Are you thinking about coming down to visit San Diego with your boat or sailboat? Did you know there are ten San Diego coastal boat launch ramps?
Here is a complete list of all available San Diego boat launch ramps. I will concentrate on the entire county of San Diego but only on the coast.
 Also, I will be including smaller launch ramps where you may enter smaller boats, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Table of Contents
Where are all of the San Diego Boat Launch Ramps?
Did you realize that San Diego County has three separate bays to launch out of- Oceanside, Mission Bay, and San Diego Bay? Altogether, there are ten different boat launch ramps.
With so many San Diego boats launching ramps, I thought it would be helpful to list them and link each address to a google map. If I have found any other pertinent information, I have included that as well.
Happy boating!
Oceanside HarborÂ
 Located 40 miles north of downtown San Diego, Oceanside Harbor is the only boat launch in North County, San Diego.
Oceanside Boat Launching Ramp
(760) 435-4000
Hours- 24 hours
Amenities–
- Four lanes
- freshwater washdown area (bring your hose)/ RV pumping station
- bait barge- opens at 6 am
- 110 parking spaces for vehicles with boat trailers
- full dock nearby with ice, beer, soft drinks, as well as other provisions- (760) 722-5853; call for more information as hours vary with seasons
- restrooms
Additional –
- City of Oceanside Information
- Paid parking
- All Day Parking Lot Fees- (Sept 16 to May 14) from 4 am to 8 pm= $10; 8 pm to 4 am= $20- so $30 total
- All Day Parking Lot Fees- (May 15 to Sept 15) from 4 am to 8 pm= $15; 8 pm to 4 am= $20- so $35 total
- the entrance to the harbor can be dangerous when there is a strong W or WSW swell
- RV camping is available in the far north section of the parking
If you are interested, I looked more in-depth at Oceanside Harbor this past summer. Click on the link for more information.
—>Oceanside Harbor Boat Launch-A Closer Look<–
Mission Bay Launch Ramps
There are five boat launch ramps in various locations throughout Mission Bay. If you have a large boat, I would suggest South Shores and Dana Landing, as the three other ramps cater more towards jet skis and smaller craft.
Mission Bay is only 8 miles north of San Diego Bay, so if the Shelter Island launch ramp is overly crowded during peak season, Mission Bay is a viable option.
There are a couple of things to note about boating in Mission Bay. First, the speed limit is five mph in all areas not designated for water skiing and other personal watercraft. Second, the entrance to Mission Bay is due west, which makes entering and exiting on a big west swell very nerve-wracking.
I have provided all the information you need to go boating on Mission Bay-Mission Bay Boating.
Santa Clara Point Launch Ramp
Hours- 24 hours
Amenities–
- one lane
- vehicles without a trailer- no parking from 2 am to 5 am
- small parking lot- 14 spots for cars with trailers
- located next to Santa Clara Point Recreation Center and Mission Bay Aquatic Center & Sports Center
De Anza Boat Launch Ramp
Hours- 4 am to 2 am
Amenities–
- four lanes
- for boats and jet skies
- restroom nearby
Additional-
- located off Interstate 5
- farthest from the ocean
- there is no speed limit in the part of the Bay near this ramp and the channel that connects to South Shores and Dana Landing
South Shores Launch Ramp
(619)- 221-8910
Hours- 4 am to 2 am
Amenities–
- Ten lanes
- huge parking lot with over 200 spaces for trailers
- park up to 72 hours, but no overnight camping is allowed
- boat loading and unloading dock (15-minute limit)
- showers and restroom
Additional-
- adjacent to Sea World
- 15 minutes east of Dana Landing, going the harbor speed limit of 5 mph
- well lit at night
Dana Landing Mission Bay
(619) 222-6440
Open 24 hours
Amenities–
- Four lanes
- 150 parking spaces
- 72-hour parking for a vehicle with an attached trailer/ no overnight camping
- restrooms
Additional–
- busiest Mission Bay launch ramp
- closest launch ramp to the ocean
- ideal for fishing Mission Bay or La Jolla kelp beds to the north
- fuel dock nearby
- adjacent market-bait, tackle, and deli (see above link)
Ski Beach Boat Launching Ramp
Hours- 4 am to 2 am
Amenities-
- Four lanes
- 120 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers attached
- wash down area
- restrooms
- ideal for jet skis and smaller boats
San Diego Bay Launch Ramps
San Diego Bay is the closest launch ramp area if you are interested in fishing in Mexican waters and Point Loma kelp beds to the north.
There are five different launch ramps to choose from in San Diego Bay. I will start north at Shelter Island and list each boat launch ramp on the shore going south, finally ending at the Glorietta Bay Launch Facility in Coronado.
San Diego Bay Navigational Chart-(NOAA)
 Shelter Island Launch Ramp
(619) 686-6227
Hours- 5:30 am to 10:30 pm
Amenities
- Ten lanes
- newly remodeled- safer and easier to navigate
- floating docks
- over 200 parking spots for vehicles with trailers attached
- restrooms
Additional-
- Over 50,000 boat launches per year, making it the busiest launch ramp in California
- extremely crowded when the fishing is good with long wait lines
- less than 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean
- closest to the bait barge
For a more ‘in-depth look and review of the newly remodeled launch ramp- click on the link below!
–>The New Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp<–
Pepper Park Launch Ramp- Pier 32 Marina
(619) 686-6200
Hours- Sunrise to sunset
Amenities–
- Ten lanes
- easy to get off of the freeway
- restrooms
- picnic area
- fishing pier nearby
Additional-
- not too popular for fishermen, unless for a short day trip
- gate locks at sunset
Chula Vista Boat Launching Ramp
(619) 686-6227
Open 24 hours
Amenities-
- Ten lanes
- large parking area for vehicles with trailers attached
- fuel dock nearby
- restrooms
- picnic areas
Additional Information–
- the closest ramp to fish in South San Diego Bay
- the furthest ramp away from the entrance of the Bay- takes 15 minutes to Shelter Island
- there are incredibly shallow shoals in the surrounding areas, so care should be considered when navigating- refer to the nautical chart before leaving the ramp
- this ramp is ideal if you wish to stay within South San Diego Bay, as it would take some time to exit the Bay to go out to sea
Glorietta Bay Boat Launch Ramp
Website-Glorietta Bay Marina/Public Dock
(619) 522-7300
Hours- 4 am to 2 am
Amenities–
- Two lanes
- an isolated harbor in San Diego Bay
- 72-hour anchorage is allowed directly across the basin from the ramp
- restrooms
- picnic areas
- boat wash off area
- ADA-compliant low freeboard dock for kayaks, paddleboards
- sandy beach to allow for the non-motorized craft to launch from
- limited parking for vehicles with trailers attached, only 12 spaces
- parking for cars without trailers until 2:00 am
- no overnight parking
Additional Offerings–
- Centrally located for fishing in San Diego Bay
- the next closest launch ramp to the entrance of Bay
- usually not crowded
- Seaforth Boat Rentals– offers the use of a public-use dock 8 hours a day on a first-come, first-served basis- (619)437-1514
- Overnight docking is available; don’t hesitate to get in touch with Glorietta Bay Marina Office at (619) 453-5203
I have always had a deep-seated passion for the Ocean Environment which ultimately led me to receive a degree in Marine Biology. Living in the San Diego area for over 30 years, I have extensively explored the 70 miles of San Diego’s coastline, and I am here to share! Please use my website to your advantage and have a look around at all the wonders that the beaches of San Diego can offer you!