Laguna Beach

An artsy Orange County coastal town with rocky coves and tide pools, clifftop parks and the summer Pageant of the Masters, between Crystal Cove and Newport Beach to the north and Dana Point to the south.

Laguna Beach lies on the southern coast of Orange County, California, between Newport Beach and Dana Point, about 80 km south of Los Angeles and 110 km north of San Diego, and is the most artistic seaside town in Southern California. The town stretches about 11 km along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH, Highway 1), where rocky headlands divide the shore into more than 30 small coves alternating between tide pools, sea cliffs and sandy beaches. The entire coastline is a marine protected area, and collecting tide-pool creatures is prohibited.

The Mediterranean climate is mild and dry year-round. Jun–Sep has the warmest water for swimming and surfing, though May–Jun often brings morning marine layer (May Gray/June Gloom). Jul–Aug is art season, when the Pageant of the Masters, the Festival of Arts and the Sawdust Art Festival all run at once and hotel prices peak. Winter low tides offer the best tide pooling.

The area breaks into three parts. The northern stretch around Main Beach, Heisler Park and Crescent Bay is the town center, with walkable galleries and restaurants. The southern stretch, with the castle tower at Victoria Beach, Thousand Steps Beach and Aliso Beach, is all about hidden coves and sunsets. Farther afield are Crystal Cove State Park, Corona del Mar and the Balboa Peninsula to the north, and Dana Point Harbor and Mission San Juan Capistrano to the south, all within a 20–30 minute drive.

Driving is the main way to get around: LAX is about 1–1.5 hours away and John Wayne Airport in Orange County about 25 minutes. In town, the free Laguna Beach Trolley runs frequently in summer and helps with the parking crunch (metered street parking is pricey). Plan on 2–3 days. Note that some coves are reached via long staircases; check a tide table for low tide times, and wear non-slip shoes on the slippery rocks.

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Where to eat

Itineraries