Sunset Coast Road Trip: PCH Stops You Absolutely Cannot Miss
I've driven Pacific Coast Highway probably a thousand times. Not exaggerating. Between living in Orange County for fifteen years and having friends scattered from San Clemente to Malibu, PCH is basically my second living room. And yet, somehow, it still surprises me. Last Tuesday I pulled over at a spot I'd driven past a hundred times and discovered a staircase down to a beach I didn't know existed. Fifteen years. A thousand drives. New beach.
This guide covers the stretch I know best: Dana Point to Long Beach, roughly sixty miles of coastline that packs in more beauty, good food, and unexpected moments than most people's entire vacations. Pack sunscreen, charge your phone, and for the love of everything, leave before 7am if you're doing this on a weekend. By 10am, PCH turns into a parking lot and the only view you'll get is the bumper of a Tesla.
Stop 1: Dana Point Harbor — Start Here
Dana Point is where I start every coast drive because the harbor has free two-hour parking and a coffee shop called Coffee Importers that opens at 6am. Their cold brew is $5 and it's strong enough to make you optimistic about spending an entire day in your car. The harbor itself is worth a twenty-minute walk — fishing boats, sailboats, and if you time it right between December and April, you can see gray whales migrating from the jetty without binoculars.
Driving tip: leave the harbor via PCH northbound. The first mile has this long sweeping curve where the ocean appears on your left like a movie scene. I've driven it a thousand times and my stomach still does that little flip. Some things don't get old.
Stop 2: Salt Creek Beach — The One You Almost Miss
There's a small parking lot off PCH right before the Ritz-Carlton that most people drive past. That's Salt Creek Beach. The walk down takes about three minutes on a paved path and then you're on one of the nicest beaches in south Orange County. On weekday mornings it's almost empty. The waves are consistent enough for surfing but gentle enough for wading. I bring my kids here specifically because the break is mellow and I can actually relax instead of hovering over them like a nervous helicopter.
Stop 3: Laguna Beach — Take Your Time
Laguna deserves at least two hours. Park at the ACT V lot on Laguna Canyon Road ($2 per hour) and walk into town. Don't park on PCH itself unless you enjoy paying $5 per hour and circling the same four blocks for twenty minutes.
Main Beach is the obvious stop but walk north past the lifeguard tower to Heisler Park. There's a walkway along the bluffs with views that make your phone camera suddenly seem inadequate. Tide pools at the north end if it's low tide. I've seen sea stars, anemones, and once an octopus that seemed mildly annoyed by my presence.
For food, Zinc Cafe is my number one pick if it's before noon. If it's lunch, The Stand is a natural foods restaurant on the south end of town. Their acai bowl is $14 and it's more food than you'll expect. I eat about 60% of it and bring the rest to the car. PCH snacks.
Stop 4: Crystal Cove State Park — The Highlight
If you only stop once on this entire drive, stop here. Crystal Cove is the most beautiful stretch of coastline in Orange County and I will argue this with anyone, including people who work for the Laguna Beach tourism board.
The state park has two parts: the beach below, which is 3.2 miles of undeveloped coastline, and the bluffs above, which have hiking trails with views that'll make you understand why people move to California. The Moro Canyon trail is 3 miles round trip, moderate difficulty, and the views of the ocean from the ridge are worth every drop of sweat.
The historic cottages at Crystal Cove are a bonus. These are beach bungalows from the 1930s and 1940s that have been preserved and some can be rented overnight. I did this for my birthday last year. Fell asleep to waves. Woke up to dolphins. Tried not to cry. Only partially succeeded.
Stop 5: Corona del Mar — The Locals' Secret
Most people blow through CdM on the way to Newport. Stop. Little Corona Beach is down a steep path off Ocean Boulevard and it's protected by a reef that creates a natural calm-water swimming area. Families, snorkelers, and the occasional kayaker. The parking is a nightmare on weekends — I usually park on the residential streets above and walk down.
Bandera restaurant is a five-minute walk from the beach. Their rotisserie chicken ($24 for a half with cornbread) has been my post-beach meal for years. Outdoor patio, string lights, the kind of place where you feel like you're in a rom-com montage. If you're with someone you like, hold their hand across the table. PCH sunsets demand it.
Stop 6: Balboa Peninsula — Newport Beach
Drive across the PCH bridge into Newport and head down the peninsula. The Balboa Fun Zone is slightly cheesy and I love it unironically. Ferris wheel, arcade games, a frozen banana stand that's been there since before I was born. My kids think it's the greatest place on earth. I think they're not entirely wrong.
At the very tip of the peninsula is The Wedge. Massive shore break waves that create some of the most intense bodysurfing in California. I don't bodysurf because I value my neck and my dental work, but watching from the jetty is free entertainment. There's usually a guy selling paletas from a cart. Mango. Always mango.
Stop 7: Huntington Beach — Sunset Finale
Time this right and you'll hit Huntington Beach at golden hour. The pier is the obvious destination and yeah, it's touristy, but it's touristy for a reason. Walking to the end of that pier with the sun going down behind you and the Pacific stretching out in every direction is one of those moments that makes you stop thinking about your to-do list and just exist for a minute.
For dinner, Pacific City is right next to the pier. Bluegold has ocean-view tables and their sunset happy hour ($8 cocktails, $12 appetizers) is the way to end this drive. You've earned it. You just covered sixty miles of the most beautiful coastline in America and you didn't even need a passport.
Practical Tips
Start early. Before 7am on weekends, before 8am on weekdays. PCH traffic is real and it will ruin an otherwise perfect day.
Bring layers. The coast can be ten degrees cooler than inland. I keep a Free People Ruby jacket in my car permanently for this reason.
Sunscreen. SPF 50. Reapply every two hours. The California sun is deceptive because the ocean breeze makes it feel cooler than it is. I've gotten some of my worst sunburns on "cool" beach days. My skincare routine exists partly because of PCH road trips where I forgot sunscreen.
Cash for parking. Some of the beach lots are cash-only. I keep $20 in my glove compartment specifically for this. It's saved me at least six times.
For more on my Orange County life, the full lifestyle section covers everything from daily routines to restaurant guides. And for what to wear on a California road trip without looking like you tried too hard, my style guide has the answer.
