Day Trips From Dana Point: Laguna Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

You get three very different towns without changing hotels. Art and coves in Laguna, a classic pier town in San Clemente, and California mission history in San Juan Capistrano. In summer, the free Dana Point Trolley connects with neighboring trolley systems, so some trips do not need a car at all. Book your base on our places to stay page.

Go for the art, stay for the coves. Laguna's signature summer event is the Pageant of the Masters, where real people recreate famous artworks as living pictures on stage, typically July through early September. Get tickets early, and consider seeing it as an evening outing from Dana Point.

• Morning: walk Main Beach and the boardwalk.
• Midday: galleries and lunch downtown.
• Evening: Pageant of the Masters in summer, then a 20-minute drive back to Dana Point.

San Clemente is Dana Point's laid-back southern neighbor. Walk the historic San Clemente Pier, cared for with help from Pier Pride Foundation, then head up Avenida Del Mar for shops and cafes. On the bluff, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, the former home of the city's founder, offers ocean views and rotating exhibits.

Local tip: Dana Wharf Sportfishing, still running in Dana Point Harbor today, traces its roots to founder Don Hansen's start on the San Clemente Pier in 1958. Close the loop with a whale watching cruise back in Dana Point.

This is the birthplace of Orange County. Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776 as the seventh of California's 21 missions, celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026. Explore the gardens, the Serra Chapel and the stone church ruins. The mission is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Every March, the mission celebrates Saint Joseph's Day and the Return of the Swallows. After your visit, walk the historic Los Rios District, one of California's oldest neighborhoods, a few blocks from the mission and the train station.

History tie-in: Dana Point's own story starts here. Cattle hides from the mission were thrown off Dana Point's cliffs to trading ships in the 1830s. Read more in our Dana Point history guide.

• For art lovers and couples: Laguna Beach.
• For families and pier walkers: San Clemente.
• For history buffs and grandparents: San Juan Capistrano.
• Short on time: San Juan Capistrano is closest and fits in a half day. Back in Dana Point, end the day at one of our ocean view restaurants or see more things to do.

Base yourself in Dana Point, between all three towns. One hotel, three day trips, and a sunset back home every night.

• Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club: a clifftop resort for travelers who want a splurge base.
• Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa: central to Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate 5 in both directions.
• Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach: the closest Dana Point stay to San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.
• Compare: all places to stay and current offers.