What Tourists Should Know About California's Disappearing Beaches Before Planning A Trip

California is home to some of the most beautiful coastlines around the world. From the glamorous shores of Malibu to the laid-back surf spots of San Diego, the beaches have long served as perfect spots for road trips, family picnics, and sunset photos. It's no wonder why tourists throng here year in year out, with over 267 million visits projected in 2025. Even in 2024, California remained the country's most touristed state and recorded an all-time high tourism spending of $157.3 billion. California remains a popular destination to enjoy beach activities like volleyball on sandy courts and cliffside hikes that let you overlook turquoise waters.

But the story might be changing, as some of these picturesque beaches are gradually vanishing. Erosion is rampant due to years of coastal development, rising sea levels, and intense winter storms. In recent decades, several beaches in California have shrunk so much that they're barely wide enough to walk on at high tide. A group of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and experts from the University of South Wales have warned that the state could lose up to 75% of its beaches by the turn of the century.

What this means for visitors is that the picture-perfect California beach vacation may no longer be exactly as expected. Those inviting expanses of sand could turn into narrow strips not wide enough to lay out your towel. And, worse still, some of these beaches may be completely submerged underwater. By extension, this also poses problems regarding surfing opportunities, parking availability, and overall beach access.

There are certain beaches already experiencing this change quite severely. Among them are beaches like Capistrano, San Onofre, Doheny, and San Clemente in Orange County, all of which have become well-known hot spots for erosion. Areas that used to be wide enough for various beach activities are now much narrower, with reduced width, affecting not just tourism itself but also threatening infrastructures such as roads, homes, and rail lines that are close to the shores.

The situation is a similar one further north too, with places like Santa Barbara and Ventura facing strong storms that keep chewing away large portions of coastline. Cliffs are becoming more and more exposed, while the beaches continue to grow smaller than ever. Even Malibu, despite being famous for its surf breaks and celebrity homes, isn't left out of this sand loss conundrum. Ditto for San Diego — with a rugged beach that's one of the most picturesque spots in California. According to the 2023 State of California Coast and Ocean Annual Report, popular tourist spots in San Diego, such as Oceanside and Carlsbad, have seen beaches retreat by an average of about 2 feet per year.

Although there have been restoration attempts like adding sand back and building protective seawalls, these solutions are only temporary at best, in addition to being expensive and sometimes disruptive to the environment. However, you can still visit some of the top beaches for your California bucket list.

To make your next California beach experience memorable rather than frustrating, a little preparation can make all the difference. The first thing you want to do is check for local updates via official county and state websites. There, you can get real-time updates concerning erosion, beach closures, and any other helpful information. A quick look through reviews or recent photos via a platform like Google Maps can also be a useful move. Apart from this, look out for destinations that are actively working on beach restoration. Encinitas and Solana Beach are good examples of such beaches that have undergone replenishment projects to make their shores wider and friendlier to tourists.

Moreover, it'd help if you plan your visits during low tide, since more of the shoreline will be exposed and accessible. In the event that erosion has narrowed your preferred beach, there are alternative activities you can opt for, if you like. Tide pooling is one; coastal boardwalks and hiking bluffs are great options too. At the end of the day, it's good to understand that tourists also have a role to play in the survival of these beaches. It's important to be cautious, follow signage, and support conservation efforts as much as you can; this way, all hands can be on deck to ensure there's still sand left for the next generation of beachgoers.