8 Epic San Diego Sunset Spots (Locals Guide)

Adventure Towns

Feb 10

Whether you just moved to San Diego or plan to visit soon, you may not know all the local’s favorite hidden spots to watch a perfect San Diego sunset.

From catching the pink and orange painted sky from a rooftop winery, taking a sunset cruise on the bay, or watching surfers ride into the drifting sun, there is a perfect sunset spot for everyone.

One thing to note is during May and June the forecast in San Diego is prone to cloudy skies and during winter the sun can set as early as 4:30pm.

- Windansea Beach
- Ocean Beach Pier
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Hospitality Point
- Cordiano Winery
- Kate Sessions (dog) Park
- Scripps Coastal Reserve Trail
  Keep reading for location and tips at each spot.

Sunset Spots in San Diego

1) Windansea Beach

Neighborhood: La Jolla
Location: 32.8312° N, 117.2811° W

Tucked away, down a hidden street on the less populated side of La Jolla is this magical little oasis of cliffs, white sand, and crashing waves.

Windansea Beach is a local favorite in San Diego if you want to see serious waves and phenomenal surfers.

It is also far from crowded compared to the more popular San Diego beaches like La Jolla Shores, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach.

Keep in mind that this is more of a local beach because of how strong the rip tide and current are and it is not ideal for beachcombers to swim if you aren’t confident in your capabilities.

Also, I wouldn’t surf here unless you are with a local.

This beach is great for anyone who wants to experience a hidden gem of San Diego, likes breathtaking sunsets, and enjoys watching talented surfers take on San Diego’s finest waves.

You can find parking easily along any of the surrounding neighborhood streets.

Local Tip- Take the backroad here through Nautilus St. and Soledad Mountain Road to experience the picture-perfect winding roads and breathtaking views.

2) Ocean Beach Pier

Neighborhood: Ocean Beach
Location: 32.7471° N, 117.2535° W

If you feel like La Jolla and Coronado aren’t your scene, then you need to check out Ocean Beach.

Definitely more of a free-spirit vibe here and is home to one of the best dog beaches in San Diego.

You can find free parking at the dog beach or a few blocks from the pier, and there are a few metered parking areas as well. Make sure to check the signs along the streets for what days and times you can/cannot park there or when it switches from paid to free.

The Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast at 1,971 feet long.

I recommend walking down the pier before sunset and then heading back for epic photos of the pier peaking through the towering palm trees and surfers riding out to catch the last sets of the evening.

If you’re lucky you can catch the best front seat view from the upper floor of Wonderland and enjoy the nightly sunset shot with everyone at the bar.

If you want some of the best tacos in San Diego, then go across the street to South Beach Bar for shark and lobster tacos while enjoying the sunset from their rooftop patio.

Local Tip - the drinks and atmosphere are better at Wonderland, but the food is better at South Beach. If you are going for Taco Tuesday, get there early!

3) Cabrillo National Monument

Neighborhood: Point Loma
Location: 32.6887° N, 117.2457° W

Most people don’t think to come out to see the Cabrillo National Monument, but it is a rather unique place to view a San Diego sunset, especially those with military ties.

There is so much to do nearby, like venturing down the cliffs to see the infamous Point Loma Tide Pools and all the animals that call it home.

To enter the Cabrillo National Monument area you will need your "America the Beautiful Pass” or you can pay $20 per vehicle for a one-time entry.

This is a popular place during the day so you may need to circle the parking lot a few times or find parking along Cabrillo Road.

Operating hours are typically 9am-5pm, but be sure to confirm on the NPS website before your visit.

Because tide pools close by 4:30pm, I would visit the tide pools first. Plan to spend about an hour there.

Keep in mind you can only view the tide pools during low tide so be sure to check the forecast first.

It is a short, steep walk down to the pools, but the further you explore the more sea life you will encounter, such as octopus, lobster, sea slug, and varying fish.

Next, I would stop by the Cabrillo National Monument, New and Old Lighthouse, and then head out of the national monument area before the gates close at 5pm.

From here you can drive the very short distance to the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and park along the road.

Here, you can view the sunset as it lights up the headstones in perfect symmetry, leaving you with unmeasurable amounts of gratitude.

4) Hospitality Point, Mission Bay

Neighborhood: Mission Bay
Location: 32.7583° N, -117.2422° W

A unique spot that you have a good chance of getting all to yourself is the secret fishing spot along the jetty between Mission Bay and Ocean Beach.

To get here follow the GPS coordinates listed above and you can park in the big gravel parking lot at the end of Quivira Way or the small parking lot near the bathrooms.

As you walk down the jetty you will see Ocean Beach Dog Beach to your left and the busy Mission Beach to your right.

Right here in the middle though it’s peaceful and quiet, perfect as you watch the sunset over Ocean Beach.

A rather odd thing to note is there are a ton of stray cats along the rocks of the jetty since this is a favorite spot amongst fishermen and the cats have taken note of this ideal place to feast.

If you are a runner, I highly suggest going for a 5k run to this point.

For a nice walk or run to this sunset spot, you can find parking along the dirt road next to the main road where Sea World Drive and Friars Rd intersect.

5) Sunset Cliffs & Cave

Neighborhood: Ocean Beach
Location: 32.7243° N, 117.2576° W

One of the more iconic places to view the sunset is none other than Sunset Cliffs between Ocean Beach and Point Loma.

Grab your beach towel and find a nice spot along the cliffs to watch the sun fade away into the Pacific Ocean.

Because this is a popular spot amongst both locals and tourists, plan to get here at least 30 minutes before the sunset to get a decent parking spot along the road.

Once parked, there are plenty of spots along the cliffs to watch the sunset.

One of my favorite hidden spots in San Diego is down below the cliffs inside Sunset Cliffs Cave.

To get to the cave you will have to do some advance planning and know when the tide is negative, not low, but actually negative (ideally at least -1.0).

You can find the top of Sunset Cliffs Cave by putting “Luscomb’s Point” into Google Maps.

There are a few safe ways to access this cave and I will let you do a bit more research to find out how and where to get down safely and explore this secret cave.

Read next — 5 Best Hiking Trails in San Diego

6) Cordiano Winery

Neighborhood: Escondido
Location: 33.0681° N, 116.9917° W

One of the top 5 most incredible restaurants in San Diego County with a killer sunset view is Cordiano Winery.

The pizza is to die for, the wine is the best you’ll find in Southern California, and the view of the sun fading down over the rolling hills is breathtaking.

Even the drive up to the Highland Valley, where you can find many San Diego wineries, is a unique sight for San Diego.

As you climb the mountain through the slightly winding road, you will pass multiple palm tree farms and intensely green pastures.

The restaurant has free parking and shouldn’t fill up as reservations are required here.

This is an outdoor dining restaurant, but they have plenty of heaters and cozy blankets to take on the mild San Diego winters. The patio is also dog-friendly!

You honestly cannot go wrong with ordering anything off the menu, but I would suggest the Black Truffle pizza and the Chardonnay if you like white wine or Tempranillo for smooth red.

7) Kate Sessions (dog) Park

Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Location: 5115 Soledad Rd, San Diego, CA 92109

Known as the “dog park with million-dollar views,” this local spot is a place where both you and your pup can enjoy a nice evening with great company and views.

While not technically a dog park, most do bring their dog here to enjoy the company of other dogs.

Be aware that a leash is required, even though you will see plenty of dogs running off-leash on the very large grassy area.

There is also a 0.75 mile trail loop around the park.

Kate Sessions Park is about a 5-10 minute drive from Pacific Beach and is located at the top of Soledad Road.

There is a free parking lot at the park with plenty of parking.

If you stay for sunset, you will be rewarded with a colorful sunset and one of the best expansive views that overlook a few of San Diego’s finest beaches.

And on an especially clear day, you can even see the San Diego skyline.

Even if you don’t have a furry friend, this is a great place to catch a sunset that even most locals don’t know about.

There are also picnic tables and bbq pits if you want to plan an evening cookout with friends.

Fun fact, Kate Sessions was a highly influential horticulturist and dubbed the ‘Mother of Balboa Park.’

Don’t miss our favorite Dog-Friendly Hikes in San Diego!

8) Scripps Coastal Reserve Trail

Neighborhood: La Jolla
Location: 32.8758° N, 117.2460° W

If you want to avoid the crowds and experience how the million-dollar homes of La Jolla get to view the dramatic coastline 400 feet above sea level, then Scripps Coastal Reserve Trail is a great place to be!

Most people like to capture the tunnel-like perspective of being under the pier at La Jolla Shores, but I think you’ll prefer this peaceful overview much better.

Once you arrive at the listed coordinates above, you will find yourself in a neighborhood with street parking only.

After finding a parking spot, follow your map to the trailhead and begin the easy half-mile loop.

Please stay on the trail as the nearby flora serves as a hub for ecology research projects being done by UCSD students.

There are benches where you can sit to view the setting sun and admire the beauty of America’s Finest City.

Pro tip- April is when you will have the best chance of seeing wildflowers bloom and not worrying about a gloomy overcast sunset.

Sunset Time in San Diego

In Spring, the sun sets around 6pm before daylight savings time in March. After daylight savings in March and April, the sun sets between 7 to 7:30pm.
During summer, the sun sets between 7:30pm and 8pm in May, June, July and August. Be aware of “May Grey” and “June Gloom” where there are quite a few days you won’t see the colorful sunset.
In Autumn, the sun sets around 630-7pm in September and 6-630pm in October. After daylight savings in November, expect a 4:45pm sunset.
In the Winter, the sun sets around 4:45pm in December, but as days grow longer, expect a 6:30pm sunset in January and a 7pm sunset in February.