Crystal Cove State Beach — Restaurant in Newport Beach

Parking is $15 for the entire day. Download the Passport Parking app to pay for parking (zone# is 205) (you can also pay at the front, but its more convenient as the only pay station is at the front entrance to the Park (and you don't want to pay unless you know there is a parking spot open. Sometimes you have to wait a bit for a spot until you see someone leave, but this is not always the case). This is a State Park, and its nice to see wildlife while still enjoying the beach! There are hiking trails on the cliffs over looking the beach. The beach is very clean, and I think it's less crowded than Corona Del Mar, which is close by. There are tide pools which are fun during low tide. The path/trail from the parking lot 3 and 4 (not sure about 1 or 2, or other paths/trails) to the beach get steep at some point, so hold onto the rails (and use hand sanitizer after) or wear shoes/sandals with a grip so you don't slide and fall. If you're coming with an elderly person, keep that in mind. If you're using a wheelchair, be cautious or perhaps have someone hold onto the wheelchair in case you lose control. I think entrance to the beach from the road that leads to the Beachcomber might be easier for elderly/wheelchair folks, but I'm not sure. The parts of the beach near the cottages and The Beachcomber Cafe/Shake Shack are crowded, but it's more empty the more you move out to the right. For anyone near parking lot 3, note that The Beachcomber and Shake Shack are 20-25 minutes away by walk, and parking is horrible there (and the waits can be long). Unless you plan to spend the entire day at the beach, I would pack food instead of...

The famous beach is off the beaten path, where park pedestrian paths outnumber vehicle roads. While passing a motorists along Pacific Coast Highway can clearly see the ocean, the nearly continuous beach can only be accessed through the Park trails. The sand beach walk is down below the street level and away from the busy Pacific Coast Highway! Trails from the parking lots meander thru areas of local sage, scrub brush and chaparral. Restroom structures may be seen along the way. By following the Google Maps Satellite View, trail highlights can be found and beach access will be easy to locate! Crystal Cove State Park also is known for the clean sand beach and ocean, in the summertime good for swimming and surfing on occasion, tho body boarding may be more regular. Lifeguards would be in attendance with an overlapped watch! In the off season, the watch stations are moved and lined up on dry land. It’s a year round spectacle at the waterfront, as the tide pools are well worth the hike. Ocean carved rock formations line the beach walk. Setting up beach chairs, a beach tarp or towel out can unofficially hold a spot to watch the waves, the boats offshore or the kids making sand castles! Entrance fee for vehicles is $15 each, with prices subject to change in the summertime. Hours for the day use side are from 6:00...

This is probably one of my favorite beaches to go to. Seldomly does it get crowded mainly because of the accessibility of the beach. This is definitely not a beach where you can just park right up to the sand and unload your stuff - most ways down are steep steps or ramps that are unfortunately not very handicap accessible. This is a prime example of Southern California's great chaparral ecosystem right up against the Pacific ocean.

There are small little tide pools in which you can find some interesting little critters but please, look, but don't touch! You'll often find surfers at this location trying to catch a save or two. Dogs are allowed up in the trail area but it is not recommended to take them down to the beach area. Be wary of ticks that your pets might inadvertently pick up on the trails. Also there are many rocky areas around the beach so if you bring little ones, be mindful of where you guys settle down as you don't want them to be too close to the rocks.

All day parking is $15 and allows you to go in and out of any of the State Park beaches as well so you can grab lunch and visit a different area of the...