The Best Southern California Beaches

Ranker Travel

Updated January 1, 2025 42 items

Ranked By

1.6K votes

221 voters

Voting Rules

Beaches located in Southern California only.

Sunny, Southern California has some of the best beaches around, no matter the season. This list explores the most beautiful beaches SoCal has to offer - everything from iconic beaches like Venice Beach and Newport Beach, to a lesser-known beaches like One Thousand Steps and Aliso Beach. Some of these beaches are staples in movies, and some you may never have heard of until now.

All the beaches on this list are sure to make you crave some time on the sand at some of the prettiest beaches in Southern California. With plenty of beaches to choose from, this list is sure to help you plan that next beach trip - whether it is a relaxing day in the sun on the boardwalk in Laguna Beach, or a day out with your pups at the dog beach in Huntington Beach - there are plenty of beaches to help satisfy your beach craving.

The weather in Southern California is beautiful year-round, so even if you don’t get a chance to make it to these beaches during the summer season, you can still visit them any time of the year! Visiting these beaches off-season is sure to provide you with a more authentic experience in many of these small beach communities and famous beaches across Southern California.

Most divisive: Santa Monica

Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Top Beaches of Southern California

HOW RANKINGS WORK

1
39 votes
Oceanside
Oceanside, California, United States of America
2
39 votes
Mission Beach
San Diego, California, United States of America
3
52 votes
Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California, United States of America
4
33 votes
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, California, United States of America
5
29 votes
Point Loma, San Diego
Point Loma, California, United States of America
6
49 votes
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla, California, United States of America
7
52 votes
Coronado
San Diego, California, United States of America
8
85 votes
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California, United States of America
9
35 votes
Encinitas
Encinitas, California, United States of America
10
46 votes
Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach, California, USA
11
41 votes
Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California, United States of America
12
38 votes
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California, United States of America
13
36 votes
Malibu State Beach
Malibu, California
14
22 votes
San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre, California, United States of America
15
31 votes
Crystal Cove State Park
Laguna Beach, California, United States of America
16
36 votes
1,000 Steps Beach
1, 000 Steps Beach - Laguna Beach, California
17
30 votes
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
18
37 votes
Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California, United States of America
19
29 votes
Zuma Beach
Malibu, California, United States of America
20
23 votes
San Clemente
San Clemente, California, United States of America
21
36 votes
Venice Beach
Venice Beach, California
22
24 votes
Sunset Beach
Huntington Beach, California, United States of America
23
27 votes
Dana Point
Dana Point, California, United States of America
24
25 votes
Point Dume
Malibu, California, United States of America
25
23 votes
Main Beach
Main Beach - Laguna Beach, California
26
25 votes
Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California, United States of America
27
20 votes
Balboa Beach
Balboa Beach - Balboa Peninula, Newport Beach, California
28
20 votes
Trestles
San Clemente, California, United States of America
29
22 votes
Thalia Street Beach
Thalia Street Beach - Laguna Beach, California
30
25 votes
Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach, California
31
21 votes
El Matador Beach
El Matador Beach - Malibu, California
32
19 votes
Doheny State Beach
Dana Point, California, United States of America
33
20 votes
Dockweiler State Beach
Playa del Rey, California
34
20 votes
Marina del Rey
Los Angeles, California, United States of America
35
18 votes
Playa del Rey
Playa del Rey, California, United States of America
36
22 votes
Will Rogers State Beach
Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California
37
23 votes
Huntington Dog Beach
Huntington Beach, California
38
19 votes
Leo Carrillo State Beach
Leo Carrillo State Beach - Los Angeles, CA
39
19 votes
Aliso Beach
Aliso Beach, Laguna Beach, California
40
21 votes
Lechuza Beach
Malibu, CA
41
17 votes
Abalone Cove
Abalone Cove - Palos Verdes, California
42
18 votes
Salt Creek Beach
Salt Creek Beach - Dana Point, California