Encinitas, California
Encinitas is a city of 61,480 people in San Diego County, California, founded in 1986.
Why visit Encinitas
Townapedia lists 19 museums and landmarks, 86 parks and trails, 200 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 13 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinepolis, La Paloma, Encinitas Boathouses and Bumann Ranch.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 76°F; December lows average 47°F.
Weather in Encinitas
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Encinitas
Encinitas is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California, United States. Located in Southern California, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of San Diego, between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, and about 95 miles (153 km) south of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 62,007, up from 59,518 at the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Encinitas, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do13
1 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks19
Encinitas Boathouses
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Boat-shaped houses in California
Bumann Ranch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic ranch in California
Olivenhain Town Meeting Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Community meeting house in Olivenhain, California
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Rancho De Los Kiotes
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.1 mi
Ranch in Carlsbad, California
San Dieguito Heritage Museum at the Heritage Ranch
Museum · 1.0 mi
450 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas
7 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds86
Cadencia Park
Park · 3.4 mi
3310 Cadencia St, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Cadencia Street, Carlsbad
Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
San Dieguito River Park
Park · 5.1 mi
Park in San Diego County, California
74 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes200
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.8 mi
Inside supermarket
7615 Via Campanile, Carlsbad
Mo-Fr 04:30-21:00, Sa 05:00-21:00
Encinitas Fish Shop
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.9 mi
1010 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Mo-Su 11:00-18:00+
GOODONYA Organic Eatery
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi
1051 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas
Mo-Su 07:00-16:00
Juanita's Carnitas
Restaurant · Mexican, Taco Restoranı · 1.9 mi
290 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Mo-Su 07:30-22:00
Rosanna's Pasta Shop
Restaurant · Italian
270 North El Camino Real, Encinitas
Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-16:00
SAGO
Restaurant · Asian · 1.8 mi
485 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
We,Su 17:00-23:00, Th 17:00-00:00, Fr 17:00-01:00, Sa 17:00-01:30
Sushi Lounge
Restaurant · Japanese · 1.5 mi
461 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su-Th 11:00-21:00
Yamariki Sushi
Restaurant · Sushi · 2.8 mi
7610 Via Campanile, Carlsbad
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-21:00
Bushfire Kitchen
Restaurant · American, Burger · 2.8 mi
3433 Via Montebello, Carlsbad
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Gordy's Bakery and Coffeehouse
Bakery · 1.2 mi
441 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Mo-Sa 06:00-17:00; Su 06:00-15:00
188 more on the map.
History
Gaspar de Portolá, governor of Baja California, met the indigenous Kumeyaay people when he visited the area in 1769 on the Portolá expedition and he met residents from the nearby Kumeyaay village of Jeyal (or Heyal), near the San Elijo Lagoon. Portolá named the valley Los Encinos for the oak forest along El Camino Real, where there was also a village that was likely known as Hakutl in New Encinitas.
After Mexican Independence, land was granted to Andrés Ybarra in 1842 to build Rancho Las Encinitas in what is now Olivenhain and New Encinitas, from which Encinitas got its namesake. Encinitas is a Spanish name meaning "little oaks".
The town of Old Encinitas was formed in 1881 by Jabez Pitcher.
The city was incorporated by 69.3% of the voters in 1986 from the communities of historic Encinitas, New Encinitas (Village Park, etc.), Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain.
From the History section of Encinitas, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa
Motel and hotel · 3.6 mi
7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad
Days Inn by Wyndham Encinitas Moonlight Beach
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
133 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Quality Inn Encinitas Near Legoland
Motel and hotel · 1.8 mi
607 Leucadia Boulevard, Encinitas
Econo Lodge Encinitas Moonlight Beach
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
410 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego
Motel and hotel · 3.4 mi
7210 Blue Heron Place, Carlsbad
Churches and places of worship13
Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Church · Greek Orthodox · 2.3 mi
3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-By-The-Sea
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.5 mi
1001 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple
Place of worship · 2.0 mi
1150 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 1.9 mi
1831 South El Camino Real, Encinitas
San Diego Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.2 mi
333 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 2.7 mi
3450 Camino de Los Coches, Carlsbad
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.3 mi
1444 Lake Drive, Cardiff By The Sea
Shadow Mountain Community Church Encinitas Campus
Church · 1.2 mi
Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
Shopping49
Gas and EV charging27
Schools, colleges and libraries61
Cardiff by the Sea Branch San Diego County Library
Library · 2.2 mi
2081 Newcastle Avenue, Cardiff-By-The-Sea
Healthcare7
California Center For Reproductive Medicine
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
477 North El Camino Real, Encinitas
UC San Diego Health – Encinitas Boulevard
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
1505 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Map of Encinitas
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 48°F | 2.5 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 48°F | 2.6 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 51°F | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 53°F | 0.9 in |
| May | 68°F | 57°F | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 70°F | 60°F | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 74°F | 64°F | 0.1 in |
| Aug | 76°F | 65°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 64°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 59°F | 0.5 in |
| Nov | 70°F | 52°F | 1.0 in |
| Dec | 65°F | 47°F | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Carlsbad Palomar Ap (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Diego County has had 35 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-02-19: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-16: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Solana Beach 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Carlsbad 5 mi north, about 9 min by car
- San Marcos 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Vista 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Oceanside 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Escondido 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Poway 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Camp Pendleton South 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
- San Diego 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Santee 21 mi southeast, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- MoonlightBeach EncinitasCA, Original uploader was Ohnoitsjamie at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.0
- Concrete curb form Encinitas, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Shared bikes at Encinitas Ecke YMCA, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Railroad tracks Encinitas station, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Coaster Station Encinitas, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Encinitas Ranch Golf Course (9660619018), Tim Buss from North County, San Diego, California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Coaster train at Encinitas, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Encinitas, United States (Unsplash), Joe Gardner josephgardnerphotography, CC0
- Encinitas boat houses, Jon Sullivan, Public domain
- Rancho De Los Kiotes 2012-09-22 16-36-00, scerruti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BUMANN RANCH ENCINITAS SAN DIEGO COUNTY, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- McWay Falls after dark, Troy Brajkovich, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Caryota at San Diego Botanic Garden, Boothsift, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Banana at San Diego Botanic Garden, Boothsift, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ficus dammaropsis syconium, Jwfelder, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uroleucon ambrosiae 17996279, Jesse Rorabaugh, CC0
- Reclaimed water pressure gage, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Reclaimed water air relief valve SD, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- Ceanothus verrucosus 13972200, Millie Basden, CC BY 4.0
- Hesperoyucca whipplei ssp eremica (probably) (32588119854), Peter D. Tillman from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Agapostemon texanus killed by Peucetia viridans - iNaturalist 56389401, ghazard, CC BY 4.0
- Cneoridium dumosum 73339797, ghazard, CC BY 4.0
- 20161010 Wonut, TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Xylococcus bicolor 169119915, Madeleine Claire, CC BY 4.0
- Xylococcus bicolor 169119905, Madeleine Claire, CC BY 4.0
- Dell XPS M1210, Travis Rigel Lukas Hornung, CC BY 2.0
- HDYF9242, Erpgenie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SANDAG Enginits Bike Lockers, Mds08011, CC BY 4.0
- San Diego County (29793398215), Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0
- Мадонна, которая занимается серфингом, AliaksandrAAA, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Olivenhain Meeting House, Djarvis73, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jendia Gammon, Murray.willett, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Music really does make the world a better place.. (8487225757), Tim Buss from North County, San Diego, California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Swami's Sunset (8192771516), Tim Buss from North County, San Diego, California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Harley Davidson (8756040860), Tim Buss from North County, San Diego, California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Pontiac Vibes (Unsplash), Alex Bertha alexbertha, CC0
- Fat Tires (3994388351), Christian Flores from Carlsbad / Encinitas, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1957 Ford Country Squire woody - brown - fvr2, Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0
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