Secluded California city with small-town charm and resort amenities
Within a 13.5-square-mile stretch of bayside and oceanfront along Silver Strand Boulevard, often called "The Strand," Coronado is a secluded resort city. It's home to dozens of dedicated recreation spaces, several vacation resorts and multiple Navy installations, and over 30% of its 20,000 residents are active duty, retired military or veterans. Separated from the hustle of downtown San Diego, locals enjoy a peaceful vacation vibe, strolling the beach or socializing at Coronado Cays Yacht Club.
"Coronado is its own island," says Dusty Brazil, Realtor with Compass Encinitas since 2006. "It's super private and slow, and it feels like you're out in the middle of nowhere. But when you're there, it's so green, and you'll see mega waterfront luxury homes with yachts. It's a true boating community." Coronado also has over 9,000 trees in parks and golf courses and gives away free trees to homeowners twice a year as part of the city's Climate Action Plan to maintain its green tree coverage.
Dubbed one of four "Los Coronados" islands by Spanish explorer Vizcaino in 1602, the city became Coronado, meaning "the crowned one," with its incorporation in 1890. Significant places honor its development, from the circa 1880s Hotel del Coronado to the air station commissioned in 1917 to the Coronado Golf Course, which opened in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, the San Diego-Coronado Bridge opened to allow faster mainland access.
Today, it's a full-service city with its own marine safety, fire, police and city council. "Our tourism and hospitality sectors contribute heavily to local employment," says Rena Clancy, the Coronado Chamber of Commerce executive director. "The Hotel del Coronado is among our top employers, along with the Coronado Unified School District and our largest employer, the U.S. Navy." Sharp Coronado Hospital is on the island, and both UC San Diego Medical Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital are nearby in San Diego.
"Things are different in Coronado when you cross the bridge," says Todd Little, executive director for Discover Coronado. "You leave behind a major metropolis and end up in this charming, scenic small town. And we never use the word tourist because we share our island with guests just as much as our military members. And people from all over the world help keep Coronado interesting."
Enjoy sweeping views of the Coronado Bridge from Coronado Tidelands Park.
Hotel del Coronado blends timeless charm with beachfront beauty in sunny Coronado Island.
Escape to Coronado, where a peaceful vibe, pristine beaches, and boating luxury await.
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Tree-lined neighborhoods from Coronado Beach to San Diego Bay
The median home price is $2.4 million, with condos and townhouses starting around $1.2 million and rising to $4.2 million for new construction. Based on waterfront proximity and size, single-family homes range from $2 million to $10 million. Beach-themed and numbered streets brim with tall palms and tropical blossoms, and each home is unique, from Old-world Spanish styles with private casitas to contemporary angles and tall, narrow homes. "It's a small-town feel with all the perks of beach life," says Clancy. "You get to come home to a serene, safe community with tree-lined streets, historic homes and views of the bay, the beach and the San Diego skyline." Four neighborhoods comprise the city's residential footprint. Says Little, "Coronado Cays is its own distinctive neighborhood with its own parks. The Village is our downtown and home to Spreckels Park. The third is Uptown, around the 100 block of Orange where the Coronado Brewery is, and the fourth is Bayside around the Coronado Island Marriot Resort."
Coronado’s waterfront condos combine elegance with stunning bay views.
Experience refined living in Coronado’s exquisite single-story homes with lush surroundings.
From $1.2M condos to $10M waterfront estates, Coronado homes fit every coastal dream.
The charming picket fence homes in Coronado offer a perfect blend of coastal beauty.
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Yachting in Coronado Cays, golfing at Coronado Golf Course
Locals have their pick of more than a dozen public parks along with sports courts, multiuse paths and boat launches. "As one of the few places you can own a boat in San Diego," Brazil says, "Coronado Cays is the iconic destination for boat lovers who want to head off into the water for a day of fishing or off to Mexico, right from your front door."
In 2024, Golf Digest recognized Coronado Golf Course as one of San Diego's best and the city began working on a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the 16-acre Cays Park. Across the street from central Spreckels Park, the Coronado Public Library was John Spreckels' private library before he donated it to the city. Spreckels is heralded as a major contributor to maintaining Hotel del Coronado. "Coronado is small and quaint, but the library is surprisingly grand," adds Little. "It's a beautiful, well-decorated historic building with state-of-the-art library science. And it's a hub for whatever entertainment or education inspires you." Crown Cove Aquatic Center offers watercraft rentals, and cyclists explore the island via Bayshore Bikeway. "It's more than a bike path," says Little. "You can Rollerblade, walk or scooter, and it's very safe and incredibly scenic. It winds through protected preserves where you'll see flamingos and native plants, and past naval installations so you can experience the important history of the service members who live and work here."
Capture San Diego’s skyline from Coronado’s Centennial Park.
Coronado is home to beautiful tennis courts, perfect for every level of play.
Tee off with stunning views at the Coronado Golf Course, a golfer’s paradise.
The Bayshore Bike Path is a 20+ mile loop dedicated to cycling around Coronado.
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Multicultural cuisine and military honor
The Coronado dining scene is a buffet of Italian, Mexican, Parisian and farm-to-table options, centering around the Ferry Landing district and The Village. "Restaurants like The Henry, Little Frenchie, Blanco and Jolie have garnered millions of happy patrons," says Clancy, "and dozens more restaurants suit every budget." Coronado Plaza offers nearly 20 shops and restaurants, and the Hotel del Coronado is a top date night spot for locals and guests. "It's not uncommon to bump into war heroes at the grocery store here," says Little. "I like to say you're always within 50 yards of an American hero, because when you sit down for a cup of coffee, odds are there's a military member there with you. And when a civilian sees a military member, we rush to pick up their tab. I'm often bumped by two or three others who beat me to it."
The Henry in Coronado serves elevated American comfort food in a stylish, vibrant setting.
Garage Buona Forchetta in Coronado offers Italian food in an automotive setting.
Little Frenchie in Coronado offers a delightful taste of Paris with a coastal twist.
The Ferry Landing in Coronado offers a variety of charming shops and restaurants.
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A-plus Coronado Unified School District
The public Coronado Unified School District gets an A-plus on Niche, and every CUSD public school gets an A or higher. In late 2024, the Department of Defense Education Activity awarded CUSD a $1.25 million grant to expand computer science education across all grades. The prestigious University of California San Diego and San Diego State University are both within a 15-mile drive.
Silver Strand Elementary School in Coronado offers a nurturing environment for students.
Coronado High School combines academic excellence with a strong sense of school spirit.
UC San Diego offers world-class academics just a short drive from Coronado’s coastal charm.
San Diego State University is just a quick trip from the coastal beauty of Coronado.
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Coronado Bridge can bottleneck, not far from San Diego International Airport and Tijuana
"Proximity to Tijuana adds an extra cultural dimension, because you can easily daytrip across the border for rich dining and shopping experiences," explains Clancy. "And it's great for international commerce opportunities." While Coronado has many advantages, the island is primarily accessible by the Coronado Bridge, which can be a bottleneck during rush hours or if there are incidents on the bridge. Commuters take the Coronado Bridge to connect to major freeways, Downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport just 7 miles north. Starting in 2024, the city is piloting a 6-month Island Express free shuttle program with eight electric vehicles providing door-to-door on-demand service on the island.
Coronado Flower Show and Fourth of July parade
There's always something fun to enjoy, from weekly farmers markets to concerts in parks or classic films at Village Theatre. One of the city's premier events is the Coronado Flower Show, filling nearly an entire city block. It's the nation's largest tented flower show and a favorite spring festivity since the 1920s. "On the most patriotic day ever," says Little, "our very well-known Fourth of July parade gets really crowded. But we all know that by Labor Day, we get the island to ourselves again, until the next busy season."
Coronado Farmers' Market offers fresh produce, and artisan goods every Tuesday afternoon.
Experience the joy of Skating by the Sea, a festive event on Coronado Island.
Dine inside cozy igloos near Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado.
The Hotel del Coronado stands as a historic landmark, embodying the legacy of Coronado.
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Low crime, mild weather and potential flood risk
FBI crime data shows the rate of violent crimes reported per 100,000 people in Coronado dropped from 96 to 89 between July 2022 and December 2023, lower than the national rate of 121. Property crime rates are also lower than the national rate of 180, declining from 182 to 168 in the same timeframe. Coronado is known for its pleasant Mediterranean climate, that's cooler in winter months and rarely reaching above 80 into the late summer months. In the spring, the cold ocean waters create a marine layer that locals call June Gloom, which dissipates daily by afternoon. Like most coastal locations, some areas near the bay may face occasional flooding risks during high tides or storm surges.
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