Huntington State Beach
Huntington State Beach
4.5
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
433 reviews
Excellent
282
Very good
119
Average
20
Poor
7
Terrible
5
EuropeRUs
Chicago, IL66 contributions
May 2022
There were people fishing off the pier, kids on inter tubes in the water, teens taking pictures, people tanning, people jogging, picnics, some were under tents to block out some of the sun, older couples walking on pier. No trash on the beach. Lifeguard present. Seemed very safe. We got there late in day and signs said parking lot was full, but we did find a spot. You have to pay for parking by the hour, but it was less than $5.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JasMel99
Cheyenne, WY268 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Great beach close to Disney. Large wide open and flat beach perfect for families and friends! Had fire pits, volleyball nets and bike rentals. Nice paved walkway to bike, walk and rollerblade. There is even a handicap access point to get from the walkway to the waters edge. Public restrooms and ample parking even RV hookup spots. Some homeless hanging around but didn’t feel unsafe.
Written 18 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,604 contributions
Jul 2019
We went for an early morning walk by the beach. Park or city staff were out cleaning and leveling the beautiful beach sands for another great sunny day at Huntington Beach. Great, long beach, with beautiful beach sand, and water were at places you can walk out into the water for 40 or more yards
Written 10 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
InnaYYZ
Toronto, Canada1,496 contributions
Jul 2019 • Business
Gone are the days that we could go to this beach at night and camp out. Now activities are very restricted. It is still a fun place, but now, very, very crowded and a favourite of many. It is my favourite beach in the USA.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
InnaYYZ
Toronto, Canada1,496 contributions
Nov 2019
Gone are the days that we could go to this beach at night and camp out. Now activities are very restricted. It is still a fun place, but now, very, very crowded for about seven months of the year. It is my favourite beach in the USA.
Written 14 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam P
Trowbridge, UK4,805 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
The beach stretched for at least a couple of miles of white sand with joggers, cyclists and surfers with plenty of room to stretch out catching gleaming clean waves in the morning sunshine. The sea views were slightly spoiled by the sight of 4 oil rigs in the sea. We paid out $2 in coins at the parking meter and walked along the beach path up to the naff pier where the hobos hung out and the toilets stank worse than most this whole global trip.
Written 16 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnneyeagle_12
Highland, CA28 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
It's a dirty beach covered with cigarettes and trash.The atmosphere is often threatening of physical harm. Go to another beach.
Written 8 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anja D
Westminster, CA50 contributions
Sept 2012
Huntington Beach has a big beach. In the summer it is cleaned daily (groomed) to pick up garbage. The lifeguards are well trained and pull loads of people out of the surf every summer. Huntington Beach is referred to by locals as "HB" or "Huntington."
There are fire rings for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows to make S'mores. There are sand volleyball courts by the pier. There are rental shacks on the boardwalk to rent kites, bikes, surf boards, Boggie Boards and all sorts of water toys.
There is a Farmer's Market with fresh fruits, veggies and fresh baked breads. I forget what day the Farmer's Market happens.
There are Festivals taking place nearly every weekend at the pier. The Festivals are fun. The annual Rubber Ducky Run is fun.
Food is located on Main Street which is at the pier. There is a range of prices.
Street parking is all metered. The free parking is gone. There is subterranean Parking (underground) off Main Street which is shaded so your car is cool when you return to it. My favorite subterranean parking lot is by Starbucks and Baskin Robbins ice cream. Behind the bar and nightclub is a parking lot. You prepay for your space. If you stay longer you must return to add more money. If you park in the subterranean parking lot and stay past the closing time the gate is put up so you can get out and then parking is free! Just park in the subterranean lot, go to the beach, do some window shopping, go eat dinner and the parking garage will be closed. This is how you park for free!
The bathrooms at all the beaches in SoCal are disgusting, nasty and dirty. To use a public restroom in a shop or restaurant you must buy something. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Huntington Beach has the World Cup Surfing Competition every year. It is the largest surfing competition in North and South America. If you like surfing check it out. There are Surfing Schools in the area if you wish to learn to surf. Also, a Surfing Museum located just off Main Street. If you don't want to surf you can Boogie Board, Skim Board, Body Surf, Kite Surf, Wind Surf, Play Volleyball, Bike on the Bike Path (see bike rental locations), Run on the Bike Path, Rollerblade on the Bike Path, fly a kite, barbecue, dig for hermit crabs, etc.
The seagulls are quite aggressive. Zip shut your bag or they will reach into your backpack, purse, plastic bag, beach bag, etc. and empty it of all the contents looking for food while you are in the water. Your stuff will end up all over the sand. Put everything away securely to guard against the raiding seagulls that act like hooligans. There are few incidents of humans tampering with someone else's things. It the seagulls you must watch out for. When you go into the water ask the people around you to keep an eye on your things while you are gone. We all watch each other's things as a neighborly thing to do. IF you tell your neighbors you are gone they will chase away the seagulls for you. If you say nothing to them? They will not notice or stop the seagulls. When you return to your towel tell your neighbor you are back, "Hey, I'm back. Thanks for watching my stuff."
Surfing, swimming, Boogie Boarding ect. is forbidden near the pier due to people are pushed into the pylons covered in barnacles which shred the skin. If you drift too close to the pier an announcement will come over the loudspeakers telling you to move away. This is for your own safety.
Huntington Beach is a good beach for surfing if you are skilled. The waves can be big after storms and at high tide. The waves are flat at low tide. However, watch the flag warnings. Red Flag = Dangerous Surf. It can mean a Rip Tide, High Swells, Storm Warning, etc. Look at the flags on the Lifeguard Towers. Pay attention. If you are a weak swimmer do NOT go in the water on Red Flag Days or you may drown. If you are caught in a Rip Tide here are the rules: (1) Do NOT Panic. (2) Do NOT swim toward the beach as you will wear yourself out and only drown. (3) Turn sideways. Swim either North or South along the beach to get out of the Rip Tide. (4) Once you are out the Rip you can swim toward the beach at that time. (5) If you are very suddenly swept out to sea you are in a Rip Tide. Don't swim against the Rip as you will just tire out and drown. Turn sideways and swim out of it and then swim back to shore. (6) BEFORE you go in the water take some time to look at how the waves are breaking and spot the Rip Tides. Enter the ocean where no Rips are located. (7) You will drift with the tide. Continue to watch where you are in relation to the Rip so you don't accidentally get caught in a rip. (8) Do NOT turn your back on the ocean. You can have a wave break on your head and pull you out to sea. Face the ocean to watch the waves and duck dive under the white caps. Hold your arms out in front of you so you don't hit your head on the bottom and break your spine. When walking out into the water beware of the shelf drop offs. You can very suddenly find yourself underwater due to stepping off the sand bar shelves and drops offs between them.
Sometimes the Pacific Dolphins come in close to shore. They ride the waves. If a surfer is in their way they flip the surfer off his board. You can see them glide sideways through the waves. Sometimes they are chasing schools of fish and you see the fish running from the dolphins. Other times the dolphins just come to play.
Sea lions can hang out at the end of the pier barking and begging for food. If you are fishing from the pier you need a fishing license. If a sea lion steals fish off you line? Yeah, well, they do that.
There is a list of events at the beach on the Huntington Beach city website. I refer to the list to find out when the World Cup, pro volleyball competitions, festivals, Farmer's Market, free concerts at the pier, X Games, etc. are taking place.
Weekends can bring drum circles and their dancers performing at the steps at the pier. Drum Circles are fun to watch.
The crowds are bigger on the weekend, but there is also more going on during the weekend. If you wish to have less crowds go Mon - Fri.
If you are a good surfer you will enjoy Huntington Beach. Also, check out "The Wedge" at the end of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Or "Trestles" at San Onfre by the nuclear power plant in south OC San Juan Capistrano. Those are the best surf spots in OC. Trestles and HB host the surfing competitions.
There are fire rings for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows to make S'mores. There are sand volleyball courts by the pier. There are rental shacks on the boardwalk to rent kites, bikes, surf boards, Boggie Boards and all sorts of water toys.
There is a Farmer's Market with fresh fruits, veggies and fresh baked breads. I forget what day the Farmer's Market happens.
There are Festivals taking place nearly every weekend at the pier. The Festivals are fun. The annual Rubber Ducky Run is fun.
Food is located on Main Street which is at the pier. There is a range of prices.
Street parking is all metered. The free parking is gone. There is subterranean Parking (underground) off Main Street which is shaded so your car is cool when you return to it. My favorite subterranean parking lot is by Starbucks and Baskin Robbins ice cream. Behind the bar and nightclub is a parking lot. You prepay for your space. If you stay longer you must return to add more money. If you park in the subterranean parking lot and stay past the closing time the gate is put up so you can get out and then parking is free! Just park in the subterranean lot, go to the beach, do some window shopping, go eat dinner and the parking garage will be closed. This is how you park for free!
The bathrooms at all the beaches in SoCal are disgusting, nasty and dirty. To use a public restroom in a shop or restaurant you must buy something. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Huntington Beach has the World Cup Surfing Competition every year. It is the largest surfing competition in North and South America. If you like surfing check it out. There are Surfing Schools in the area if you wish to learn to surf. Also, a Surfing Museum located just off Main Street. If you don't want to surf you can Boogie Board, Skim Board, Body Surf, Kite Surf, Wind Surf, Play Volleyball, Bike on the Bike Path (see bike rental locations), Run on the Bike Path, Rollerblade on the Bike Path, fly a kite, barbecue, dig for hermit crabs, etc.
The seagulls are quite aggressive. Zip shut your bag or they will reach into your backpack, purse, plastic bag, beach bag, etc. and empty it of all the contents looking for food while you are in the water. Your stuff will end up all over the sand. Put everything away securely to guard against the raiding seagulls that act like hooligans. There are few incidents of humans tampering with someone else's things. It the seagulls you must watch out for. When you go into the water ask the people around you to keep an eye on your things while you are gone. We all watch each other's things as a neighborly thing to do. IF you tell your neighbors you are gone they will chase away the seagulls for you. If you say nothing to them? They will not notice or stop the seagulls. When you return to your towel tell your neighbor you are back, "Hey, I'm back. Thanks for watching my stuff."
Surfing, swimming, Boogie Boarding ect. is forbidden near the pier due to people are pushed into the pylons covered in barnacles which shred the skin. If you drift too close to the pier an announcement will come over the loudspeakers telling you to move away. This is for your own safety.
Huntington Beach is a good beach for surfing if you are skilled. The waves can be big after storms and at high tide. The waves are flat at low tide. However, watch the flag warnings. Red Flag = Dangerous Surf. It can mean a Rip Tide, High Swells, Storm Warning, etc. Look at the flags on the Lifeguard Towers. Pay attention. If you are a weak swimmer do NOT go in the water on Red Flag Days or you may drown. If you are caught in a Rip Tide here are the rules: (1) Do NOT Panic. (2) Do NOT swim toward the beach as you will wear yourself out and only drown. (3) Turn sideways. Swim either North or South along the beach to get out of the Rip Tide. (4) Once you are out the Rip you can swim toward the beach at that time. (5) If you are very suddenly swept out to sea you are in a Rip Tide. Don't swim against the Rip as you will just tire out and drown. Turn sideways and swim out of it and then swim back to shore. (6) BEFORE you go in the water take some time to look at how the waves are breaking and spot the Rip Tides. Enter the ocean where no Rips are located. (7) You will drift with the tide. Continue to watch where you are in relation to the Rip so you don't accidentally get caught in a rip. (8) Do NOT turn your back on the ocean. You can have a wave break on your head and pull you out to sea. Face the ocean to watch the waves and duck dive under the white caps. Hold your arms out in front of you so you don't hit your head on the bottom and break your spine. When walking out into the water beware of the shelf drop offs. You can very suddenly find yourself underwater due to stepping off the sand bar shelves and drops offs between them.
Sometimes the Pacific Dolphins come in close to shore. They ride the waves. If a surfer is in their way they flip the surfer off his board. You can see them glide sideways through the waves. Sometimes they are chasing schools of fish and you see the fish running from the dolphins. Other times the dolphins just come to play.
Sea lions can hang out at the end of the pier barking and begging for food. If you are fishing from the pier you need a fishing license. If a sea lion steals fish off you line? Yeah, well, they do that.
There is a list of events at the beach on the Huntington Beach city website. I refer to the list to find out when the World Cup, pro volleyball competitions, festivals, Farmer's Market, free concerts at the pier, X Games, etc. are taking place.
Weekends can bring drum circles and their dancers performing at the steps at the pier. Drum Circles are fun to watch.
The crowds are bigger on the weekend, but there is also more going on during the weekend. If you wish to have less crowds go Mon - Fri.
If you are a good surfer you will enjoy Huntington Beach. Also, check out "The Wedge" at the end of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Or "Trestles" at San Onfre by the nuclear power plant in south OC San Juan Capistrano. Those are the best surf spots in OC. Trestles and HB host the surfing competitions.
Written 4 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ILoveAGoodRoadTrip
Las Vegas, NV39 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We were so disgusted with the upkeep of the city beach last weekend. We had 3 families visiting us so brought them to HB for a beach party. One whole set of bathrooms were closed due to wet paint... really? in the middle of summer? So we had to walk to another set.. They were so disgusting ... many overflowed with sewage and a few were usable but only by standing up. then to top it off no soap available! I will never go back there! So embarrassing for our guests! What does that 15 dollars pay for? If you must go bring a can of Lysol, toilet seat covers, soap, etc.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KristenK1969
Las Vegas, NV438 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The beaches are stunningly clean. No homeless and they have a dog beach that the dogs can go off leash at. We had so much fun, can't wait to go back.
Written 28 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you were able to te serve a fire pit in the AM do you have to stay there all day or can you come back later in the day when you’re ready to start the fire?
Written 21 January 2023
Hello! We are planning to come with our kiddos who cannot swim. Are there any areas within walking distance where we could rent them youth size life vests? Thanks!
Written 4 September 2018
There are quite a few surf shop rental places in the area of HB as well as Newport Beach. If you are parking near either of these beaches, you'd find beach rentals in walking distance.
Written 8 October 2018
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