Nestled between Imperial Beach and Coronado you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach. One visit and you’ll understand why it’s called that. Here you can enjoy swimming, surfing, boating, kayaking, water skiing, volleyball, camping, and picnicking. Anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion, and yellow-fin croaker. The area also features a wonderful bike path, part of the Bayshore Bikeway, that takes riders past the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and offers great views of the bay and skyline.
San Diego’s South Bay is a major seaport bustling with shipbuilders, naval traffic, and international commerce. But out on the narrow seven-mile spit of sand that protects San Diego Bay from the sea, you’ll get the sensation of being far removed from civilization as you comb the endless, deserted beaches for seashells. It may not be the best place in San Diego to swim, surf, or sunbathe, but it is a place where you can do it all.
Silver Strand State Beach offers both day-use and overnight RV camping, picnic areas, bathroom and shower facilities, and fantastic shell collecting. The spot is named for the silvery oyster shells that cover the beach and dunes here and you can also find clams buried in the sand by the water. A lot of the folks who camp here are repeat customers, visitors who’ve fallen in love with The Strand and return for a visit year after year.
Coronado Cays Park is just down the road from the State Beach, on the ocean side opposite the gated residential community. Here you’ll find more wide open beaches, without the sea of motorhomes and the drone of generators. The Cays are a great spot for a family outing and picnic in the park.
- Beachcombing, parks, bathrooms, showers, and supervised swimming on ocean and bay sides.
- A ten-mile-long bike path spans the length of the isthmus from Imperial Beach to Coronado.
- The state park is open for day use daily (call the park for current day-use hours).
- Overnight camping is available for self-contained RVs (no car or tent camping).
- Alcohol and Glass are not allowed.
- Dogs are allowed in the campground area only; not on the beach.
- Fire rings are available, but all fires must be extinguished by closing time.
- It is always a good idea to call ahead regarding operating hours, fees, and conditions, which can change. Call: 619-435-5184 for info.
The Silver Strand Beach Café is open for the busy summer season, Memorial Day thru Labor Day, on weekends and offers ice cream sundaes, sandwiches, and barbeque. Some beach amenities such as boogie boards are available for rent and sunscreen, sunglasses, ice, firewood, and hats are for sale.
There’s also a resort nearby where you can hire a room or have a meal, but nothing much in the way of stores.
- Depending on how you look at it, Silver Strand’s remote location may make it your ideal beach, or simply out of reach. The coast is fully exposed to wind and waves here, so it can be less than pleasant on a blustery day. Bring whatever you need with you from home.
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach, in the tunnels, or on the bay side.
- Dogs are allowed only in the day use and camping area parking lots.
- All dogs must remain on a leash no longer than six feet in length.
- The beaches north and south of Silver Strand are military property; don’t wander too far afield or you may find yourself in the midst of a Navy SEALS training exercise.
- From INTERSTATE 5 southbound just beyond downtown San Diego, take the Coronado Bridge over the bay to Coronado Island, and head left on Orange Avenue HWY 75 south.
- From INTERSTATE 5 northbound, exit Palm Avenue west to HWY 75 north. You can’t miss Silver Strand as you drive down the narrow sand isthmus dividing beach and bay.
