How To Have the Best Laguna Beach Weekend Trip
I have a friend who lives in Laguna Beach and it took me an embarrassingly long time to visit her! But I’m happy to say that I finally made the trip and wow, I’m glad I did! Located just over an hour from LA, Laguna’s known for its Southern California-cool, laidback charm. And I can confirm, the town is walkable, has good food, a fun art scene, and a picture-perfect coastline that’s definitely worth writing home about. So, in case you’re also considering a trip, don’t make my same mistake and wait! Here’s my guide for how to have the best Laguna Beach weekend trip:
Transportation
Getting There
On a good traffic day, Laguna is about an hour south of LA by car. To get there, take the 405 to the 133, which becomes Laguna Canyon Road and feeds directly into town . If you’re coming on a weekend, build in some buffer for the drive. PCH heading north can slow considerably on weekend afternoons, so if you’re day tripping, aim to leave by 4PM.
One thing worth knowing about the 133: it is partially a toll road, but only north of I-5 where it connects up to SR-241. If you’re coming from LA via the 405 and taking the 133 south into Laguna, you never hit the toll section. You’d only encounter it if you’re coming from further north via SR-241, in which case expect to pay a few dollars and have FasTrak or a card ready since there’s no cash option.
If you’re flying in rather than driving, John Wayne Airport is just 15 miles away and a much easier option for getting to Laguna than LAX.
Getting Around and Parking
A car is useful for visiting Crystal Cove, Victoria Beach, and Top of the World, but for Laguna’s downtown core, you should try to park once and walk to most of it.
Metered Parking
Parking near downtown fills up fast on busy days. Metered street parking is enforced 8AM to 9PM in the downtown area and until 7PM outside of it. Most meters have a 3-hour limit, and you won’t be able to re-feed the same meter once you’ve hit it. Credit cards and quarters are both accepted. The city has a live “Laguna Beach Parking” app that shows available spots in real time, which is definitely worth downloading before you arrive.
Remote Lots and the “Canyon Route” Trolley
If you’d rather skip looking for a meter, the city has a few remote lot options where you can then take a free trolley into downtown:
Winter/Non-Summer (early September through late June):
- Lot 16 / ACT V on Laguna Canyon Road (1900 Laguna Canyon Road) costs just $5*. The “Canyon Route” Trolley runs Saturdays and Sundays only, from 9AM to 7PM, every 30 minutes. Lot 16 is closed to the public Monday through Friday.
Summer (late June through early September):
Two remote lots run during peak season:
- Lot 16 / ACT V on Laguna Canyon Road (1900 Laguna Canyon Road) costs just $5* and connects to the “Canyon Route” trolley, running 7 days a week from 8:30AM to 11:30PM, every 30 minutes.
- Summer Breeze off the 405 in Irvine (16355 Laguna Canyon Road) offers free parking and connects to its own trolley route Thursdays from 10AM to 8PM and Fridays through Sundays (plus Labor Day) from 10AM to 11:30PM, every 30 minutes.
Real Time Updates
You can get real-time updates on the trolley’s status by downloading the Laguna Beach Trolley app.
Coastal Trolley
The Coastal Route trolley runs free along Pacific Coast Highway between North Laguna/Heisler Park, downtown, South Laguna/Mission Hospital, and as far as the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point. Just like the Canyon Route, the Coastal Route Trolley can be tracked in real-time by downloading the Laguna Beach Trolley app.
Winter/Non-Summer (early September through late June):
- Mondays-Thursdays from 7:30AM to 6PM
- Fridays from 7:30AM to 10PM
- Saturdays from 9AM to 10PM
- Sundays from 9AM to 7PM
- Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes
Summer (late June through early September):
- Daily from 9AM-11:30PM
- Frequency: Every 30-40 minutes.
Things To Do
Enjoy the Beaches
Laguna has over 30 beaches tucked along its seven mile coastline, and they are not all created equal!
Main Beach is central, convenient, and good for people watching, but it can get quite busy. While I wouldn’t recommend Main Beach as a spot to post up and enjoy the sun, it does have an adorable lifeguard tower that you can start your morning off at. Located just off PCH, around Broadway and Ocean Avenues, you’ll likely see plenty of people out here with their dogs and coffee in hand!
There’s also basketball, volleyball, a grassy park, a boardwalk, and public art installations woven throughout.
Treasure Island Beach sits adjacent to the Montage Laguna Beach resort, but it is publicly accessible (just follow the public access signs past the hotel and you’ll find one of the more scenic stretches of sand in the area). This beach is known for offshore rocks and water that turns a deep turquoise in good light.
Thousand Steps Beach, located in South Laguna and accessible near 9th Street, is surrounded by sandstone cliffs and has a sea cave you can walk through at the right tide. It’s a good option if you want something that feels more like an adventure than a beach day, just bring your water shoes!
Victoria Beach is tucked into a residential neighborhood south of downtown and is quite unique! Public access to the beach can be found via a staircase at the intersection of Victoria Drive and Sunset Terrace, just off PCH. This beach is famous for it’s epic Pirate Tower, a 60-foot concrete structure built in 1926 that photographers and curious visitors make the trek for. If you visit here, make sure to go at low tide only otherwise you will not be able to find the tucked away tower that are over to the right, beyond the rocks at the bottom of the stairs. Also important to note there are no restrooms on site.
Wood’s Cove is a picturesque spot located near Diamond Street with brilliant clear blue water and dramatic rocky points. At low tide, the north end of the cove opens up a rock arch connecting to Pearl Street Beach with tide pools. And the southern half is a local favorite for snorkeling and diving. The cove is not the best swimming beach due to the rocks and rip tides in the area, so plan accordingly.
Secret Tip: Download the Tides Near Me app before you go, especially if you plan on getting in the water or visiting Victoria Beach and Thousand Steps Beach.
Explore Crystal Cove State Park
Crystal Cove State Park sits just north of Laguna on PCH and operates at a completely different scale than anything else on this list. It’s one of Orange County’s largest stretches of open coastline with 3.2 miles of beach, 2,400 acres of backcountry, and over 18 miles of hiking trails that wind through Moro Canyon and up to ridge views of the coast!
The beach itself draws swimmers and surfers, and at low tide the tide pools at Pelican Point and Reef Point are worth the walk. The Historic District is the charming anchor of the park with a collection of 46 rustic beachfront cottages built in the 1930s and 40s, with the Beachcomber Café serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner right on the sand. If you want to stay overnight, the cottages are available to rent and book up fast. Reservations open six months in advance*.
Day parking runs $15 or $20* on summer weekends and holidays. The Los Trancos lot is your best bet for access to the Historic District and beach; the Lower Moro lot is the trailhead for the hiking trails. Budget at least half a day to do it justice.
Secret Tip: If you’re traveling in December, Crystal Cove has the most adorable Christmas decorations on the beach! Definitely worth a visit.
Admire the Exhibits at the Laguna Art Museum
Laguna Art Museum is the anchor cultural stop in town and easier to fit into your plans than you might expect (my friends and I were able to view all of the exhibits comfortably in about an hour!). The permanent collection focuses on California art, and the rotating exhibits tend to be well-curated. When I visited, the featured show was Solitude and Silence: Conrad Buff, Painter of the American Southwest, a collection of oil-on-masonite paintings spanning Southern California, the Southwest, and beyond. It was small and maybe not the star of the exhibit, but I loved his Japanese Torii Gate painting!
Check what’s currently on exhibit before you go, but the space justifies the visit regardless of what’s showing if you have the time. The Museum is typically open from Tuesdays through Sundays from 10AM – 5PM and costs $15 general admission*.
Climb to the Top of the World
Top of the World at Alta Laguna Park is worth knowing about if you’re staying the weekend and want something active. It’s a scenic viewpoint with 360-degree views stretching from the coastline to the mountains, and a gateway to hiking trails ranging from easy walks to more serious treks. It’s a local favorite for both sunrise and sunset.
Bike Around Town
Renting bikes or e-bikes is a solid way to cover more ground without fighting for parking between stops. Many of the hotels around towns have bicycle cruisers available for guests. Otherwise, Laguna Bike Rental (inside Electric Cyclery at 912 North Coast Highway) offers e-bikes that handle the town’s hills without much effort.
One thing worth knowing upfront: Laguna doesn’t have a flat beach-path bike trail the way Newport and Huntington Beach do. You’ll be riding on streets, some hilly, so an e-bike makes more sense than a cruiser for most people.
Relax at Hotel Joaquin
Staying at Hotel Joaquin? Well, the common areas deserve some time on stop on your itinerary. The living room and bar area are open, airy, and look out over the ocean. Designed to feel less like a hotel lobby and more like a well-appointed beach house that happens to have a record player, board games, and a fireplace!
Pull up a seat, order something from Saline, and linger a while. And when you’re ready to head back to the beach? The hotel acts as an adventure outpost for its guests, keeping a healthy stock of kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, and snorkel gear!
Note: The hotel is adults only and books up fast on weekends.
Shop Forest Avenue
Forest Avenue is the main shopping stretch in Laguna and the perfect place to spend an unhurried afternoon. Part of the street is even closed to car traffic, making everything here much more relaxed and easier to browse through than a typical beach town commercial strip.
Shops I recommend checking out here:
- Tuvalu, a well-curated home goods shop with furniture, decor, and a pantry section that was harder for me to walk away from than expected! The selection feels more thoughtful, than mass-produced and, if you visit after the holidays, they carry discounted Christmas decor and ornaments!
- Hobie Surf Shop, an OC-specific chain with quality surf gear, current styles, and accessories. I went in with zero intention of buying anything and left with a pair of light yellow oval sunglasses and a starfish claw clip. Both have seen regular use!
Peruse Peppertree Lane
Peppertree Lane is a small, unassuming open-air shopping center that was built in 1934 around a live pepper tree. Although it’s easy to drive past without noticing (which would be a travesty, really), the architecture inside is European-inspired, all herringbone brick pathways and old-fashioned lanterns! It’s very cute, and very much worth a stop.
Inside, La Rue du Chocolat, a handmade chocolate shop that’s been on the lane for over 30 years, sells an assortment of truffles and confections made in-house (I even found a few vegan options here!). Gelato Paradiso, has a variety of amazing flavors that draws a crowd, even in the winter! Sutton Place carries women’s apparel and accessories worth a look and The Saloon is a low-key bar with a pub atmosphere that’s a comfortable place to duck in for a drink if you want to stay a while.
Food and Drink
Cafés
Jedidiah Coffee is the morning stop. It’s popular (there’s typically a line!), but the space is cheerful enough that the wait isn’t usually a problem. Think light purple and yellow interiors, pastries, warm and iced coffee options! I ordered an iced tea here that hit the spot! Take your time here before the day picks up.
Wild Strawberry Café is for darling blue-and-white decorated cafe known for its all day breakfast menu, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and (of course) coffee. The strawberry matcha here is amazing!
Restaurants
AhbA, located in South Laguna, has amazing burgers and cocktails. Come here for dinner, lunch, or brunch!
Driftwood Kitchen has the freshest seafood, hand-cut steaks, and hand-shucked oysters while overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean.
Las Brisas sits above Main Beach with ocean views and a Baja-influenced seafood menu. The setting is the draw, particularly for a sunset dinner or an al fresco lunch with a view.
Oto is the best spot for sushi in town. Chef Connor Mathison runs a sustainability-focused kitchen with around 20 nigiri and sashimi options, Robatayaki skewers, and creative rolls like the Tidal Viper (spicy tuna and tempura shishito). Our group ordered a vegetarian bento box, a nigiri flight, and an order of kanpachi and hamachi with crispy garlic edamame I’d go back for in a heartbeat. Book your table ahead of time or arrive on the earlier side.
Wigz is also located in South Laguna and is oh so worth the stop. This casual sandwich shop is known for its grinders (dutch crunch roll sandwiches), classics, and melts. Come here for an easy lunch on the patio and a beer.
Bars
Saline at Hotel Joaquin is a lowkey, but design-forward cocktail bar worth seeking out. The menu focuses on ocean-inspired drinks including house spritzes, zero-proof options, and classic-adjacent cocktails, served in a patio setting with a fireplace and views of the water. It’s open to hotel guests, but if you’re stopping by the property anyway, it’s worth checking whether the bar is accessible. The atmosphere is what you’d hope for from the rest of the hotel: unhurried, well-designed, not trying too hard!
The Saloon at Peppertree Lane is another low-key neighborhood option. Think casual pub atmosphere that’s good for a midday or afternoon drink if you’re already wandering the lane.
The Rooftop Lounge at La Casa del Camino is the perfect place for a sunset drink with an ocean view, in a property with some actual history to it. The hotel itself has been operating since the 1920s.
Grocery Stores
A La Carte, located on S Coast Highway (PCH), has the best natural wine selection in Laguna. They also have a “pantry” with snacks, and corkscrews, for sale in case you need one!
Mercado is the perfect place to grab for groceries and gifts. And located just across the street from Hotel Joaquin.
The Salt Horse is a specialty grocery with loads of curated seasonal goods and provisions. They have gift baskets as well as fun farmer’s market types of food finds to inspire you to picnic on the beach.
Sweet Treats
Chantilly on Forest Avenue has an extensive ice cream selection and lots of friendly options for my dairy-free and vegan friends. I went with mint chocolate chip on a warm winter afternoon and had no complaints.
La Rue du Chocolat, a small chocolate shop easy to walk past without noticing. They carry vegan truffles and a thoughtful selection of other treats.
South Swell Ice Cream is a classic and specialty hand-dipped ice cream bars with the most fun item names to order!
Where To Stay
Le Petit Pali – $$$$$. If you’re looking to treat yourself, this boutique hotel is worth the splurge. The design alone is very fairytale cottage meets Southern California coast. Check it out for yourself!
Casa Loma – $$$$. This hotel had a $15 million renovation in 2024 and its new Mallorca meets California coast design is stunning. Perched on the cliffside directly above Main Beach with 70 rooms, it’s the most walkable home base in Laguna, with the museum, Forest Avenue, and Heisler Park are all within easy reach on foot.
Hotel Joaquin – $$$$. My obvious answer for a boutique stay (if it wasn’t clear from earlier in this post). Its location on South Coast Highway puts you between Laguna’s downtown and Crystal Cove, the bar and patio are worth the visit alone, and it books up fast on weekends.
Crystal Cove Beach Cottages – $$$-$$$$. If you’re looking for something unique or just looking for your own space, these historic beach bungalows offer both! They do book up quickly though, so I recommend reserving your space when rooms open up (~6 months in advance).
The Tides – $$. The best place to stay in Laguna Beach on a budget! The Tides is only a 10 minute walk from the downtown core, has a pool, and offers lots of cozy comforts!
*At time of writing.
