Neighborhood 48H guide
Ocean Beach: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
Hodad’s burgers, Sunset Cliffs at dusk and the Wednesday farmers market on Newport Avenue.
Ocean Beach (OB) is San Diego’s laid-back, bohemian beach town, with antique shops and bars along Newport Avenue, Dog Beach at the north end and Sunset Cliffs to the south. The OB Pier is closed indefinitely while the city plans a replacement.
Photo gallery
Photo: Saltytog · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Mertbiol · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
A real beach-town feel, with good value and great sunsets.
Who it's for: Budget travelers, surfers and dog owners.
Pros
- Laid-back beach town
- Sunset Cliffs
- Good value
Cons
- Pier closed
- Few hotels
- Gritty in spots
48H in Ocean Beach
Burger, market, cliffs.
12:00 – Hodad’s
Big burgers on Newport Avenue; expect a line.
16:00 – OB Farmers Market (Wednesdays)
On the 4900 block of Newport Avenue.
18:00 – Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Watch the sunset from the bluffs; stay back from the edge.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
Eat
Shop
Shop
OB Farmers Market
4900 block Newport Ave
Wednesday-evening street market on Newport Avenue.
Official site / map →
Sunrise / sunset
Sunrise / sunset
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Sunset Cliffs Blvd
Sandstone bluffs over the ocean, free and open 24 hours.
Photo: Saltytog · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
Roam48 may earn a commission when you book a stay through Expedia or Vrbo links on this page, at no extra cost to you. All commercial stay links use rel="sponsored nofollow".
Hotel · Expedia
Ocean Beach Hotel
5080 Newport Ave
Simple beach hotel at the foot of Newport Avenue.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Ocean Beach.
The City of San Diego requires a short-term rental license, and Coronado and Del Mar have their own stricter rules. Look for the license number on the listing before you book.
Browse vacation rentals in Ocean Beach on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in San Diego
- Gaslamp Quarter — The lit Gaslamp arch, a Padres game at Petco Park and the USS Midway on the waterfront.
- Little Italy — The Saturday Mercato, India Street’s restaurants and Waterfront Park by the bay.
- La Jolla — Sea lions and clear water at La Jolla Cove, George’s ocean terrace and the Birch Aquarium.
- Pacific Beach — Crystal Pier’s cottages, the boardwalk and breakfast at Kono’s.
- Mission Beach — The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park, the boardwalk and kayaks on Mission Bay.
- Coronado — The red-turreted Hotel del Coronado, a wide sandy beach and the ferry to downtown.
- Point Loma / Shelter Island — The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo, Point Loma Seafoods and skyline views from Shelter Island.
- Old Town — Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the Whaley House and tortillas at Old Town Mexican Café.
- Del Mar — Powerhouse Park above the beach, lunch at Jake’s and the Del Mar racetrack.