Visiting Crystal Cove State Park In Laguna Beach
Crystal Cove State Park is an amazing beach park tucked along the coast of Laguna Beach. It has 3.2 miles of sandy beach, 18 miles of hiking trails, campgrounds, and a charming historic district.
Whether you want to spend the day at the beach, or stay overnight in their famous beachfront cottages, this article will cover everything you need to know before visiting the park.
Here is a complete guide to visiting Crystal Cove State Park, including where to park, what to do, and where to stay.
Parking at Crystal Cove State Park
- $15/day entrance fee ($20 during summer), hourly parking available at Los Trancos lot only, via the Yodel app.
- Historic district and beaches: Park at Los Trancos Parking Lot
- Access to hiking trails: Park at Lower Moro Parking Lot
There’s two main parking lots at Crystal Cove, the Los Trancos Parking Lot, and Lower Moro Parking Lot. If you want easy access to the historic district with the restaurants and beach, park at the Los Trancos Parking Lot.
From there, you’ll do a short 10 minute walk through a little tunnel, until you reach the beach area. If you don’t want to walk, the Beachcomber restaurant offers a $2 shuttle from this parking lot, down to the historic district as well.
If you want to go hiking, it’s best to park at the Lower Moro Parking Lot. This parking lot is right next to the campgrounds, and gives easy access to the various hiking trails throughout the park.
Parking Cost
At the Los Trancos Parking Lot, there’s a $15/day ($20 during summer) entrance fee, and a staffed entrance station where you can pay. You can also pay a $5/hr hourly fee at the Los Trancos Parking Lot only, on the Yodel app.
The rest of the parking lots are $15/day ($20 during summer), and have self–pay kiosks at the entrance that accept cash or credit cards.
Things to do in Crystal Cove State Park
Here are some of the best things to do at Crystal Cove State Park.
- Relax on the beach
- Set up a picnic or dine in the historic district (Beachcomber Cafe or Shake Shack)
- Stay in a charming beachfront cottage from 1930-1940
- Explore tide pools at Pelican Point and Reef Point
- Hike along the bluff tops to enjoy sweeping ocean views
Visit the Historic District
Crystal Cove State Park is the perfect place to spend the day on the beach, and dine out right by the water in the historic district. The historic district has old buildings, rustic beach cottages, and the Beachcomber Cafe and Shake Shack.
The Beachcomber Cafe makes excellent beignets, breakfast dishes, dinner, and drinks. Crystal Cove’s Shake Shack serves everything from breakfast dishes, to burgers, seafood, and milkshakes.
Relax on the beach
Crystal Cove has a beautiful beach with views of the cliffs, that stretches from Treasure Cove in the north, and Moro Beach in the north.
The beach has lifeguards on staff, so it’s a good beach for swimming and surfing during the summer.
Additionally, there’s tide pools at Pelican Point and Reef Point, which are fun to explore on low tide days.
To get to the tide pools, you can start at the historic district, and walk north to Pelican Point/Treasure Cove, or south to Rocky Bight/Reef Point. View their map to see where all of the best tide pools are located.
Crystal Cove can have big waves, so it may not be the best choice for swimming. If you want to go swimming, I recommend visiting Treasure Island Beach instead, just 5 miles south. Treasure Island Beach has beautiful bright blue water, gentle waves, rock arches, and tide pools filled with marine life.
Hike by the ocean
Crystal Cove has over 18 miles of hiking trails, over the hills, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the ocean.
For a challenging uphill hike that offers stunning ocean views, hike the El Moro Canyon Loop Trail (5 miles roundtrip). For an easy hike along the bluffs and beach that passes by the historic district, hike the Reef Point and Crystal Cove Trail (5.2 mile round trip).
And if you’re looking for a long, challenging hike around the park, hike the Crystal Cove perimeter loop (9.4 miles roundtrip.) All of these hikes begin at the Lower Moro parking lot. When hiking, remember to bring lots of water, as these trails are exposed to the sun.
Where To Stay: Beach Cottages and Campgrounds
Beachfront Cottages
Crystal Cove has 46 charming rustic beachfront cottages, built between 1930-1940, that you can rent out for the night.
Their dorm style cottages have private bedrooms and a shared living space with a kitchen, so they’re an excellent place to stay, with friends or family. To rent a cottage, you’ll need to book well in advance, as they’re extremely popular.
The reservations open 6 months in advance, and each guest is allowed a maximum stay of 7 nights per year. Visit their website to find out which cottages are open and book a reservation.
Campgrounds
If you want to camp overnight, you’ll need to make a reservation online. The Moro campground has 57 family campsites with picnic tables, restrooms, and showers (paid by coin), starting at $25/night.
The Moro campgrounds also allow dogs on a leash at the campsite, but they’re not allowed on the beach or non-paved hiking trails. See their camping guidelines for more detailed information.
Is Crystal Cove State Park dog-friendly?
No, the majority of Crystal Cove state park doesn’t allow dogs, including the historic district, beach area, and unpaved hiking trails. The only place dogs are allowed at Crystal Cove is the paved blufftop hiking trail, as long as they’re kept on a leash.
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly beach, Treasure Island Park allows dogs on leash (September 11–June 14), and before 9am or after 6pm during the summer months. It has grassy picnic areas, garbage cans, and well-paved walkways down to the beach area, so it’s very dog-friendly for most months of the year.
Crystal Cove Map
Crystal Cove State Park FAQs
Is there an entrance fee to Crystal Cove state park?
No, California state parks do not charge an additional entrance fee beyond the parking fee.
What are Crystal Cove State Park’s cottages?
Crystal Cove has 46 rustic oceanfront cottages, built from 1930-1940, located right in the historic district. These cottages overlook the ocean on a blufftop, and are steps away from the beach and restaurants of the historic district.
They offer individual, dorm-style, and ADA-accessible cottages that are open for reservations 6 months in advance. If you want the best chance of securing a stay, book well in advance, and check frequently for cancellations.
You can see which cottages are currently available by visiting their website.
How much does it cost to stay at Crystal Cove State Park’s cottages?
The prices range as low as $50/night to $320/night. The $50 cottages allow a maximum of 2 people, whereas the most expensive cottages allow a maximum of 9 people.
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