Bolsa Chica State Beach — Attraction in Huntington Beach

Don't go to this beach on a weekend. Your welcome.

This beach has a small unassuming and free designated parking lot. Yes, free beach parking. Go during the day on your day off or after work. This beach is the turn around spot for the buses too. Don't want to drive? Hop on the bus! You know those days where you need to perform some self care? Hit this beach up.

This beach defies the odds and has a ton of shells to dig through. There's very little seaweed so you aren't hopping around and avoiding gnat nests for half your stay. You don't have to hike practical cliffs to gain access, it's level with the parking lot which you can see the PCH from. Accessible to a fault. (Fyi, I haven't seen any wheelchairs with the big wheels meant for the beach and other terrain here but there are a few nearby medical supply stores that might be able to help you out. I've rented a standard one from one for a reasonable price and they might know who to talk to, call first maybe?)

What's the worst part of going to a beach? No good food for miles or having to bring your own and packing and a heavy cooler and ugh. But every beach is like that, right? Wrong. This beach has a Jack in the Box five steps from the parking lot. Yeah, you heard me. Tacos, Chicken Terriyaki, all day breakfast foods, curly fries.. the works. No heavy cooler necessary.

Did I mention that you can park your camper here and live like Kings and Queens? It's a separate lot to the left of the bus turn around. Bathrooms, rinse off stations, a workout center... No hookups but there's a dumping station close by (within a couple miles). And it's a state park beach, so the living...

Beach itself is great, been coming since I was a child. Soft sand and nice and flat, tons of shells and a small amount of rocks. Perfect for families without being touristy. Getting in and the price of parking is what isn’t so great. Depending on the day and how nice the weather you can expect anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour just to get through the line and past the gate to even get to a parking spot. Add on the difficulty of only being able to turn right into the gate area which means if you came the other direction good luck trying to get into the line because it goes for a long ways and nobody will let you in if you didn’t realize all the cars on the side of the road were waiting to get in. Add on to the fact that the attendants at the gate choose random cars to let through into separate lanes instead of just having all lanes open. Add on time if anyone in front of you happens to have questions because the attendant will stop and chat with them. They do accept card payments now which is useful since the price to park has gone up to $20 for cars!! They do have a decent amount of restrooms but they definitely need work, locks were sticky some out of toilet paper, missing hooks to hang items and fairly unclean with toilet paper all over the floor with more than just sand and ocean water with it. But the beach itself is great and plenty of lifeguard stations with great lifeguards always watching and helping people....

Beautiful beach! Bolsa Chica Beach is hands down one of my favorite spots in Southern California. Located just north of Huntington Beach, it offers the perfect balance of relaxation and natural beauty without the overwhelming crowds. The beach is spacious, clean, and well-maintained, with soft sand and clear water. It’s a great place for a variety of activities, whether you're into surfing, paddleboarding, or just lounging by the waves.

One of the things I love most about Bolsa Chica is its laid-back vibe. It never feels too crowded, even on weekends, which is a rare find in SoCal. The beach is also very family-friendly—plenty of room for kids to play, and the gentle waves make it a safe spot for little ones to dip their toes in the water.

There are also some nice walking trails along the beach and a great view of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, which adds a bit of scenic charm. The parking lot is fairly large, though it can fill up during peak hours, so arriving early is a good idea.

If you're looking for a quieter, less commercialized beach experience with easy access to amenities and a welcoming atmosphere, Bolsa Chica is definitely the place to be. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Orange County coastline, and I can’t...