SideGuy · Solana Beach

Local · Free photos

Free photos of Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff and Del Mar

A local's street-level shots of the coast towns, free to use with a credit and a link.

By PJ, a local in Cardiff · Updated Nov 6, 2026

Text PJ The Board: today's North County lines

62 free photos of Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas, Leucadia and Del Mar, taken by PJ on the street in October 2026: Highway 101, Fletcher Cove, Cedros, Moonlight Beach, the Coaster station, the shops and the signs. Use them anywhere (a blog, a listing, a flyer, a news story) under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license: credit "Photo: PJ / SideGuy" and link to sideguysolutions.com. No sign-up, no fee.

Credit line: Photo: PJ / SideGuy (sideguysolutions.com), CC BY 4.0

Jump to: Solana Beach · Cardiff · Encinitas · Leucadia · Del Mar · Carlsbad · San Diego

Solana Beach

Achilles Coffee Beachwalk Solana Beach
Achilles Coffee Beachwalk Solana Beach · Oct 9, 2026 · full size
Achilles Coffee Rooftop Stairs Solana Beach
Achilles Coffee Rooftop Stairs Solana Beach · Oct 9, 2026 · full size
Rustic Root Solana Beach 101
Rustic Root Solana Beach 101 · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
The Belly Up's arched front on Cedros at dawn
The Belly Up on Cedros, established 1974 · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
The Cedros Avenue Design District arch over Cedros at Lomas Santa Fe Dr, palms behind it at dawn
The Cedros Avenue Design District arch at Lomas Santa Fe, Solana Beach · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
A red light on Highway 101 in Solana Beach at dawn, an NCTD bus at the corner and the ocean straight ahead
Highway 101 in Solana Beach, the bus at the corner · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
Solana Beach Saddle Bar
Solana Beach Saddle Bar · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
The teal Solana Beach script sign on a rooftop at dawn, the street running down to Fletcher Cove and the ocean
The Solana Beach sign, Fletcher Cove at the end of the street · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
The Solana Beach Station sign with the Coaster and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner plaques at dawn
Solana Beach Station · Oct 7, 2026 · full size
A Tesla Supercharger post in the Solana Beach garage beside its V3 power cabinet, a black Tesla charging behind
The Solana Beach Supercharger and its V3 cabinet, Oct 7 · full size
The Welcome to Solana Beach sign on a planted bluff beside Coast Highway 101, a green-painted bike lane with curb separators in front
Welcome to Solana Beach on Highway 101, the protected bike lane in front, Oct. 10 · full size
Signs on a lawn on Sierra Avenue in Solana Beach: real estate, vacation rentals, property management
Vacation rental signs on Sierra Avenue, Solana Beach, Oct 13 · full size
A small Vacation Rentals office behind a lawn and a parking lot in Solana Beach, palms behind
A vacation rentals office in Solana Beach, Oct 13 · full size

Cardiff

Chesterfield Dr at the railroad crossing in Cardiff, palms and a sliver of ocean beyond
Chesterfield Dr at the tracks, Cardiff · Oct 6, 2026 · full size
Palms and the ocean at the bottom of the street, at San Elijo Ave in Cardiff
San Elijo Ave, Cardiff, PJ's neighborhood · Oct 6, 2026 · full size
The Cardiff State Beach and Cardiff Reef sign under palms at sunset, the ocean behind and a red light on Coast Highway 101
Cardiff State Beach at sunset, Oct 9 · full size
PJ's black Tesla plugged in at a Cardiff Supercharger post, a white Tesla across the lot
PJ charging at the Cardiff Supercharger, Oct 1 · full size
PJ's car charging at the Cardiff Tesla Supercharger before sunrise, the Chevron sign next door showing Regular 6.19
Gas vs electric on one corner: the Cardiff Supercharger and the Chevron next door, Oct 15 · full size
Cardiff Supercharger Stall Chevron
Cardiff Supercharger Stall Chevron · Nov 4, 2026 · full size
A Tesla Supercharger stall in Cardiff with the Chevron price sign behind it
A Tesla Supercharger stall in Cardiff with the Chevron price sign behind it · Oct 23, 2026 · full size

Encinitas

Alila Marea Bluff Coast Hwy 101 Dusk Encinitas
Alila Marea Bluff Coast Hwy 101 Dusk Encinitas · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
The lit Alila Marea sign and the resort's curved wood and glass front at the Coast Hwy 101 light at dusk
Alila Marea on Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas, Oct 15 · full size
APlus Electronics' sign, 'iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac repair & service', over a block-wall storefront in Encinitas
APlus Electronics in Encinitas, Oct 13 · full size
Encinitas American Legion F St
Encinitas American Legion F St · Oct 10, 2026 · full size
The ENCINITAS sign arching over Coast Highway 101 at D Street, white Spanish-style buildings and palms in the early morning light
Coast Highway 101 at D Street, Encinitas, Oct 13 · full size
The D Street Viewpoint in Encinitas under a gray sky, a red DANGER Active Bluff Failure Zone sign posted at the beach stairs
Encinitas' D Street stairs, Oct. 10: the posted sign reads DANGER, active bluff failure zone · full size
String lights over The Taco Stand and the patios on Highway 101 in Encinitas on a cloudy Friday evening
Highway 101 in Encinitas, Friday Oct. 9 at dusk · full size
Encinitas Saloon Shelter 101
Encinitas Saloon Shelter 101 · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
Encinitas Sign 101 D Street Dawn
Encinitas Sign 101 D Street Dawn · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
The Encinitas sign over Coast Highway 101 at D Street at golden hour
The Encinitas sign on Coast Highway 101, Oct 4 · full size
The Self-Realization Fellowship golden lotus towers glowing under tall palms at dusk on Highway 101 by Swami's in Encinitas
The golden lotus towers on Highway 101 by Swami's, Encinitas, Oct. 9 at dusk · full size
Coming Soon signs in the storefront windows at Encinitas Village
A new business on the way at Encinitas Village, Oct 12 · full size
Encinitas Village Sign
Encinitas Village Sign · Oct 12, 2026 · full size
La Paloma Theatre's vertical sign and marquee on Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas: 'The Shining Oct 9, 11, 15 / Nosferatu Tues / Texas Chainsaw Oct 16'
La Paloma's marquee, Tuesday morning, Oct. 13 · full size
Lofty Coffee Roastery Encinitas
Lofty Coffee Roastery Encinitas · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
Lofty the Lofts 315 Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas
Lofty the Lofts 315 Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
The City of Encinitas Welcome to Moonlight Beach rules sign: fires in designated rings and barbecues only, fire rings close at 10pm
The Moonlight Beach rules sign: fires in the rings only, rings close at 10pm, Oct 15 · full size
Moonlight Beach Entrance
Moonlight Beach Entrance · Oct 10, 2026 · full size
Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center
Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center · Oct 10, 2026 · full size
Moonlight Beach Sunset Marine Safety Center Encinitas
Moonlight Beach Sunset Marine Safety Center Encinitas · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
Moonlight Beach Sunset Volleyball Encinitas
Moonlight Beach Sunset Volleyball Encinitas · Oct 15, 2026 · full size
Pannikin Coffee Athena 101 Encinitas
Pannikin Coffee Athena 101 Encinitas · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
Vigilucci's 'Trattoria Italiana, Est. 1994' sign and black awning
Vigilucci's 'Trattoria Italiana, Est. 1994' sign and black awning · Oct 13, 2026 · full size

Leucadia

Birdseye Thai Lao Viet Leucadia
Birdseye Thai Lao Viet Leucadia · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
Coast Thai Way Peace Pies Leucadia
Coast Thai Way Peace Pies Leucadia · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
La Especial Norte's stone building with string lights and its 'Mexican Food, Since 1977' rooftop sign
La Especial Norte's stone building with string lights and its 'Mexican Food, Since 1977' rooftop sign · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
Leucadia Barbershop's lit sign and 'Est 1996' window neon
Leucadia Barbershop's lit sign and 'Est 1996' window neon · Oct 13, 2026 · full size
Leucadia Captain Kenos Site Crane
Leucadia Captain Kenos Site Crane · Oct 10, 2026 · full size
Leucadian Bar Coast Hwy 101 Leucadia
Leucadian Bar Coast Hwy 101 Leucadia · Oct 12, 2026 · full size
Oto Sushi Leucadia 101
Oto Sushi Leucadia 101 · Oct 8, 2026 · full size
A service station canopy at dusk on Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia, one pump island underneath, cones along the highway
Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia at dusk, Oct 15. A street photo, not a pick: SideGuy names no shop and takes no cut · full size

Del Mar

The Del Mar Arena at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, its Spanish-style front under a long red roof, past an empty, rain-soaked parking lot lined with crowd barriers
The Del Mar Arena at the Fairgrounds, Sunday Oct. 11 after the rain · full size
Del Mar Coastal Access Beach
Del Mar Coastal Access Beach · Oct 11, 2026 · full size
Del Mar Hotel Palms
Del Mar Hotel Palms · Oct 11, 2026 · full size
Del Mar's lifeguard headquarters at the end of the parking lot, the planted walkway to the beach and the Del Mar Beach Hotel's white porches
The walkway to the beach past Del Mar's lifeguard headquarters, Sunday Oct. 11 · full size
Del Mar Powerhouse Lot Lifeguards
Del Mar Powerhouse Lot Lifeguards · Oct 11, 2026 · full size
Blue Public Parking sign for the beach, restaurants and Powerhouse events in Del Mar, with a smaller sign below: private property, parking fee required for disabled placards, pay in advance, enforced by the City of Del Mar
The Powerhouse lot sign, Del Mar: the fee applies to placards too · Oct 9, 2026 · full size
Del Mar Seagrove Park Sign
Del Mar Seagrove Park Sign · Oct 11, 2026 · full size
The Del Mar stone sign by the road, the racetrack grandstand across the lagoon on a rainy day
The Del Mar sign and the racetrack, Oct 11 · full size
Del Mar Village Directory Seagrove
Del Mar Village Directory Seagrove · Oct 11, 2026 · full size

Carlsbad

Red Tesla Vehicle Charging Only signs on the slope above the La Costa Supercharger lot on El Camino Real in Carlsbad, the Equinox club across the lot
The La Costa Supercharger by Equinox, El Camino Real, Carlsbad, Oct. 10: the posted signs say electric vehicle charging only, violators towed at owner's expense · full size

San Diego

A Southwest jet on final approach into San Diego International, seen from the freeway with downtown behind it
Landing at San Diego International, October 14, from the freeway by downtown · full size

The license, in plain words

  • Free for any use, including a business or a news story, under CC BY 4.0.
  • The one ask: the credit "Photo: PJ / SideGuy" with a link to sideguysolutions.com, near the photo or in the credits.
  • Not included: photos with a recognizable face or a readable license plate, and phone or app screens; those stay off this page. Stock photos elsewhere on SideGuy keep their own licenses (most are public domain from Wikimedia Commons).
  • Businesses and signs in these photos belong to their owners; the license covers the photo, not their names or logos.

Used one? Text PJ the link and he'll share it. Need a shot of somewhere in North County that isn't here? Ask; he's out most days.

Send this to a friend. The message is already written; you just pick who.

Text it to a friend

"Free photos of Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff and Del Mar, free to use with a credit:"

Need a human?

This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.

Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · every 2027 Medicare plan · is my medication recalled? · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25. Your parent lives here and you don't? The Parent Check-In Plan, $25 a month.

Questions people ask

Can I use these North County photos for free?

Yes. All 62 are PJ's own photos under CC BY 4.0: free for any use, including commercial, with the credit "Photo: PJ / SideGuy" and a link to sideguysolutions.com.

How do I credit a SideGuy photo?

Write "Photo: PJ / SideGuy (sideguysolutions.com), CC BY 4.0" near the photo or in your credits, with a link to sideguysolutions.com.

Where can I find free photos of Solana Beach or Encinitas?

This page: 62 street-level photos of Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas, Leucadia and Del Mar from October 2026, free under CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons also has public-domain shots of the coast.

Know someone who needs this?

Got a question about this? Ask PJ a question. A real person in Solana Beach texts you back.

Something changed here? Text PJ the fix: if it changes this page, you get $5. How it works.

Spotted something new around town? Text it in. What do you want to see here? Ask PJ for a page. No login, a real person reads it.

More free local tools: the North County toolkit.

Text PJ