Moro Beach(Crystal Cove State Park, El Moro Cove, Morro Beach)

Located on the southern end of Crystal Cove State Park, Moro Beach is a popular site that runs alongside the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. 

This area used to be home to the El Morro Trailer Park before the homes were demolished in 2005 to build a campground. The construction’s final product is this beautiful beach with numerous onsite amenities, such as a snack bar, public restrooms, and stationed lifeguards during the summer. 

The warm and gentle waters are perfect for swimmers looking for a cool escape from the California sun. Although the waves here aren’t big enough to satisfy most surfers, you will find many people boogie boarding and body surfing in the waters. If you’re looking for the perfect beach selfie, head south to Abalone Point, where you’ll get a fantastic backdrop of the surrounding cliffs. Also check out the El Moro Visitor Center, where you can find maps of the different hiking trails nearby that guide you through the San Joaquin Hills and Laguna Coast WIlderness Park.

There’s plenty of parking here – there’s a paid lot on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway and from there it’s a one-minute walk under the highway to get to the beach.

The warm and gentle waters are perfect for swimmers looking for a cool escape from the California sun. Although the waves here aren’t big enough to satisfy most surfers, you will find many people boogie boarding and body surfing in the waters. If you’re looking for the perfect beach selfie, head south to Abalone Point, where you’ll get a fantastic backdrop of the surrounding cliffs. Also check out the El Moro Visitor Center, where you can find maps of the different hiking trails nearby that guide you through the San Joaquin Hills and Laguna Coast WIlderness Park.

If you get hungry, there are plenty of restaurants nearby. Nick’s Laguna Beach Restaurant is an open eatery that serves Californian comfort dishes such as blackened halibut and fried asparagus spears and is just a 10-minute drive from Moro Beach. We also like The Cliff, where you can enjoy seafood and handcrafted cocktails on their oceanside patio. If you are looking for a more affordable bite, take a 15-minute drive to Wahoo’s Fish Taco, a casual counter-serve chain offering Mexican fares. An excellent option for dessert is Banzai Bowls, a spot on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway that specializes in acai bowls and smoothies made from a wide array of fresh fruit.

If you need a place to stay, there are 57 family campsites and 27 RV and trailer sites directly on the beach. These spaces are rented out by the Crystal Cove State Park and are perfect for families looking to spend a few nights right beside the Pacific Ocean. Another great choice is the Art Hotel, a 2-Star hotel that features a heated outdoor pool and a sundeck with panoramic ocean views. You can also take a 10-minute drive to Hotel Joaquin, a 4-Star adults-only hotel that is located in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach.