15 beach, lagoon and harbor spots in Encinitas and Cardiff have parking, from the California Coastal Commission's own access list. A fee, fee lot or meters are listed at 2: Cardiff State Beach, San Elijo State Beach. The Commission lists no fee at the others, but street meters and time limits can still apply: read the posted signs.
Today, Tuesday Oct 13
- Nothing unusual today. Street parking near the stairs is first come, first served; read the posted signs for hours.
Where to park, nearest Fletcher Cove first
| Spot (map) | From Fletcher Cove | Parking | Restrooms | What's there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff State Beach Coast Hwy. 101, W. of San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff-by-the-Sea | 0.8 mi | fee or meters | yes | Swimming, surfing, surf fishing |
| San Elijo Lagoon E. and W. of Hwy. I-5, S. of Manchester Ave., Encinitas | 1.2 mi | no fee listed | no | Trails at N. end of Rios Ave. in Solana Beach and El Camino Real S. of La Orilla in Rancho Santa Fe |
| San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center 2710 Manchester Ave., .7 mi. W. of Hwy. I-5, Encinitas | 1.5 mi | no fee listed | yes | Exhibits about ecology and history of San Elijo Lagoon, trails |
| Vista Point (Cardiff-by-the-Sea) San Diego Fwy. (Hwy. 1-5), S. of Birmingham Dr., Cardiff-by-the-Sea | 1.7 mi | no fee listed | no | View area, access from southbound lanes of Hwy. I-5 |
| San Elijo State Beach Coast Hwy. 101, .2 mi. N. of Chesterfield Dr., Cardiff-by-the-Sea | 2.2 mi | fee or meters | yes | Day use and camping |
| Swami's W. of Coast Hwy. 101, S. of K St., Encinitas | 3.2 mi | no fee listed | yes | Surf spot, blufftop park |
| Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Garden 215 K St., Encinitas | 3.4 mi | no fee listed | yes | Meditation garden, bathing attire not allowed |
| Viewpoint Park (J Street) W. end of J St., Encinitas | 3.5 mi | no fee listed | no | Views, no beach access, blufftop path connects I and J Streets |
| Viewpoint Park (I Street) W. end of I St., Encinitas | 3.6 mi | no fee listed | no | Views, no beach access, blufftop path connects I and J Streets |
| Viewpoint Park (H Street) W. end of H St., Encinitas | 3.6 mi | no fee listed | no | Views, no beach access |
| D Street Beach W. end of D. St., Encinitas | 4.0 mi | no fee listed | no | Wooden stairs to beach, on-street parking |
| Moonlight Beach W. ends of B and C streets, Encinitas | 4.2 mi | no fee listed | yes | Swimming, beach volleyball, snack stand |
| Stone Steps Beach W. end of S. El Portal off Neptune Ave., Encinitas | 4.7 mi | no fee listed | no | Stairway to beach, on-street parking |
| Beacon's Beach (San Diego) Neptune Ave. at W. Leucadia Blvd., Leucadia | 5.4 mi | no fee listed | no | Steep trail to beach, blufftop parking lot |
| Grandview Beach 1700 Neptune Ave., Encinitas | 6.2 mi | no fee listed | no | Surfing, swimming, parking lot opposite stairs to beach |
California Coastal Commission access points. "Fee or meters" means the Commission flags a fee or describes fee lots or meters; "no fee listed" means it doesn't, not that every space nearby is free. Read posted signs for hours, meters and time limits.
Skip the fee, or skip the car
- Cardiff State Beach and San Elijo State Beach charge State Parks day-use fees. A free California State Parks pass is available through the library: how the library parks pass works.
- Take the Coaster to Encinitas station and walk to Moonlight Beach: Coaster times from Encinitas.
- Bike it along the coast: bike rides from Fletcher Cove.
- Dogs? Dog-friendly beaches, nearest first. Tides and surf: beach day today.
More: Del Mar parking · Solana Beach parking · Carlsbad beach parking · La Jolla beach parking · Oceanside beach parking · every beach access near Solana Beach. Checked October 13, 2026.
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Questions people ask
Do you have to pay to park at Encinitas beaches?
At some: the California Coastal Commission lists a fee, fee lots or meters at Cardiff State Beach, San Elijo State Beach. It lists no fee at its other Encinitas and Cardiff access points; street meters and time limits can still apply.
Where do you park for Moonlight Beach?
W. ends of B and C streets, Encinitas. The Coastal Commission lists no fee there, with restrooms on site. Swimming, beach volleyball, snack stand.
Where do you park for Swami's?
W. of Coast Hwy. 101, S. of K St., Encinitas. The Coastal Commission lists no fee there, with restrooms on site. Surf spot, blufftop park.
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