Carlsbad State Beaches, Carlsbad

Pretty sweet. Surfed for first time and I had a great time.

We have camped at this beach for years and there has apparently been some sort of crack down on fun there. The weekend started with the Ranger advising that we would no longer be able to have our firewood delivered, which we have been doing for years now on our longer stays. We get better burning wood at less cost than if you paid the $7 per small bundle of soft wood that they sell at the campstore or at the grocery store. According to the ranger, they will not longer let the wood delivery truck in to deliver as they sell wood at the store- gee thanks On our first night, the Rander stopped in at 10:02 to tell us we were being too loud. We protested, in that we were sitting around the fire talking and singing songs, making smores etc. The guy literally stated that there was no laughing after 10pm. While I get trying to keep the park family friendly and more quiet at night (we were all there with kids ranging from 1 to 18), we were not having a loud party on our site and it seemed a little much. Happened again the next night as well when we were told that there had NOT been any complaints, but if there were we would be given a citation. Again, we have camped there for years with our kids, and some in our group actually went there with their parents over the years and it has been a favorite of ours. As an aside, they are now indicating that as of Jan 1 they will be enforcing the no vehicle over 35 feet rule that has been longstanding so if you have a longer rig, beware!

my visit to south carlsbad state beach was like an invigorating breath of fresh air. I was visiting my cousin and his home was located in a community directly across the street from the park entrance. Being able to take early morning walks along the pacific ocean and here the waves gently roll ashore was truly relaxing. The ability to walk along many miles of shoreline surrounded by cliffs and other naturally occuring wonders is special. I could take an early morning walk, go back midday and hang out at the beach,then take a stroll by the water at sunset and watch the sun slowly set over the pacific ocean. From the city of carlsbad south toward LaJolla, there is endless beachfront to explore and enjoy. I was there in August so the weather was ideal. I look forward to returning soon. It was a trip I would highly recommend.

Great beaches, too many tourists. I guess that goes with the territory though. Parking is at a premium - be prepared! No dogs allowed, which is a bummer.

We were up & down the coast from San Simeon to Carlsbad, and Carlsbad was the best! We flew in, then drove 1,000 miles in our 8-day trip, experiencing many cities and beaches. Our girls (ages 15 & 19) agreed with my husband and I that Carlsbad was the best. It was the only place we actually searched for souvenirs & shirts which had the name Carlsbad on them. It was beautiful, friendly, quaint, affordable and clean! We stayed at the Super 8 and were extremely surprised and pleased by how nice it was. We will certainly be going back. It was a wonderful end to a great vacation. If you go, make sure you eat at Vera Cruz Fish Market! They grill everything fresh and it is wonderful. The beach was the cleanest we found. It was an overall fantastic experience; we hope to repeat it soon.

It's fun and it's free! Everyone loves to go to the beach and Carlsbad is one of the best beaches anywhere. There is so much to do and the waves are always good. The waves are pretty big compared to Cornado's tiny waves and there is not all that seaweed. It isn't very crowded on weekdays. It's my favorite beach ever!