La Jolla Cove, best known by locals and visitors for its sandstone cliffs, clear waters and omnipresent sea lions, has nabbed the No. 1 spot in Tripadvisor’s annual ranking of the best beaches in the United States.
While it’s been a regular on the travel site’s list of best beaches for many years, it hasn’t earned the top spot in the recent past. Of the top-ranked beaches on the 2026 Traveler’s Choice Awards “Best of the Best Beaches,” it is only one of two in California. The remainder of the list is dominated by beaches in Florida and Hawaii.
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La Jolla Cove, said Tripadvisor, is “recognized for its extraordinary marine biodiversity and year-round accessibility. This protected underwater park offers unique opportunities for wildlife encounters, from playful sea lions to migrating gray whales.”
In addition to its No. 1 ranking in the U.S., it also landed on the top 10 beaches in the world, coming in at No. 7, just behind Banana Beach in Thailand and ahead of La Pelosia beach in Sardinia.
The beach rankings are determined entirely by Tripadivsor reviews. The calculations are based on the quality and quantity of reviews posted by travelers globally between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025.
On its website, Tripadvisor highlights the notable features of La Jolla Cove, pointing out that “the water is calm enough for travelers to enjoy diving and snorkeling. Walk along the rocky shore to spot large colonies of sea lions lounging in their natural habitat and looking after their pups, and have a picnic while soaking up the views of the ocean from the cliffs at sunset. If you visit at low tide, you’ll get to swim in the crystal clear tidal pools as well.”
For years, the cove has been notable for the inevitable tensions that arise between the lounging sea lions and the public. At a recent California Coastal Commission meeting, city officials provided an update on La Jolla Cove, pointing out that the number of shoreline park rangers has increased in recent months. Park rangers also recently began broadcasting hourly messages through a bullhorn to alert those at the beach to keep their distance from the sea lions.
Plans are also in the works for potentially installing cameras and a new viewing deck at La Jolla Cove, but no details were provided on when that might happen.
Santa Monica State Beach was the only other California beach on Tripadvisor’s top 10 U.S. list and ranked No. 9.
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