Stand at the foot of the Huntington Beach Pier in the early morning and you will see the reason people come here: a wide band of sand running north and south, surfers already in the water, and the boardwalk busy with runners before the marine layer burns off. The pier itself reaches out over the Pacific, and the beach on either side of it is the centre of everything.
Huntington Beach suits travellers who want a beach day with real surf culture attached, who are happy to walk or cycle between the sand, Main Street and the wetlands, and who do not mind sharing the place with a crowd in summer. It is less suited to anyone looking for quiet seclusion in July and August.
This guide covers the specific sights and stretches of beach named in the source material, with practical notes on how to combine them, plus a one-day plan if your time is short.
Top things to do in Huntington Beach
1. Huntington Beach Pier
The pier is the second most popular sight in the city after the beach itself, and it is the natural starting point for a visit. The US Open of Surfing is held around here, and many of the upscale restaurants and bars are located near it.
Combine a walk along the pier with a wander up Main Street, which begins just inland. Come early if you want the pier and the boardwalk at their calmest.
2. Huntington City Beach
This is the stretch between Beach Boulevard and Seapoint Drive, and it contains the pier. It is one of the most famous places to surf, and the boardwalk by the pier is where the walking, running, biking and rollerblading happens.
Heading south along the boardwalk is likely your best scenic scenario. The beach here is maintained by the city, and camping and RVs are permitted, though popular campsites for the Fourth of July and the Surfing Championships must be reserved many months in advance.
3. Main Street
Main Street is a shopping and gathering place for residents and tourists alike, with sidewalk cafes, surf shops and live music all vying for attention. It is also where you will find a number of restaurants and a Starbucks.
There are so many bars on Main Street that you can meet friends at any of them for drinking, dining or dancing. It pairs naturally with the pier, which is a short walk away.
4. Bolsa Chica Wetlands
Huntington Beach has the largest unspoiled coastal wetlands in California, where many migratory birds stop and nest. The reserve is popular with bird watchers and photographers.
It sits between Downtown Huntington Beach and Huntington Harbour, and the Bolsa Chica State Beach on Pacific Coast Highway lies opposite it, so the two can be visited together.
5. Huntington State Beach
This is the state beach located south of Beach Boulevard. It is one of the two state-park beaches at the northern and southern ends of the city's shoreline, with the city maintaining only the central beach.
Because it lies south of Beach Boulevard, it makes a straightforward extension of a day spent around the pier and city beach.
6. Bolsa Chica State Beach
This beach sits on Pacific Coast Highway north of Seapoint, opposite the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. It is a popular spot for family barbecues.
It is a sand bar fronting the Bolsa Bay and Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve. Pair it with a walk in the wetlands across the road.
7. Huntington Dog Beach
Huntington Dog Beach occupies the northern part of Huntington City Beach, so it is easy to reach on foot from the pier area if you are travelling with a dog.
Treat it as part of a longer walk along the sand rather than a separate trip.
8. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is the northernmost beach in Huntington Beach, north of the Warner loop and west of Huntington Harbour. It was an unincorporated community until it was annexed by Huntington Beach in 2011.
It is funkier and less pretentious than other parts of Huntington Beach, and it is home to several dive bars. Go here when you want a slower, less polished end to the day.
9. Surfing
You can try your hand at surfing here, and there is a surf rental shop right at the boardwalk. Start with a boogie board for the day, at around $15.
There are many good surfers in the water, so they may get annoyed if you stand in the waves too long. Keep moving, and if you get tired, get out of their way by heading to the sand to rest before going back in.
10. Walking, running, biking and rollerblading
There is a wide boardwalk right by the pier, and it forms part of the Huntington Beach Bike Path, which runs for about 8 miles along the beach. Walking, riding a bike and running are all very safe here.
Many very good runners go out first thing in the morning, often as soon as the sun comes up, so an early start puts you on the boardwalk at its best.
11. Relaxing on Main Street
Taking a walk up Main Street is a low-effort way to spend an hour or two, with restaurants and a Starbucks along the way.
It works well as a break between time on the sand and an evening out, since the bars on the same street carry on into the night.
12. Partying on Main Street
The concentration of bars on Main Street means you can meet friends at any of them and have a good time drinking, dining or dancing.
Because the bars are clustered on one street, you can move between them without needing to plan transport.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Huntington Beach Pier and the boardwalk beside it, then walk or run south along the sand of Huntington City Beach while the morning is still cool. If you want to surf, rent from the shop at the boardwalk and begin with a boogie board.
Afternoon: Walk up Main Street for lunch and a look at the surf shops and sidewalk cafes. Afterwards, head north on Pacific Coast Highway to Bolsa Chica State Beach and cross to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands for bird watching and photography, or continue south to Huntington State Beach if you would rather stay on the sand.
Evening: Return to Main Street for dinner and drinks, choosing among the bars for drinking, dining or dancing. If you want something quieter, drive north to Sunset Beach for its dive bars.
Frequently asked questions
When is peak season in Huntington Beach?
Peak season runs from late May to early September. On a particularly hot day inland, the beaches can be very busy, so plan around the crowds if you visit in summer.
Can you camp or bring an RV to the beach?
Camping and RVs are permitted at Huntington City Beach, the central beach maintained by the city. Popular campsites for the Fourth of July and the Surfing Championships must be reserved many months in advance.
Is the boardwalk suitable for running and cycling?
Yes. There is a wide boardwalk right by the pier, part of the Huntington Beach Bike Path, which runs for about 8 miles along the beach. Walking, riding a bike and running are all very safe, and heading south along the boardwalk is likely your best scenic scenario.
Where can you watch birds in Huntington Beach?
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are the place to go. They are the largest unspoiled coastal wetlands in California, many migratory birds stop and nest there, and the reserve is popular with bird watchers and photographers.
Decide which stretch of sand and which end of Main Street you want first, then start planning your days around the pier, the boardwalk and the wetlands.