Dana Point is a small coastal city in south Orange County, California, roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. It is best known for year-round dolphin and whale watching, a working harbor, surf history at Doheny and the old Killer Dana break, clifftop resorts, and a slower, low-key pace than its bigger neighbors
Dana Point is in Orange County, on the Pacific coast between Laguna Beach and San Clemente. It sits right off Interstate 5 and Pacific Coast Highway. The closest commercial airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, typically a 25 to 35 minute drive. Plan your trip with our visitor guide and plan your visit page.
Whale and dolphin watching. Dana Point calls itself the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World®. Gray whales migrate past in winter and spring according to NOAA Fisheries, and boats spot dolphins year-round. See whale watching in Dana Point.
A working harbor. Dana Point Harbor is home to sportfishing boats, sailing, the Ocean Institute and the Catalina Express ferry. A major revitalization is underway, and the harbor stays open throughout.
Surf history. Doheny State Beach, California's first state beach, is a classic longboard wave, and Dana Point helped launch the modern surf industry. Read our Dana Point history guide.
Clifftop resorts. Stays like the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort sit above the sand. Browse hotels on the beach.
Protected coastline. The Dana Point Headlands and the Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area keep the bluffs and tide pools wild.
A literary name. The town is named for Richard Henry Dana Jr., whose 1840 memoir Two Years Before the Mast made these cliffs famous.
It is a small town that never tried to be a big one. The Lantern District, Dana Point's walkable town center, is lined with local restaurants and shops rather than chains. Days here tend to follow the ocean: an early paddle in the harbor, a Headlands hike, a long lunch, and sunset from the bluffs. Travel writers notice it too. TravelPulse writer Noreen Kompanik described Dana Point as a dreamy, low-key beach town after her stay.
What does a low-key weekend in Dana Point look like?
Yes, especially if you want the Southern California coast without the crowds. You get ocean wildlife, surf, hiking and resort-level comfort in a compact, easy-to-navigate town, plus quick day trips to Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Catalina Island. See why travelers choose Dana Point and our weekend itineraries.
