There are technically three beaches that you can visit in Del Mar that are all dog friendly. North Beach in Del Mar, or as most locals know it as “Dog Beach”, is just north of 29th Street and goes nearly a half-mile to the border of Solana Beach.
This area of the beach has access to both the Pacific Ocean as well as the San Dieguito River. While Del Mar is a dog-friendly community and allows access to its beaches to dogs and their owners throughout the year, during the summer months, from June 16 until Labor Day, dogs must be restricted to a 6-foot leash.
Parking is off-street and metered. It’ll cost you $3 an hour, or you can buy an all-day pass for $4 from a display station at the top of Camino del Mar, just before Villa de la Valle. If you don’t mind a short walk, however, just drive south past the bridge to 29th Street.
You will find plenty of free parking on both sides of the street, but be prepared to search for a spot, as it will get pretty busy on the weekends.
Volleyball courts line the top of the beach and trashcans and doggie bags are located here as well. There are restrooms, in the form of Port -O- Potties for use. While this beach is not fenced in and does have access to a busy roadway, there are natural boundaries on either side of the dog beach, the San Dieguito River mouth flows into the sea to the south and during high tide the ocean reaches the North Bluffs Preserves.
As a result, it is somewhere that you can visit with your canine friend to let them run free to get some exercise without too much worry of them running away or getting into trouble.
Beach Rules, Parking & Cleanup
Address
3006 Sandy Ln
Del Mar, CA 92014
Hours
7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Off-Leash: North of 29th Street (North Beach) from day after Labor Day until June 15
No Dogs: Power House Park to 29th Street from June 16 until Labor Day
Leashed: All other times / places
Main Features
- North Beach Allows Off-Leash Dogs During Non-Peak Seasons
- Fee Required To Park Nearby 9am – 8pm
- Dog Waste Bags Available
- Volley Ball Courts
- Beautiful Rock Cliffs Right Next To Ocean
- Porta Potty Restrooms & Trash Cans
Official Sites
Del Mar Dog Beach
Be sure to take a look at the Del Mar Beach Rules sign to learn all of the details about what is allowed and what isn’t allowed here. If you are bringing a dog here, this is especially important because it will tell you which parts of the beach you can visit with your pooch at certain times of the year.
It will also let you know where you can have dogs off-leash and where leashes are needed. All dogs must have a license attached to their collar.
Nearby parking requires a fee – you’ll find a parking meter station here to pay and then the ticket needs to be displayed in your parked car.
Anyone bringing a pet here will need to be sure to promptly clean up after them if they use the bathroom on the beach or on any public land.
Under the Coastal Access sign, you’ll find a dog waste station that provides bags that you can use for this purpose. However, it could be still a good idea to have some of your own waste bags in your car because you can be fined if you do not follow this rule.
Canine Ocean Fun & Beautiful Cliff Views
From the day after Labor Day until June 15th, the North Beach here allowed unleashed dogs. You’ll find some beautiful cliffs here as well that your pets can run beside, or they can also go cool down with a dip in the ocean.
This is simply one of the best outdoor, public places to visit with your canine friend because it offers them a ton of exercise while you get beautiful, peaceful surroundings.
Whether you want to visit Del Mar to play fetch or just to let your dog interact with other animals to make some new friends, you’ll find all of it and more here. Regular exercise and fun time like this is great for their health and can even be a very relaxing experience for you too.
If you happen to want to avoid parking, you may be able to find a spot along the road – some of these areas will allow for free parking although they are often taken.
Fun For You: Swimming, Surfing & Paddle Boarding
Even though this is a great place to go with dogs, you’ll also enjoy Del Mar Beach if you go solo or with friends and family. A variety of activities are allowed here including swimming, surfing and paddle boarding, but be sure to take a look at signs that mark areas where these things may be allowed or not allowed. Lifeguards are on-duty here for your safety.
The outlet to the San Dieguito River can also be found at the south end. There is a bridge with a walking path over it, and you can often find people down below fishing.
You are not allowed to fish from the bridge, so if this is something appealing to you, be sure to walk down to fish because you can get fined otherwise.
You’ll also find the surrounding areas here to be beautiful, making Del Mar a relaxing place to visit whether you want to take your dog for a walk or simply lay on the beach to watch for dolphins.
Related Contents
- 10 Best Park Accessories for Dog Owners
- Alga Norte Dog Park with Training Obstacles & Nice Off-Leash Areas
- Barking Dogs at a Dog Park Seldom Bite – You Need to Remain Calm!
- Coronado Dog Beach near San Diego Offers Great Point Loma Views
- Del Mar Dog Beach with Spectacular Cliff Views
- Dusty Rhodes Dog Park in San Diego near Ocean Beach
- Fiesta Island Dog Beach Off-Leash Dog Park at Mission Bay
- Grape Street Dog Park in Balboa Park Brings Nature to the City
- Is Your Dog Barking Excessively And Annoying Your Neighbours?
- Morley Field Off-Leash Dog Park in Balboa Park – Amazing Canyon Views
- Nate’s Point Off-Leash Dog Park at Balboa Park
- Ocean Beach Off-Leash Dog Beach in San Diego, CA
- Rancho Bernardo Off-Leash Dog Park in San Diego, CA
3 thoughts on “Del Mar Dog Beach with Spectacular Cliff Views”