15 Most Beautiful Beaches in California
Searching for the best beaches in California to visit on your next day trip or road trip vacation? Well, you are in the right place! Living in Los Angeles if fun. The best part? Getting away to the beach for a weekend (or even just a day trip)! Here my favorite beaches along California's coast, road tripping south to north (600 miles, 10 hours driving), and I hope you’ll love them too.
- - Best Beaches in Southern California
- #1. Dog Beach in San Diego - #2. La Jolla Cove - #3. Carlsbad State Beach - #4. Laguna Beach - #5. Crystal Cove State Park - #6. Newport Beach - #7. Huntington State Beach - #8. Zuma Beach
- - Best Beaches on California's Central Coast
- - #9. Mandalay State Beach - #10. Pismo State Beach - #11. Moonstone Beach - #12. Pfeiffer Beach
- - My Favorite Northern California Beaches
- - #13. Santa Cruz - #14. Stinson Beach - #15. Glass Beach
Best Beaches in Southern California
I notice that when friends ask me about what is the best beach to visit in California, they usually mean Southern California, where some of the best beaches in all of USA are located! I hope you will enjoy reading about my SoCal favorites in this section and have a nice time there yourself.
Dog Beach in San Diego
I think that Dog Beach in San Diego (Google Maps pin) radiates pure joy. For me, it's a stretch of sand where surf, sun, and wagging tails make it one of the happiest corners of the california coast. Instead of polished piers or historic resorts, Dog Beach is all about freedom with dogs racing through the waves. You'll see frisbees sailing across the sky, and hear laughter mixed with barking.
What I loved best:
It has an easy, come-as-you-are vibe. This makes it feel welcoming. I didn't have a pup of my own but the joyful vibe was contagious! It's one of my favorite beaches on the West Caost for dog owners!
La Jolla Cove
This place is one of California’s best vacation ideas and one of my favorite day trips from San Diego. I was glad we discovered it on our road trip and it's now a must-visit beach for my family.
La Jolla Cove is has heaps of marine energy. Now, first things first, I recommend walking along the paths of Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Exploring the galleries, cafés, and boutiques of La Jolla Village is also fun.
Lunch at The Promiscuous Fork was my absolute favorite. Definitely go for Kalua Pork Quesadillas if you like meat!
My stay at the La Valencia Hotel for four days made the trip unforgettable. It's nicknamed the “Pink Lady” for its color and sits right in the heart of La Jolla. You'll get stunning views of the Pacific, gardens, and the pool that overlooked the ocean.
What I loved best:
I loved visiting Thumbprint Gallery where we caught one of their unique Exhibitions, a real standout.
In addition, one evening, dining at the hotel’s terrace while the sun dipped below the horizon - The combination of coastal location and timeless elegance made the experience truly memorable.
Carlsbad State Beach
This is one of my favorite California beaches when I'm in the mood for a mellower vibe. There are heaps of sandstone bluffs. There is a stair leading down to the beach.
Our journey from our stop in Santa Monica Beach to Carlsbad State Beach took less than two hours. We made a couple of stops on our road trip so that we could enjoy the view.
I started my visit by heading straight to the beach. After relaxing for a while, we enjoyed cycling along the oceanfront Coast Highway. When we got hungry, we ventured into the charming downtown. I loved that it was easy to find a great spot for lunch.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was lunch at The Camp Store right on the beach!
Laguna Beach
I thought this place was a dazzling slice of the California coast and it quickly became one of my favorite beaches to drive to from LA when I moved here.
Laguna Beach is such a creative seaside village! Golden coves meet heaps of rugged bluffs. Art seems to spill out of every gallery, garden, and festival tent.
Just an hour’s drive south of Los Angeles (or 90 minutes from San Diego), we settled in for a few days at a local vacation rental.
You can stroll along the boardwalk at Main Beach, visit Victoria Beach with its “pirate tower”, and hike on the hills of Crystal Cove State Park.
What I loved best:
In town, I browsed art galleries, discovered sculpted gardens, and caught live music, my favorite highlight.
Crystal Cove State Park
Enjoy a stroll in Crystal Cove State Park just 5 minutes from Laguna Beach.
Newport Beach
I thought this place was pure Southern California elegance by the sea with its wide sandy beaches. We loved the harbor dotted with yachts! Newport Beach had a polished energy. There were lots of amazing local restaurants.
I recommend The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove. We had the delicious Shrimp Basil Pesto Pasta on our anniversary.
Huntington State Beach
Visit this lovely California beach for its miles of soft golden sand. In addition, the steady Pacific waves here are perfect for surfers!
You'll reach it after an easy 10-minute drive from central Huntington Beach (nicknamed “Surf City, USA”). First, head straight to the beach and you won't regret it. You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and surfing (of course!).
Next, head to Huntington Beach Pier, a fantastic spot for photos at sunset.
Before visiting for the first time, I have to admit that I mostly associated Huntington Beach with surf competitions. But spending time here showed me that it's truly one of the best beaches on the West Coast! For me, Huntington State Beach now means classic Southern California surf culture at its finest.
What I like most about Huntington State Beach as a day trip is how accessible it is. If you’re coming from LA or Orange County, driving is the easiest option. There are large paid parking lots right by the sand (typically around $15 USD for the day). Public transport is possible, but it takes a bit more planning.
What I loved best:
I loved that I could start my day with a barefoot walk and a swim on the broad beach. Then watch surfers, and then bike on the paved 8.5-mile Huntington Beach Bike Trail along the shoreline.
In addition, I enjoyed exploring Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with Chris and our son. Its saltwater marshes were teeming with herons and egrets.
Zuma Beach
Chris and I both absolutely love Zuma Beach, and have been many times. Every time I visit on a road trip, I’m reminded why it’s one of my favorite California beaches.
First off, we love that Zuma Beach is located in Malibu. Since it's close to Los Angeles, it's an day trip from LA without a ton of driving.
You can feel the magic the moment you step on the wide sands. The space alone makes this beach feel spectacular.
You can enjoy long walks, sunbathe, and bring a picnic lunch. Don't miss the beautiful Southern California sunset at the end of the day.
Best Beaches on California's Central Coast
When it comes to California's Central Coast beaches, I have to say that I was surprised by how underrated they are. In fact, some of my favorite West Coast beaches are located in this area and I hope you will enjoy them too.
Mandalay State Beach
This is one of the beach beaches in California, just 10 minutes from downtown Oxnard!
From the moment we arrived, my pace here was unhurried. We started with a morning walk along the empty shoreline, then relaxed on the sand with a picnic and a nap. We spend the afternoon exploring the Mandalay State Beach's Google Maps pin heaps of dunes. The wildlife preserve was fantastic.
What I loved best:
We ended the day with a magical sunset with Channel Islands on the horizon, my favorite highlight.
Where I stayed:
Just a few minutes’ drive from Oxnard in Ventura County, we settled in for a coastal escape in a King sized room at the beachfront Zachari Dunes Resort for two days.
Pismo State Beach, Central Coast
This is classic Central California beach. It's wide, golden, and stretching for miles. I loved watching the waves rolling in steady and strong. The mall-town vibe felt nostalgic to me. That's why Pismo State Beach to me is one of the best beaches in California.
Moonstone Beach, Cambria
This is one of my favorite beached on California's Central Coast! Why? Moonstone Beach in Cambria is a place where rugged California coastline meets small-town charm. I adored this windswept stretch of shoreline lined with smooth pebbles.
In addition, if you look closely, you can find the occasional shimmering moonstone after which the beach is named. I also love how it's framed by dramatic bluffs and Monterey pines.
Pfeiffer Beach
For me, this was one of California’s most otherworldly stretches of shoreline. Trust me, it's a hidden Big Sur treasure!
We spent time admiring the sea-carved rock formations on our road trip. I thought that purple-tinted sands created incredible beauty. P
What I loved best:
I wandered along the beach until I reached the iconic Keyhole Arch. It's a massive rock formation with a natural window. At sunset, the golden light pours through in a breathtaking glow, my favorite highlight!
My Favorite Northern California Beaches
Of all the beaches in California, I'm least familiar with the northern part of the state. I'm planning a four week road trip again there soon, but for now, here are my favorite beaches for a Northern California road trip so far...
Santa Cruz
This was a classic California coastal escape with a playful heart! I was charmed by surf culture in Santa Cruz, home to the some of the best beaches in California. I also liked seeing redwood forests nearby in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
First thing, visit the historic boardwalk. Heads up, Santa Cruz has that “endless summer” energy that instantly puts you in vacation mode. It's hard to leave this place! Later, have coffee on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Then watch sea lions lounging around.
If you are feeling active, bike along the dramatic West Cliff Drive. Stop to watch surfers at the legendary Steamer Lane.
Stinson Beach, Northern California
For me, this was Northern California at its most timeless! I instantly fell for the heaps of soft sand.
I loved the rolling hills and rugged bluffs. To me, the Pacific felt both wild and welcoming on beautiful Stinson Beach which is, for me, is one of the best beaches in California.
Glass Beach, Central Coast
It’s less about swimming here. The water is cold and waves can be rough. But this Glass Beach is one of my favorite California beaches for beach-combing on the North Coast.
Just outside the town of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, Glass Beach was the perfect stop along Highway 1 on my Northern California road trip.
I loved seeing the rocky coves, and walking along the coastal bluffs with wildflowers.
Looking into tidepools filled with starfish and anemones was my personal highlight.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
