Best Sunsets In Carlsbad
Carlsbad California has some of the best sunsets in the world, and it’s a tradition to head to the beach as the sun starts setting. Amazing sunsets can happen at any time of year, and your odds of catching one is relatively high outside of our foggy season in June. The best conditions are a clear sky with some clouds – and no fog bank on the horizon (this diminishes the sunset substantially as the sun goes behind it). Many Carlsbad residents get outside for the sunset several times a week. Join them at these places to watch the Best Sunsets in Carlsbad.
Criteria: View, environment, space, perspective, access, safety
Corner Park Above Robert C Frazee Beach
Neighborhood: Carlsbad Village
Watching the sunset is a daily Carlsbad tradition from anywhere on the upper or lower promenade of the 1/2 mile long sea wall above Carlsbad State Beach. Residents and visitors gather here to walk & watch.
Why We Recommend: When it’s sunny, it’s golden. When clouds and sun cooperate, magic happens and blazing reds, purples and gold turn the skies into an awe-inspiring show. No two are the same.
Hints: If there isn’t a fog bank on the horizon, stay after the sun goes down as colors can expand for up to 30 minutes afterwards. A little smoke from inland fires can help expand the sunset color palette to amazing.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free on Street
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - Yes
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Yes
- Bars Nearby - Yes
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: In town street parking is difficult during sunny weekend days but its free
Sea Wall Overlook Above Tamarack Beach
Neighborhood: Carlsbad Village
Tamarack is on the south end of the Seawall – about 1/2 mile walk south of town. Like the North (see above), it offers seating and nearby bathrooms while viewing the best sunsets in Carlsbad.
Why We Recommend: Walking along the upper sidewalk or lower seawall promenade is a great way to wait for the sunset to arrive and peak, before stopping for that photo.
Hints: Tamarack has a pay parking lot or park free across the street – lot gets busy in summer so plan accordingly. Get there early and you can grab one of the concrete picnic tables for a sunset dinner.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Pay Lot & Street
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - Yes
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Limited
- Bars Nearby - Limited
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: Pay lot is $6 – $10, but free in neighborhood across the street
Camp Store at So. Carlsbad Campground
Neighborhood: Carlsbad West
You have to walk into the campgrounds unless you are camping here, but pizza, beer, wine and live music on the bluff await your sunset visit. Well worth the trip whenever the weather is right.
Why We Recommend: Plenty of seating or bring your own chairs and watch the sunset like the locals do. Kids can run around and if you are camping here it’s even better.
Hints: Park on Avenida Encinas in front of the Holiday Inn and walk over – just 1 – 2 blocks over the train track bridge. The Campstore is in the middle of the camp, so you have to walk in from the free street parking.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free but its a hike
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - 1 large nearby
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Limited
- Beer & Wine
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: Best to park on Avenida Encinas and walk 2 – 3 blocks in
7201 Carlsbad Blvd. – But Park on street at 6962 Avenida Encinas
Solamar Lookout
Neighborhood: Carlsbad West
This is a row of parking on the ocean-side of Carlsbad Blvd. (PCH) just south of Solamar Dr. It’s also across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn. There are only about 20 cliff side spots, so you have to get lucky.
Why We Recommend: It’s one of the highest cliffs to watch the sunset from, and below is one of the most remote beaches.
Hints: If you don’t get a spot a Solamar, you can continue south and get a spot in the parking lot at the bottom of the next hill – South Carlsbad Beach Lot (see below) – view is similar, but not as remote.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free on Street
- Family Friendly - Its a cliff
- Restrooms - None
- Dog Friendly - Not on Beach
- Food Nearby - no
- Bars Nearby - No
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: Slow down and hope you get lucky to snag a spot here
Carlsbad Blvd. (PCH) & Solamar Dr.
North Ponto Parking Lot
Neighborhood: Carlsbad West
This spot is a good backup when you cannot get a Solamar Lookout parking spot. Just continue south and pull into the lot on the way up the hill. Often, you will have to pull over and wait for someone to leave.
Why We Recommend: You can watch along the fence anywhere in the parking lot – but higher up is better. Or walk down to the beach and get your feet wet while waiting. There’s not bad spot for a sunset.
Hints: If the surf is good, this lot will be full of surfers so you may have to wait for a spot to open up. You can also walk into the campgrounds to use the restroom – but they lock it at dusk, so don’t risk it near dusk.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free Lot
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - Yes
- Dog Friendly - Not on beach
- Food Nearby - No
- Bars Nearby - No
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: This lot gets crowded when surf is good. Wait or head across the street
Grand Ave. Beach Entrance
Neighborhood: Carlsbad Village
If you are downtown and don’t feel like walking down to the Seawall, then snagging one of the many benches at Grand Ave. is your best bet. Locals time it to have dinner afterwards.
Why We Recommend: You can watch from up top, walk down to the beach or grab one of the many benches in between. There are a lot restaurants within 1 – 3 blocks from here.
Hints: If the weather is nice, you can get better photos right from the sand without any houses in the way.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free on Street
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - 2 blocks away
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Yes
- Bars Nearby - Yes
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: In town street parking is difficult during sunny weekend days but its free
Carlsbad Village Dr. Beach Entrance
Neighborhood: Carlsbad Village
This is one of the main spots to rush to when you are downtown and you realize the sun is setting. Just head to where Carlsbad Village Dr. dead-ends into the ocean. This location is more popular than Grand Ave.
Why We Recommend: It’s close and convenient, and you have 3 good choices: Stand up above and watch the magic unfold, catch a bench if ones open, or walk down to the sand and get a water perspective.
Hints: Good place to take some food to go and a beach chair to enjoy the sunset while you eat dinner. Stay up top, or go down to the beach to get a sandy beach perspective with more water reflections.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free on Street
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - 3 Blocks Away
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Yes
- Bars Nearby - Yes
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: In town street parking is difficult during sunny weekend days but its free
Armada Drive
Neighborhood: Carlsbad West
If you are staying near Legoland, this might be the closest place to view the sunset. Long boardwalk above the famous flower fields can be a two-for-one experience during the spring.
Why We Recommend: It’s higher than most view spots and provides those Carlsbad palm trees in the foreground for sunset photos. Look for San Clemente and Catalina islands on a clear day.
Hints: There is a lot of street parking right on the Armada boardwalk, but they are all on the southbound side. Hard to find without a map. Visit the Museum of Music or nearby restaurants beforehand.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Free on Street
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - None
- Dog Friendly - Yes
- Food Nearby - Yes
- Bars Nearby - Yes
- Other Activities - No
- Parking: Free on the street – usually easy
5630 Armada Drive
Nearby (But Worth A Trip Outside of Carlsbad)
Oceanside Pier
Neighborhood: Oceanside
Oceanside requires a 5 mile drive north of Carlsbad, but it’s a must-do sunset destination. There is no more scenic sunset photo than one with Oceanside’s famous pier in the foreground.
Why We Recommend: It’s a people-watching adventure to walk out to the end of California’s longest wooden pier and the sunset views are amazing. See the California coast from a whole new perspective.
Hints: Go on Thursday evening and catch the Street Market 2 blocks inland towards town (through the tunnel under the train tracks). Part of the adventure of Oceanside is its diversity and street scene.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Metered
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - Yes
- Dog Friendly - No
- Food Nearby - Yes
- Bars Nearby - Yes
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: Pay lots and metered mostly unless you walk 6+ blocks
South Ponto Lookout
Neighborhood: Leucadia
This lookout above South Ponto State Beach is just beyond the southerly border of Carlsbad. It requires paying for parking or getting lucky with nearby on-sand parking – but there are restrooms.
Why We Recommend: Nice high vantage point looking north towards the jetty’s is a unique perspective. And this is a good place for a low-tide walk south towards Encinitas if you arrive early and the tide is right.
Hints: If you don’t want to pay for parking, you can park anywhere along the beach – but don’t get stuck in the deep sand. This lookout connects with the Luxurious Alila Maria Beach Resort through a locked gate.
- Price - Free
- Parking - Pay Lot/Free Beach
- Family Friendly - Yes
- Restrooms - Yes
- Dog Friendly - No
- Food Nearby - No
- Bars Nearby - No
- Other Activities - Yes
- Parking: Pay lot usually has spots, but free on the beach is tough to get
Best Carlsbad was designed to help visitors and local residents find the best experiences using informative, curated lists based on research and on-site visits.
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