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    Corona Del Mar State Beach

    4.4 (445 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Corona Del Mar State Beach Photos

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    Inspiration Point
    Jeremy S.

    It's been a long while since I've had a beach day, but we made it to Corona Del Mar (CdM) via Inspiration Point at 11 am to go boogie boarding. The scenic view at Inspiration Point is beautiful. The beach wasn't too crowded, and we got space to sit down on our camping chairs. The water was cold but eventually manageable. Unfortunately, there was a lot of floating seaweed that would get tangled on my legs. The waves were hit-or-miss. Once in a while a powerful one would take us back to the shore. However, the waves were mostly calm rolls that allowed us to stay steady on the boards. You could even relax and float on your back through buoyancy. After spending a good time in the water, I was really tired; it was basically a workout. The incline up back to Inspiration Point was also steep. Luckily, the car was parked nearby for free. While CdM was a little out of the way, the easy and free parking made up for the travel time. I recommend arriving early to find available space.

    Beach
    Miguel R.

    Corona del Mar State Beach might honestly be my favorite beach in the world. This is where I proposed to my wife. It is where we did our engagement photos and later our pregnancy photo shoot. It is where I take my dog for walks and where I have spent nights around the fire pits watching some of the most beautiful sunsets in Orange County. The water here also feels warmer than most beaches in the OC, which makes it even better. This place holds a lot of special memories for me and continues to be one of my favorite spots to slow down and appreciate where I live.

    It's cold at the beach
    Vivian C.

    The typically gentle waves as Corona del Mar State Beach make the destination great for swimming, with volleyball courts and fire pits adding to the fun. The crystal-clear water at Little Corona is great for snorkeling, as well as spotting sea urchins and anemones in the tidepools. You can pay parking permit to park next to beach. Also can park free along the Ocean Blvd. Have different beach sections to play the water. Stand on the top, can view Newport Beach. Be there early afternoon to get nice spot to view beautiful sunset. It's nice to walk around beautiful neighborhood area

    Shabnam K.

    Absolutely stunning! Breathtaking views. A perfect spot to relax and enjoy nature. Definitely coming back again!

    Mary B.

    Beautiful, clean and well kept! Restrooms are clean and there's several of them! Showers and there's even a restaurant on site!

    Jetty
    Cathy P.

    One of the best beaches in SoCal! It's a hidden gem as it's a favorite amongst the locals. Park along Inspiration Point or the neighborhood. It's typically free! Walk along the pedestrian path and down towards the State Beach. You'll get breathtaking views of the ocean. We love how pet friendly it is here too! Our little guy always has the best time out here.

    Julie N.

    Honestly my all time favorite beach. It's absolutely gorgeous and the water is so clear. This beach is absolutely dreamy! It does get busy but I don't mind it. Very big beach and has fire pits and volleyball! Curfew is at 10pm.

    Street view of the Beach
    Sophie V.

    Best Family Beach with such perfect weather 90% of the time Monday-Friday Sep-April! Thank you to the people who keep Corona Del Mar beach beautiful and clean!

    Yan W.

    This is a wonderful beach with good facilities, such as bathrooms and wash stations. You need to pay for the parking permit, which is just next to the beach, or you may find free parking on Ocean Blvd. It's quiet and beautiful but will get crowded when it's close to sunset. It is a great place to relax, walk, and play volleyball and other games. It's perfect for families to spend the whole day on the beach and the sunsets are spectacular.

    View from above on cliffs
    Amy M.

    Cliff top sidewalk a perfect way to spend the afternoon. State park parking fee can be avoided by street parking above. Stroll the sidewalk along the top of the cliff overlooking the historical beaches.

    ‍ beautiful Great time amazing atmosphere Highly recommended beach Corona del mar is a beach you must visit

    Natalia D.

    Beautiful place to enjoy with family and friends, to reconnect with the nature and for relaxation. To see the sunset and walk, you can make a bonfire, bring your food and have a great time. I love this beach.

    Grace

    I've been going here since I was a child. This place never disappoints. It is so beautiful and relaxing. It's definitely one of the better beaches I like to bring my kids to!

    We witnessed a man getting baptized. It was so amazing .

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    7 months ago

    The closest beach to UCI, this hosts plenty of student bonfires. You reach it after driving down a hill. It's on the smaller side.

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    6 months ago

    Best place for a family bbq beach day. It was clean and orderly and everything was easy and assessable

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    11 months ago

    Once Fall arrives the beach is less crowded & perfect time to enjoy the scenery and the sounds of the ocean!!

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    Page 1 of 12

    Corona Del Mar State Beach Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Corona Del Mar State Beach

    What kind of food services are available inside Corona Del Mar State Beach?

    Do they still have fire pits during covid? If so, How early should we go to save one? where's the best place to park?

    Yes there are fire pits. White is for wood and charcoal. Green for only charcoal. There is a small grass park area in the corner of the parking lot by pirates cove that has a few "park" grills.

    Can I bring my dog to the beach?

    Not between 9am- 5pm. Before 9am and after 5pm allowed on a leash

    Does the shoreline have a bunch of rocks like dana pointe ? I traditionally go to dana point but those damn rocks hurt my kids.

    No it does not.

    Are the fire pits open?

    Yes. "First come first serve"

    Is this beach easy access to get to? Is there another way to get down besides stairs? I have a wagon and having trouble finding beaches with easy acess and can bring a wagon. Recommendations please!

    Yes large parking lot

    How early should I go to the beach to grab a fire pit Xmas week, maybe even on Xmas Eve?

    Shouldn't be too much of an issue unless great weather and lands on a weekend

    Do you need a permit to shoot engagement here?

    I've seen many engagement photos being taken there. I believe u only need permits if it's for commercial use. Call the city to make sure

    Is overnight parking allowed?

    No it's not

    Do they allow alcohol on beach?

    I'm pretty sure alcohol isn't allowed on any state beaches. People do it but are subject to fines (it's happened to me once.) I would recommend putting it in a canteen and being discreet about it if you really must drink. Also it's dangerous to… 

    Is this beach dog friendly?

    Yes, but on the leash only! There’s coyotes that come down from the gulch at night. Dont walk small dogs at night

    Are there any tide pools nearby? If not, which places have them?

    The tide pools are at the adjacent beach called little corona. It's north on ocean Blvd down an asphalt walkway

    Does anyone know if they allow dogs at the beach?

    CDM welcomes leashed dogs from 6am to 10am & after 4:30pm… 

    Does anyone know if the picnic area has BBQ grills &/or if we'd be able to bring our own?

    Portable Barbecues Portable barbecues are not allowed on any City beaches. Fire rings and public barbecues are available near the Balboa Pier and at Corona del Mar State… 

    Plan to have cast iron pot cooking chili in firepit.. is this allowed on beach?

    Yes as long as u are cooking within a city provided fire pit/ ring. Those are first come first serve

    Does this beach allow wood burning in their fire pits or just charcoal?

    Yes you can burn wood...it's been years since I have, but all I burned was wood. Same with the HB firepits...burned wood there just last month

    How early would you recommend arriving to get a pit on a weekday during the summer?

    I would say by noon at the latest

    Are the BBQ and the fire pits next to each other ? And are tents allowed?

    BBQ and cooking on the beach are no longer allowed, but tents are allowed (on the beach and near the fire pits)

    How many restrooms are there? Where are they located?

    There is two building each have at least 6 bathroom stalls

    View All 21 Questions

    Review Highlights - Corona Del Mar State Beach

    You had some parking spots on the side streets along Ocean Blvd, or you could pay $15 to park inside (?).

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    Inspiration Point - The bottom of the trail down to the beach. There is a railing along the steepest points.

    Inspiration Point

    4.8(190 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    I've been coming to Inspiration Point for many years, and I still enjoy it every time I visit…read more I usually bring my dog here for a walk so She can enjoy the ocean breeze and watch the sunset with me. Sometimes I bring a blanket, sit on the grass, and bring some food to have a little picnic. It's a simple thing, but I always enjoy spending time here with the ocean view and the sound of the waves. I also like that they have bags available the area in case you need to clean up after your dog. I noticed there is a one of stations near the end of the street where you can grab them. From here, you can walk down toward little Corona del Mar and get closer to the beach. You can also walk on the sand, but personally I prefer staying up here because it feels cleaner and more convenient when I don't need to go down to the beach. Street parking is available nearby, but you may need to drive around a little to find a spot for parallel parking.

    What a gorgeous spot I stumbled upon! I had no idea how gorgeous this would be! I'll definitely be…read moreback to visit again. I entered the park from above and walked down the steep paved trail to the landing about halfway down. The path is too steep for wheelchairs but does offer a railing for stability and some places to sit at the landing. The view at sunset is breathtaking! There are public bathrooms and a parking lot down at the beach, as well as some volleyball nets, etc. The beach looked clean, welcoming to families, and was a good size where people could spread out. I'll definitely be back

    Photos
    Inspiration Point - Photo from the soft sandy beach

    Photo from the soft sandy beach

    Inspiration Point - Inspiration Point from the halfway down landing area

    Inspiration Point from the halfway down landing area

    Inspiration Point - View at the point.

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    View at the point.

    Balboa Island - Sunset in September

    Balboa Island

    4.4(266 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    What a cute and quaint little island! I really loved visiting. There's plenty of free parking if…read moreyou drive down the residential streets, and you can see plenty of cute little homes. This would be a lovely place to own a vacation home. I absolutely love driving over the bridge with American flags flying on both sides; it's something you don't see often in SoCal. There are several cute shops on both sides of the main street, and there's really something for everyone. The island is known for two things: chocolate-covered frozen bananas and Balboa bars. I apparently missed the memo on the Balboa bars, but we got to visit both Dad's Donuts and Sugar 'n Spice for some frozen chocolate bananas, and they were lovely! I recommend coming in the morning to beat the rush. We brought lunch and went to the beach for a picnic on the park benches. It was a lovely day with family! I look forward to coming back to Balboa Island in the future!

    We went on a cloudy weekday in late March. We parked in the parking lot on Palm street and took the…read moreferry there. At around 10:30 in the morning, there was plenty of parking available. We paid about $11 for 4 hours which comparing with Santa Monica is reasonable. On our way we also saw free street side parking , but those spots are not close to the ferries. There is a 5 minute walk from the parking lot to where the ferries are. You will have to cross a couple of streets. The ferries are pretty basic but they have capacity for 3 cars as well. Adults pay $2 each to get to the other side. They ONLY accept cash. There and back, the wait time was under a couple of minutes. The island itself is clean and serene. Other than a minimart, a fishing gear shop and a grocery store, there weren't any shops on the oceanfront walkway and no signage as to where you can find any stores. We walked for a bit and then returned to the mainland and Balboa village. Overall, we loved how clean and family friendly the beach and the pier and the island were. If we lived closer, we would visit more often for sure!

    Photos
    Balboa Island - Yummy cookies from Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop.

    Yummy cookies from Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop.

    Balboa Island
    Balboa Island - The Teddy Bear House.

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    The Teddy Bear House.

    Marina Park

    Marina Park

    4.7(135 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Wonderful summer spot for families with YOUNG KIDS!!!…read more Lots of different ways to play: Large grass area Lagoon/bay with sand and seashells Playground with lots of slides There are also lots of PICNIC TABLES at this location so it's easy to set up for breakfast or lunch. It's a very fun and safe environment for our kids and makes our summers days more fun! Our 3 year old enjoys the playground and the lagoon too. You have to PAY FOR PARKING but that's pretty normal for Newport Beach. We usually find parking very easily near here. Also, there are PUBLIC RESTROOMS and showers to rinse off available inside & next to the "lighthouse" - another thing that makes this spot easier with kiddos!

    I enjoy walking through this park near the marina in Newport Beach. Parking can be a hassle in…read moreNewport Beach and I always get lucky and find a spot near this park. Marina Park is a community and sailing center. It is a great spot for kids to play or for walking your dog because of its large grassy area. I enjoy looking at all of the boats docked in the marina when I walk through the park. There is a mini decorative lighthouse in the park that has restrooms and a tube slide for kids to slide down. Marina Park offers many amenities like kayak and stand-up paddle boarding rentals. There is a playground, basketball court and an outdoor fitness area. Lighthouse Bayside Café is a restaurant in the park that has great views of the marina. There is a on-site pay lot for parking at Marina Park or park at a nearby street meter. Newport Pier and the beach are just a short walk away.

    Photos
    Marina Park - Fun

    Fun

    Marina Park
    Marina Park - View facing the marina.

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    View facing the marina.

    Corona Del Mar State Beach - beaches - Updated September 2026

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