Dana Point is a city at the beach in Orange County in Southern California.

Get in

I-5 is the primary north-south route through Orange County, and passes through the eastern portion of the city. State Route 1 begins in Dana Point and continues northwest through the city to other coastal Orange County cities.

See

• 1 The Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., ☏ +1 949 496-2274. the Ocean Institute offers science and maritime history programs to youth during the week, and is open to the general public on weekends, 10AM – 3PM. Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean preservation through education, setting the standard for educational excellence and serving as a leading resource for universities, museums, teachers and all others seeking to increase their knowledge of the ocean. Visitors can enjoy ocean-themed exhibits, marine life touch tanks and aquaria with hundreds of marine creatures. Institute staff and volunteers are on hand to share the secrets of our seas. Unique maritime and ocean-themed items are available in the Chambers Gallery everyday, 9AM – 6PM. For an added charge, visitors can enjoy marine mammal cruises on board the Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer or sail on board the tall ship Spirit of Dana Point. $6.50 adults, $4.50 children (ages 4-12), Ocean Institute members free.. 

Do

• 1 Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern (in Dana Point Harbor), ☏ +1 949 496-5794. 8AM - 10PM. Dana Wharf offers year-round whale watching and fishing. Year-round 1/2 price special on Tuesdays where all trips are 1/2 off. May - October is the Blue Whale season and November - April is the Gray Whale migration. $14.50+. 

Eat

• 1 Harbor House, 34157 Pacific Coast Hwy, ☏ +1 949 496-9270. 

Drink

• 1 Craft House, 34094 CA-1, ☏ +1 949 481-7734. (updated Dec 2019)
• 2 Turk's Restaurant, 34683 Golden Lantern St, ☏ +1 949 496-9028. (updated Dec 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Best Western Dana Point Inn-By-The-Sea, 34744 Pacific Coast Highway, ☏ +1 949 240-0150, fax: +1 949 240-4862. 
• 2 Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel, 34280 Pacific Coast Highway, ☏ +1 949 248-1000. 
• 3 Laguna Cliffs Marriott, 25135 Park Lantern, ☏ +1 949-661-5000. 
• 4 Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Dr. Luxury hotel in Laguna, situated atop a 150-foot bluff overlooking 2 miles of beachfront & the Pacific. 
• 5 St. Regis Monarch Beach, One Monarch Beach Resort, ☏ +1 949-234-3200. Resort with 400 guestrooms. Golf courses, full service Spa Gaucin, Stonehill Tavern, Motif, Club 19 Patio Restaurant, and private beachfront dining. 
• 6 DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach - Dana Point, 34402 Pacific Coast Highway, ☏ +1 949-661-1100. Close to Doheny Beach, this is an all-suite hotel. 
• 7 Blue Lantern Inn, 34343 Blue Lantern St, ☏ +1 949 661-1304, toll-free: +1-800-950-1236. Views looking over the harbor. (updated Oct 2015)
• 8 Quality Inn & Suites Oceanview CA, 34734 Pacific Coast Hwy, Capistrano Beach, ☏ +1 949 248-1316. This hotel is only rated with two stars, however, it is much more inexpensive than many of the options in San Clemente. Although it is not in the city of San Clemente, it is right along Pacific Coast Highway leading you south directly into the Spanish village by the sea. 

Go next

Dana Point is the southernmost city to have public transportation to Catalina Island (Avalon). Reservations are recommended.

Routes through Dana Point

Santa Ana ← San Juan Capistrano ←	N  S	→ San Clemente → San Diego
Long Beach ← Laguna Beach ←	N  S	→ END