Picking the best beaches in Orange County isn’t easy, but many of the best beaches in all of Southern California are actually in between San Diego and Los Angeles. Orange County has both epic large sandy beaches and picturesque small cove beaches. They have piers, rock arches, and tide pools galore. Some well-known surf breaks are in OC too.
Our list of the best beaches in Orange County puts each beach into a category that it is associated with. Most of these beaches are good for many different things including sunbathing. Scroll to the bottom of the list to see our favorite beach in Orange County.
Best Surfing Beaches
Huntington City Beach
Trestles
The Wedge
San Onofre Surfing Beach
Seal Beach
Best Beginner Surf Spot
Doheny Beach
Best Bodyboarding Beach
NorthBeach San Clemente
Best Pier
San ClementePier Beach
See all of the OC Piers
Best Tide Pools
Little Corona Del Mar Beach
See all of the OC Tide Pools
Best Unique Beach Discovery
Mysterious Tower at Victoria Beach
Best Hidden Beach
Table Rock Beach
Best Kid-Friendly Beaches
Dana Point Harbor Beach
Best for Beach Walking
Crystal Cove State Park
Best Rock Arch
The Keyhole at Pearl Street Beach
See all the California Rock Arches
Best Beach Camping
San Clemente State Beach
Best Sunbathing Beach
Newport Municipal Beach
Best Beach for Bonfires
Huntington State Beach
See all the OC Bonfire Beaches
Best Spot for Kayaking & SUP
North Star Beach on Newport Beach’s Back Bay
Best Dog-Friendly Beach
Huntington Dog Beach
See all the OC Dog-Friendly Beaches
Best Beach Bike Ride
San Clemente Coastal Trail
Best Bird-Watching
Ecological Reserve at Bolsa Chica State Beach
Best Overall Orange County Beach!
Laguna Beach Main Beach
Why is Laguna Beach MainBeach the best? Well it has so much to offer. It might not be the biggest or best at anything, but it has everything. Visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of restaurants nearby, plus lots of shopping options, and hotels if they are not from the area. Main Beach is a relatively safe place to play in the water as waves aren’t typically that big, but there are lifeguards on hand if someone needs help. Sports fanatics will find two courts behind the beach, volleyball courts on the sand, and room to toss a football or Frisbee at the water’s edge. Small kids have a playground to enjoy as well. Just to the north is Rockpile Beach where tidepools emerge when the water recedes. The wooden boardwalk behind Main Beach leads to Heisler Park, a well-landscaped bluff top park that is ideal for picnics. Want to enjoy a long walk on the beach? Just walk south and you have a mile of sand leading all the way to a rock arch known as The Keyhole at Pearl Street Beach.
Laguna Beach’s Main Beach
Below is our complete list of the best beaches in Orange County California.
Beaches in this article
Main Beach in Laguna Beach
Main Beach is the simple name given to the main centrally-located city beach in Laguna Beach, California. Main Beach...
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Huntington City Beach
Huntington City Beach is the center of a long stretch of sandy waterfront for the city of Huntington Beach,...
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Trestles Beach
Trestles Beach is the northernmost part of San Onofre State Beach and of San Diego County, but access is...
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West Jetty View Beach - The Wedge
West Jetty View Park is located at the end of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, CA. The park is...
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San Onofre State Beach – Surfing Beach (Old Man’s)
San Onofre Surfing Beach (the official state park name) is located between the city of San Clemente and Camp...
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Seal Beach
Seal Beach, and its picturesque pier, are located in the city of Seal Beach, a small beachside community wedged...
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Doheny State Beach – North Beach
Doheny State Beach has two separate beaches and day-use areas – north and south. This North Beach is located...
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North Beach
North Beach in San Clemente is in front of the Ole Hanson Beach Club near the intersection of El...
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San Clemente Pier City Beach
San Clemente Pier Beach is the main city beach of San Clemente, California and it’s a popular place. On...
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Little Corona Del Mar Beach
Little Corona Del Mar Beach is a popular small beach at the end of a ravine called Buck Gully...
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Victoria Beach
Victoria Beach is a long white sand beach south of Victoria Drive in Laguna Beach. The majority of this...
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Table Rock Beach
Table Rock Beach is a locally-known tucked away beach in south Laguna Beach, California. This is an excellent sandy...
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Dana Point Harbor Beach (Baby Beach)
Dana Point Harbor Beach, better-known as “Baby Beach,” is located on the protected waters of Dana Point Harbor. This...
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Pelican Point Beach at Crystal Cove State Park
Pelican Point Beach in Crystal Cove State Park has a broad beach between Pelican Point and the park’s Historic...
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Pearl Street Beach
Pearl Street Beach is located below a stairway that begins at the west end of Pearl Street in Laguna...
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San Clemente State Beach
San Clemente State Beach has a large campground and day-use parking area on a prime piece of San Clemente...
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Newport Municipal Beach
Newport Municipal Beach is located on both sides of the Newport Beach Pier. The beaches are continuous along the...
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Huntington State Beach
Huntington State Beach is a two mile long wide sandy beach that starts at Beach Boulevard and runs south...
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Huntington Dog Beach
Huntington Dog Beach is a dog-friendly strand at the northern end of Huntington Beach City Beach. In addition to...
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North Star Beach
North Star Beach is one of the best access points for Newport Beach’s Back Bay. This small sandy beach...
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Bolsa Chica State Beach
Bolsa Chica State Beach is a three mile long wide sandy beach in Huntington Beach, CA. Due to its...
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