For half the year, visitors flock to the Coachella Valley to escape the winter chill. But for the summer months, the full-time residents of the Palm Springs area seek any possible escape from the brutal triple-digit heat.
There’s nothing more relaxing than a long afternoon at the beach. And while Palm Springs certainly isn’t a beach town, it’s within a few hours drive of some of the top destinations in the country. So if you’re willing to brave the California freeways, here are the best places to cool down at the beach.
Coronado Island
Jutting out into the San Diego Bay, Coronado Beach offers stunning views of Point Loma and plenty of space to spread out. The roughly 1.8-mile beach has drawn in presidents and Hollywood royalty for over 100 years. The Hotel del Coronado on the beach’s south end serves as the capstone of one of the most pleasant places in the state to watch the sunset.
Around 2.5 hours from Palm Springs, Coronado Island is within reasonable driving distance for a day trip. The traffic is often not a factor, at least when compared to some of the beaches in Los Angeles or Orange counties.
Coronado Island has the perfect blend of scale and intimacy. While hundreds of people may visit at one time, it’s large enough where they’re not stacked on top of each other. Plus, there are many great dining options for when you get hungry.
Laguna Beach
It’s hard to go wrong with any of the beaches in the seaside town of Laguna Beach. With sandy coves tucked away inside rocky cliffs, Laguna Beach can feel like it’s a secluded Mediterranean getaway rather than a major tourist destination on the west coast of the United States.
While finding a parking spot may be difficult, the hardships are well worth it. Many of the city’s beaches are hidden by suburban neighborhoods, giving them a small-town charm. That’s not easy to come across in Southern California, where going to the beach is a way of life for residents and tourists alike.
The less-than-two-hour drive makes Laguna Beach easily accessible for desert dwellers. But make sure to add in time to find a parking spot. Those can be hard to come by.
Malibu
This famous California city is on the bucket list of many visitors from across the country and the world, and that’s for good reason. Malibu is home to millionaires, but the beaches are free for anyone willing to take the drive.
From its surfer-centric Malibu beach to the sunset hotspot of El Matador State Beach, there’s a little something for every ocean-lover. The city itself was built along a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway and the entire coastline seems like it was made for a postcard.
The time it takes to get there can vary wildly depending on the traffic. Reserve at least 2.5 hours, but the trip can take more than an hour longer.
Santa Barbara
While this three-hour-plus journey may stretch the pleasantness of any road trip, the destination is well worth the time in the car. Santa Barbara is a charming town north of Ventura, with enough amenities for a weeklong stay.
Its a relaxing atmosphere with fine dining and plentiful shopping options. There’s a reason people like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in the neighboring Montecito. Like Palm Springs, Santa Barbara is an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Just don’t get too attached. This kind of lifestyle is hard to come by for most income brackets.
Torrey Pines
This small community offers something many other beach locations don’t; a chance to commune with nature. While many beaches in California come with populous cities (we’re looking at you Santa Monica), Torrey Pines exists alongside a state nature preserve.
It’s technically within the city limits of San Diego, which sprawl north along the coast, but it feels nothing like a big city. The area can get crowded with visitors, but still has an old California feel. Whether it’s walking by cliffs that jut out of the ocean or taking in the view from the top, Torrey Pines has epic natural landscapes.
The roughly two-hour drive from Palm Springs means it’s a location that doesn’t take much to visit.
Sam Morgen covers local government for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Top California beaches in driving distance of Palm Springs
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
