

La Jolla Cove is a small beach nestled between sandstone cliffs, within the community of La Jolla, CA; which sits just north of Pacific Beach and a few miles south of Del Mar in San Diego, California. Because of its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in all Southern California — and one of the most visited!
In the summer, La Jolla Cove is ideal for swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers; the abundance of marine life coupled with crystal clear waters makes for a one-of-a-kind experience. If you’re looking to visit La Jolla in the future, here is everything you need to know about how to get to La Jolla Cove!
If you’re already in the area, getting to La Jolla Cove won’t take long!
From the UTC or UC San Diego area, turn left onto Torrey Pines Road and take it down the hill, and then up again, until you reach Prospect Street. Take a right onto Prospect, then a slight right onto Cave Street. Follow that until it becomes Coast Blvd. La Jolla Cove will be on your right.
Another option coming from the UCSD area is to take a right onto La Jolla Shores Drive and follow it until you hit Torrey Pines Rd. Make a right onto Torrey Pines, then another right on Prospect Street. Follow it until it becomes Coast Blvd. La Jolla Cove will be on your right.
La Jolla Cove Address: 1100 Coast Blvd. (at Girard Ave), La Jolla, CA 92037.
From Los Angeles or beyond: Take I-5 South. Exit La Jolla Village Drive and turn right. Make a left onto Torrey Pines Road, and then another slight left to stay on it. Turn right onto Prospect Street, then stay right to take Cave Street. Continue onto Coast Blvd., where you will see street parking. La Jolla Cove will be on your right, easily accessible via stairs.
From Chula Vista: Coming from Chula Vista or south of La Jolla, take I-5 North. Take the exit for La Jolla Parkway. Continue onto Torrey Pines Road. Take a right onto Prospect Street, and a slight right onto Cave Street. From there, continue onto Coast Blvd. and find street parking. La Jolla Cove will be on your right.
From Julian or nearby areas: Take the 79 South to the I-8 West. Take exit 17 for State 67/Magnolia Ave toward Downtown; merge onto CA-67 North. Exit Prospect Avenue and follow signs for CA-52 West. Use the left 2 lanes to take the La Jolla Parkway exit. Continue onto La Jolla Pkwy, which becomes Torrey Pines Road. Turn right onto Prospect Street, then a slight right onto Cave Street. Follow that until it becomes Coast Blvd.; La Jolla Cove will be on your right.
La Jolla Cove has plenty of amenities for families, including:
Usually, street parking at La Jolla Cove is your best bet. Look along Coast Blvd. for 2-hour spots. If not, and you’ve been circling a while, there are a couple of parking structures; most convenient is the one located underground inside the Coast Walk building structure (directly across from the Cave Store). While you’re there, head over to Sunny Jim Cave and check it out!
As it’s part of the La Jolla Underwater Park, La Jolla Cove’s underwater reefs and marine life are federally protected as a marine refuge area, with specific restrictions on fishing, boating, etc. The cove is usually packed with snorkelers and swimmers looking to take advantage of this beautiful area without the distraction of boats, etc. If you look closely, you’ll see the beautiful state fish (the orange Garibaldi), along with seals, sea lions, and other types of fish.
There’s also a small sandy beach here, which is beautifully secluded and a great spot to take in some sun. Keep an eye out for the local seals, who have in recent months made this their hangout during the day. If you’re looking to stay off the sand, head up the stairs to Ellen Browning Scripps Park. It’s a lovely place for a picnic, throwing around the ball, or just taking in the sights with family and friends.
There are a couple of different options if you want to stay directly near La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
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