The first time I drove across the Coronado Bridge, I was 22 and had just moved to San Diego. The bridge curves upward at a dramatic angle — 200 feet above the bay — and as you crest the top, the entire Pacific Ocean opens up in front of you with this impossible little island sitting right in the middle. I pulled over at the first viewpoint on the other side and just stared. Twenty-five years later, I still feel something crossing that bridge.
Coronado isn’t like the rest of San Diego. It moves at its own pace. Navy SEALs train on the beach at dawn while retirees walk golden retrievers past Victorian mansions. The Hotel del Coronado — that enormous red-roofed masterpiece from 1888 — anchors the south end of town like a castle guarding the shore. Orange Avenue runs through the middle like a small-town Main Street, lined with boutiques, restaurants, and ice cream shops.
The beach itself is the real star. Coronado Beach consistently ranks among the top 10 in America, and unlike most “best beaches,” this one actually lives up to the hype. The sand is unusually fine and sparkles with mica flecks in the sunlight — locals call it “Coronado gold.” It stretches for a mile and a half, wide enough that even on the busiest summer day, you can find space.
What makes Coronado special isn’t any single attraction. It’s the feeling of being somewhere that time treats gently. The village looks much the same as it did 50 years ago. Families still ride bikes to the beach. The ice cream shop on Orange Avenue still has a line out the door every summer evening. In a city that’s constantly reinventing itself, Coronado just keeps being Coronado.
What Makes Coronado Different?
Coronado is San Diego’s most complete beach experience in the smallest package. You can walk from a world-class beach to fine dining to craft cocktails without ever moving your car. The island is 13 square miles of flat terrain — perfect for biking — with the bay on one side and the ocean on the other.
The military presence gives Coronado a unique character. Naval Air Station North Island occupies the entire north end of the island. SEAL training happens on the beaches. You’ll see military families everywhere, and there’s a quiet pride and order to the community that you won’t find in more bohemian beach towns like Ocean Beach or Pacific Beach.
Then there’s the Hotel del. It’s one of the largest wooden structures in the world, and guests have included presidents, royalty, and Marilyn Monroe (the movie Some Like It Hot was filmed here in 1958). Even if you don’t stay, walking the grounds and having a drink at sunset is an essential San Diego experience.
The Del at Golden Hour
The Hotel del Coronado's red turrets catch the last light of day as waves roll across the widest stretch of golden sand in San Diego.
Where to Eat on Coronado?
Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge — The best all-around restaurant on the island. Brunch is outstanding ($14-22 plates), and dinner features locally sourced California fare ($22-38 entrees). The patio on Orange Avenue is perfect for people-watching.
Coronado Brewing Company — The island’s own craft brewery, right on Orange Avenue. Their Orange Avenue Wit is a San Diego staple. Good pub food ($14-22), great patio, and a laid-back vibe that captures Coronado perfectly.
Stake Chophouse & Bar — Coronado’s upscale steakhouse in the Hotel del’s Shore House building. Prime cuts ($45-75), excellent cocktails, and ocean views. Reserve for Saturday dinner — it fills up fast.
MooTime Creamery — This isn’t a restaurant, but it’s an essential Coronado experience. Homemade ice cream, long lines, and flavors like Coronado Bridge Batter (cake batter with cookie dough). $5-8 per serving. Get two scoops.
Peohe’s — Waterfront dining on the bay side with panoramic views of the San Diego skyline. The seafood is solid ($28-55 entrees), but you’re really paying for the view. Sunset dinner is spectacular.
Il Fornaio — Reliable Italian in the Ferry Landing Marketplace. Good pasta ($18-28), wood-fired pizza ($16-22), and bayside seating. Walk here from the ferry for a car-free evening out.
Where to Stay on Coronado?
Iconic: Hotel del Coronado — You know this one. The Victorian building rooms ($400-700) have original charm. The Shore House rooms ($500-900) are modern and oceanfront. The pool and beach setup are unmatched. Worth the splurge at least once.
Mid-Range: Coronado Island Marriott — On the bay side with stunning skyline views from the pool. Rooms from $250-450. Less beach-resort, more sleek-waterfront — and the views of downtown across the water at night are incredible.
Value: Cherokee Lodge — A 1920s motor lodge converted into a charming boutique property. Simple rooms ($140-220) but clean, centrally located on Orange Avenue, and you’re walking distance to everything. No pool, but the beach is three blocks away.
Family: Loews Coronado Bay Resort — On the Silver Strand with its own marina, three pools, and a kids’ program. Rooms from $300-550. More space to spread out than the village hotels, and Silver Strand Beach is steps away.
Crossing the Bay
The Coronado Ferry glides across San Diego Bay as the city skyline rises behind you and the island's red rooftops grow closer.
What to Do on Coronado?
Should You Take the Coronado Ferry?
Yes — even if you have a car. The ferry from Broadway Pier downtown ($7 each way) is a 15-minute ride across the bay with stunning views of the skyline, the bridge, and the naval base. Bikes ride free. Land at the Ferry Landing Marketplace, grab lunch, then bike to the Hotel del (1.5 miles on flat paths). It’s the best $14 round-trip in San Diego.
What’s the Best Way to Explore Coronado?
Rent bikes. The island is completely flat, and dedicated bike paths connect the Ferry Landing to the Hotel del to Silver Strand State Beach. Bike rentals on Orange Avenue run $10-15/hr or $30-45/day. You can cover the entire island in a few hours with stops for food and beach time.
Is Silver Strand State Beach Worth the Drive?
If you want empty beach, yes. Silver Strand connects Coronado to Imperial Beach along a narrow strip of sand with ocean on one side and bay on the other. The state beach ($10 parking) has bathrooms, fire pits, and significantly fewer people than Coronado Central Beach. The bay side is calm and warm — perfect for small kids.
What’s There to Do at Night?
Coronado is quiet by San Diego standards. The Gaslamp Quarter across the bridge is where the nightlife lives. On the island, your best bets are sunset drinks at the Hotel del’s Sun Deck, craft beers at Coronado Brewing, or cocktails at Leroy’s. The Coronado Playhouse runs excellent community theater productions year-round ($25-35 tickets).
Coronado Gold
Mica-flecked sand glitters under a setting sun as the Pacific turns from blue to copper along one of America's most beautiful beaches.
Scott’s Pro Tips
- Getting There: The Coronado Bridge from downtown is free (toll was removed in 2002). The ferry ($7 each way) is more fun and avoids parking hassles. From the south, take the Silver Strand Boulevard from Imperial Beach.
- Best Time to Visit: Summer (June-September) for beach weather, but Coronado is pleasant year-round. December brings the Holiday Parade and spectacular Hotel del Christmas decorations. Avoid Fourth of July — the island is gridlocked.
- Parking: Free 2-hour street parking on residential streets. Orange Avenue meters are $1.50/hr. The Hotel del charges $10-40/day. Best strategy: park at the Ferry Landing lot (free for 3 hours) and bike from there.
- Budget Tip: Take the ferry over with bikes, pack sandwiches, and spend the day on the beach. You'll spend $14 on ferry tickets and $0 on everything else. Coronado is expensive to eat and stay, but the beach and biking are essentially free.
- Military Note: Naval Air Station North Island is an active military installation — don't try to access the north end of the island. The jet noise from carrier training is real, especially weekdays. You get used to it.
- Sunset Spot: The west-facing beach in front of the Hotel del has the best sunset on Coronado. But for a different perspective, watch from Centennial Park on the bay side — you get the sunset AND the downtown skyline lit up as the sky darkens.
- Day Trip Structure: Ferry over at 10am → bike to Hotel del → beach until 3pm → Orange Avenue for shopping and ice cream → dinner at Leroy's or Peohe's → ferry back at sunset. Perfect day, no car needed.
The Island That Isn’t
Technically, Coronado is a peninsula. The Silver Strand connects it to Imperial Beach to the south. But stand on Coronado Beach looking at the Pacific on one side and the bay on the other, and “island” feels exactly right. There’s a self-containedness to this place — a sense that you’ve crossed the bridge or taken the ferry into a different world.
I’ve lived in San Diego for 25 years, and Coronado is still where I go when I need to reset. The beach is wide enough to breathe. The village is charming enough to wander. And every time I drive back across the bridge at night, with the downtown lights reflecting off the bay below, I’m reminded that this strange little almost-island is one of the most special places in a city full of special places.