8 beaches near Anaheim: Day trips from Disneyland California

Anaheim may be Disneyland's backyard, but with the Pacific Ocean less than a one-hour drive away, visitors have the chance to combine two classic Southern California adventures. Southern California's coastline is dotted with sandy stretches, rugged coves, and boardwalks that make for ideal day trips. Whether you want a mellow tide pool stroll, a bonfire at sunset, or a photogenic cliffside backdrop – these eight beaches deliver.

Corona del Mar feels tucked away, boasting a crescent-shaped cove where you can scramble across rocks at low tide and find starfish, anemones, and crabs. This is a great choice for families with children because the surf is gentle and the dramatic cliff backdrop makes it one of the prettiest beaches.

• Child-friendly activities: This spot is perfect for kids who love tide pool exploration, sandcastle building, and splashing in gentle waves.
• Car parking and accessibility: Paid car parking is available right at the beach. The beach itself is easy to reach, with just a short walk from the car park.
• Where to eat: The Crab Cooker in Newport is a quirky local seafood joint with paper plates and charm.
• Stay nearby: At the Balboa Bay Resort. This stay is a ten-minute drive from the beach and offers a high-end waterfront option with marina views.

Newport Beach is Southern California at full volume offering a lively boardwalk buzzing with bikers, surfers, and families. You can rent a bike, grab an ice cream, and cruise from the Balboa Fun Zone to the pier. Newport Balboa Pier offers carnival rides, a ferry, and great sunset views.

• Child-friendly activities: Rent tent bikes or surreys for the boardwalk, ride the Balboa Ferry, or play arcade games.
• Car parking and accessibility: here are large car parks available at Balboa Pier, along with street parking, but weekends fill quickly. The beach mats, beach wheelchairs, and ramps makes the beach accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. 
• Where to eat: Try Bear Flag Fish Co. for poke bowls, fish tacos, and a laid-back atmosphere.
• Stay nearby: Hyatt Regency Newport Beach is a resort-style hotel with multiple pools.

Laguna Beach is known for its coves, and Treasure Island is one of its best. Here you’ll find natural rock arches, turquoise water, and an array of tide pools and dramatic bluffs. The adjacent park features ocean-view trails, picnic spots, and public artworks. With water so vividly blue, it’s easy to forget you're in California.

• Child-friendly activities: here, kids can enjoy exploring tide pools, running around in Treasure Island Park, and spotting crabs and shells.
• Car parking and accessibility: Metered street parking is available on Pacific Coast Highway. You can access the beach by stairs or a ramp through the park.
• Where to eat: try out The Loft at Montage above the beach or try Nick's Laguna Beach downtown for something more casual.
• Stay nearby: at Montage Laguna Beach – an upscale resort perched on the bluff.

El Matador is Malibu at its most dramatic. A steep staircase drops you into a wild stretch of sand dotted with boulders, caves, and arches straight out of a film set. Come for the views and photos and stay for the sea caves and natural arches. 

This is less a swimming beach, more a backdrop for golden-hour photos. After all, El Matador's sea stacks, caves, and natural arches make it a photographer's dream. If you’re heading back to Disneyland after a visit to any of the beaches in Malibu, stay through sunset and eat dinner nearby to wait out LA rush hour traffic.

• Child-friendly activities: Explore caves with your kids and spot the arches at low tide. You can get great family photos here too.
• Car parking and accessibility: A small paid car park is available off the Pacific Coast Highway (often called PCH for short by locals), plus there’s limited roadside parking. The beach has a steep descent with stairs that are not stroller friendly or wheelchair friendly.
• Where to eat: While there are no restaurants on the beach, work up an appetite and check out Malibu's Neptune's Net. This is an iconic beach shack that serves up fried seafood baskets, grilled catches of the day, and pineapple-slaw-topped fish tacos.
• Stay nearby: At Malibu Beach Inn, a stylish oceanfront inn oozing with elegance.

As the closest "big" beach to Disneyland, you could take a rideshare to Bolsa if you don’t have a rental car or your own car. Plus, there's a lot to do in the adjacent area of Huntington Beach. Bolsa Chica is a laid-back beach known for its surf schools, kite surfers, birdwatching, and fishing. 

Bolsa Chica is best known for its fire rings that glow after dark. Families and groups claim them early, roasting marshmallows as the sun sinks. In fact, it's one of the few places where that classic "California beach bonfire" is still alive. It's less hectic than Huntington Beach's main stretch but still delivers classic SoCal energy.

• Child-friendly activities: Take the whole family to beginner surf lessons or do some classic boogie boarding or biking the beachfront trail. Roasting marshmallows at fire pits is sure to sweeten the deal.
• Car parking and accessibility: There’s a long stretch of paid car parking lots with flat access right to the sand.
• Where to eat: Try SeaLegs at the Beach (seasonal) for food, drinks, and live music. For a sit-down option, try Duke's Huntington Beach, a Hawaiian-inspired favorite.
• Stay nearby: At the modern Paséa Hotel & Spa, offering oceanfront views with a lively pool deck.

Famed for its mysterious "Pirate Tower," Victoria Beach feels delightfully secluded. This secret-feeling beach is famous for the 60-foot turret built into the rocks in the 1920s, looking like it washed in from a fairytale or that you stumbled onto a film set. While the turret does attract photographers, you can also find quieter spots for tide pool exploring and lounging.

• Child-friendly activities: Kids can pretend to play at the "Pirate Tower," take part in tide pool exploring and hunt for shells.
• Car parking and accessibility: You can only street park here and spaces are limited, especially on weekends. There is access to the beach by stairways down residential streets, but this is not wheelchair accessible.
• Where to eat: Try Driftwood Kitchen, a nearby restaurant serving ocean-to-table seafood with stunning views.
• Stay nearby: At Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa, a boutique Spanish-style retreat.

Crystal Cove offers more than your typical sand beaches. It's also got an interesting historic district: A coastal portion that's home to restored 1930s cottages that look frozen in time. Between the wide beach, tide pools, and bluff-top hiking trails, Crystal Cove provides nature escapes with its mix of rugged coastline, hiking trails, and vintage style. Tide pools teem with life and blufftop hikes provide sweeping views.

• Child-friendly activities: This spot is perfect for kids who love to build sandcastles, hike easy bluff trails, spot marine life in tide pools, and explore historic cottages.
• Car parking and accessibility: Paid car parks are available on both sides of PCH, with tunnels or paths leading to the beach. Some access routes require a walk.
• Where to eat: The Beachcomber Café is right on the sand and offers delicious breakfast and cocktails.
• Stay nearby: at The Resort at Pelican Hill, an elegant stay with golf and panoramic ocean views.

Doheny is mellow and family friendly, but it's also legendary: It's one of the first California beaches where surfing took off in the 1950s. You'll still see longboarders gliding in on gentle waves while families barbecue nearby. 

Doheny combines fun for the entire family with a storied surf history. Its proximity to Dana Point Harbour makes it a convenient option with plenty of amenities.

• Child-friendly activities: Learn to surf or paddle board and enjoy playgrounds and picnic areas.
• Car parking and accessibility: A large car park is available, along with clear access to the sand.
• Where to eat: Coastal Kitchen is renowned for its crab cakes and al fresco dining.
• Stay nearby: At the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, perched above Dana Point Harbour.

Not everyone wants to move hotels just to see the coast. Staying at a Disney hotel means you can split your trip: One day at the beach, the next at the parks with no need to choose between Pacific sunsets and fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle. 

If you'd rather keep your home base in Anaheim, Disney's three hotels make excellent hubs for beach day trips. From there, it's about 30–75 minutes to these beaches, depending on traffic. Here’s some more information about each of Disneyland’s three official hotels:

• Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: his stay is upscale, craftsman-style and the closest to Disney California Adventure. It’s the best for guests who want a high-end experience with direct park access.
• Disneyland Hotel: Offering classic nostalgia with Monorail access and themed pools, Disneyland Hotel is a great choice for families who want convenience and Disney magic.
• Pixar Place Hotel: Casual, cheerful and newly reimagined with Pixar details – Pixar Place Hotel is great for guests seeking a playful vibe.

Now you know where to go, it’s time to start planning. After all, a successful beach day starts before you leave your hotel. Here are a few practical tips to make your beach day unforgettable.

Check tide times

Low tides are perfect for tide pool exploring and reveal hidden sea caves, while high tides offer better swimming conditions. For families with young children, mid-morning departures work well: You'll miss the early rush hour traffic, arrive when the sun isn't too intense, and have time to enjoy lunch by the water.

Take traffic into account

Traffic in Southern California is always worth considering. Leaving Anaheim between 9:00 am–10:00 am typically means a less crowded drive to the beach. To avoid evening traffic, consider staying through sunset and capturing photos during the golden hour light.

Pack smartly for maximum enjoyment

Beach equipment rental is available at most locations, but bringing your own beach umbrella, folding chairs, and cool box saves money and guarantees you'll have what you need. Don't forget essentials like sunscreen, plenty of water, snacks, and entertainment for the journey. A beach wagon makes transporting everything from the car park much easier, especially with little ones in tow.

Embrace flexibility

Beach days have their own rhythm. Sometimes, the best moments happen when you abandon the itinerary and just follow your family's energy. Whether that's an impromptu sandcastle competition or lingering longer at tide pools because the kids found a hermit crab, let the ocean set your pace.

Anaheim may be best known for its theme parks, but its greatest day trips remind us that the ocean offers up its own unique experience. Southern California's coast has a beach for every mood: Tide pool adventures, secret coves, surfer hangouts, and sunset bonfires. And the best part: These beaches are all just a short drive away from Anaheim. Which coast will you visit next?