Picture a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no highrises. It's just you and the waves and the seabirds at Ocean Beach, on the westernmost border of San Francisco, adjacent to Golden Gate Park. Great for strolling and flying kites, but the water is frigid and the currents hazardous for all but the most experienced surfers.
Public Transportation is the best way to get to Ocean Beach.
On-site parking is very limited.
To plan your trip using public transportation, either use the trip planner below or click the map on the right side of this page.
- The sunniest months for a beach walk are September and October.
- The beach is almost always covered in fog throughout late spring and summer, with average temperatures in the 50s.
- Please do not trample fragile plants on the dunes.
- Fire rings were installed in April 2007 as a way to allow and enjoy fires on the beach. If you love beach campfires, please learn more by downloading this Ocean Beach Fire Ring Policy Brochure (PDF), and make a difference.
- Volunteer regularly with hundreds of like-minded individuals and help keep Ocean Beach clean and safe!
Snowy Plover
Look for the small, shy Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)—a threatened species that rests here in the winter. In California, there has been a significant decline in breeding locations as a result of various forms of human disturbance. The species is being strictly monitored and protected by the National Park Service.
Vast Dunes to Urban Getaway
At one time, a vast sand-dune wilderness (now the Sunset and Richmond districts) separated Ocean Beach from the rest of San Francisco. Development came in the late 19th century when a steam railroad was put in place to bring people to a fashionable resort on the outskirts of town. Later the Cliff House, and the now-gone Sutro Baths and Playland at the Beach amusement park was put in place. Today, Ocean Beach is still as popular for seaside drives, brisk jogs, and sunset walks as it was in the early 1900s.
Shipwrecks in the Sand
At the foot of Ortega Street during very low tides, you can see the worn ribs of the hull of the ship King Philip sticking out of the sand. Between 1850 and 1926, 20 ships came to grief on Ocean Beach.
