Beach guide
Doheny State Beach
Dana Point, Orange County, CA
Overview
Doheny State Beach is a 62-acre state park at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, right next to Dana Point Harbor. It has more than a mile of sandy beach, a grassy beachfront day-use area with picnic tables and fire rings, and a beachfront campground.
Layout
San Juan Creek splits the park. The day-use beach north of the creek is where surfing is allowed, and the breaks here are consistent. South of the creek is the campground, with 113 sites, 33 of them on the beach. At the rocky western end, licensed anglers fish, certified divers enter the water and tide pools are exposed at low tide.
Visiting
The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Day-use parking is charged by the hour or by the day, with higher rates on weekends and in summer. Visitors arriving on foot or by bike get in free. A small visitor center near the entrance has a tide-pool exhibit.
Rules
Dogs are welcome in the park on a 6-foot leash but aren't allowed on the beach, except service animals. Alcohol is limited to registered campers at their sites and permitted events. Stand-up paddleboarding and kayak surfing are restricted to the area south of The Hammer.
Getting there & access
Driving and parking
Enter from Dana Point Harbor Drive. Day-use parking for cars, vans and motorcycles is $7 an hour (2-hour minimum), or $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and in summer. RVs over 25 feet pay $30. Visitors on foot or bike get in free.
Beach wheelchairs and mats
Several beach wheelchairs are available, and two portable beach mats give wheelchair access onto the sand. A wooden boardwalk runs from the snack bar across the beach to a shade structure, and the paved Beach Promenade Trail is 0.34 miles long.
Surfing, paddling and diving
Surfing is restricted to the day-use beach north of San Juan Creek. Stand-up paddleboarding and kayak surfing are restricted to the area south of The Hammer. Licensed anglers and certified divers use the rocky western end.
Next door: Dana Point Harbor
The park borders Dana Point Harbor. Boaters who want to launch use the harbor's facilities rather than the beach.
Amenities
- Lifeguards — Main lifeguard tower on the day-use beach
- Restrooms & showers — Restroom/shower buildings, plus outdoor rinse showers in the North and South Day-Use Areas
- Picnic areas — North Day-Use has 10 accessible picnic areas and 2 group areas; South Day-Use has sites with fire rings
- Campground — 113 sites (33 beachfront); no hookups; potable water and dump station
- Volleyball — First-come, or reserve a court
- Visitor center — Small center near the entrance with a tide-pool exhibit
- Tide pools — At the rocky western end, exposed at low tide
- Snack bar — With a boardwalk across the sand
Rules & official resources
- Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash at all times and confined to a vehicle or tent at night; no dogs on beaches except service animals
- Only registered campers may drink alcohol, in their campsites; special-event permit holders may serve alcohol
- Surfing is restricted to the day-use beach north of San Juan Creek
- Fishing (licensed anglers) and diving (certified divers) are permitted at the rocky western area
- Park hours 6 a.m.–10 p.m. year-round; amplified sound prohibited except low-volume battery radios
Common boat service needs here
Boats in neighboring Dana Point Harbor
Doheny shares its shoreline with Dana Point Harbor, where boats sit in warm, protected salt water year-round. Hull growth builds quickly, so slip owners rely on regular diver cleaning.
Find Bottom Cleaning, Hull Cleaning & Dive Services providers →Rinsing boards and paddlecraft
Surfers and paddlers here take sand and salt home after every session. A fresh-water rinse of boards, kayaks and racks prevents corrosion and UV-baked grime.
Find Boat Detailing & Washing providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 7, 2026