Located north of the pier and south of Camp Penalton is Oceanside’s Harbor beach. It is the cities largest beach and provides a multitude of activities including; surfing, sailing, fishing and even paddling. The Oceanside harbor sits behind the beach and accommodates everything from house boats, charters and sailboats, to Oceanside’s outrigger canoe teams, Pao pao and Makana Ke Kai. During the off season (fall and winter) the teams welcome newcomers to the sport of paddling.

Surfing is the dominant sport for this beach and most of the Oceanside beaches. Good surf conditions in Oceanside are pretty much year-round, but are better on a south swell at a low to medium tide. It’s best to get out there early to avoid crowds and blown out conditions. Oceanside surf is suitable for beginners as well as advanced surfers. Surfboard rentals can be obtained at Team Wahine Surfing School and Shop located in the Harbor village. Power boats, wave runners, kayaks and sailboat rentals are also offered in the village, along with whale watching and deep sea fishing tours.

Harbor beach is a popular location for beach parties and bonfires. The beach offers picnic tables, BBQ grills, fire rings and volleyball courts (nets are not provided). The fire rings are located along the beach front. Fires outside of the fire rings are prohibited as well as glass, alcohol, and pets on the beach. Oceanside offers an abundance of parking. The lots closest to the beach (lots 7-10) are paid parking ($1 per hour, $5 per day), lot 6 offers free 2 hour parking from 8am-6pm and free parking all day is offered behind the Harbor village. Boat and trailer parking is also available.

The summer months; June, July and August are obviously the best time to visit Oceanside Harbor beach. The beach is illuminated with bonfires at night and packed with surfers and sunbathers enjoying their summer days. If you want to avoid the crowds and still soak up the sun, September is also a good time to visit. You can also take part in Oceanside’s Harbor Days arts and crafts festival, held in September.

The harbor village stretches around the harbor and offers a venue suitable for everyone. There are a variety of restaurants in the village that present everything from fish and chips to pizza and beer. You can even find more upscale settings that offer fine wine and the catch of the day. One of the harbors coffee houses, the Nautical Bean, is open late and often provides musical entertainment.

Visit the harbor restaurants website to see the list of restaurants, shops and accommodations:
Restaurants: http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/Harbor/Restaraunts.asp
Shops: http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/Harbor/shopping.asp
Accommodations: http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/Harbor/Accommodations.asp
RV/ Trailer overnight parking is also available near the north jetty.
Tent camping is not available