Doheny State Beach
One of the best family vacation spots is Doheny State Beach near Dana Point Harbor. This State Beach offers the best of both worlds – overnight camping and day use facilities. Doheny State Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Southern California. It’s easy to get to Dana Point and easy to find Doheny Beach. You will have lots of fun with day activities and picnics. It can be difficult to find availability at Doheny for overnight camping because it is so popular!
Travel Tip - PLAN AHEAD!!
You will find a family friendly beach where you can BBQ, have access to fire pits, and explore the tidepools.
HINT - The best time to explore and find sea life in the Dana Point tidepools is from Winter to Spring during afternoon low tides.
Tidepool Rules - protect marine life and preserve our ecosystem.
- Never remove animals, shells or rocks from the tidepools.
- Never pick up animals, observe them where they are.
- Walk gently, taking care not to step on plants or animals.
- Never turn over rocks.
- Never Pick up moving shells.
- REMEMBER- never remove anything from the tidepools.
You will find family vacation planning tips and information to make your stay at Doheny State Beach the best family vacation ever!
Admission
- Campground sites average less than 40.00 day
- RESERVED Day use picnic sites start at 25.00 day
- Parking fees – 10.00 for cars/day - Beach Access with parking
- Parking Tip – Metered parking for 1.00/hour available at east parking lot. Take next left AFTER entrance to State Beach. You will be traveling toward Dana Point Harbor. You will find another parking lot – it’s metered. This lot fills up quick but is nice if you will be at the beach for a few hours.
- FREE ENTRANCE when you walk or ride your bike into state beach/park.
Hours
- 6:00 am to 10:00 pm during "Daylight Savings Time"
- 6:00 am to 8:00 pm during "Pacific Standard Time"
Doheny State Beach Events (sample- there are a lot more!)
- Annual Festival of Whales
- Annual Grunion Night – Typically in May
- Annual Surfing Contests and Expos – Typically in June
- Annual Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza – July 4th – most popular event– TIP - get there early – like 6 am in the morning early!!
- Doheny Music Festivals in May and September
- Annual Halloween Haunt
Campgrounds
- Overnight camping with trailers, RV’s or tents – steps away from beach, most have a beach view!
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- Bathrooms and showers available.
- Dogs ok with leash. No dogs allowed on Beach. Please pick up after your dog to maintain this pet friendly getaway!
- Plan your trip early, reservations made up to a year ahead and spots go fast. Call 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or visit Reserve America.com. This campground is worth the wait, if you can’t get your first pick, consider another weekend!
Picnic Areas and Day Parks
- Available for small groups or large groups up to 500 people.
- Alcohol only allowed in certain picnic areas with a PERMIT!! Call for more information and application.
- Volleyball, picnic tables, BBQ areas, 5 acre lawn and plenty of grassy sections, convenient bathrooms.
- Snack bar close by.
- Dogs ok with leash. No dogs allowed on Beach. Please pick up after your dog to maintain this pet friendly getaway! Doggy bags located throughout picnic area for your convenience. Take your dog for a walk on Dana Wharf! Enjoy the public patio by the Jolly Roger, there’s lots of outdoor seating for you and your dog! Plus free doggy clean up bag dispensers are available for your convenience there too!
- Plan your trip early, reservations made up to 7 months in advance. Call the park phone at 1-949-496-6172 for more information.
Visitor Center - Free aquarium!!!
- Look at 5 aquariums and habitats to check out the local fish and animals. See what animals you might see in the local tidepools at Doheny State Beach!
- Hours-
- Weekends – 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Weekdays – call for hours – 1-949-496-6172
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Dana Harbor Baby Beach / Swim Beach
This beach is a great kids beach. The beach is located in Dana Point Harbor in between the Ocean Institute and the OC Sailing and Events Center.
You will find a clean white sandy beach with calm waters and minimal wave activity. The Baby Beach is located inside of protected Dana Point Harbor and has the benefit of a no wake zone. Buoys mark the protected swim area at Baby Beach.
What you need to know:
- Parking is FREE for 4 hours. Long enough to enjoy a day at the beach! Lots of parking spots are available.
- The beach and parking is open from 6 am to Midnight.
- No dogs are allowed on this beach or in the park area.
This beach is known by the locals, but not well known by a lot people outside of the area. The beach is smaller and fills up fast. I suggest you get there early to enjoy a great spot on the sandy beach and secure a picnic spot. Once you visit Baby Beach you will definitely want to go back!
Picnic tables, stand up BBQ’s and shady areas are available first come… first enjoy! Bathrooms are conveniently located in the middle and to each side of Baby Beach at Dana Point.A lifeguard station protects the safety of kids and families at Baby Beach. Check the lifeguard station for seasonal dates and times for the lifeguard on duty.
Enjoy all of the activities in Dana Point Harbor while you’re at the beach. Shopping and restaurants are within a short walking distance at Mariners Village and Dana Wharf. Make sure you have some spending money, the shops and snacks are tempting!Return to TOP
Water Sports and Outdoor Activities in
Dana Point Harbor
Dana Point Harbor has many outdoor activities. Take your bicycle and ride up and down the bike paths throughout the beach and State Park. Enjoy a game of volleyball on the sandy beaches. Did you bring your surfboard or bodyboard? Then you’re ready to catch a wave!
Dana Point Harbor has more activities you can enjoy in the water. You can pick something you know how to do or even sign up for lessons. Are you ready to learn kayaking or sailing? Have you heard of stand up paddle boards? Check out the OC Sailing and Events Center next to Baby Beach to sign up for instructions, training, lessons and specialty courses. Kid’s camps are available in the summer. Contact info: 1-949-923-2215.
Do you feel like splashing around on a jet ski or taking a rental boat to Dana Point Harbor and beyond? Have you been whale watching or been deep sea fishing? Several rental companies can accommodate you! Pick one or more of these family vacation ideas can keep you busy all day.TIP- Make early reservations for your watercraft or activities!!! – they go fast and you want to make sure you reserve your watercraft or get your spot on the boat before someone else does!
Make Reservations With:
Jet Ski and Watercraft Rentals
- Capo Beach Watercraft – 949-661-1690
- Dana Point Jet Ski – 949-661-4947
Boat Rentals - Embarcadero Marina – 949-496-6177
Sports Fishing - Dana Wharf Sportfishing – 949-496-5794
Whale Watching - Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari – 949-488-2828
- Dana Island Yachts – 949-248-7400
- Dana Wharf Sportsfishing – 949-496-5794
- The Ocean Institute – 949-496-2274
Do you have your own boat or watercraft? You can use the public boat launch and parking area for $10.00.Return to TOP
The Ocean Institute
The Ocean Institute is more than just a living aquarium; it’s a learning center for kids! Don’t let the term learning center fool you. Think of games and activities, aquariums where kids can touch sea animals, arts and crafts with an ocean twist… You get the idea?
The Institute is open to the public on weekends and focuses on school education programs during the week. Kids K-12 get the opportunity to learn about the ocean and become little oceanographers while they explore marine science. Field study programs are available through activity programs. Call for more information 949-496-2274.
What you need to know - Parking is FREE and located directly in front of the Institute.
- Open to the public on weekends only
- Hours are – 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Admission -
- Adults- 6.50
- Kids (3-12)- 4.50
- Under 2- FREE
Several buildings are used within the Institute for your self guided tour and a daily schedule of weekend activities is a the front desk. Don’t forget to ask for it!
Have fun exploring one of the many habitat tanks where you can actually touch and pet several different sea animals.
Take a look in all of the buildings on the Institute campus. A few buildings have habitat tanks where you can view fish, an octopus, jelly fish, and more.
Can you find the starfish that has 3 arms?? Go visit the institute and see if he's still there!
Do you want to experience a Pirate Adventure or Blue Whale Safari? Are you ready for a Catalina Snorkeling Cruise? If you said yes to any of these, then you are ready for a “Tall Ship” cruise!! Sign up at the Ocean Institute or call 949-496-2274.
You will love your adventure on these Tall Ships whether you pick a sailing trip during the day or night! Your kids can also sign up for adventure trips through the Institute, some include overnight stays on the Tall Ships.
Enjoy your afternoon while you explore the Institute and participate in one of the many hands on activities.
Toshiba Tall Ships Festival
This festival is the largest annual tall ships festival on the West Coast! It is a perfect family weekend getaway where your kids can participate in adventure and fun. There is a lot of food, activities, presentations, and tall ship tours for you and your family.
Expect to hear lively sea-faring music, dramatic sunset canon battles, live parrot shows and so much more!
2008 Schedule
- September 5th - Sunset Parade
- September 6th – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- September 7th – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- PLEASE NOTE: Ship tours end at 3:30 pm
Admission - Adults - $11.00
- Children 3 -12 - $9.00
- Kids 2 and under - FREE
- Admission includes Tall Ship Tours and entrance to the Ocean Institute
TIP - Get there early for the festival!! If you can’t find parking, don’t worry! There is FREE shuttle service available for all guests.Old Cove Native Plant Preserve
Explore this preserve and small hiking path to learn more about the plants native to our California coast. This self guided tour is an easy walk along a dirt path and includes benches for you to enjoy the view.
About 14 different plants are located along the path and marked for easy identification. You will recognize a few of these plants and be introduced to a few new ones!! Don’t forge to take a flyer to help you identify the plants. The flyer is located at the beginning of the pathway in a protected plastic box.
Learn interesting alternatives to low maintenance and drought tolerant plants that you can use in your own yard.
This plant preserve is located directly behind The Ocean Institute and is FREE to access.Free Parking is located in front of the Ocean Institute.Return to TOP
Dana Point Tidepools
Tidepools are amazing little windows into marine life. You can actually see little sea creatures swimming about, swimming for cover, or just hanging out. What an amazing kid activity for your family! Another great thing is it’s FREE to look at the tidepools!
Two tidepool areas are located near Dana Point Harbor. The first is located in Doheny State Beach. The other is Dana Point Marine Life Refuge located behind The Ocean Institute and it also has a SECRET little beach you can enjoy!
Parking is free in the parking lots next to the Ocean Institute, please park in the Dana Harbor parking lot adjacent to the Institute and not in front of the Institute.
No lifeguard is on duty at this beach, swim at your own risk.
When you take your family to the tidepools, there are certain rules you need to review with them before you go. These are state mandated laws for the Dana Point Marine Protected Area.Tidepool Rules- Protect marine life and preserve our ecosystem.
- Never remove animals, shells or rocks from the tidepools.
- Never pick up animals, observe them where they are.
- Walk gently, taking care not to step on plants or animals.
- Never turn over rocks.
- Never Pick up moving shells.
- REMEMBER- never remove anything from the tidepools.
HINT-The best time to explore and find sea life in the tidepools is from Winter to Spring during afternoon low tides.The most important thing to remember is to be safe and have fun on your trip to the tidepools. It gets slippery with the wet rocks and the waves crashing against them. Keep the kids close to the shore and make sure they have good closed toe walking shoes.Return to TOP
Mariners Village and Dana Wharf
Conveniently located in the middle of Dana Point Harbor is the Mariners Village, Mariners Alley and Dana Wharf. You will find many different souvenir and gift shops, specialty retail shops, restaurants and eateries.
Restaurants - One of the favorites for Dana Point locals is The Harbor Grill, it has been owned and operated by the same family since 1984!! It’s in the middle of Mariners Village right on the harbor. They have a great seafood selection, an extensive wine list and full bar. Menu items include a variety of styles and are moderately priced. It’s easier to walk in and be seated for lunch. Dinner is a different story! Reservations are recommended, please call 949-240-1416.
Enjoy indoor dining, a seat at the bar for a quick cocktail or beautiful garden patio dining. The service and food are great, you will truly enjoy the food and the view of Dana Point Harbor!
Shopping - Find a boardwalk full of gift shops, specialty shops, and retail shops. Literally spend hours looking through hand made artistic treasures from jewelry to Indian art. Take a sample of ice cream or chocolate as you browse through each shop and enjoy the sights of the Marina.Return to TOP
Catalina Island Service
Take the Catalina Express from Dana Point Harbor and arrive in Catalina in about an hour!! Reservations are highly recommended as most departures fill up fast!! Call 800-481-3470 today!
Travel Tips
- 2 baggage items allowed per person, ask for details when booking
- Check in 1 hour prior to departure time or risk forfeiting your ticket
- At your own risk and liability you may also carry on board: dive tanks, dive bags. Bicycles, strollers, surf boards are considered additional articles and are allowed on board subject to availability. Call for size restrictions and additional fees.
- Domestic pets are allowed on board if muzzled and in pet carriers. Call for additional details and restrictions.
Don’t forget your swim suit and walking shoes… enjoy your trip to Catalina!Return to TOP
Dana Point Harbor Map
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