Short answer: street parking at every Solana Beach beach access is free, Fletcher Cove and Seascape Surf have public lots, and Del Mar Shores has three small free lots (City of Solana Beach).
Today, Tuesday Oct 6
- Show at Belly Up tonight (Rickie Lee Jones): Cedros fills up around doors. The real Belly Up parking story.
- Beach day (88°F on the coast): expect a crowd. If the Fletcher Cove lot is full, the City lists free street parking at every access and three small free lots at Del Mar Shores.
Solana Beach beach parking, access by access
| Beach (City page) | Parking | Dogs and facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Fletcher Cove End of Lomas Santa Fe Blvd | Public parking lot, plus free street parking. A few hundred yards from the Solana Beach train station (Coaster and Amtrak). | No dogs Showers, restrooms, picnic tables, basketball court |
| Tide Beach Park / Table Tops Solana Vista Dr at Pacific Ave | Free street parking only. | Dogs on leash from the stairs north to Cardiff Showers, no restrooms; the big reef and tide pools at the north end |
| Seascape Surf / Cherry Hill Stairway at 501 S. Sierra Ave | Free street parking, plus a public parking lot across the street from the beach access. | No dogs Showers, no restrooms; wide sandy beach |
| Del Mar Shores Stairway at 180 Del Mar Shores Terrace | Free street parking, plus three small free public lots near Del Mar Shores Terrace and Sierra Ave. | Dogs on leash from the stairs south to Del Mar No showers, no restrooms; scenic viewpoint |
Quoted from the City of Solana Beach's beach pages, checked Oct 4, 2026. Posted signs win. Pay a Solana Beach parking citation.
Encinitas and Cardiff beach parking
- Cardiff State Beach: Swimming, surfing, surf fishing (fee) (0.8 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- San Elijo State Beach: Day use and camping (fee) (2.2 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- Swami's: Surf spot, blufftop park (3.2 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- D Street Beach: Wooden stairs to beach, on-street parking (4.0 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- Moonlight Beach: Swimming, beach volleyball, snack stand (4.2 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- Stone Steps Beach: Stairway to beach, on-street parking (4.7 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- Beacon's Beach (San Diego): Steep trail to beach, blufftop parking lot (5.4 mi from Fletcher Cove)
- Grandview Beach: Surfing, swimming, parking lot opposite stairs to beach (6.2 mi from Fletcher Cove)
From the California Coastal Commission's access data, which marks each of these with parking. The City of Encinitas website does not answer automated reads, so check posted signs for fees and hours. Every beach access with stairs, restrooms and lifeguards.
Or skip the car
- By train: Fletcher Cove is a few hundred yards from Solana Beach Station. Coaster times · by train from Solana Beach.
- Next door: Del Mar parking (free Civic Center garage) · bike rides from Fletcher Cove.
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 · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
Is beach parking free in Solana Beach?
Street parking at every Solana Beach beach access is free, per the City of Solana Beach. Fletcher Cove and Seascape Surf also have public lots, and Del Mar Shores has three small free public lots near Del Mar Shores Terrace and Sierra Avenue.
Where do I park for Fletcher Cove?
The public lot at the end of Lomas Santa Fe Blvd, or free street parking nearby; it is also a few hundred yards from the Solana Beach train station (City of Solana Beach).
Where do I park for Tide Beach Park?
Free street parking only, at Solana Vista Drive and Pacific Avenue (City of Solana Beach).
Which Solana Beach beaches allow dogs?
Per the City: on leash from the Tide Beach Park stairs north to Cardiff, and from the Del Mar Shores stairs south to Del Mar. No dogs at Fletcher Cove or Seascape Surf.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.