Best Beaches For Kids in Laguna Beach
In Southern California, the beach is one of the easiest ways to keep kids happily occupied for hours. And Laguna Beach happens to have some of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the country. Narrowing down our favorites wasn't easy, but we based our picks on a few key factors: how accessible each beach is, how calm (or not) the water tends to be, and practical things like parking and restrooms nearby
Our picks:
These are in order from the top of the port (closer to Newport Beach) down toward Dana Point. My favorites are highlighted below!
Crystal Cove State Beach
Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach
Picnic Beach
Heisler Park
Main Beach, Laguna
Victoria Beach (Pirate’s Tower), Laguna Beach
Aliso Beach
Treasure Island/Goff Island, Laguna Beach
1000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach (Hidden Pools)
Three Arch Bay Park
Salt Creek Beach
Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach
Why we parents love it: With protected, reef-calmed water and a gentle slope, Shaw's Cove is often singled out as one of the better tide-pool coves for little kids. The gentle slope of the beach makes it fun for little ones, though bigger waves can occasionally knock them down
Drawbacks: Like many of Laguna's coves, Shaw's Cove is mostly underwater at high tide, so timing matters
Restrooms: There are no on-site restrooms at Shaw's Cove itself. The nearest public facilities are up the street toward Heisler Park (see below).
Links: California Beaches
Photo Credit: Heisler Park Laguna Beach
Picnic Beach
Why we parents love it: A great spot for building sandcastles, tide-pooling and you may even spot a dolphin! There’s a grassy picnic area above the sand and lifeguards on duty in summer. Picnic beach is right below Heisler Park and popular with scuba divers and snorkelers
Drawbacks: Two rip currents run along this stretch, so it's not recommended for boogie boarding. Also best to only let kiddos go into the water knee-deep outside the rip zone. This beach also gets extreme high tides, so time your visit accordingly. The metered parking costs $2.25/hour and is strictly enforced.
Restrooms: The closest restrooms are a short hike up the ramp and to the left, which is convenient when coming from or going to the car, and there are also showers at the bottom of the ramp leading to the beach.
Links:
Photo Credit: California Beaches
Heisler Park
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Why we parents love it: This park is an easy, stroller-friendly way to let kids loose on tide pools without a strenuous hike. The tidal rocks aren't as slippery as the other ones along the coast (but still take caution when exploring with your Mini). The park has restrooms, benches, and paved sidewalks throughout, making it a parent’s ideal beach-day choice.
Drawbacks: Parking is the biggest drawback with limited metered spots that get filled up fast on weekends.
Restrooms: There are restrooms in the park and even along the cliff walk!
Links: Heisler Park, Laguna Beach California
Photo Credit - American Project
Main Beach, Laguna
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Why we parents love it: This is an ideal pit-stop for parents who are only in Laguna for a short time. This beach/playground combo is the perfect way to get a taste of Laguna Beach. It’s in the heart of downtown, with a free playground built right into the sand so kids can bounce between play structures. There's a boardwalk for an evening stroll, sand volleyball courts if the older kids want to burn off energy, and grassy areas for a picnic blanket. It's lively without being overwhelming (and ice-cream is a short stroll away!).
Drawbacks: Waves can sometimes be a bit strong for the littlest swimmers, though lifeguards are on duty, and the beach gets crowded after about 11 a.m., so arriving before 9:30 during summer is recommended if you want parking nearby.
Restrooms: Main Beach has restrooms and showers, located at the north and south ends of the beach, so there's no long walk no matter where you've set up your towels.
Links: City of Laguna Beach, Visit Laguna Beach
Photo Credit : California Beaches
Victoria Beach (Pirate's Tower), Laguna Beach
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Why we parents love it: The stone Pirate's Tower is the big draw here, and kids love climbing around it, taking photos, imagining themselves in a storybook. Beyond the tower, it's a wide, sandy stretch that's usually a little quieter than Laguna's more central beaches, which makes it a nice choice if you want to stay away from the crowds.
Drawbacks: Parking is tricky, so plan to arrive early or come later in the afternoon. Access is also via a staircase down from the neighborhood above, which isn't ideal for strollers.
Restrooms: There is no public restroom available at Victoria Beach itself; the closest facilities are up the road at Heisler Park, so plan a bathroom stop before you head down the stairs.
Links: History of Victoria Beach, City of Laguna Beach
Photo Credit - Mini Travel Club
Aliso Beach
Why we parents love it: Aliso is one of my favorites family-friendly beaches in Laguna. It has its own parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, benches, and a playground right next to the beach, an easy pick if you're planning to camp out for the whole day.
Drawbacks:The shorebreak here can be surprisingly powerful, especially during bigger swells, so it's worth staying close to the lifeguards and using extra caution getting in and out of the water, even on calm-looking days.
Restrooms: Showers & restrooms are available.
Photo Credit - Mini Travel Club
Treasure Island / Goff Island, Laguna Beach
Why we parents love it: This is one of the easiest beaches in town to actually get to via a paved path that leads all the way down to the sand (great for strollers and little legs don't have to deal with a staircase). It sits at the foot of the Montage, with tide pools nearby at Goff Island for when the kids want to explore.
Drawbacks: Because it's tucked next to the resort, parking is only moderate, and it can draw a bit of a crowd during peak season.
Restrooms: Outdoor showers and restrooms are the best pat about visiting Treasure Island Beach. It has two separate sets of restrooms: one near the parking lot and another below the pool area.
Links: City of Laguna Beach , Treasure Island Park
Photo Credit - Anonymous
1000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach (Hidden Pools)
Why we parents love it: Ok so it sounds scary, but it is not actually a thousand steps (more like 200 or so). The tide pools and sea cave at the bottom make the climb worth it. It has a secret, tucked-away feel that the bigger beaches don't, and kids love hunting for starfish, crabs, and the occasional small octopus in the pools.
Drawbacks: Parking is hit-or-miss since you can only park along the street on Pacific Coast Highway, and those stairs are a real workout both ways, especially with beach gear in tow. It's worth timing your visit about two hours before low tide to explore the sea cave and tide pools safely.
Restrooms: There's a bathroom, shower, and lifeguard tower at the bottom of the stairs (wohoo!).
Links: California's Best Beaches
Three Arch Bay Park
Why parents love it: For the families lucky enough to live there, it's a rare find. This is a private beach and small park with a tennis court and basketball court, tucked inside a guard-gated community with round-the-clock security.
Drawbacks: For the rest of us, this one's more of a name to know than a place to plan a visit. There's no public access route, no public parking, and the cove is walled off by cliffs so it can't be reached from any of the neighboring public beaches.
Restrooms: There are no public restrooms at this beach , another reminder that this is a residents-only stretch of sand.
Sources:
Photo Credit - Mini Travel Club
Salt Creek Beach, Laguna Niguel
Why parents love it: Just south of Laguna in Dana Point, Salt Creek is a favorite for its wide stretch of sand, gentle boogie-boarding waves, and tide pools that show up at the south point during low tide. There's a big grassy park above the beach with picnic tables and walking paths, which makes it easy to turn a beach day into a full outing.
Drawbacks: Parking is a bit of a trek from the sand — you'll walk through a pedestrian underpass, and on busy days there's a $1 shuttle back up the hill. Between that and the climb back up, plan for a bit more logistics than your average beach day, especially during peak hours and summer weekends when it gets crowded.
Restrooms: Convenience structures at Salt Creek include restroom facilities with outside showers, plus a paved parking area and a seasonal beach concession building.
Sources: California Beaches · Wheree Salt Creek Beach · OC Parks
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