Doheny State Beach
RV Guide

This festival usually takes place in late spring. The 1960s longboard contest is always quite a treat. But it’s not just a welcome-summer surf party. This festival highlights local artists and local food. There’s usually Polynesian dancing as well, for those who want to try to become the next YouTube sensation. You may also want to check out the Kona Beer Garden as many visitors claim that it is a great place to relax after a long day on the beach.

In 2014, the California Parks and Recreation Department gave Doheny State Beach’s Visitor Center an extreme makeover. Updates included nicer facilities, a world-class aquarium, and various marine life displays. You’ll also find a tide pool, five ocean environment tanks with real ocean critters, and other displays of wildlife you may see in the area. The park store has a new home in the Visitors Center as well. This facility is located right behind the picnic area near the park entrance on Dana Point Harbor Drive.

Roughly 250,000 visitors a year enjoy over sixty maritime history and marine biology exhibits. If that sounds dull, wait until you check out the two historic tall sailing ships or the oceanography research ship. Visitors can experience marine life at one of the cutting-edge teaching labs, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, or the adjacent Marine Life Conservation Area. In 2016, the Ocean Institute was named the area’s best nonprofit organization, and that’s quite an accomplishment.

Be sure to pack the binoculars in the RV before heading to this excellent California beach. One of the longest-running events at Doheny State Beach occurs every year in early March. For two weekends, visitors get up close and personal with whales and dolphins. The tour is family owned and operated, so your guide is knowledgeable and passionate. If the weather is bad or the marine life is uncooperative, your next trip is free. Other activities during the festivals include sand sculpting, a street fair, and a pizza party, to name a few.

Pack the family in the RV and head out to the beach for a picnic or BBQ. The north day-use area has a vast, five-acre picnic area. There are also 13 different group picnic areas here. Four of these are covered for shade while the others are nice and sunny. Each picnic section can accommodate 100 people with four BBQ pits, a fire ring, and six picnic tables. You will need to reserve the group picnic areas in advance or just take your chances on finding some empty tables for you and your group.

The north area is the best place for swimmers. The main lifeguard tower is right next to Thor’s Hammer. Additionally, the bottom slopes gently, even past the surf areas. The south area is for experienced swimmers. There are lifeguards there, but not as many. There’s a sudden drop-off just a little way from the shore. It’s very jagged as well, so you’re never sure where the bottom is. In both the north and south areas, watch for backwash, riptides, and other hazards. If the lifeguards issue a warning, don’t ignore it, and swim only when it's safe.

What’s a beach without volleyball, huh? There are two large sand courts in the north day-use area. They are first-come, first-served for the most part, but courts one through seven can be reserved for a fee. From mid-June to mid-August, the California Beach Volleyball Association usually holds several volleyball tournaments here. Many of them are quite competitive, and the players compete at a very high level. If you cannot get a court to play on, there are still exciting games to watch.

These areas are among the most diverse and fragile ecosystems in California. They’re only found in places like Doheny State Beach, where saltwater and freshwater meet. Doheny State Beach’s tidal pool is near the mouth of San Juan Creek. When the tide goes out, little pockets of life are visible. If you look closely, you’ll see a variety of mollusks, sea stars, anemones, snails, limpets, and crabs. All wildlife is protected, so no touching, please. Don't forget to pack your camera in the motorhome so you can take pics to share on your social media pages.

Kayaking and paddleboarding are lots of fun, and you can pack these in your RV or carry them on top of your rig. Don't worry about towing capacity, as there is no need to pull a boat trailer. Paddling is a great way to experience the water if surfing is not your thing, or if the conditions are less than ideal. Launch from Thor’s Hammer, which is a jetty not far from the creek’s mouth. To avoid entanglements, paddleboarders who venture north must stay at least 1,000 feet offshore. That eliminates the possibility of collisions with surfers or kayakers, and it lets paddleboarders do their thing in solitude.

Back in the Beach Boys days in the late 1960s, the waves at Doheny State Beach were big, rough, and only for experts or people-watchers. But then along came Dana Point Harbor and a few breakwaters just off the coast. So, now, the tidal wave-type experience is gone. But there are still some of the best rides in the state here, especially in the Indicator and the Boneyard. If you have a longboard, the experience is even better. To surf the Boneyard, catch a southern swell. You should probably avoid this area during low tide because it gets pretty rocky. The Indicator is farther out and not as susceptible to the waves, but it is a longer ride. In terms of surf areas, honorable mention goes to Second Spot and Creekmouth.