Huntington BeachOrange County, CA

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Best conditions

Board riding is barred wherever lifeguards post blackball signs near the pier; the restriction lifts when the flag comes down.

Getting through the gate

Beach curfew runs 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the pier closes at midnight, per the city's rules. Fishing from the pier needs no California licence, since state law waives it on public piers and CDFW names this one on its free-pier list; size and bag limits still apply.

Parking

Pier Plaza's two pay-and-display lots sit at the pier between 1st and 7th Streets, $3 an hour off peak and $4 an hour from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The city's beach lot runs along the sand from 1st Street to Beach Boulevard, 2,400 spaces at a flat $15 a day off peak and $20 in season.

On site

restrooms, rinse showers, lifeguard on duty, parking lot, gear rentals nearby

Watch for

Lifeguards patrol the Main Beach shoreline dawn to dusk every day of the year, so early and after-dark swims are unguarded, Staffing falls from as many as 65 lifeguards in summer to five marine safety officers from October through April, per the fire department

Checked 2026-08-24. Sources: City of Huntington Beach: beach parking rates and fees, City of Huntington Beach: beach parking and camping, City of Huntington Beach: beach and pier rules, City of Huntington Beach: Marine Safety, California Department of Fish and Wildlife: sport fishing licence rules, California Department of Fish and Wildlife: California beach and pier fishing.