Our family visited Dana Strand Beach for the first time and had an amazing experience! We…read moreoriginally went to Doheny State Beach, and after talking with one of the state park workers, he recommended Strands Beach because it's a little less crowded and has beautiful crystal blue water. We're so glad we came! Parking was abundant, and while there are quite a few stairs to get down to the beach, it was incredibly peaceful and relaxing once we arrived. The bathrooms were also very clean -- honestly some of the cleanest public beach bathrooms we've experienced. Definitely a great spot for families and somewhere we'll be coming back to again. Highly recommend!

Dana Strand Beach is a small quiet beach with free and convenient parking nearby. Not crowded and…read moreno vendors here, it's a good place to relax and enjoy the sun/waters. The area is clean and well maintained with paved steps and wooden boardwalk. We've seen runners going up and down the steps multiple times for intense workout. Definitely need to bring sun protection here as there's no shade anywhere. If you don't feel like driving, you can take the free Dana Point trolley and walk down from the bus stop (PCH & Selva) as part of day tripping down in south OC.

San Clemente Pier / Beach is a great place for slow stroll and walk along downtown area…read more This area beach scene with a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere along the Amtrak railroad route. It feels genuinely local, with residents enjoying the area and plenty of smaller, independent eateries rather than the usual big chains. During weekends, come early by 9AM to secure public parking access...even saw free access to trolley.

Came here for a beach bonfire birthday. It was an amazing time. The sand is gritty but there are…read moretreasures of beautiful shells in it. There are bonfires under the pier at the beach. There's public parking up the street, reasonable about 1.50 an hour or so. Bring your credit card as the machine does not take Apple Pay. Most beautiful sunset I've ever seen.

beautiful campground right on the beach! clean bathrooms and…read moreshowers. sites are very close together and smaller than other state beaches, but each site has foliage to provide privacy. other campers were pretty loud into the night, otherwise pleasant and family-friendly.

It's a nice beach in terms of the view. It seems like an excellent beach for surfers (confirm with…read morea surfer) as there were many catching the waves. The waves were constant and came crashing in. There were a lot of rocks once you walk into the water so it wasn't comfortable for my bare feet. Although it was 90 degree heat, the water was cold. There is a cafe nearby, restrooms, tables and grills. I even saw several nets for those who play volleyball. Loads of families with kids of all ages. Summertime so it's to be expected.

This is a beach, not a business per se. There is plenty of close-up parking with benches right by…read morethe copious sand. It's not nearly as crowded as the beaches in Laguna Beach itself. There is a food place tho' I've not been there. It was rated highly by some friends It is a great place to view sunsets after ur swim & sunbathing. Highly recommended for families with kids, grandkids, & great grandkids.

The very best part of this beach is the parking! However, it's when you can get a parking spot as…read morewell in their paid lot - few dollars per hour, super reasonable. We went around 10:30 am on a weekday so we did find several spots available at that time. Not long after - within the next hour-ish, the lot quickly was full and you would see cars going around and around trying to find a car that was leaving. If you find a spot in the lot, the beach is literally right there and it's so convenient for carrying things or going back to your car for something. The water is very close and it makes for a really fun time. It's pretty clean and there's a kids park and jungle gym right next to the parking lot and there's a restaurant there as well - I haven't tried it yet, but will be for sure on another trip there.

5 STARS! Absolutely LOVE this Beach! Very Clean! Soft Sand!…read moreThey designed the steps down to the beach with some thought that's for sure, making it an easy walk down and up. Lifeguard was present yesterday 9/10/23. Volleyball Nets were up, Rinse off before going up with the showers at the end of the steps, clean restrooms, fire pits and picnic tables. The Surfers, Boogie Boarders and Skimmers all were having a great time! It was beautiful and the waves were breaking one after another yesterday! Made it a perfect day!

I decided to wait about a year before posting this review. As previous yelpers mentioned, your only…read moreway into this beach is by actually walking through a gated community. But note that ALL CALIFORNIA BEACHES are for the PUBLIC So, to do this, you have to come with only one friend or alone, don't bring any beach clothes or beach gear. Just bring your wallet, keys and phone, walk past the gate, turn left at the end of the road and go down the stairs (Hold your phone on you at all times). Once you are there, you will find a beautiful beach with blue waves. There are 3 arches and sometimes you'll find tide pools. Note there is also no lifeguard on duty. When my friend and i went we were greeted by a lovely yellow lab that was 3 months old. There was also a nice older gentleman who wished us a good day. We took pictures of the scenery and we sat down for a bit just enjoying the ocean. It felt wonderful, calm and safe. You will also find a bathroom thats very clean. There are picnic tables, surf boards and fire pits which i don't recommend using but if you do, again please be respectful and pick up after yourself. We stayed there for most of the day until sunset where we quietly walked back out the stairs and outside the gates. If you wish to visit this public beach and need to get through the gated community, go respectfully and you will have a better chance of enjoying the public beach.

To get to Rivera you must know the winding way through the neighborhood until you find the path to…read morethe beach that takes your down a few steps and under a train bridge to the sandy beach! We've gone here for years I love this beach it's one of the few in between beaches on the state beach side that you can get to without going inside the park! The cool thing about coming here is you can just go to the beach or you can take the beach trail Up or down the beach to another area on the sand! There's no parking lot here as the access to the beach is more or less in a neighborhood so parking is limited. This is in a neighborhood so be respectful of the people who live here by not leaving trash lying around and whatnot as I'm sure if they wanted to they could close off the access to the beach here! Overall this is a mellow spot to spend the day on the sand that's why it's always nice to visit this kinda hidden spot who knows when I'll get down here again but it's good to see it's all just the same!

very nice, enjoyed being at this beach. good soft sand, waves kinda strong however the water…read moretemperature was great yesterday (7/21/21) would recommend for families:)

Amazing views and easy trails may be a bother for some with stairs but worth the effort added plus…read morewalking distance to san Clemente outlets for shopping and food.

There are two small parking lots, so parking is convenient. The hiking route is relatively short,…read moremaking it perfect for a relaxing walk. From here you can overlook the Pacific Ocean and Highway 1. If you come around sunset, the view should be especially beautiful.

San Onofre really is a hidden gem as far as SoCal beaches go. Lots of different terrain, plenty to…read moresee and experience, good surf, lots of nature, and just a great place overall if you're taking in the area. :)

San Onofre State Beach is one of the most iconic Southern California beach day destinations…read more Erosion from high surf and winter rains the last couple of years is rapidly diminishing the beach facilities and parking at San O, I don't know how much longer this classic Southern California beach spot will be accessible by car. Enjoy San O while it's still here, and if SanO is a "Bucket List" spot for you get there sooner rather than later!