Haven't been back here in so long and so glad we finally came back for father's day. We spent the afternoon here soaking up the sun, eating lunch, and even walked to crystals cove shake shack. Super clean beach with great vibes. Fyi, parking is $20. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Parking is $20 now. The beach is beautiful. Lots of hiking trails to explore, tide pools or a short walk down to the beach. The trail down to the beach is very short and steep in a couple lots. Some areas in the northern parking lots have a long boardwalk you can walk down and tide pools. There are several parking lots so you need to figure out what you want to do and which lot to park in for your needs. The parking lot closest to beachcomber they don't allow any parking unless you are handicapped for the restaurant. Don't really know why, it's a state run park. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - View from the top - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This state beach is my personal favorite. We stay down the street at Marriott Newport Villas. They have a shuttle service that brings you directly to the Entrance. Today, we came to eat lunch at the restaurant so we had to find parking. The only problem is there isn't parking close to it. You have to park in a lot across the street and walk about 10 minutes. They have a tunnel for pedestrians but it was washed out from the rain today. They have a restaurant shuttle that charges $5 a person even if you are eating at the restaurant which I thought was a rip off. The beach itself is a nice mix of rocks where' the tide pools are and sand where you can swim. The cottages along the way have a bit of history and recently been renovated. I absolutely love walking through this long stretch of beach! They also have a museum near the rental cottages. It is small but has some fun facts and pictures. read more

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Lovely state beach despite the parking fee and non policy following visitors. It's best to use the state park permit if you frequent often or rent one from the library. It's $15/day otherwise. The dog owners here frequently ignores the no dog signs by the sandy ocean front and tidepools. It would be nice if they had more enforcement to protect the environment. The sunsets here are ethereal and breathtaking. I love visiting whenever possible. Best to visit during the off peak season or weekday mornings for workouts, peace, and quiet. read more

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Beautiful place to have pictures taken to mark a special occasion. It's so serene and peaceful. The waves are typically calm, and the beach is not packed. Sunset time is just so magical! Nature at its best . read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beautiful sunset view - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Took the family to Crystal Cove Beach today--absolutely beautiful! Parking is $20 for the day, and just a heads-up: it's about a 10-minute walk from the parking lot to the beach access, so pack accordingly and be ready for a little stroll. That said, the trail is full of scenic views, so the walk is part of the experience. The beach itself was clean, spacious, and well maintained. There were multiple lifeguard towers with lifeguards on duty, which was reassuring with kids. The shoreline is wide, so even with a good crowd, it never felt cramped. Family had a fantastic time. Very kid-friendly and safe. Highly recommend for a relaxing beach day read more

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My favorite beach of all time! I love love love this beach! The parking is $15 but so worth it. The main entrances have many stairs to get down to the beach. Restrooms and showers are on the top, same level as parking. I love the beautiful blue ocean, so clean, so much room to play catch. There are however squirrels so don't leave food out. Most beautiful place in Ca I've ever laid eyes on. I could be here all day. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Okay, I'm a little late on this review (as I visited twice this year; most recently in July 2025), but Crystal Cove State Beach offers a little bit of everything. Parking is $20.....you can park on the beach side during the day, or at the Los Trancos Parking Lot across the street during the evening. From there, it's a little bit of a walk to the beach, but what a beautiful beach it is!!! Also, if you're into hiking, there are some great hiking trails that take you to the beach, and it's a great place to watch a sunset. Definitely will be one of my go-to places wherever I go to the OC!! read more

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Gorgeous beach but pricey parking! Its $15/car so definitely recommend to carpool. The beach is very clean. The bungalows add so much charm to the beachfront too. The Beachcomber cafe is a great spot to enjoy a snack and watch the beach and they also validate. We walked a portion of Crystal Cove Trail and got to enjoy the ocean view. Absolutely recommend visiting this beautiful beach. read more

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This is the best beach in OC to get your steps in. Truly, just pop in your headphones and get to steppin. The beach is fairly clean with trash cans on the sand by every entrance. I pick up trash when I'm heading to my car to help keep this beach clean. The crowds tend to stick to the entrances. Walk away from them and you'll find serenity. Wildlife is teeming in the sanctuary. There are dolphins and whales frequently spotted here. There are some bathrooms on the sand by the beachcomber but all the others are up the hill by the parking lots. I do have a bone to pick- why doesn't the state park offer hand soap for the beach bathrooms!? This really should be stocked up here but ok?? For $15 a car to park they really should invest in soap. I use my annual pass- it evens out after just 13 visits in one year. read more

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This is a well known location and great to visit year round. The wildlife and beach views are great. The location off PCH and it is easy to find parking. Many different spots to choose from to park and a great place to walk and enjoy all types of views. Camera friendly Dog friendly on paths to walk but not the beach area. Plenty of open space to sit or walk the beach and see all type of sea critters. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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This location offers ample parking at a fee and a beautiful beach with gorgeous views. Cell signal and Wi-Fi is limited on T-Mobile.

I love this beautiful beach walk and today 3/2/25 it is extremely windy so I'm trying not to get blown away! The views are stunning and the trail walk isn't too rocky. I enjoyed myself! read more

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I am so glad we finally got to go here! When I was in college I never went here because my friends and I were too cheap to pay for the all day parking. Admittedly I was a little miffed paying the $15, but it is so worth it. Especially since we didn't have to fight for parking and the beach isn't a busy, congested mess. The beaches here are beautiful and the views are stunning! Everything is also very walkable. I wouldn't mind taking my in laws here because I know they'd love going here. Definitely an OC treasure for sure! read more

Beautiful and quiet beach! I would definitely recommend as a nice little getaway from the hustle and bustle of OC. $20 parking. Parking lot is quite far from the beach so the only con is when someone needs to use the restroom or access their car, it is a bit of a trek. read more

Came for a family hike on Sunday morning. $15 parking and lots of space available. Entered at Reef Point and walked all the way past the Shake Shack. Such a beautiful paths leading down PCH or down to the water. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, they are allowed on the path. The weather was great and the sun was shining on a brisk and chilly Sunday morning. The path was wide and shared with other joggers, bicycles and pooches. Great place to come and get some Vitamin Sea! Located across from Javier's and Maestros restaurants. Close to Fashion Island shopping center. Beautiful scenery, fresh sea air and exercise, what more can you ask for? read more

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Beautiful state park and beach. Amazing views. Cons $15 to park. They kick you out at sunset when the views are the best. Ramp down the the beach is sandy, steep, slippery. Bathroom up on top by parking lot. Pros Beautiful area and views. Scenic landscape and backdrop. Multiple parking lots. Bathrooms - near parking. Some cool rock formations. Got hassled by lifeguards about needing some kind of paperwork signed, even though online it said for more than 15 people. read more

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This park does not do military discounts, it's California I'm not surprised. At any rate this is definitely a beautiful place to see the beautiful beach waters Souther California has to offer...this area helps me understand why people continue to choose to live in California. The area was super nice and this places was crawling with families. Parking was plentiful and I was super happy my friends suggested we check this place out while I visited. I do recommend getting their early. This place fills up pretty quickly. I literally could have stayed on the beach all day. It was petty and peaceful read more

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Crystal Cove State Beach is composed of multiple coves along with a flat span section of a beach. It is located deep behind the hills and mountains of Irvine and Laguna. The best way to get there is to take Highway 133- Veterans Memorial Highway all the way to the coast. This is your best scenic route, unless you're coming from Huntington Beach or New Port Beach. (PCH South 1) To find the perfect Cove of your liking- you have to navigate around the residential community with the use of your trusted GPS App. Once you find a good area, keep it in mind and good luck finding parking. LOL You can either park somewhere further, but you gotta carry and lug all your stuff by foot or take the community trollie. I suggest you drive around and find a spot a few blocks down. After that , it's smooth, chill and relaxing. Water was so clear, but the weather was overcast. Yet somehow, I still managed to get a sun burn! Wow! The water was nice- I am guessing about mid 40's to low 50's in degree. read more

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Visited Crystal Cove State Beach over the weekend to beat the heat. Found parking fairly easily in the lot for $20 - FYI they are now cashless. A beautiful beach with lots of space to set up. Though there was a decent amount of people at the beach, it didn't feel "crowded." The surface area of the sand was just enough without having a far walk out into the ocean (e.g. Huntington Beach). A couple downfalls - - The walk it takes to get to the actual beach from the top of the parking lot. There is a nice paved path initially the first 5-7 minutes or so before a semi-steep decline down to the beach. Not ideal for carrying a ton of items with small kids. - A lot of seaweed (whole pieces and shreds), small flies surrounding the seaweed, and little rocks in the sand by the water. Hubby walked in about thigh deep into the ocean to clean off some sand and cut his toe on a rock. - Restroom facilities located all by the parking and not actually on the beach. Outdoor shower to rinse off located right by the bathroom. No hand soap at the restrooms so bring your own! read more

If you're a fan of hiking by the ocean, then Crystal Cove is a good place to head for :-) Traffic being what it is in Laguna Beach, the best way to ensure you don't have problems parking is to arrive here early.  We arrived here at 9am on a weekday, and managed to beat the crowd so we could focus on enjoying the views, the salt air, and the overall hiking experience.  Tip: There's a machine in the parking lot where you'll get a receipt to display on your dashboard after you pay the parking fee.   There are several different trails here for hiking, and most are continuous ascents, so pace yourself and be sure to bring water.  I suggest you get a trail map at the visitor's center. Regardless of which trail you pick, you'll be rewarded with some stunning views of the ocean and the beach.  It's been quite a while since the last time I paid a visit to Crystal Cove, and I really missed it! read more

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I have tried to call at midnight to reserve a spot 6 months in the future but haven't been lucky when I've set the alarm in order to reserve a cottage. Hard to reserve a cottage under the current rules. We visited on a Friday and walked along the shore of this state park. Saw lots of sunburned visitors at 11am who weren't adequately warned. Make sure to use SPF when it's overcast, marine conditions. Gorgeous setting walking along the beach on a June morning. I deleted a star or two because Crystal Cove had my initial review removed " because it didn't look like your content depicted an experience at this location." read more

I have the state pass and enjoy coming here when it is good weather. Would definitely recommend this place. It is a nice beach and it has trails which I have not been to yet. They are currently closed the last time I went. Restrooms and showers are available. read more

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Beautiful beach with amazing views! The main area near all the restaurants stays packed but if you go further down in either direction, it's pretty empty and peaceful. Could literally spend all day here. Love this beach! read more

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It was our 1st timer here at CC. A girlfriend loves coming here & suggested this beach for LDW Beach day thinking it wouldn't be packed since it's a smaller beach. We got here around 11:30 a.m. There was a $ 20 parking fee due to the holidays. The parking lot is pretty small.but got lucky that we were able to get a parking. Showers and restroom are right in front of the parking area. There's a few picnic table under gazebos. There is a hill/slope walkway towards the beach. Which is a bit hard for those w a cooler, wagon or some sort of wheel items along w items to carry back up. Beach is clean and nice. There are shacks available for rent for over night stay. There are a few restaurants in the area. We walked to Shake Shake on a Sunday late afternoon. The restaurant was flooded w a lot of customers. Since it was a hot day. Shakes were obviously the best resort. Highly recommended to stop here for a cool down treat and snacks. read more

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Great place to walk or soak in some sun. Lots of place to set up your tents on the coast. Come here for a stroll on a cloudy day with a good breeze. Many of they families already set up their tents or sun shades and getting those tan likes or keeping an eye on their kids playing. Parking may be packed depending on certain days. read more

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Spent the day at beautiful crystal cove! Weather was fantastic and water was cool but still able to walk barefoot in it. Lots of wildlife spotted, birds, sea anemones, and seals. Definitely a nice place to enjoy nature. We will be back! read more

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Love the rugged, natural feel of this beach! The sandstone bluffs are stunning, especially at sunset. It's much less crowded than the pier area because of the hike down the trail, which makes it feel like a hidden gem. Perfect for a long walk on the Coastal Trail or a day of surfing. Just a heads up: the path down to the sand is a bit steep, so pack light or wear good shoes. read more

We have been to this beach every time we stay at the nearby Marriott Resort, previously always walking. This time, we took advantage of the shuttle (actually a converted trolley car) from the resort to the drop off point in the parking lot (same place that has handicap spots) If you decide to bring your car, note that this is a state park so would need to pay for parking pass and the parking lots are a bit of a walk to the beach. The beach itself is fine. It has a restaurant, and vacation rentals right near. There was quite a bit of construction happening (looked like major renovation was happening to multiple houses, so construction crews were working). read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - South view - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Love. It. Here. I must say, it's about a 1/4 mile walk down a paved trail and through a pretty cool tunnel but totes worth it!! Do yourself a favor and go for a nice stroll - it's good for you!! But if you can't, there is a shuttle in the parking lot. Pro-tip: you can skip the line to the parking lot by paying through the app. This beach usually has parking. I can't speak for the major beach days tho i.e Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. There is food - shake shack, beachcomber, and takeout beachcomber in the summer. Bathrooms in the historic hotel by the ocean and showers/bathrooms up the hill by parking. Enjoy! read more

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How can I rate a beach badly? I LOVE the ocean so much. This isn't for me. And I'm rating it this way because maybe it isn't for you either. You have to pay to park, take a shuttle, do a walk down and then... there is a beach that is frankly just full of families and kids and people that are way more invested in a beach day than I am. I just want a romantic stroll, dipping our feet in the water... take some pictures of the scenery. This is NOT for people like me. These folks come with furniture, with coolers, with many children.... they make a day of it. I should have researched this more. It's definitely not the beach I'm looking for. And if you have any ideas about eating at the Beachcomber Restaurant, you can get that out of your head right now. We showed up around 9:30 AM and were told it would be about 3 hours for a table and so no... breakfast wouldn't be an option. But after looking at the crowd on the patio of the restaurant .. a lot of no shoes, a lot of no shirts, so many kids... we didn't want to eat there anyway. So we quickly paid for the shuttle back. And then paid for parking. I think if you're the kind of hardy beachgoer with a couple of kiddos and a bunch of beach furniture... this is for you. But I couldn't get out of here quick enough. read more

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My favorite seashore reserve on the Newport Coast, I guess it's been 21-years since I was first acquainted. I love the steep cliffs above the beach, the steps or ramps used to approach the different sections, and the geological history on display in other areas. Whether you just want to walk on the edge of the surf, sunbathe, picnic, or fish there's something here for everyone. The trails atop the ridge also make for fun in the fresh ocean air. Favorite things to do? When the tide is out the tidal pools are teeming with life, just be careful not to harm the creatures or slip and fall. At the extreme southern end the tide leaves behind mussels and sometimes octopi can be seen waiting for the tide to return. Don't touch them please! We've also seen pods of Dolphins feeding and watching them jump in the surf is a treat! On any given day plan on bringing a cooler, umbrella, blanket and towels for a great time. A small harbachi can elevate the experience with grilled food. No alcohol or glass containers allowed, however. As with all natural reserve areas, don't take home shells, stones, or anything else that you see and be mindful of the natural beauty. While a lot of people park across the street at the shopping center it's not worth getting a ticket or hauling things the distance across the PCH. To park here you'll need to download an app and pay for the day. The Rangers patrol the beach often and will sometimes take the time to chat and point out the migrating birds or other phenomena. Keep it clean and have fun, the Crystal Cove Shoreline is a treasure that always looks different each time I visit. read more

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Large crescent-shaped seashore, there are plenty of local "hidden" beaches that are more secluded and empty but this one is nice early in the morning with lots of hikes and soothing blue water. We like the "Lower Moro" parking lot the best, there is a cool tunnel that goes under PCH and its a short walk to the beach. Note the tunnel does get a pool of water built up after rain, about ankle deep so easy to walk through if you take your shoes off. Interesting history, Crystal Cove was used as a film location in the 1920s and some of the thatched huts and palm trees that were left behind became some of the first rentals and the seeds which became a makeshift beach shantytown. "Crystal Cove Cottages" have now become a destination in itself. A Japanese farming group made these bluffs home in 1935 established a school and a religious center. Tragically, these farmers were dispatched to Japanese internment camps and never returned, "Cottage #34" is the former schoolhouse and it has interesting asian-american history displayed inside. read more

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My kids gifted us with a State Park pass for the past two years and ever since we have enjoyed the Crystal Cove State Park along with many other local state parks. We love to walk along the beach and enjoy the Southern California weather. We have enjoyed picnic lunches here as well as stop for lunch and a refreshing drink at the Beachcomber before we head back to the car. A great place to spend the afternoon ! read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This is a beautiful beach to look at. The scenery is amazing. I'm glad we got to see it. But- here is why I probably won't come back: 1. You have to pay $20 to come here. For that price I'd expect clean and functional restrooms and facilities. The bathrooms have no toilet paper and look like they've never been cleaned. Caked wet moldy sand all over the floors and drains. The sinks have green mold growing on them and also look like they've never been cleaned. 2. The ramps you have to walk down get to the beach are VERY STEEP. I'm in decent shape but it felt treacherous to me at times walking down, the sand was slippery and I felt like I was going to fall back and hit my head. Going back up after a hot draining beach day was super unpleasant. Its a mystery to me they can't find a better way to build a path or stairs to get to the beach. 3. There was a lot of seaweed rotting on the beach and it smelled really musty. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Piles and piles of rotting smelly seaweed. It was making me gag. For $20 entry can't they clean this up? 4. There are a lot of huge boulders and rocks in the water, I didn't feel safe letting my kids swim more than hip high in the water. I think it's worth the experience to go there once and see it but you can decide whether or not to return. read more

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Over three miles of waterfront and a ton of open space. Parking is limited and a little confusing as to where it is permissible, especially during this pandemic. But it is well-worth the trouble. Simply awe-inspiring and heavenly. I believe this section is called Reef Point Beach. It is one of six beaches that is conjoined to the Crystal Cove State Park. A beautiful view from above on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and a long stretch of soft, mostly sandy beach. A nice location for a good walk or short hike along the beach. A great spot to catch the sun setting over the ocean. Perfect for clearing your head and to momentarily escape the realities of life. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This is one of the most scenic drives in OC and it's also a nice hike by the beach...they have parkings with a fee, if going during the week, it's pretty empty and peaceful! Highly recommend if you need to refresh your mind. read more

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Crystal Cove State Beach, Located just south of Newport Beach along the orange county coast, is one of the more desolate, if not protected, stretches of coastline in the OC. As part of the California state parks system, it enjoys a delightful oversight of park rangers, OC lifeguards, and those delightful kiosk workers in their little Boy Scout uniforms. At ease, Miss Putnam... you'll live longer if you take that chip off your shoulder, that tone out of your voice, and that scowl off your face. It wouldn't cost you anything to be a little nicer. But I digress... Crystal Cove State Beach is pretty nice. With the exception of the parking lot inside the Crystal Cove Campground proper, you're going to be leaving your vehicle up at the top of the bluff, and taking some stairs down to sea level. Once there, you will find a mostly sandy beach with a few rocky outcroppings, which sort of double as tidepools on the water is at its lowest. Despite signage and the whole area being a marine protected area, the typos are pretty picked over, seeing large amounts of human traffic With sticky fingers and deep pockets. But as I said, it's a pretty nice beach. Mostly clean, people seem to pick up after them selves, and it's not nearly as crowded as, say, Doheny or Huntington. If you enter the beach from the campground, the parking lot is much closer to the water, with a shorter walk under the highway and out onto the sand. Unfortunately, this sometimes means you need to trade for a shallow Creek that empties into the ocean, and while it is probably more in your mind than anything, the path takes you just downstream from the parking lot restroom. Signs suggest you stay out of the water. Yuck. But again, probably cleaner than seal Beach, and less likely you're going to step on some hepatitis needle or broken beer bottle here. And that is a good thing. Because of the underwater caves and rocks just offshore, the beach is popular with divers in Spier fisherman. Not much of a surf beach, but great for a wave whomping and body surfing, especially for the kids. Honestly, I would really only come here when we camp at Crystal Cove, but as beach camping goes, it is a lot better than many of the other Southern California options. Good luck getting reservations, but worth checking out. read more

Crystal Cove State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This is one of my favorite spots to hike in Orange County. Even when it's cloudy, it's beautiful here. The only downside is that it can get really crowded. I enjoy taking the trails down to the beach. Parking is $15 per day. The trails are easy and relaxing. You can also spend the afternoon walking along the bluffs. We try to come here during the week to get a break from all the craziness in our schedules. It's really peaceful walking along the water. Because the all-day parking is nice, the trails are great, the and the views are amazing, this will remain one of my favorite beaches. read more

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Clean,quiet and beautiful. What more can you ask for? Perfectamundo I enjoyed the privacy of each site & there was water and trash close by. Showers available with park tokens and bathing rooms pretty clean and spacious. read more