Encinitas, California is the beach town dreams are made of. With a cheerful personality and laid-back feel, it’s no wonder it’s been named one of the world’s best surf towns. In this travel guide, discover cool things to do in Encinitas, where to stay and eat, and tips to know before you go. Are you ready to find out what this USA beach town is famous for? Let’s start planning your trip…
Have you ever been somewhere that immediately made you happy?
That’s how I felt the first time I spent the day in Encinitas, California.
It’s just a beautiful, idyllic beach town! (and really, it feels like a bit of a hidden gem in southern California). While bigger cities like Los Angeles and San Diego get all the attention, smaller towns like Encinitas are where the magic is.
So I thought I would share what I’ve learned about Encinitas so you can plan your trip and have some inside information before you go.
Disclosure: Any tips or products shared are things I truly believe in. If you take action (ie make a purchase) after clicking one of the affiliate links, I’ll earn some money which helps me continue creating travel content for you. Thank you for your support!
Your Encinitas Travel Guide
Encinitas is a great little getaway that can be done in a weekend or more. Let’s plan your trip! Here’s what you’ll find in this travel guide:
- Tips for getting there/how far is Encinitas from San Diego
- Map of Encinitas with points of interest
- The best places to eat and where to stay
- Unique seasonal events
Where Is Encinitas?
Located about 20 miles north of San Diego on the coast, it’s away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and located right on the Pacific Ocean. Luckily, it’s a pretty easy drive from downtown San Diego and worth the trip! And hey, if you’re headed to San Diego anyway, be sure to check out my post Curious What To Do in San Diego? (20 Places to Explore).
To get to Encinitas, you’ll likely be using the freeways, so make sure to check out the “know before you go” section at the end of this post. Road traffic in San Diego can be annoying at times, but there are ways to avoid it.
One of the coolest things about Encinitas is that it’s part of historic Highway 101. The 101 is also called Pacific Coast Highway, or “PCH” and was California’s first highway. It’s a 935-mile route that runs north/south hugging the California coastline. Sounds like a perfect road trip, doesn’t it? (If you are planning a road trip, be sure to grab my Road Trip Checklist).
Here’s a map of all the areas I’ll be referencing in this post. As you can see, they’re all in a relatively small area and it’s easy to go from one to the next:
What Is Encinitas Known For?
Now that you know where Encinitas is located, you might be wondering what makes it unique and worth the visit. Here are a few interesting tidbits that you may not know about this beach town:
- Encinitas has been named the “flower capital of the world” (Their botanical garden is top notch! More info down below)
- The famous Encinitas beach Swami’s was featured in the Beach Boys song “Surfin’ USA”
- Perfect weather? You bet – the average temperature is 72 degrees
- Encinitas was named the #3 best surf town by Surfer magazine
- The downtown area is filled with public art and street murals, giving it a whimsical, artsy vibe
Things To Do In Encinitas
So what is there to do in Encinitas? Quite a bit! Here’s how you can spend a day or more exploring…
Walk Down Main Street/Highway 101
The “main drag” in Encinitas is also California Highway 101. The whole area is upbeat and charming, filled with unique shops, patio dining, and lots of people out and about.
Find An Outdoor Patio and Grab Food
The Lumberyard Shopping Center (pictured below) has several restaurants and a large outdoor area with tables and umbrellas. But almost every restaurant in Encinitas has a patio, so it won’t be hard to find one. Here are a few great places to eat that I recommend:
- Nectarine Grove
- Eve Encinitas
- 101 Diner
- VG donuts
- Encinitas Ale House
Walk The Coastal Trail
The San Diego Coastal Rail Trail offers ocean views and is great for walking, hiking, and running. It runs north to south along the coastline, and the portion that passes through Encinitas is about 1.3 miles long. On a day with good visibility, you’ll have stunning ocean views. Looking for a more strenuous hike? Check out Annie’s Canyon Trail or other options here.
Explore The Self Realization Meditation Gardens
A tranquil and beautiful place to visit, the Meditation Gardens are world-renowned and located clifftop with views of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll find plants, flowers and koi ponds too.
Head To The Beach
Two of the best beaches in Encinitas are Moonlight State Beach and Swami’s Surf Beach. Want more? Check out D Street Beach or Stone Steps Beach, both of which are typically less crowded. Encinitas has these and many more sandy spots to explore.
Check Out The San Diego Botanic Garden
Here you’ll find 37 acres of plants and flowers, including rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, and even a tropical rainforest. They have over 5,000 different species of plants from all over the world.
Where To Stay
Keeping with the small-town charm, you won’t find huge resorts in Encinitas. Instead, it’s much more common to see small, boutique hotels or vacation rentals. Here are a few that are centrally located:
- Inn at Moonlight Beach (award-winning)
- Moonlight Beach Motel (closest to the beach)
- Endless Summer (Airbnb)
- Mermaid Inn (Airbnb)
- Coastal Studio Guesthouse (Airbnb)
If you’ve found this post helpful, consider supporting Compass & Coastline by booking your next accommodation by clicking on the link below. Trivago is awesome because they do all the legwork for you, and you don’t have to search through tons of sites to find a good deal. One cool feature is that you can search by landmark. For example, maybe in Encinitas you want to stay near the Botanic Garden. You can type that into the search to make sure you find a hotel close by. Cool, right? If you use the search below to make a reservation, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you, which helps me produce travel content just like this. Thank you for supporting me!
Just a short drive away (about 5 minutes) from Encinitas here are several other good options:
- Surfhouse Boutique Hotel
- Leucadia Beach Inn
- Cardiff By The Sea Lodge
- Sunset Ocean View Guest House (Airbnb)
- Cardiff by the Sea Beach Bungalow (Airbnb)
Can’t-Miss Events in Encinitas
No travel guide to Encinitas California would be complete without mentioning all the cool seasonal events. Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you may be able to catch one of these fun things to do:
- Year round: Leucadia Farmer’s Market is every Sunday, 10am – 2pm
- Year round: Encinitas Bazaar is an open-air flea market every Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- April: Encinitas Spring Street Fair happens every April, and you’ll typically see over 400 food and arts/crafts vendors as well as live entertainment
- May – September: Encinitas Classic Car Cruise Nights happen May-September, 5-8pm and are a free event
- August: Taste of Encinitas happens every August. A ticket gets you samples at over 20-30 restaurants
- August: Leucadiart Walk kicks off, with live music and dance and local artists showing off their pieces
- August – September: Summer Concerts at The Lumberyard takes place on weekend nights from 5-9pm and features local musicians
- September: Wavecrest is the largest wooden-bodied car show in the U.S. and happens every year
- November: Fall Festival is a seasonal event featuring tons of vendors
- December: Holiday Street Fair kicks off, with great food, music, and entertainment all with a holiday theme
- December: Holiday of Lights at the San Diego Botanic Garden
Know Before You Go
If you’re traveling between Encinitas and downtown San Diego, GPS will direct you to take Interstate 5 and Interstate 805. However, traffic is very congested during certain times of day. As a general rule, northbound lanes are busiest in the morning hours (7am-10am) and southbound lanes are busiest in the evening hours (3-7pm). An option that takes a bit longer (but makes for a beautiful scenic drive) is to hug the coastline and avoid the freeway. I highly recommend it!
Here’s another local’s tip about Encinitas: Technically part of Encinitas (but considered to be their own distinct neighborhoods) are the nearby communities of Cardiff and Leucadia. The whole area is great to explore, and each community has a different vibe.
Getting around in Encinitas is pretty easy. Parking is abundant, and you’ll typically be able to find free street parking in and around Main Street. But be prepared to walk! This seaside community is popular among locals and tourists alike, so during peak times you may need to walk a little bit. In general. Encinitas is very walkable and pet friendly too!
One last tip! The “marine layer” is a local weather phenomenon that affects the California coast. So you’ll often notice in Encinitas and other coastal areas that it appears overcast early in the day. The good news? Once the sun heats up, it will dissipate and you can soak up the sunshine.
Enjoy Encinitas!
I hope you enjoyed this travel guide to Encinitas California! It truly is the California dream and a fantastic place to visit.
