Dawn patrol surfing in Carlsbad

Multiple blufftop stairways along Carlsbad Boulevard provide access to the beach. The main Carlsbad State Beach parking lot has a paved path down to the sand. Terramar access to the north and Tamarack Avenue to the south are alternative entry points if the main lot is busy.

The Carlsbad State Beach day-use lot along Carlsbad Boulevard costs $10-15 per vehicle and fills by mid-morning on weekends. Free 2-hour street parking is available along Carlsbad Boulevard, but enforcement is active and tickets are common. The Tamarack lot to the south has additional metered spots.

From I-5, exit Poinsettia Ln and head west to Carlsbad Blvd. Turn south on Carlsbad Blvd—the Ponto day-use area and South Carlsbad State Beach entrance are on the right. Stairs lead down the bluff to the sand. You can also access from the South Ponto lot off the south end of Carlsbad Blvd near the Batiquitos Lagoon. The stairways are well-maintained but can be slick when wet.

South Carlsbad State Beach day-use lot charges $10-20 per vehicle depending on season and day of week. The South Ponto parking area off Carlsbad Blvd near Batiquitos Lagoon is free but limited to about 30 spots—it fills by 9am on summer weekends. Street parking along Carlsbad Blvd is extremely limited. A California State Parks annual pass pays for itself in about 5-6 visits if you surf here regularly.

Car break-ins reported - secure valuables

From I-5, exit Tamarack Ave and head west toward the ocean. Turn south on Carlsbad Blvd and look for the Terramar neighborhood on the right (west) side. Street access is through the Terramar residential area—there are a few public access paths between the homes that lead to stairs down the bluff. The main access point is at the end of Ocean St. The bluff stairs are steep but manageable.

Free parking available