Corona Del Mar State Beach Park
Known For
- •Boogie boarding-friendly waves
- •Sunset boat-watching at the north end
- •The Jetty snack shack by the lifeguard station
- •Public restrooms and outdoor showers
Insider Tips
Best Time
Weekday late afternoon for sunset and easier street parking; early morning for quieter swims
Ideal For
Pro Tip
On weekdays hunt for free street parking near the village. If you use the lot, bring the pay-by-app and note the typical three-hour limit.
Corona del Mar State Beach is a great family-friendly beach and a popular place for swimmers. Also known as Big Corona Beach, Corona del Mar State Beach is a half-mile-long sandy beach framed by cliffs and a rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor. The beach is also popular with surfers, divers, volleyball players, and sunbathers, making it a must-visit stop when exploring things to do in Newport Beach.. Made-for-TV Views Corona del Mar offers beautiful sandy beaches and coves that look like they came right off of a movie set. You actually may have seen these beaches in movie and television productions such as Gilligan’s Island and current made-for-TV productions from Disney. On the hills above the beaches stand houses and windy roads, and a lookout point to enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Newport Bay. The sunsets here are incredible, so bring a picnic and enjoy! History of Corona del Mar State Beach Corona del Mar State Beach held the first major surf competition in Mainland America: the Pacific Coast Surf Riding Championships in 1928. Organized by Tom Blake through the Surfboard Club, the contest involved paddling and surfing skills. From 1934 to 1936, in order to make the entrance navigable for boaters, the harbor entrance was dredged to 25 feet and over 200,000 tons of rocks were dropped at the entrance to extend the West and East Jetties. The East Jetty grew to its current 1,673 feet and, along with the removal of the entrance sand bar, killed the easy waves that had become so popular. Parking at Corona del Mar State Beach Paid Parking Lot Available (located adjacent to the beach) Important Note: The California State Parks Annual Day Use Pass is not accepted here. Amenities at Corona del Mar State Beach Visitors can enjoy a wide range of amenities, making this one of the best beaches for families in Newport Beach: Picnic areas Fishing Restrooms available Outdoor showers Swimming Windsurfing/Surfing Dogs allowed before 10am and after 4:30pm Wedding venues for seaside ceremonies
Drifter Insights
Major destination with tourist appeal
TripAdvisor: Top 25% (#2 of 9)
Popular With
Tourist Awareness
TripAdvisor: #2 of 9 things to do in Corona del Mar