About

California Dreams Hostel - Ocean Beach is a fun place where backpackers from all over the world can meet like-minded travelers and have a true hostel experience with its friendly community atmosphere and affordable prices, while enjoying excellent customer service, amenities, cleanliness, and comfort of staying at a quality hotel.

Neighborhood

Our hostel is located on the beautiful California coast, in America's finest city of San Diego, 2-minute walk from public transportation and supermarkets. We are positioned within a 10-minute drive from San Diego Airport, Downtown and the city's main attractions. You will be staying in Ocean Beach, San Diego's most laid-back neighborhood. It is a perfect spot to chill with friends on your visit to sunny Southern California. With plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, Ocean Beach is an ideal place for those who love the beach, outdoor & water activities, good food, and making new friends.

Why Our Hostel is Perfect for You

When staying with us, you can spend the whole day on the beach, surf, go shopping and enjoy many great restaurants/bars/nightclubs, all within a short walk from our hostel. Plus, you can rent any beach equipment for a great day in Ocean Beach without ever leaving the lobby. Just stop by the front desk and our friendly staff will help you with any recommendations, bookings and rentals, so you can get the most out of San Diego with a minimal effort.

Love surfing?

Rent a surfboard and wetsuit at the reception desk, take a walk or a short bike ride to the beach and you're ready to hit the waves at the locals' favorite surfing spot.

Want to ride a bike and enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean?

Rent a bike at the front desk and our helpful staff will suggest the most scenic route and provide you with all the necessary maps & directions.

Prefer to check out San Diego sights?

Hop on a scooter, get an Uber/Lyft/taxi, or catch a bus to get to San Diego's main attractions. Visit our Travel Desk, where we can help you purchase discounted tickets to the most popular attractions and tours:

Birch Aquarium
Old Town Trolley Tour (famous Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing tour)
San Diego Zoo
Sea World
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
Whale Watching (seasonal)
Wild Animal Park

We will gladly print your tickets to save you time in lines, so you can spend as much time as possible enjoying our wonderful city.

Tired of having too much fun outside?

Relax and unwind in our spacious comfortable lounge area where you can chat with interesting people from all over the world and watch free movies on a large flat-screen TV. Take a swim in our outdoor pool with your new friends and start planning your next adventure!

Services & Amenities:

FREE Breakfast
FREE Luggage storage
FREE Lockers
FREE Street parking
FREE Wi-Fi
Air conditioning in all rooms
Front desk: late night service
Housekeeping service daily
Iron & ironing board on request
Kitchen: stove, fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, pots & pans for cooking, utensils
Laundry service: we wash and dry clothes for you
Living room with flat-screen TV
Outdoor swimming pool
Rentals: bicycles, surfboards, wetsuits, beach chairs/umbrellas
Security cameras in common areas
Travel desk
Parking is based on a first-come, first serve basis. For Private Rooms ONLY. The guest is required to call the business to secure the spot

Entertainment & Activities:

FREE: Movies/shows on Amazon TV & Netflix, ESPN sports channel, YouTube and cable TV
FREE: Board games
FREE: Frisbees, soccer & volleyballs, yoga mats
Beach volleyball (1 mile from Hostel)
Beach yoga (1 mile from Hostel)
Beachfront biking trail (1 mile from Hostel)
Beachfront jogging trail (1 mile from Hostel)
Bike tours to Ocean Beach Farmers Market and Sunset Cliffs
Hiking trail La Jolla / Torrey Pines (5 miles from Hostel)
Movie nights (on-site)
Snorkeling (1 mile from Hostel)

Dining:

Sundry / Convenience store on-site
Local restaurant delivery (ask Front Desk for details)

House Rules

Check In

15:00 - 24:00

Check Out

until 11:00

  • Credit Cards Not Accepted
  • No Curfew
  • Non Smoking
  • Taxes Not Included
View House Rules

Facilities

  • Free Breakfast
  • Free Parking
  • Free City Maps
  • Free WiFi
  • Free Internet Access
  • Free Security Lockers
  • Free Luggage Storage
  • Bicycle Parking
View all facilities

Reviews

8.7Fabulous(214)
  • Value for Money
    8.6
  • Security
    8.8
  • Atmosphere
    8.6
  • Cleanliness
    8.8
  • Staff
    9.2
  • Location
    8.6
  • Facilities
    8.6
Summary of traveller reviews

California Dreams Hostel - Ocean Beach in San Diego offers a welcoming atmosphere with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Guests appreciate the clean facilities and convenient location, with nearby amenities and good transport links. It's a great choice for travellers seeking a relaxed stay.

Stayed in Jun 2026
10
S
Sarah
Female, 31-40, USA
Good location, chill vibes. I was there for two weeknights, so I might guess it gets a little more lively on a weekend, but it was a low-key stay in a good way. Staff was very friendly and helpful. There are medium lockers in the dorm and large luggage lockers in the hall- bring a lock or rent one. Kitchen had assigned cubbies for each bunk and plenty of space in the fridge. I did rent a bike that was pretty disappointing- don’t plan on that as a reliable transportation option during your stay.
Stayed in May 2026
10
C
Christopher
Male, 31-40, England
A very good Hostel, Great friendly staff the hostel is very clean and i would recommend staying here.
Stayed in May 2026
4.6
D
Danielle
Female, 25-30, USA
Staff was nice and continental breakfast was provided, granted you get there before it’s all gone. The bathrooms were nasty and there wasn’t much going on socially. There was a guy screaming at the top of his lungs on the phone for a while and none of the staff said anything. It was alarming and made me feel incredibly unsafe. He was genuinely off the rails. I understand not making a situation worse, but this was not what I bargained for and the guy even yelled about how he was homeless (with AirPods, mind you….) Not worth the price but if you’re trying to save some money then go for it.
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Location

3790 Udall St, San Diego, USA
7.5km from city centre