01
Best overall pick
Laguna Beach Main Beach
Laguna Beach Waterfront • Scenic Cove-Style Town Beach • Best Mix Of Views, Vibe, And Walkability
A photogenic, easy-to-enjoy stretch of sand backed by a walkable artsy town and dramatic coastal bluffs.
Main Beach is an ideal first stop when you finally hit the coast from Coachella: parking, restrooms, volleyball courts, and calm shoreline all sit right at the heart of town. The wide sandy area is framed by rocky points and tidepools, so you can split your time between swimming, sunset-watching, and wandering the boardwalk. When you’re ready for food or a coffee before the drive back, you’re only steps from cafes, galleries, and low-key bars along Pacific Coast Highway.
02
Best classic SoCal boardwalk scene
Newport Beach Pier Area
Newport Peninsula • Busy Pier And Promenade Beach • Great For People-Watching And Casual Cruising
A long sandy shoreline with a lively pier, bike path, and plenty of casual spots to grab fish tacos before heading back to the desert.
Newport’s pier area delivers the classic Southern California beach image most visitors have in mind: surfers in the lineup, bikes rolling past on the oceanfront path, and families set up for the day. From Coachella, it’s a straightforward drive that drops you right at the Peninsula, where day parking and amenities are easy to find near the pier. After a few hours in the water or on the sand, you can stroll for ice cream, rent bikes, or walk out onto the pier for wide-open ocean views.
03
Top surf-town experience
Huntington City Beach
Central Huntington Beach • Surf-Focused City Beach • Best For Watching (Or Trying) Surf
A broad, energetic beach with reliable waves, a long pier, and a downtown strip that feels built for a post-surf burger and beer.
Huntington Beach leans into its “Surf City” reputation, and City Beach is where you feel it most. Drive in from Coachella and you’ll find huge swaths of sand, well-marked parking lots, and consistent waves that draw surfers from sunrise to sunset. Even if you never paddle out, it’s a fun place to walk the pier, watch the sets roll in, and then explore Main Street’s shops and casual restaurants just inland from the water.
04
Best for a relaxed full-day escape
Coronado Central Beach
Coronado Island Shoreline • Wide, Calm, Family-Friendly Beach • Perfect For Long, Low-Key Beach Days
An expansive, gentle shoreline with postcard views of the Hotel del Coronado and soft sand that’s ideal for strolling and lounging.
If you’re willing to drive a bit farther from Coachella, Coronado rewards you with a softer, slower beach day than many busier Orange County spots. The sand here is famously wide and comfortable, the surf is usually manageable, and the atmosphere feels more polished resort town than party scene. Between dips in the ocean, you can walk the promenade, admire the historic hotel, and grab a bite in the compact village before the return trip through the mountains and desert.
05
Best for gentle waves and easy access
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores District • Laid-Back Neighborhood Beach • Ideal For First-Timers And Mellow Water Time
A friendly, gently sloping beach popular with beginner surfers, kayakers, and families looking for a softer introduction to the Pacific.
From Coachella, La Jolla Shores makes a great coastal “home base” if you want both ocean time and a taste of San Diego. The beach sits in a protected curve of coastline, which usually means smaller waves and a more relaxed feel than the nearby cliffs and coves. Showers, restrooms, grassy picnic space, and a small row of cafes just inland make it easy to clean up, refuel, and head back to the valley without feeling rushed.