Beaches with free parking near Tustin? (Corona, Del Mar: neighborhood, college, live in)

[Rutgers2010]

I'm new to the area and am looking for recommended beaches with free parking that are relatively easy to get to from Tustin (less than 30 minutes).

Thank you!

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by Rutgers2010

I'm new to the area and am looking for recommended beaches with free parking that are relatively easy to get to from Tustin (less than 30 minutes).

Thank you!

Try Big Corona at Corona Del Mar State beach. You just park in the residentail area at the top of the hill & walk down the driveway to the beach. To find parking its best to get there before the wave of humanity from the IE rolls in - usually around 10-10:30am

If you are willing to walk and drive a few more minutes, You can usually find parking 4 or 5 blocks (street parking is metered for the first few blocks) from the beach in downtown Huntington beach then walk to the water.

HB is where I go to go in the water - has better waves. CDM is sheltered by the jetty that protects the entrance of Newport harbor on one side and some cliffs on the other, so the waves are'nt as good. Its better for kids and ocean beginners.

[preppyglam]

The closest beach is Newport. Take the 55 south until it ends, stay straight on Newport Blvd. until it merges with Balboa Blvd. at the pier/Old Spaghetti Factory. At this point, you can park "in the numbers" off of Balboa Blvd and its free (but harder to snag a freebie spot in the summer). OR, you can keep going until you hit the Balboa Peninsula....ALL parking in that neighborhood is free! And the beach is WAY less crowded down there. Just be mindful of the street sweeping times (signs are posted). This is called "parking in the letters", since the street names are letters down there.

Newport is the best beach around....HB is even more crowded, WAY more touristy, young teenager/college crowd, and it often gets polluted and sometimes the ocean is unswimable (there will be signs posted if this happens). I lived in HB for almost 5 years and only once went to the beach there. Always just drove a little further down PCH to get to Newport.

The PP had a good suggestion for CDM, too. Although, HB is not the only beach with good/big waves. The Wedge off the Balboa Peninsula has good waves for getting in the water/surfing/body surfing, etc.- in fact, its a world-famous surfing spot.

Edited to note that I also live in Tustin, and around 11:30 AM, it takes about 15 mins to get to Tusitn to parking in Newport (granted you don't hit all the red lights once you are off the freeway!).

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by preppyglam

The closest beach is Newport. Take the 55 south until it ends, stay straight on Newport Blvd. until it merges with Balboa Blvd. at the pier/Old Spaghetti Factory. At this point, you can park "in the numbers" off of Balboa Blvd and its free (but harder to snag a freebie spot in the summer). OR, you can keep going until you hit the Balboa Peninsula....ALL parking in that neighborhood is free! And the beach is WAY less crowded down there. Just be mindful of the street sweeping times (signs are posted). This is called "parking in the letters", since the street names are letters down there.

Newport is the best beach around....HB is even more crowded, WAY more touristy, young teenager/college crowd, and it often gets polluted and sometimes the ocean is unswimable (there will be signs posted if this happens). I lived in HB for almost 5 years and only once went to the beach there. Always just drove a little further down PCH to get to Newport.

The PP had a good suggestion for CDM, too. Although, HB is not the only beach with good/big waves. The Wedge off the Balboa Peninsula has good waves for getting in the water/surfing/body surfing, etc.- in fact, its a world-famous surfing spot.

Edited to note that I also live in Tustin, and around 11:30 AM, it takes about 15 mins to get to Tusitn to parking in Newport (granted you don't hit all the red lights once you are off the freeway!).

Good points about the pennisula, but I would be leery reccomending the wedge to newbies. That's a beach only for seasoned oceangoers, especailly when a swell comes in!

[Rutgers2010]

Thanks so much, everyone!