Oceanside Boulevard Beach & Buccaneer Beach

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Buccaneer Beach is the southernmost beach in Oceanside and at low tide you can walk north to Oceanside Blvd Beach.
Buccaneer Beach is a small beach near Buccaneer Park that is known for swimming and sunbathing. Oceanside Boulevard Beach is a good beach for swimming and wading.
Todd Sarouhan
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Why you'll love this beach
Why you'll love this beach
Bring the Entire Family for a Classic Beach Experience at Oceanside Boulevard Beach & Buccaneer Beach
Oceanside Blvd & Buccaneer Beaches
Overview
Things to Do
Explore & Save
Popular Activities
Get There & Parking
Featured Activity
Know Before You Go
Stay Nearby
Similar Beaches

Highlights

Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking
Things to Do
Tips
How to get there
Parking

Overview

Beautiful Buccaneer BeachLifeguard Tower Buccaneer Beach

Buccaneer Beach is a family-friendly beach in south Oceanside. This small beach is great for swimming & sunbathing.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach has more beach than its neighbor, Buccaneer Beach. Oceanside Boulevard Beach is a swimmer’s beach as there are too many rocks in the outside surf break to surf.

If you’re looking for the quintessential beach experience in Southern California, Oceanside offers almost four miles of beaches where you can find water activities, sports, sun, sand and wildlife.

Things to Do

Sunbathing
Sunbathing
Surfing
Surfing

Why These Beaches Are Loved

Buccaneer Beach

Buccaneer Beach is barely 150 feet wide, but it’s a popular location for sunbathing when the weather is pleasant. San Diego gets up to 75% sunshine and rarely gets any rain. It’s one of the most pleasant cities in California when it comes to weather.

During the summer, the specific areas on Buccaneer Beach are closed to surfing to allow swimmers to partake in the ocean activities. It’s a great place for surfing, swimming, wading and body boarding. There is a lifeguard tower, even though it’s one of the smallest beaches in Oceanside.

Buccaneer Beach marks its swimming and surfing areas. Surfing is available outside the flags. The best surfing season is June through August. September through February is also good for surfing, but the months of March and April don’t have as many swells. It gets medium tides with south swells. Recommended for intermediate to experienced surfers.

Local Tips
Did you know?
Buccaneer Beach has a basketball court, picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms, shower & a snack bar.

Buccaneer Beach sits next to Buccaneer Park, a park with a jungle gym, basketball court and barbecue grills. Public restrooms and showers are available. You’ll also find picnic tables and a café. Throughout the year, the park hosts many different events.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach

Oceanside Boulevard Beach is a larger beach than Buccaneer Beach, with private homes along the beachfront.

Surfing isn’t permitted on the beach due to a large rock that sits in the surf line. At low tide, the rock is easily seen. During high tide, the rock is hidden underwater and hazardous. The area is designated for swimming, wading and body boarding.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach doesn’t have any restrooms, but it does have a shower. Public restrooms can be found at Buccaneer or Wisconsin Street beaches. There is a lifeguard on duty throughout the year, but always check the hours that a lifeguard is on duty.

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Local Tips
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How to Get There & Parking

Free Parking
Free Parking
Lot Parking
Lot Parking
Street Parking
Street Parking

Oceanside is a transportation hub with connections to many parts of San Diego and Los Angeles. Take the Pacific Surfliner, the Sprinter, or the Coaster into Oceanside to avoid the drive. The train depot is in downtown Oceanside with local transportation to the beach available.

Getting to & Parking at Buccaneer Beach

Buccaneer Beach can be accessed off I-5. If you’re traveling north, take the Vista Way exit west. At S Ditmar St, turn right to Cassidy Street where you turn left to go to S Pacific Street. At S Pacific Street, turn right. It’s about half a mile to the beach on the left. If you’re going south on I-5, take Cassidy Street exit west to Pacific Street. There is a free parking lot across the street from the beach.

Getting to & Parking at Oceanside Boulevard Beach

To get to Oceanside Boulevard Beach off I-5, take the Oceanside Boulevard exit. Go west to the beach. You’ll probably need to park along Pacific Street or one of the other streets. Always check the signs to know the guidelines for the spot where you park.

Featured Activity

Kids next to gorilla statue at the San Diego Zoo
The World Famous San Diego Zoo
Spend the day at the iconic San Diego Zoo! Featuring over 3,500 animals and 650 species, this zoo is the heart of Balboa Park. There are multiple exhibits & experiences for all ages to learn about animals and their habitats.
Learn More

Know Before You Go & Tips

Lifeguards
Lifeguards
No Alcohol
No Alcohol
No Camping
No Camping
No Dogs
No Dogs
No Glass Containers
No Glass Containers
No Motorized Vehicles
No Motorized Vehicles
No Smoking
No Smoking
Outdoor Showers
Outdoor Showers
Picnic Tables
Picnic Tables
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
Restrooms
Restrooms
Shade
Shade
Trash Cans Available
Trash Cans Available

Insider Tips

Bird Watching Opportunity

Behind the beach, next to the park, there is a bird habitat near Loma Alta Creek. Take the Loma Alta Marsh Footpath to enjoy birdwatching. Bring binoculars and good walking shoes to take advantage of the wildlife sighting.

No Dogs

Dogs are prohibited on Buccaneer Beach and Oceanside Boulevard Beach.

Beach Black Ball Flags

Pay attention to the beach warning flags to know what activities are permitted and which are prohibited. A black ball on a yellow background means no surfing. A red flag indicates that swimming is prohibited. Checkered flags indicate boundaries between swimming and surfing areas.

Watch for Rip Currents & Inshore Holes

Be aware of inshore holes, which can be common. An inshore hole is one where an adult might go from knee-deep water to waist-deep water. An inshore hole is an inconvenience for an adult, but very hazardous to a child.

Rip currents are a hazard on the San Diego coast and responsible for 95% of rescues. You can identify rip currents by the foamy water that is moving out to sea through the waves. If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm. If you can swim, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then swim diagonally toward the shore. If you are not a strong swimmer, tread water and call for help.

Oceanside Boulevard Beach & Buccaneer Beach
is Known For:
Swimming
Swimming
Know This:
Lifeguards
Lifeguards
Outdoor Showers
Outdoor Showers
Restrooms Available
Restrooms Available
Trash Cans Available
Trash Cans Available
This Month's Forecast
56°F / 73°F
Sunny in November
Dec
51°F / 68°F
Sunny in December
Jan
51°F / 67°F
Sunny in January
Feb
53°F / 68°F
Sunny in February

Stay Nearby

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