Beach suggestion near DLR ?

[firstwdw]

If we wanted to check out the Pacific Ocean, what beach near Disneyland would you suggest and do we need to rent a car to drive there or is there some other form of transportation for a day trip? Is this even doable or does moving over to a beach resort make more sense? We've never been to CA

 

[gregskellington]

I'll let someone else give recommendations, just know you're not as close as you look. Traffic in CA is WILD and Anaheim is probably 45 minutes minimum from any beaches by car. And I'm not sure any of those are ones I'd be thrilled to visit.

 

[China Expat]

You can drive straight down Beach Blvd on surface streets and end up in Huntington Beach!

 

[DLgal]

I'll let someone else give recommendations, just know you're not as close as you look. Traffic in CA is WILD and Anaheim is probably 45 minutes minimum from any beaches by car. And I'm not sure any of those are ones I'd be thrilled to visit.

First of all, orange county is NOT L.A. The traffic here is not that bad.

Second of all, the two closest beaches are Huntington and Newport. I don't personally like Huntington, but Newport beach is among the very best in the entire state. Newport beach main pier is 14 miles away, down an almost straight shot on Harbor Blvd. It can take 45 minutes, but more often is about 20-25. Just depends what time and what day you are doing the drive and how many red traffic lights you hit.

 

[DLgal]

If we wanted to check out the Pacific Ocean, what beach near Disneyland would you suggest and do we need to rent a car to drive there or is there some other form of transportation for a day trip? Is this even doable or does moving over to a beach resort make more sense? We've never been to CA

I'd rent a car for the day.

There are not many beach resorts in Orange County. You don't need a beach resort to enjoy a day at the beach. Beaches are easy to access here.

 

[sjmac42]

Agree with DLGal, we often drive to Newport Beach (our favourite) from DLR and it’s pretty simple. There is a bus but it makes many many stops so getting a car (several majors close to or in DLR) is much easier.
huntington Beach is the closet option and there is Laguna Beach/Dana Point south of Newport Beach which can be 45 mins to an hour away.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Agree with DLGal, we often drive to Newport Beach (our favourite) from DLR and it’s pretty simple. There is a bus but it makes many many stops so getting a car (several majors close to or in DLR) is much easier.

I would be interested to know more about the bus to Newport Beach. I don't drive and use the buses and underground in LA so I have a TAP card. What is the bus route and does the TAP card work or do I need to pay cash? How much is the fare? I use public transport in my day to day life and I have also got the 460 bus from Downtown LA to Anaheim, so I'm well used to the many stops and long journey times.

 

[sjmac42]

I would be interested to know more about the bus to Newport Beach.

I tried it once years ago, went down Harbor and it was about 90 mins with 50 plus stops on the way. Ends at the Newport Transport Centre. Mind you that was when my motel near DL was $18 a night . Hired a car a few days later and it was much easier.
Google maps will have the routes but I believe the one that starts by going east on Katella is a bit faster than the ones that go down Harbour.

 

[DLgal]

I would be interested to know more about the bus to Newport Beach. I don't drive and use the buses and underground in LA so I have a TAP card. What is the bus route and does the TAP card work or do I need to pay cash? How much is the fare? I use public transport in my day to day life and I have also got the 460 bus from Downtown LA to Anaheim, so I'm well used to the many stops and long journey times.

Your TAP card won't work on OCTA buses unless you begin your route in Los Angeles county and end up in OC.

Be aware that the Newport Transportation Center is not actually at the beach. Its still quite a ways to the actual beach, so you would need to get an Uber/Lyft the rest of the way.

I'd personally just Uber directly from Disneyland area.

 

[oakleycat]

Agree Newport is the best, especially if you want easily accessible restaurants/shopping/etc. but we like Huntington too. I would not recommend the bus for the same reasons stated above, Uber/Lyft is much easier.