A-frames near Newport Beach with showers
Pack your swimsuit for one of Orange County’s most popular beach communities.
- Newport Beach
Popular camping styles for Newport Beach
A-frames near Newport Beach with showers guide
Overview
South of Los Angeles in Orange County, Newport Beach attracts throngs of tourists with its sandy shores and well-developed tourist infrastructure. There are tons of other things to do in the area, from checking out the exhibits at the Newport Sports Museum and the Orange County Museum of Art to taking a ferry ride out to nearby Balboa Island to having a campfire at Corona del Mar State Beach on the edge of town. While you can't camp at Newport Beach itself, there are some great campgrounds a short drive away at Crystal Cove State Park.
Where to go
Elsewhere in Orange County
Orange County has some of the best beaches in Southern California, from nearby Huntington Beach—a favorite among surfers—swanky Laguna Beach, shopper-favorite San Clemente (which also has beach camping), and the beaches of Catalina Island. This compact county is also home to plenty of fun attractions, including Anaheim’s own Disneyland.
Los Angeles County
The county north of Orange County, Los Angeles has all of the perks of a big city—from fabulous restaurants and nightlife to world-class museums—plus tons for lovers of the great outdoors. Some of the best beaches are in the Malibu area, which also happens to have lots of private and publicly run campgrounds, both by the beach and in the inland hills.
San Bernardino County
If you’re a fan of the desert, you’ll love San Bernardino County, home to the Mojave National Preserve and portions of both Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks. The county also encompasses much of the San Bernardino National Forest including Big Bear Lake, a popular forest getaway for Angelinos.
When to go
Newport Beach is a fun place to visit year-round, with mild winters and hot summers, but most people come here between July and August, when the temperatures are at their most ideal for swimming, though it’s usually hot enough to get in the water well into September or even October. If you want to beat the crowds, come in the winter, when the surfing conditions are at their finest. This is also the best time of year for spotting migrating whales.
