Strand Vista Park

Strands Beach in Dana Point is such a gem! One of the best parts is that parking is completely free — no state beach pass required. There’s even a convenient free shuttle that takes you right down to the sand, which makes it super easy to get to the water. It’s also an awesome spot for exercise, especially if you’re up for the stairs — they’re a great workout with beautiful ocean views as your reward. The beach path along the bluff is perfect for walking or jogging, and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The water here is so clear, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins swimming by! The only downside is that dogs aren’t allowed, which is a bit of a bummer, but everything else about this beach more than makes up for it. It’s clean, peaceful, and one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Orange County. 🌊☀️

This was seriously one of the best beaches I've ever been to. The water was so nice. Everybody looked fabulous. It was so clean. The shuttle was super convenient. It was easy to swim there too. 10/10

Absolutely gorgeous park overlooking the ocean!! There is an veterans memorial there. It's very nice.

Unbelievable- a free parking lot! And the beach is awesome! The neighborhood is quite opulent and nice to look at. You can even walk through and enjoy what it’s like to be part of that. Awesome trail on the south end.

09.07.24 Orange County owned public park. Dana Point Strand Beach is my go to place to watch sunsets and walk on the water. There's pretty good parking meaning I haven't had any problem finding a place to park. Many come to watch sunset from their cars. Options to walk end to end in the parking lot, or using the funicular (when it's in service) to get down to the beach. It takes about 300 steps to walk down to the beach - good walk down and a good stretch to walk back up to the parking lot. At the beach, there's the really nice and well maintained walkway, or down in the sand - extremely beautiful walk especially on low tide. One of the very best places nature offers and it's absolutely free!!! First time I've seen two poor little bees in the sand - possibly last leg on its journey ❤️

Such a wonderful park and beach! It seems to be quieter than others in the area and has a nice big (free) parking lot at the entrance. There are washrooms and a rinse off station in the parking lot and a couple of different access points to the beach. On the north side of the lot you can take the stairs down to the walkway/beach or you can use the switchback ramp to the south of the parking lot (it's a couple minutes up the street). The upper walkway is really pretty, lined with palm trees and art and the lower walkway has lots of benches to sit and take in the view! It's such a pretty coastline, definitely worth a visit!

Amazing Spot in Dana Point to relax and enjoy a less crowded beach. It is a little hike down to the beach but well worth it.

Beautiful place to go for a walk and see the sunset from up hill. Also good for exercising, there are a lot of stairs. Free parking.

As of Nov 5 2025 there is no more parking in the park or street. You will be fined if you are sleeping in your vehicle and no parking from 11pm to 7 am. Word has got out about this gem and too many junkers are so obvious, are lining the streets to sleep and day living in the parking lot of this quiet upper class neighborhood beach community. It was a great place to enjoy but some people spoiled it for all by not respecting the neighborhood.

This is our favorite beach in Orange County, with free parking and lots of spaces, overlooking beautiful multi-million dollar homes that's next to the ocean, just enough to look & dream about, without having to pay property tax or house cleaning fees.

Plenty of safe close parking and a laid back atmosphere make this a great park to visit on its own or when checking out Dana Strands Beach or walking over to the Dana Point Preserve.

Ocean views with free parking... what's not to love? Nice to park here and stroll down to the sand -- just a few minutes' walk away. Strands Beach is less crowded than Salt Creek Beach or Dana Point Harbor or even San Clemente, for that matter. It's almost like a little hidden gem that's sometimes forgotten about -- I know I regularly overlook it when thinking about where I'd like to watch the sunset. There are restrooms at the north end of the parking lot, which is very convenient. 2023: 58/100

What a hidden find! This is a great spot to watch the sunset. There is great free parking and lots of green patches to sit alongside and look out over the ocean. Picture perfect views. Bathrooms available.

I wanted to hate this park because at first it felt like some breadcrumbs thrown to the masses from the ostentatious and frankly ugly--most of them, at least--mansions recently built in the gated community between Selva Road and the beach, but the more time I spent here, the more I realized that the selfsame owners of those mansions are probably very annoyed that we riffraff have more or less complete access to the beach and even get to traipse down stairs right through the middle of their neighborhood to get to the beach. We don't even have to pay for parking, which is a rarity for beach parking in Orange County. You probably come here just to park and go to the beach, but if you forget your bathing suit or flip-flops or just don't want to get sand in your car or don't have much time, there are little trails up near the park that are good for wasting a half-hour or so, and you can catch some beautiful ocean views without going down a single step. The park is pretty well hidden, and it wasn't too crowded on the beautiful weekday we went. It's also very clean, and there is a constant trickle of people walking along the path, so it feels very safe. It really was nice to come across this spectacular place almost by accident.

Breathtaking views. Free parking. What more can you ask for. Perfect for sunset watching. Stairs down to the beach. Loved it.

Such a beautiful and quiet beach. It was a spontaneous stop on the Pacific Coast Highway on my way to San Diego. I was surprised how secluded it was. Maybe it gets packed during the weekend, but I was there in the middle of a Thursday, and there were only about 5 people. There's a long paved stairway down to the water, which is nice if you want exercise. However, you can bypass the by taking an elevator down to the boardwalk. There's still a ramp you need to go down to get to the beach. It really makes you work to see it, but it's worth it! I wish I were loaded and could live here, I'd come here every day and walk the boardwalk, and admire the cliffs. The weather's perfect, scenery's beautiful, and how can you go wrong with a beach in town that shares my name.

I have never been to this location after being here for 12 years. I was impressed by this location. Free parking in the lot which is decent size. Beautiful view uptop and you can also take the stairs down to the beach. You do have to lug all your stuff down so pack light. there is an elevator but I heard it's not always working so you don't want to rely on that. There are lifeguards down on the beach and you can walk over to Salt Creek Beach as well. No weeds on the beach so that's always a plus. I would totally go back! SYOY!

This is a grassy plot of area within the Strand Beach Parking lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There is a Veterans Memorial park to honor war veterans. It's nice to remember them. There are places to sit with a chair and look at ocean and catch cool breezes. There is paved area where you can walk and view ocean and beautiful sunsets. At end of parking lot you can descend the staircases to Strand beach.

We came to visit the OC for the day, planned on visiting the beach, find a spot to have dinner and catch the sunset. 2 out of 3 isn't bad, we found this spot in Dana Point with plenty of free parking, you have to walk down a multitude of steps to get from the parking to the beach, google says its 174 steps but I don't think its that many, I didn't count them, its a little workout but not too too bad, unless you have packed heavy, we tried going finding a place in Laguna Beach, but it was just too hard to find parking.

Well worth the effort to get here! Large parking lot with free parking at the time of this writing. The used to have a lift for people to ride up and down instead of using the stairs. However, it appears to be out of order. The times we have been there has been no lifeguard on duty, although there are huts along the beach. (Perhaps during the summer they are there). Even if you don't want to be on the beach itself, the view from the top is spectacular. You can view from your car or sit outside at one of the small tables. (Probably sits 4 each). No pets permitted on the beach itself, but plenty of people walking their dogs through the park.

By far one of the best beaches in Southern California. If you are visiting or even if you live locally you have to come to Strands. The walk down to the beach is steep but it is well worth your time. There is a elevator that goes down to the beach on the right side of the parking lot. You can choose between stairs or a pathway down with some stairs as well. This beach is definitely where a lot of locals hang out. This is my go to beach during the summer. The parking at strands is free and there is usually plenty of spaces available. It's a huge parking lot. Don't fight for parking at another beach or pay for parking at another beach.

Great view from the top, especially in the sunset time, you can walk to the beach from there. I had a great experience, definitely I will go back there.