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'm starting from the southernmost beach traveling north. Why? I'm most familiar with SoCal beaches. Also, I've noticed that when friends ask me about what is the best beach to visit in California, they usually mean Southern California.
Dog Beach in San Diego
Now, first things first, no post about the best beaches in California can start without this place at the very top! If you're used to polished piers and luxury beach resorts, get ready to find a more playful setting on Dog Beach (Google Maps pin).
Just 15 minutes from downtown San Diego is Dog Beach. Here you'll see frisbees sailing across the sky, kids running around, and hear laughter mixed with barking. Free public parking is available. And dogs are welcome off-leash year-round.
Nearby (if you get bored of relaxing or your kids get restless), you can visit San Diego Zoo, head to LEGOLAND, and the New Children’s Museum.
What I loved best:
All in all, Chris, our son and I thought Dog Beach in San Diego was one of the best beaches in California because it has such an easy going vibe.
La Jolla Cove
Just over 20 minutes from Dog Beach is La Jolla Cove, so you should make time to see both on the same road trip. Trust me, they are both worth your time. In fact, this is one of my all time favorite day trips from San Diego when I'm in the mood for seal spotting. 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. I have that say that exploring the galleries, cafes, and boutiques of La Jolla Village is also mega 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 this beach vacation unforgettable. The hotel is 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
For me, this was this super unique place with stairs leading down to the beach, and a mellower vibe.
Our journey from our stop in La Jolla to Carlsbad State Beach took about 30 minutes.
I instantly thought that Carlsbad State Beach was one of the best beaches in California. My personal highlight was lunch at The Camp Store right on the beach!
Laguna Beach
It takes less than an hour to get from Carlsbad State Beach to Laguna Beach so it's easy to fit it into a SoCal road trip itinerary.
Laguna Beach is such a creative seaside village! Golden coves meet heaps of rugged bluffs. Art is everywhere: in galleries, gardens, cafes, and even festivals. I recommend spending a night here because there are so many accommodations options for all budgets.
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.
Crystal Cove State Park
A stroll in Crystal Cove State Park just 5 minutes from Laguna Beach is absolutely a must! This place is 100% unique and so natural. Just breathing ocean air, seeing beautiful blue ocean, and snapping photos here made our trip worth it.
Newport Beach
Travel another 15 minutes up the coast and you'll reach Newport Beach, one of my favorite Southern California beach vacation spots. It's very elegant with yachts and oceanfront restaurants. We found it easy to relax on wide sandy beaches.
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
Another 15 minutes by car north along the coast lies Huntington State Beach. I love the miles of soft golden sand here. We never get bored of watching waves and surfers at this beach. Locals told me that it's nicknamed “Surf City, USA” and it totally fits!
Now, first things first, head straight for the beach and you won't regret it. You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and surfing (of course!). Don't 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!
What I like most about Huntington State Beach as a day trip is how accessible it is. If you’re coming from LA or from Orange County, driving is by far the easiest option. There are large paid parking lots right by the sand (typically around $15 USD for the day). I have to warn you that on weekends parking fills up fast.
What I loved best:
We stayed in an affordable vacation rental for a week. I loved that I could start my day with a swim right from the beach. You can bike (or walk, of course!) on the 8.5-mile Huntington Beach Bike Trail along the shoreline for best views.
In addition, I enjoyed exploring Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with Chris and our son. Its saltwater marshes were teeming with herons and egrets. It's one of my favorite day trips in SoCal.
Zuma Beach
Chris and I both absolutely love Zuma Beach (about 90 minutes from our last stop at Huntington State Beach). First off, we love that Zuma Beach is located in Malibu. Since it's close to Los Angeles, it's an easy day trip from LA without a ton of driving.
You can enjoy long walks, sunbathe. Bring a beach picnic and 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'm still 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
Keep driving about 40 minutes north along Pacific Coast Highway to reach Mandalay State Beach. It's actually just 10 minutes from downtown Oxnard, one of my favorite places in California! The shoreline is usually empty and you can really relax here.
We spent the afternoon exploring the Mandalay State Beach's (Google Maps pin) heaps of dunes. The wildlife preserve is fantastic.
What I loved best:
We ended the day with a sunset with Channel Islands on the horizon, my favorite highlight.
Where I stayed:
Need a place to stay? Just a few minutes’ drive from Oxnard in Ventura County, the beachfront Zachari Dunes Resort is a standout.
Pismo State Beach
Approximately two hours northward along the coast from Mandalay State Beach, you will reach Pismo State Beach.
Chris and I absolutely love it here. This is classic Central California beach. It's wide, golden, and miles long.
In addition, 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
It's another hour north along the coast to reach Moonstone Beach from Pismo State Beach. This is one of my favorite beached on California's Central Coast! Why? Moonstone Beach is rugged California and less crowded than the beaches near San Diego and LA. Plus the small town is lovely. Looking at smooth pebbles on the beach with our son was fun.
Why is it called Moonstone Beach? You can sometimes find a moonstone on this beach.
Pfeiffer Beach
Continue along the scenic Highway 1 for approximately two hours and you'll reach one of California’s most iconic beaches hidden in Big Sur.
We spent time admiring the sea-carved rock formations at Pfeiffer Beach on our road trip.
What I loved best:
You can walk down the beach until you reach the iconic Keyhole Arch. It's a massive rock formation with a natural window.
My Favorite Northern California Beaches
Of all the beaches in California, I'm least familiar with the northern part. 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
From Pfeiffer Beach, continue up the coast for about an hour and 40 minutes in your car to reach Santa Cruz.
I was completely charmed by surf culture in Santa Cruz, though different from Huntington Beach due to colder ocean temperatures. You basically wear a wetsuit year round. Otherwise you get too chilly waiting for the waves because Santa Cruz breaks require you to wait your turn.
We learned that Santa Cruz is considered the birthplace of mainland surfing because three teenage Hawaiian princes first surfed here in 1885 while attending school in NorCal.
Now, first things first, visit the historic Santa Cruz boardwalk. Next, have coffee on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Then watch sea lions lounging around especially when it's sunny out.
If you are feeling active, bike along the dramatic West Cliff Drive. Stop to watch surfers at the legendary Steamer Lane.
Beyond the beach, I also liked seeing redwood forests nearby in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Stinson Beach
Continue another two hours north from Santa Cruz and you will reach Stinson Beach. Although water here is much colder than in SoCal, for me, this one of the best beaches in California. I think it's a hidden gem with fantastic scenery.
Glass Beach
Another 3.5 hours north will take you to Glass Beach which is super unique.
I have to warn you that the water is cold and waves can be rough so don't expect to do a lot of swimming here. But this Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is one of my favourite California beaches for beach-combing on the North Coast.
I loved seeing the rocky coves, and walking along the coastal bluffs with wildflowers in springtime.
Looking into tidepools filled with starfish and anemones was my personal highlight.
If you love the idea of rugged ocean beauty, you can drive another 5 hours north along the California's Redwood Coast to reach Crescent City. I also want to mention that you actually have two road options. Highway 1 is slow-going but the scenery is spectacular. 101 North is much faster (and cruise control friendly!) but you are giving up some of the views.
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.
