Orange County is a dog-friendly place especially when compared to their coastal counterparts in California. See the descriptions below by city as their are some rules you need to abide by. Newport and Laguna are the most friendly as they allow dogs on most beaches in the mornings and evenings, but Huntington Beach has the best dog beach of all!
San Clemente Dog Beaches
The only dog beaches in San Clemente aren’t technically in Orange County, but they are just a short drive away. They are both located at Bluffs Beach in San Onofre State Beach. There are six numbered trails that go down the steep bluff to the beach in this park. Beach 1 and Beach 6 are open to dogs, but they must be on a leash on the trails and on the beach.
Dana Point Dog Beaches
Dogs are not allowed on any beaches, but Dana Point has a dog-friendly park directly above the beach. At Salt Creek Beachdogs are allowed on leash in Bluff Park, but they can’t be taken down to the beach unfortunately.
Laguna Beach Dog Beaches
Almost all of the city and county beaches in Laguna Beach are dog-friendly if you abide by the rules. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from June 15th through September 10th. At all other times they must be on a leash. Thousand Steps Beachand Totuavaare the exceptions and dogs are never allowed there. They are also prohibited on all the beaches in Crystal Cove State Park.
Newport Beach Dog Beaches
Similar to Laguna, Newport Beach allows dogs on most of their beaches with certain limitations. They are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. year-round, and must be leashed at all other times. This includes Corona Del Mar State Beach, Newport Municipal Beach, Balboa Pier Beach, and most of the beaches on Newport Bay.
Huntington Beach Dog Beaches
Surf City is the only coastal city in OC that has an off-leash dog beach. It’s called Huntington Dog Beach and it is located between Seapoint Street and 21st Street. Signs say leashes are required, but it’s been an off-leash beach for so long that this rule is not enforced. Sadly, at all other HB beaches dogs are prohibited.
Seal BeachDog Beaches
Dogs are unfortunately not allowed at Seal Beach City Beach.
Below is our list of the dog-friendly beaches in Orange County.
Beaches in this article
Huntington Dog Beach
Huntington Dog Beach is a dog-friendly strand at the northern end of Huntington Beach City Beach. In addition to...
View beach
San Onofre State Beach – Bluffs Beaches
San Onofre State Beach is located between Oceanside and San Clemente, California. The largest coastal area of this state...
View beach
Corona Del Mar State Beach
Corona Del Mar State Beach is a large popular beach on the east side of the Newport Harbor channel...
View beach
Little Corona Del Mar Beach
Little Corona Del Mar Beach is a popular small beach at the end of a ravine called Buck Gully...
View beach
Newport Municipal Beach
Newport Municipal Beach is located on both sides of the Newport Beach Pier. The beaches are continuous along the...
View beach
West Newport Beach
West Newport Beach is the western end of the Newport Beach Municipal Beach before the area at Santa Ana...
View beach
Balboa Peninsula Beach
Balboa Peninsula Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach south of the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California....
View beach
Balboa Pier Beach
The beach at Newport Beach’s Balboa Pier is a popular place with miles of sand for soaking in the...
View beach
Marina Park
Marina Park is a new park in Newport Beach with a north-facing beach on Newport Bay. This facility wasrecently...
View beach
Santa Ana River Jetties Beach
Santa Ana River Jetties Beach is the northernmost beach in Newport Beach, California. This is the quieter end of...
View beach
China Cove Beach
China Cove is a small tucked away sandy beach on Cove Street at the bottom of Fernleaf Avenue in...
View beach
West Jetty View Beach - The Wedge
West Jetty View Park is located at the end of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, CA. The park is...
View beach
Main Beach in Laguna Beach
Main Beach is the simple name given to the main centrally-located city beach in Laguna Beach, California. Main Beach...
View beach
Picnic Beach at Heisler Park
Picnic Beach is the northern beach of Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, CA. The park above the beach offers...
View beach
Rockpile Beach
Rockpile Beach is the southern beach of Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, California. Rockpile Beach is in a south-facing...
View beach
Aliso Beach
Aliso Beach Park is a popular sandy beach in south Laguna Beach, California. Unlike many of the nearby beaches...
View beach
Treasure Island Beach
Treasure Island Beach is south of the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, California. This sandy beach is the north...
View beach
Victoria Beach
Victoria Beach is a long white sand beach south of Victoria Drive in Laguna Beach. The majority of this...
View beach
Table Rock Beach
Table Rock Beach is a locally-known tucked away beach in south Laguna Beach, California. This is an excellent sandy...
View beach
West Street Beach
West Street Beach is in a wide sandy cove south of Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach, California. West...
View beach
Sleepy Hollow Beach
Sleepy Hollow Beach is below Sleepy Hollow Lane near central Laguna Beach, California. Sunbathing and walking the beach is...
View beach
St. Ann’s Beach
St. Ann’s Beach is a narrow sandy beach at the end of St. Ann’s Drive in Laguna Beach. ...
View beach
Pearl Street Beach
Pearl Street Beach is located below a stairway that begins at the west end of Pearl Street in Laguna...
View beach
Divers Cove Beach
Diver’s Cove Beach is at the west end of Heisler Park near downtown Laguna Beach, California. The beach is...
View beach
Cress Street Beach
Cress Street Beach is a secluded little beach at the end of Cress Street in Laguna Beach, California. When...
View beach
Agate Street Beach
Agate Street Beach is between Pearl Street Beach and Bluebird Beach in Laguna Beach, CA. These beach access points...
View beach
Anita Street Beach
Anita Street Beach is another tucked away beach access in Laguna Beach, California. When you get to the end...
View beach
Shaw’s Cove Beach
Shaw’s Cove is a small sandy beach tucked away below homes in Laguna Beach. It has a laid-back vibe...
View beach
Thalia Street Beach
Thalia Street Beach is below the dead end of Thalia Street in Laguna Beach where a long stairway gives...
View beach
Woods Cove Beach
Woods Cove Beach is in a sandy cove that has rocky points at both ends and fancy Laguna Beach...
View beach
Moss Street Beach
Moss Street Beach is a small rocky and narrow beach in Laguna Beach, California. It’s a tight spot for...
View beach
Oak Street Beach
At the end of Oak Street at Gaviota Drive in Laguna Beach there is a little park with benches...
View beach
Mountain Road Beach
Mountain Road Beach is down a steep stairway just west of the intersection of Mountain Road and South Coast...
View beach
Crescent Bay Beach
Crescent Bay Beach is a picturesque and popular beach in northern Laguna Beach, CA. This crescent-shaped beach is about...
View beach
Cleo Street Beach
Cleo Street Beach Access is a block west of Highway 1 in Laguna Beach, California. The stairway to Cleo...
View beach
Bluebird Beach
Bluebird Beach is a narrow sandy beach in front of the Surf & Sand Resort near the intersection of...
View beach
Brooks Street Beach
The access to Brooks Street Beach is at the end of Brooks Street in Laguna Beach. The beach itself...
View beach
Boat Canyon Beach at Fishermans Cove
Fisherman’s Cove Beach is a small south-facing beach tucked away in Laguna Beach, California. The signage at the entrance...
View beach
Salt Creek Beach
Salt Creek Beach Park is a popular Orange County park located in Dana Point, California. This wide sandy beach...
View beach
