Doheny State Beach - South Beach

Located in the heart of Orange County, Doheny State Beach - South Beach is a gem within the Doheny State Beach Park, nestled in Dana Point, CA 92629. This long and narrow beach sits on the south side of San Juan Creek and offers a picturesque setting for visitors.

Doheny State Beach - South Beach is well-equipped with various amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The beach is supervised by lifeguards and provides restrooms, showers, and fire pits. For those looking to engage in water activities, there are equipment rentals available. The picnic area features tables and volleyball courts, perfect for a day out. The beach also boasts a large campground and a freshwater lagoon at the creek’s mouth, ideal for a serene experience.

Visitors to Doheny State Beach - South Beach can indulge in a variety of activities such as swimming, fishing, camping, birdwatching, and beach walking. For those who enjoy exploring tide pools, the beach offers a wonderful opportunity to observe marine life up close.

Access to Doheny State Beach - South Beach is straightforward. Upon exiting Coast Highway, drive to 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive to find the entrance near Park Lantern. There is a pay-for-parking lot nearby, ensuring you have a secure spot for your vehicle. Additionally, free parking is available along Coast Highway, adjacent to a tall pedestrian overpass.

Doheny State Beach - South Beach is surrounded by notable attractions. The upscale Monarch Beach Golf Links, just an 11-minute drive away, offers a premier oceanfront golfing experience with a resort, spa, and restaurant hosting numerous annual events. The nearby San Clemente Pier, a long wooden pier, provides stunning ocean and harbor views, alongside options for dining, surfing, whale watching, and photography.

For nature enthusiasts, the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area offers hiking trails with breathtaking views of Dana Point Harbor and is home to a variety of rare and endangered flora and fauna. Additionally, the Dana Point Seasonal Waterfall is a popular spot for capturing Instagram-worthy pictures and camping, making it a fun and scenic tourist attraction.

The visitor center at Doheny State Beach offers detailed information and exhibits about the park’s natural and cultural history. Whether you’re looking to picnic, explore, or just relax, Doheny State Beach - South Beach in Dana Point, CA 92629, provides an all-encompassing experience for all ages.

If you get hungry, you can drive four minutes to many restaurants near Doheny State Beach - South Beach. Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant is a beachside restaurant featuring authentic Mexican cuisine which includes ceviche, tacos, Acapulco-style shrimp, guacamole, and has a swing-up bar. If you like Italian food, Agostino’s Italian Restaurant is a family-friendly Italian restaurant that serves pan-seared sea bass, pizza, pasta, bay scallops, gnocchi, homemade pesto sauce, and risotto with asparagus and prosciutto. Another good restaurant near Doheny State Beach - South Beach is Good Choice Sushi By The Sea, a sushi restaurant that offers seafood, sushi, and Japanese and Asian cuisines.

If you are looking for a hotel near Doheny State Beach - South Beach, there are many hotels within a 12-minute drive. The 5-Star, 5-Diamond, and pet-friendly hotel Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach is located on a seaside bluff and is spread across 175 acres – it features three pools, six restaurants, three tennis courts, a bar with live music, a spa, a sauna, a gym, and an oceanfront golf course. Capistrano Surfside Inn is a 3-Star hotel that was awarded the Travellers’ Choice 2020 Award by Tripadvisor. If you are looking for budget-friendly hotels near Doheny State Beach - South Beach, The Beachfront Inn & Suites at Dana Point offers oceanfront suites and rooms, and the 2-Star Best Western Plus Dana Point Inn-By-The-Sea has a nice pool and golf course.