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Top 5 Beaches near Norwalk, CA

Jon Fesmire | June 17, 2021 @ 12:00 AM

While Norwalk, California is located a bit inland, we’re close to a handful of beaches and beach towns. Whether you store your RV with us and would like to go camping near the shore, or you just want to head down to Huntington Beach, Long Beach, or another coastal city for the day, these are five of our favorite beaches in the area.

 

Sunset Beach

Although there are a ton of surf towns along the California coast, Huntington Beach has the honor of holding the title “Surf City USA,” and Sunset Beach exemplifies the name. Just 21 minutes from Norwalk in Huntington Beach, this one-and-a-half mile patch of coastline, stretching from Anderson St. to Warner Avenue is a beautiful place to spend the day.

At the beach, you’ll find excellent amenities, like public restrooms with outdoor showers and ample street parking. This beach is open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Several things are prohibited here: alcohol, glass, dogs, smoking, and tent camping. Of course, those rules help keep the beach pleasant and clean for everyone.

You’ll find RV and tent camping at nearby family sites, but they provide no hookups.

 

Seal Beach

Want to see some dolphins swimming in the distance? Seal Beach is a great place for that. That’s both the name of the surf city and the beach itself. You’ll find Seal Beach, a city of 26,000 residents, 20 miles from Norwalk.

When you visit, not only can you relax on the sand or go surfing, body surfing, and swimming in the ocean, you can also get magnificent views of the beach and ocean from Seal Beach Pier. You also may see some seals and dolphins. Take the kids to Eisenhower Park, a fun play area at the base of the pier. And, when you get hungry, you’ll find plenty of eateries on Main Street.

There are lots of campsites near this beach, and we recommend reserving one before you drive out in your RV if you plan to stay overnight.

 

Crystal Cove State Beach

Moving a bit farther away now, 38 minutes from Norwalk is Crystal Cove State Park, which includes the 3.2 mile Crystal Cove State Beach plus 2,400 acres of wilderness behind it. The state park is open from 6:00 a.m. to sunset. Like many of the other local beaches, this one has lots of sand and surf, and you can go swimming, surfing, and so on.

Go hiking in the wilderness area along Moro Canyon and Moro Ridge. You’ll find 15 miles of trails, including a two-and-a-half mile paved trail over the bluffs. Animals in this area include bobcats, coyotes, gopher snakes, and rattlesnakes. So, be careful.

In the area you should check out the Historic District, comprising 46 rustic cottages from the 1930s and 1940s. The Historic District is open until 10:00 p.m.

Camping is available at the Moro campground, which has 27 hookup sites and 30 tent sites. This bluff has fantastic ocean views.

 

Huntington State Beach 

Though not the only beach on this list located in the city of Huntington Beach, this beautiful stretch bears its name. Huntington State Beach, open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., lies 30 minutes from Norwalk. 

This beach is two miles long, and the beach area is wide and sandy. It starts at the Huntington Beach Boardwalk and ends at the Santa Ana River Channel. 

Along the beach you can enjoy eating at picnic tables, cooking over fire rings, or playing volleyball in one of the many courts. Yes, it’s also a good place to swim and surf, and you can even go fishing here. You’ll find plenty of bathrooms, and you can feel safe swimming here as there are plenty of lifeguards to help keep swimmers safe.

Huntington State Beach has an enormous parking lot along its length on the Pacific Coast Highway. There’s no camping, but camping is available nearby at Bolsa Chica State Beach.



Rancho Palos Verdes Beach

Thirty-seven minutes from Norwalk is Rancho Palos Verdes Beach in Rancho Palos Verdes. You’ll find it near Ocean Trails Reserve, and you can park in the nearby Trump National Golf Club lot. There’s public parking at the end of La Rotunda Drive, where you can also find public restrooms.

This beach has plenty of hiking trails along the bluff above a mile and a half of rocky beach. Of course, there are plenty of relaxing, sandy areas, too. The beach is a bit of a local secret, so you may find it slow and peaceful. Besides swimming, surfing, fishing, and checking out the tidepools, you can enjoy beachcombing for sea shells or hiking along the Sunset and Sunrise trails above.

If you plan to camp in the area, we recommend reserving a site ahead of time.

Meanwhile, if you live in or around Norwalk and need a place to keep your RV safe, rent a spot with us at RV Storage Depot. We’re experts in RV, boat, and car storage and will be happy to answer any of your questions.

AUTHOR
Jon Fesmire
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