Moonlight State Beach
🏆🏆🏆 Encinitas Beach Gem — Wide sandy beach with volleyball courts, fire pits, and legendary sunsets
Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas is one of San Diego County’s most beloved beaches — a wide, sandy strand with volleyball courts, fire pits, a playground, and spectacular sunset views over the Pacific. The beach’s west-facing orientation provides unobstructed sunset views, and its gentle waves make it ideal for families, swimmers, and beginner surfers. The name “Moonlight” dates to the early 1900s when Encinitas residents held moonlight picnics on the beach.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Encinitas, San Diego County, CA |
| Entry Fee | Free (paid parking lot) |
| Amenities | Volleyball, fire pits, playground, restrooms |
| Surfing | Beginner-friendly waves |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fire pits available?
Yes — Moonlight Beach has fire pits available on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re popular for sunset bonfires — arrive early on weekends to secure one.
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About Moonlight State Beach
Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas is one of San Diego County’s most popular family beaches — a wide sandy crescent with gentle waves perfect for swimming. Early residents gathered here for moonlight picnics, giving the beach its romantic name.
Things to Do
Swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, volleyball, fire pits for beach bonfires, and a seasonal snack bar. Self-Realization Fellowship gardens nearby offer serene meditation gardens with ocean views. Excellent sunsets.
Insider Tips
Encinitas icon: Moonlight Beach is Encinitas’s main beach — a wide, family-friendly sandy beach with volleyball courts, fire pits, and a snack bar. Pro tip: The beach gets its name from early 20th-century moonlight picnics — locals would gather under the full moon for beach parties. Swami’s: Walk south along the coast to Swami’s — the famous surf break named for the Self-Realization Fellowship temple on the bluff above.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Beach season — water reaches 68-72°F. Fall: Warm water, fewer crowds. Spring: Dolphin and whale watching from shore. Winter: Sunset walks and storm watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swami’s?
Swami’s is a world-class surf break named for Paramahansa Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship ashram on the cliff above. Yogananda — author of “Autobiography of a Yogi” — established the ashram in 1937. The break produces long, peeling right-hand waves on south swells. George Harrison of the Beatles was a follower of Yogananda.
🌅 Visit Moonlight State Beach
Encinitas gem — volleyball, bonfires, and legendary Pacific sunsets.
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