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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
1 month ago
Spent my birthday here. It's a nice, chill spot tucked away from the busy Newport Beach area. Beautiful ocean views with a relaxed atmosphere, and a great place to slow down and enjoy the coast. Definitely worth the walk down! x read more
This was a hidden gem and also a fun adventure to get to this beach! You do have to park across the street in this parking area. The ranger will direct us where to go. Very easy to navigate and park and pay. It's optional to take the Beachcomber shuttle which was $2 one way, free for kids under 12 I believe. You can load all your beach stuff, but have to fold up strollers and wagons. I had my boogie boards and bags and cooler with me too. Follow the pathway and you'll see cottages/homes. You will also see the BeachComber restaurant and then that leads you right to the beach! Very scenic view. It is kid friendly. However, lots of seaweed though. We enjoyed it! Very different from your typical HB or Newport Beaches. It is an adventure and little more work, but my family enjoyed this new discovery! read more
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
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
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
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
10 months ago
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
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
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
2 months ago
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
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
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
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
3 months ago
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
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
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
3 years ago
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
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
3 years ago
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
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
3 years ago
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
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
3 years ago
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
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
5 years ago
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
10 months ago
3 years ago
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
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
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
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
3 years ago
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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More info about Crystal Cove State Beach
8471 N Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Directions
(949) 494-3539
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.crystalcovestatepark.org/beaches-2/
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Crystal Cove State Beach
Are there any companies you can horseback ride with in Crystal Cove?
No, did not see any horses
What is the easiest way to access this beach? Like where to park to get down to the water?
Parking is across the highway in the paid lot. Once parked, you can pay a small fee to take the shuttle across and down to the drop off area or else walk it (not far). Once you are at the drop off area, go straight down the sandy path and you'll…
Can you horseback ride on the beach with your own horse?
You can ride on the Crystal Cove State Park wilderness canyon trail, El Morro, across Hwy 1 on horseback but not the state beach.
Can you pay cash for parking and do they allow dogs?
No cash or manned booth for CC. Pay via an app entering your CC and license plate #. Until the covid restrictions relaxes then the manned booth will take both cash and CC…
Could someone please tell me where should I park to go down tonthe beach and shops? I don't mind paying $15.
The best place if you want t to go to beach and shops is to park on the first parking lot by the shops. You'll have access to shops and then cross street to beach, it does get full quick every where
Will we need to take stairs down to the beach? Wondering if we can take our beach wagon and my mother who has difficulty on stairs.…
There are 4 areas http://www.crystalcovestatepark.org/beach-descriptions/…
Is parking cash only or do they take cc/debit?
They take most forms of payment. There is a cashier during business hours to help. Very convenient.
Is this beach known to be super crowded during labor day weekend?
Most local schools have already started except for Newport Mesa. Crowded but not super crowded during the Labor Day Weekend compared to summer.
How far is beach from the parking?
Ok you do have to walk down a paved pathway that goes into a tunnel that goes under Pacific coast highway and then the beach will be after the shops and wayfarer restaurant. It maybe be about a third of a mile but it is worth the walk.
Do they have toilets and showers?
Yes and rinse off showers are by the restrooms I believe by the parking lots
Is this beach dog friendly?
You can walk dogs on the bluffs overlooking the beach but not on the beach.
Review Highlights - Crystal Cove State Beach
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