76°
Mostly Sunny
2%
84
San Diego County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Carlsbad State Beach
Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008
A long, wide beach fronting downtown Carlsbad Village — sandstone bluffs to the north, the Power Plant Cove just south, and the 1.5-mile Carlsbad Seawall walking path along the top. Beginner-friendly surf spot, family scene without LA crowds.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 76°F air · 73°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
Weather
- 76°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — high surf advisory issued july 18 at 4:40am pdt until july 21 at 11:00pm pdt by nws san diego ca
65 /100
good
48 Swim
79 Sunbathe
86 Walk
81 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.5 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
High Surf High Surf Advisory
High Surf Advisory issued July 18 at 4:40AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet with sets up to 8 feet at south or southwest facing beaches. * WHERE...San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County Coastal Areas. * WHEN...From 5 PM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...South swell 4 to 5 feet coming from 180 to 200 degrees with a period of 13 seconds will generate high surf, primarily for south-facing beaches. Tides will generally be at or below 5.5 feet, but localized areas of beach erosion and minor tidal overflow may occur when combining with the high surf. Swell and surf will decrease by Wednesday.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind
5 to 10 mph
SW
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
76°F
Partly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
15s · SW swell
Water Quality
Above threshold
1,083 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ740)
The SGX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ552 Orange County Coastal Areas n/a
- CAZ043 San Diego County Coastal Areas n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:52 AM
Sunset
10:57 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:02 AM | High | 5.5 ft |
| 6:51 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 1:29 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 7:12 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:54 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 7:27 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 2:15 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 8:29 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:57 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 8:03 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 3:04 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:03 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 8:41 AM | Low | 2.0 ft |
| 3:57 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 11:38 PM | Low | 1.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:51 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 9:29 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 4:53 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:50 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 7:51 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 10:42 AM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 5:47 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:40 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 8:46 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 12:00 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 6:35 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410230, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
76°
Partly Sunny
2%
84
77°
Mostly Sunny
2%
84
77°
Mostly Sunny
0%
84
76°
Mostly Sunny
1%
84
76°
Mostly Sunny
3%
83
75°
Partly Sunny
13%
80
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Metered street parking on Carlsbad Blvd; paid state-beach lots.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach.
Entry Fee
State lot parking ~$15/day.
Address
Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Carlsbad State Beach today?
Carlsbad State Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Carlsbad State Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach.
Is there an entry fee at Carlsbad State Beach?
State lot parking ~$15/day.
Are there lifeguards at Carlsbad State Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Carlsbad State Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Carlsbad State Beach?
Amenities at Carlsbad State Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, restaurants in Village.
When is the water warmest at Carlsbad State Beach?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is Carlsbad State Beach located?
Carlsbad State Beach is in San Diego County, CA, at Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS