Breakwater Way Beach

This is a quiet, family beach located just south of Oceanside Harbor. It is popular with surfers and volleyball players. Surfers, however, will have to walk down to the jetty in the summer months when the beach is closed to surfing in front of Lifguard Tower 8. The river jetty is where the San Luis Rey River meets the ocean. A sandbar is often formed here and creates a good surf break. The area at the river mouth is usually one of Oceanside’s least populated beaches. This is partly because it is open for surfing only, and because it’s a bit of a walk from the parking areas. Children often like to play in the river mouth; this is not advised because it poses a safety concern due to the strong currents and the potential for high levels of bacteria in the river.

Facilities: Breakwater Way has showers and restrooms, some picnic tables and barbecue grills. There is also a volleyball court.

Parking: a pay parking lot is located east of Pacific Street. There is also metered parking along Pacific Street.

Directions: from Interstate 5, take the Coast Highway exit, west; turn left onto Coast Highway. Travel two blocks to Surfrider and turn right. When you reach Pacific Street, turn right and continue three blocks to Breakwater Way. The pay parking lot will be on the east of Pacific Street.