7 Best Beaches on an LA to San Diego Drive

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Sviat Oleksiv
March 17, 2022

California is the most famous and third-largest state in terms of area in the United States. Like other West Coast states, California boasts beautiful coasts, national parks, waterfronts, and even deserts.

Many people prefer to discover the beautiful state by a car. So, If you are planning your adventurous vacation, don't miss TOP 7 Best Beaches on an LA to San Diego Drive. This destination provides a terrific mix of stunning beaches.

1. Manhattan State Beach

In the South Bay district of Los Angeles, Manhattan State Beach is located between Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles International Airport. It is known as a sportsmen's paradise. There are 50 volleyball courts, and a game is always in progress.

The beach is well-kept and well-known, attracting more than four million people each year. The 928-foot-long Manhattan Beach Pier, built in the 1920s, is a popular hangout for surfers and an excellent fishing spot. The Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium is an octagonal structure at the pier's base.

2. Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica Beach is a traditional Southern California beach and one of the most recognized beaches in California, located not far from downtown Los Angeles. This famous beach is three and a half kilometers long and has fine, soft, and well-kept sand.

The beach, which is divided by the iconic Santa Monica Pier, is ideal for surfing, swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, and other sand and water sports. There are also numerous fantastic restaurants, pubs, and cafes along the seashore for you to visit.

3. Huntington City Beach

Huntington State Beach is one of SoCal's best beaches. The palm tree-lined beach spans for about fifteen kilometers, and the massive waves that smash dramatically just offshore make it a surfer's paradise. With a nickname like 'Surf City,' it's no surprise that Huntington Beach is known all over the world for its incredible surf holidays.

Surfing, fishing, beach volleyball, swimming, romantic walks, and sunbathing are all available on the sandy beach. There are several basketball courts and fire rings for evening bonfires. You can also visit a lot of bars and nightclubs.

4. Crystal Cove State Beach

Crystal Cove State Park is considered one of Orange County's largest remaining natural seashores. The park has 18 miles of hiking trails spread throughout 2,400 acres of wilderness where you can forget you're in the middle of a bustling metropolis.

Crystal Cove Beach is an undeveloped beach where you can do scuba diving, tide pooling, fishing, kayaking, and surfing. It is located in a gorgeous cove with coastal cliffs. Long walks on the beach are enjoyable, as is discovering the unique tidal pools.

5. Crescent Bay Beach

Crescent Bay is hard to top when it comes to spectacular views. Tall cliffs bound the beach with caves to the north and south. Between them is a crescent's golden sand.

Crescent Bay is ideal for snorkeling along the granite outcroppings on either side of the shoreline when the waves are calm. Body surfers get excited about a south swell hitting Crescent as surfers are about Brooks Street or Rockpile beaches.

6. Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is the stuff of California fantasies. Throughout this gorgeous region, visitors will be treated to cascading, verdant slopes, breathtaking coastal parks, and quiet beaches. All of this, as well as its small-town charm, are just a few of the numerous features that make this southern California destination one to remember.

It's also quite simple to get to. Laguna Beach is located between San Diego and Los Angeles along Pacific Coast Highway, making it a perfect location to stop on any California road trip.

7. La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is a small, stunning cove with a modest sandy beach and cliffs on all sides. Surfboards, boogie boards, and other boards are not permitted in the Cove because it is a marine reserve. Underwater life is abundant, and swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers can occasionally see beautiful yellowtail, garibaldi, rays, and even leopard sharks.

During high tide, this little beach shrinks even more, yet during low tide, interesting tide pools emerge. Swimming off the beach is only recommended for strong swimmers due to the huge swells and colder water than other San Diego beaches.