walk from the Plaza: About 5 minutes
Best for: Surfing
If you surf in Del Mar, you already know about 15th Street. It’s the only real reef break in the area, which means it actually holds shape when the rest of the beach breaks are closing out. On a south swell, the left is long and clean. The right is shorter but still fun. When the tide is too low or the swell is too big for the surrounding sandbars, this is where everyone ends up.
The walk from the Plaza is about as easy as it gets. Head down 15th Street toward the water and you’re there. Powerhouse Park sits right above the break, so you can check conditions from the grass before you even get your feet wet. If it’s flat, grab a coffee and come back later. If it’s firing, you’re five minutes from a paddle out.
South Beach Below the Bluffs
Walk from the Plaza: About 7 minutes
Best for: A quieter beach day, walking, low-tide exploring
This is the stretch that most visitors don’t see. Walk south from Powerhouse Park past Seagrove and the bluffs start rising up on either side. The cliffs here are layered and colorful, and at low tide the beach opens up into this long, walkable stretch that goes all the way down toward Torrey Pines.
It’s quieter down here. No volleyball nets, no crowds. Just you, the water, and whatever book or podcast you brought along. There’s a dirt path along the top of the bluffs too, which is great for a run or just a walk with a view. The key is timing. Low tide gives you the most sand to work with and makes the walk down from the cliff trails a lot easier. Check the tide chart before you go.
Seagrove Park
Walk from the Plaza: About 5 minutes
Best for: Ocean views without the sand, sunset watching
Ok, this one isn’t technically a beach. But we’re including it because it’s one of the best-kept casual hangout spots in Del Mar and it’s right there. Seagrove is a small, grassy park sitting on the bluffs just south of Powerhouse, with benches that look straight out over the ocean. No sand required.
We love it for mornings when you want to be near the water but don’t want to commit to a full beach day. Grab a juice from Valley Farm Market, walk over, and just sit for a bit. The Monterey-style cypress trees give the whole park this moody, coastal feel, and every now and then the Coaster train rolls by below you, which is oddly charming. It’s also one of the best sunset spots in the village.
11th Street
Walk from the Plaza: About 6 minutes
Best for: Surfing with fewer people
If 15th Street is Del Mar’s main stage, 11th Street is the side room. There’s a reef outcropping here that picks up swell in the same range as 15th, but it draws a fraction of the crowd. It works best on swells from the south-southwest with tides below four feet.
It’s not going to be an all-day session, but when the conditions line up, you can get some really fun waves with just a handful of other people in the water. From the Plaza, walk south down Camino Del Mar and cut over on 11th. Free street parking in the neighborhood is usually available if you’re coming from the residential side, which is a nice bonus.
Dog Beach (North Beach)
Walk from the Plaza: About 20 minutes along the beach, or a quick drive
Best for: Dogs, obviously.
This is the one everyone asks about. North Beach starts at 29th Street and runs about a half mile up to the Solana Beach border, right where the San Dieguito River meets the ocean. After Labor Day through mid-June, dogs can be off leash here, and the energy is unmatched. Labs chasing tennis balls into the surf, golden retrievers making friends with everyone, and the occasional very determined corgi trying to keep up.
During summer months, the rules tighten up. Off-leash hours are limited to dawn until 8 AM, and after that it’s leashes only. So if you’re coming with your dog in the summer, set that alarm.
The walk from the Plaza takes about 20 minutes if you go along the beach, which honestly is a pretty great walk in itself. You can also drive up Camino Del Mar and park near 29th Street. Either way, grab some water and a snack from Valley Farm Market before you head out.
Start at the Plaza, End at the Beach
That’s the beauty of being here. Every one of these spots is within walking distance, and none of them require a plan. You can wake up, grab a workout at Yoga Barre, pick up a coffee, and be on the sand before your friends back home have finished their commute.
Or do it the other way around. Start at the beach, rinse off, and come back to the Plaza for lunch. High Marea for tacos. The Cottage for pancakes. Monarch for something with a view.
The ocean is right there. Go find your spot.
