Laguna Beach, California

Updated February 1, 2026

Oh how I love this city.

San Diego has my heart, but when I’m in the mood for an Orange County beach, Laguna is where I head to most.

This is the most beautiful beach area near Disneyland. And that’s tough competition!

Let’s take a look.

Location and Details

About 45 minutes away from Disneyland, on average, Laguna Beach is worth the drive.

It’s classic California coastline, historical, clean, and beautifully maintained with plenty to do.

You can park at Main Beach, the heart of this area, for $25 a day at a pay lot. Or, head north a bit and use metered parking along the street for less. I walk here in the morning once a month at least and usually pay $5.00 for a couple of hours via the metered parking.

Here’s a quick video of Laguna Beach.

Best Way to see Laguna on a Day Trip

My favorite thing to do is park north as just mentioned and walk south into the Main Beach area.

Put “Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club” into your gps. When you arrive, pay for metered parking and start walking south. You’ll walk through the gorgeous Heisler Park, filled with art installations, and amazing views. (Here’s a video of that walk)

Here’s a map:

When you reach Main Beach, head out to the sand or make your way into town a bit to shop or dine on Forest Avenue. Shop between Broadway and Laguna Avenue, along Coast Highway. You can walk up the hill (south along Coast Highway) to Laguna Village, too. Then, take the same path back to your car.

Or, take the free Laguna Beach Trolley to explore surrounding areas. Here’s all about it.

(Here’s other day trip ideas around Orange County and Los Angeles)

Dining Recommendations

For lunch, dine at Las Brisas. It’s along the walk I mentioned above and has fantastic views.

It looks like this:

For happy hour, head to The Deck.

For a nice meal, I recommend Driftwood.

My favorite? Grabbing a burger and fries from Husky Boy on Coast Highway.

Dogs

Are dogs allowed?

Sometimes!

Here’s the scoop:

Photos of Main Beach and Surrounding Areas

Behold, the beauty of Laguna Beach.

Pirate Tower

Pirate Tower, pictured above, at Victoria Beach looks like something out of a Disney movie.

Find it about 40 minutes from the happiest place on earth in Laguna Beach. Enter “Pirate Tower Laguna Beach” in your gps to locate it.

Park on Coast Highway and walk down Dumond Drive all the way to the sand. Head north a bit, around the rocks and through a tide pool area to reach the tower.

Note: This is not in the Main Beach area and isn’t all that easy to get to. Plus, it doesn’t have the amenities the Main Beach area has. But, it is cool to see. Here’s a video.

Treasure Island Beach and Goff Island

Also not in the Main Beach area, but worth considering, is Treasure Island Beach and Goff Island.

Park near the Lost Pier Cafe just off Coast Highway in the paid lot. Have a bite to eat and then start walking north. There’s a gorgeous path that follows the coast, along Treasure Island Beach, all the way up to Goff Island.

The walk along the coast is about 2 miles, but it’s all pathed and easily navigated. If you prefer a more direct route to the island, park in paid lot 7 or 8, near the Montage Resort, and walk down a set of wooden stairs from the resort.

There are several spots to stop and take in the views with benches and tables. And you can explore tidepools at Goff Cove near Goff Island. (Please don’t take any critters home!)

Goff Island is a large rock, about 42′ high, just off the coast that is often connected to the beach when the tide is right. Climbing is not permitted, but l’ve never seen that stop anyone here.

Find a video of this area here.

Additional Resources

For my favorite day trip ideas in this area, check out this post.

Looking for general SoCal info? This post has everything in one place.

Planning a trip? Start with this post. It shares all sorts of basic planning info that will help you get organized. 

Need discounted tickets and hotels? Check out my travel partner, Get Away Today. In business since 1990, they’re the absolute best with both pricing and service. This link takes you to them. Or you can call 855.GET.AWAY toll free. 

***Use code DDaily for an additional $10 off when you book hotel and tickets 

Let me know how I can help you plan!