The Best Beaches in Orange County California

Picking the best beaches in Orange County isn’t easy, but many of the best beaches in all of Southern California are actually in between San Diego and Los Angeles. Orange County has both epic large sandy beaches and picturesque small cove beaches. They have piers, rock arches, and tide pools galore. Some well-known surf breaks are in OC too.

Our list of the best beaches in Orange County puts each beach into a category that it is associated with. Most of these beaches are good for many different things including sunbathing. Scroll to the bottom of the list to see our favorite beach in Orange County.

Why is Laguna Beach Main Beach the best? Well it has so much to offer. It might not be the biggest or best at anything, but it has everything. Visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of restaurants nearby, plus lots of shopping options, and hotels if they are not from the area. Main Beach is a relatively safe place to play in the water as waves aren’t typically that big, but there are lifeguards on hand if someone needs help. Sports fanatics will find two courts behind the beach, volleyball courts on the sand, and room to toss a football or Frisbee at the water’s edge. Small kids have a playground to enjoy as well. Just to the north is Rockpile Beach where tidepools emerge when the water recedes. The wooden boardwalk behind Main Beach leads to Heisler Park, a well-landscaped bluff top park that is ideal for picnics. Want to enjoy a long walk on the beach? Just walk south and you have a mile of sand leading all the way to a rock arch known as The Keyhole at Pearl Street Beach.

Laguna Beach’s Main Beach

Below is our complete list of the best beaches in Orange County California.