Doheny Beach  Dana Point, California /dohenystatebeach.org

Doheny State Beach is the readers' choice as the County's "Best Camping Site", featuring California camping at its best. Alcohol consumption is allowed at some camp areas, making this facility conducive for parties and special events. One block up the hill from Doheny State Beach at the beautiful Marriott's Laguna Cliffs Resort, a great hotel for your Doheny Beach fun, where nothing beats a campfire on a cool Southern California night with the salt-mist air fanning the flames of a bonfire ablaze.

Doheny State Beach truly is one of the favorite beaches for barbeques and family picnics. It's beautiful grass lawns, tables and grills, volleyball courts and clean sand beach are all close to the parking lot so you don't have far to walk. This Dana Point favorite has a five acre lawn with private picnic facilities rentals plus a sand beach and plenty of restrooms, volleyball courts, food concessions, showers, etc. It is located off Dana Point Harbor Drive, charges a parking fee, and has 121 tent sites for RV parking and tents.

The 62-acre park, administered by the California Department of Parks &  Recreation, is at the mouth of San Juan Creek.  With over a mile of white, sandy  beach and some of the warmest water and  best swimming and surfing in California, it's no wonder that people return here year after year to vacation. 

A rocky area at the beach's western end  attracts divers and anglers. During low tide, the tide pools are available for exploring. The creek that runs through the park divides the facilities into three areas.  The  area west of the creek is reserved for day use; a five acre landscaped picnic area  with 170 picnic tables, 99 barbeque grills and fire rings with plenty of parking: the area south of there is the day use area, commonly called "hole in the fence".  There are 33 fire rings, volleyball area, chemical toilets, beach showers and lots of  parking.  This area is popular for the all day beach party and evening campfire.  At the entrance to the State Beach there is a  Visitors Center with aquariums, a simulated tide  pool, and schedules on what is going on in the  park. The park entrance is on Dana Point Harbor Drive, just seaward of Pacific Coast  Highway in Dana Point. www.dohenystatebeach.org

Annual Events - Check the official web site listed on top of page for event dates, times and other current information! 

APRIL / MAY  - Annual Grunion Night includes a slide show campfire program followed by a beach walk to view the grunions coming ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. This evening program begins at 10:00 p.m.

Blues Music Festival usually in May  This popular 2-day event attracts thousands of music lovers featuring 2 stages of live music, a variety of food, and various booths. 
JULY Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration annual fireworks show off the barge! Fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m. 

Summer Season of Interpretive Programs and Activities

• Ranger Buddies Program: This program was designed as a way to include the "little folk" in a daily educational nature outing. Ranger Buddies is for children 4-6 years of age.
• Junior Rangers Program: Junior Rangers is a statewide program with the California State Parks and Recreation Department. Junior Rangers is for children 7-12 years of age.
• Nature Hikes: The staff at Doheny State Beach offers Nature Hikes periodically on Sunday mornings throughout the summer season. Everyone is welcome to join us (children 6 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult). 
• Campfire Programs: Doheny State Beach 
• Fish Feeding Presentations: The Doheny State Beach Visitor's Center and Gift Shop 

AUGUST Whitey Harrison Outrigger Canoe Classic -Come and cheer over 1,000 paddlers from California as they compete in this long-distance outrigger canoe paddle from Dana Point to Laguna Beach.

SEPTEMBER  (usually held in in Mid- Sept. one weekend, Saturday and Sunday) Doheny Days Music Festival This popular annual event features two stages of live pop and reggae music, a variety of cultural food, and vendor booths. 

Annual Dale Vezy Classic Surf Contest - The Doheny Longboard Surfing Association hosts this annual surfing contest with some of California's finest surfers. This contest is limited to various members of surfing clubs throughout California. 

OCTOBER Halloween Haunt annual event features spooky booths and other spidery fun! Usually held the Saturday evening of the week of Halloween. Please dress in costume and bring along a can of food to be donated to the Orange County Food Bank. The fun begins in the evening, usually around 7:00 p.m. 

NOVEMBER  Thanksgiving Day Annual Turkey Trot/10K Run