Oceanside

Oceanside is a typical southern California beach town with a surf culture and with the Pacific Coast Highway running right through it.

Oceanside Pier

Where is Oceanside?

Oceanside is about 90 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport, so if flying into LA you could be in Oceanside in 90 minutes. It's also about 40 miles north of San Diego, less than a 40-minute drive if you take I-5, though we prefer the slower oceanfront road through places like Del Mar and Carlsbad.

Jet Skiers near Oceanside Pier

When to Visit Oceanside?

Oceanside has an ideal climate so you can visit any time of the year. You're more likely to see some rain in the winter months, but from April to October there's less than an inch of rain each month.

Our Pick of the California Guides

There can be days in winter when it will fall below freezing at night, but they're few and far between. The average daytime temperature is in the 50s in winter and the upper 60s in summer, but it's likely to be warmer than that. Even in January they've experienced a record high temperature of 92 degrees!

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Oceanside History

Oceanside was first settled by Native American peoples, partly because of its location on the San Luis Rey River. These days there's an enjoyable hiking and biking trail alongside the river.

The first Spanish missionaries arrived in 1769 and founded the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. This is about five miles inland from the Pacific Coast Highway, and well worth making the detour to see. The church on the site today was built in 1815 and is a beautiful building and a National Historic Landmark.

Oceanside slowly developed as an agricultural community, thanks to the supply of fresh water from the river. The town grew from that, aided by tourism in the 20th century and today it has a population of about 175,000.

What to See and Do in Oceanside

In addition to the river trail and the mission, here are some of the other things to see and do in Oceanside.

Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center

Common Kingfisher

Right by the Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve, as you head south towards Carlsbad, is this nature center. It shows you what you're missing if you speed north on I-5, which goes right by the eastern end of the 220-acre lagoon. There are viewing platforms, exhibitions, and a nature trail which has a neat interpretive map for your cell phone that tells you what you're seeing as you walk round.

The reserve is particularly known for its birds, including turkey vultures, peregrine falcons, hawks, owls, herons, and kingfishers.

California Surf Museum

The California Surf Museum

The California Surf Museum has displays on surfing life and culture that should appeal to both surfers and non-surfers, and are also a good family attraction. There's naturally a huge collection of surfboards, including one that a shark has taken a bite out of. As well as surfing memorabilia and music, there are changing exhibitions too.

Golfing in Oceanside

The Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside

Oceanside is home to Goat Hill Park, which was the first golf course in San Diego County, and the sport has continued to grow ever since. No matter what your ability, you'll find a course to suit you. Some of them offer ocean views, too. You can find a list of courses on the Visit Oceanside website's golf page.

Oceanside Harbor

Oceanside Harbor is no regular harbor. For a start it has three different areas, including stretches of beach. It's used by surfers and paddleboarders, and is where you can book whale watching cruises or deep-sea fishing trips. There are plenty of shops and eating places around there too.

Oceanside Museum of Art

The Oceanside Museum of Art

Not far from the California Surf Museum, a few blocks back from the pier, is the Oceanside Museum of Art. The museum opened in 1997 and is spread across two buildings, with the collection featuring contemporary artists of southern California.

Oceanside Pier

Surfers in Front of Oceanside Pier

Oceanside Pier was built in 1888 and is 1,942 feet long. If you visit Oceanside you just have to walk to the end for the views, and there's also the chance that you might see whales. The pier is a popular spot for fishing and for surfing, as the waves crash in either side of the pier. It's a good vantage point if you want to watch the surfers. There's also an amphitheater adjacent to the pier that's used for holding events.

The Amphitheater near Oceanside Pier

Whale Watching

Blue Whale

As with other places like Dana Point and San Diego, Oceanside is a good place for whale watching. You can sometimes see whales and dolphins from the pier, and if you want to go out on a boat head to the harbor where there are plenty of tour boats to choose from.

Oceanside Events

Oceanside hosts many major events throughout the year so if you're planning to stay overnight you should book your accommodation well ahead in case your visit coincides with one of these big events, which normally attract huge crowds.

January sees the Surf Cup and the Scholastic Surf Series. There are other surfing events throughout the year. In February there's an International Film Festival.

Oceanside's Beach Soccer Championships

In late May Oceanside hosts the Beach Soccer Championships.

In mid-June Oceanside acts as the starting point for the annual 3,000-mile Race Across America bicycle race, regarded as one of the toughest sporting challenges in the world. June also brings the USA Surfing Championships.

The Club Wyndham Oceanside Beach Resort

Oceanside Hotels

More Information

Go to the official website at Visit Oceanside.

More California coast pages

Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is a small California coastal town on the borders of Marin County and Sonoma County, and the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's the Birds.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway in California has its famous boardwalk, beaches, wine tastings, Surfing Museum, Mission, and Marine Discovery Center.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica in California is famous for its pier, and beaches, and is one of the best west coast vacation spots, with hotels, restaurants, surfing, museums.
Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing and SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
Santa Barbara
Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.
Visiting Hearst Castle
This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.
Free Things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway
There are lots of free things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway and here's our list of ten of them including wildlife, the best free views, and free museums.
Best Beaches in California
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's list of the best beaches in California with beaches in Santa Monica, Big Sur, Malibu, Carmel, Cambria, La Jolla and Coronado.
Scenic Spots on the Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the most scenic spots on the Pacific Coast Highway in California with Big Sur, Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach.
San Simeon
San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is a small city on the California coast, next to Monterey and close to Carmel, with attractions including its historic Victorian houses.
Laguna Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.
Coastal California Guidebook
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
Point Reyes National Seashore
The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier is just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica near Los Angeles, with an amusement park, an aquarium and many other attractions.
Bixby Bridge
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.
Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, or Catalina Island, is off the shore of Southern California and reachable from Long Beach, San Pedro, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.
Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on the Central Coast of California
The Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on California's Central Coast has oceanfront views, swimming pool, gardens, and is right on the beach near Hearst Castle.
Best Time to Visit Mendocino
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
San Clemente California
San Clemente in California is a small city on the Pacific Coast Highway midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, noted for its beaches and surfing.
Moss Beach Hotel
For a Moss Beach hotel just off the Pacific Coast Highway, the Seal Cove Inn offers good accommodation north of Half Moon Bay, minutes from the ocean.
California Coast Guide
One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.