Directly across the bay from downtown San
Diego lies the quaint village-like town of Coronado. You can take I-5
to the Coronado exit and cross the 11,288-foot-long bridge across the
San Diego Bay to reach the peninsula. The Coronado coast is world renowned
for their clean beaches, white sands and spectacular sunsets.
The main attraction to the peninsula is by far the Hotel Del Coronado,
built in the late 1800’s. The ritzy Hotel Del sits right on the
beach and is legendary for romantic getaways, honeymoons or even just
a night out for dinner and drinks in the piano lounge or restaurant.
Although the Hotel itself is a spectacular sight, the beach in front
is one of the nicest in the San Diego area. There is a long white sand
beachfront with mellow surf and plenty of places to lie out.
For those who wish to spend more time on the elegant shores of Coronado
but without the hefty price tag, Silver Strand State Beach is only 4.5
miles south of Coronado on Highway 75. Silver Strand State Beach has
both San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean access. This beach is an out of
the way treasure, offering isolation from the intense crowds of Southern
Californian beaches.
This is a great place to bring the family for camping. There are over
100 RV spaces available (no tent camping sites available). The ocean
side of the Silver Strand is used for camping and the bay side for picnics
and bonfires. There is also a nature preserve on the bay side which
offers several trails for hiking. There are an abundance of recreational
activities on both the bay and ocean side. Surfing, swimming, body boarding,
jet skiing, sailing, and water skiing, as well as fishing and beach
volleyball are to name a few. There is also a 10 mile bike path from
Coronado to the Silver Strand for those who wish to cycle or go for
a long stroll or jog along the coast.
The best time to visit Silver Strand State Beach is during the summer.
The camping spots are
first come first serve and can get a bit competitive during the season.
The Hotel
Del Coronado hosts several events year round and is a fun place to visit
during
the Christmas holidays.
There is paid parking at the entrance to
Silver Strand, between $3 and $6 for day use;
while overnight parking is $26 (the rates change with the seasons).
A short distance
from the beach, on Coronado Cays Boulevard there is free parking.
There are many places to park in Coronado along the main street or on
side streets.
Open 8am-9pm (Silver Strand)
NO dogs on the beach (dogs in parking lot must be leashed)
NO glass containers on the beach
YES Fires are allowed in designated fire rings and BBQ pits
YES Alcohol is permitted
YES Restrooms, showers and lifeguards available
