Disneyland is amazing – I know. But, sometimes we all need a little beach break!
If you’re ready to play in the sand and surf, make your way west to Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean. It’s less than 20 miles from Disneyland (about 30 minutes with no traffic) and is guaranteed fun for kids (and adults).
I recently visited with two of my kids and my father after spending a few days at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. It was just what we needed after hot and crowded (but fun!) days at the Disney parks.
You may want to check out my Disneyland Tips
When to Day Trip to Huntington Beach
If possible, visit on a weekday. You’ll avoid big crowds and have an easier time parking and navigating your way to and from the beach. If you’ve just come from crowded Disneyland, it will be nice to have a little more space and tranquility on a weekday.
How to Arrive
If you’re driving like we did, take surface roads! You’ll avoid the intense traffic on the freeways and if you run into traffic, you can try another parallel road. As a non-local, I also found the surface streets to be much more ‘chill’ than the freeways (and I normally drive in Italy).
Good To Know: If you don’t have a car, you can also take the bus or a Lyft/Uber. We almost split into two groups, and the Lyft rates were very reasonable.
Huntington Beach Parking
Park on the surface streets or in a garage. We paid $4/hour for street parking, and it was easy to find it on a Tuesday. We parked on a road perpendicular to Highway 1, a stone’s throw from the beach.
Where to Go and What to Do at Huntington Beach
Stop at the info center – The official visitor information center is in a small building in the Pier Plaza where the pier begins. We found the staff to be super kind and helpful. Ask about rip tides.
Sit to the right of the pier, away from the surfers – We started out a little too close to the surfers and moved because I didn’t want my kids in their way (or getting run over by a surfer).
Enjoy the sand, shells, and ocean! Go body surfing, build sandcastles, have footraces in the deep sand, and soak up the California beach scene.
Go shopping at Jack’s Surfboards (surf shop) – Pick up a logo t-shirt or two (we did), find cute sundresses (those too), or just browse the gear and clothing.
Walk out onto the pier – We walked out to the end of the pier and enjoyed the views of the beach, the surfers, and the fisherman.
Take a surf lesson – There are a ton of companies offering lessons. You can find one when you arrive or reserve in advance.
Play at the playground – There’s a nice all-inclusive playground that’s just an 8-minute walk from the pier, along the bike path. There’s no shade, but you can always cool off by running into the ocean!
Toilets and Showers
There are toilets on the other side of the beach bike path, just to the left of the pier (if your back is to the ocean). They’re very basic, so I’d just use them if you need to go to the bathroom. If your kids need to change clothes, I’d do the towel wrap trick (hold a towel around them to make a little changing room). If you need to change diapers, I’d use a portable changing mat and change baby outdoors. Or, you can find a bathroom inside a restaurant or shop.
When you’re ready to leave, you can rinse off at the outdoor showers in front of the restrooms. There’s no more sand from the showers to the road (and your car), so you can get back in your vehicle sand-free… unless you’re like my 6-year-old and are a magnet for sand.
Where to Eat with Kids at Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach is packed with restaurants, food stands, and kiosks. You’ll find anything you and your kids are craving, from hamburgers to poke to ice cream.
A few options include:
- Duke’s – Conveniently located at the start of the pier, Duke’s has classic Hawaiian seafood options. Our local friend recommended this place but my kids had other things in mind.
- Dairy Queen – We don’t have Dairy Queen where we live, so my boys were thrilled to get burgers, fries and Blizzards at Dairy Queen. It’s just across from the beach, a little south of the pier. We left our stuff at the beach (nothing valuable) while we walked to Dairy Queen for lunch.
- Bring a picnic and eat it on the beach – Get groceries before you get to the beach, as there aren’t great options close to the sand. There are a couple of Albertsons and a small Walmart not too far away. You can also stop at a grocery store on your drive between Disneyland and Huntington Beach. I didn’t plan ahead, and we were craving salty potato chips. If you need basic snacks like those or drinks, there’s a CVS across the street from the beach.
Final Tips for Your Huntington Beach Day Trip
Bring your beach basics:
- Sunscreen
- Bathing suits
- Towels or sheets
- Beach toys
- Water and snacks
- Dry clothes to put on when you leave
- Hats and sunglasses
- Flip flops (the sand’s hot!)
Don’t rely on the lifeguards – They are there and they’re watching, but remember to keep an eye on your little ones.
If possible, avoid midday sun – We didn’t do this, but I wish we’d arrived earlier, so we could’ve stayed out of the intense sun.
