The Village · State Marine Reserve
Oak Street Beach
Oak Street Beach is a rocky beach below the end of Oak Street, about 0.7 mile south of Main Beach. The city calls it a surfing beach in summer and marks a separate swimming area past the surf flag.
What it’s like
Oak Street Beach is a rocky beach below the end of Oak Street, about 0.7 mile south of Main Beach in a straight line. OpenStreetMap maps its stairway where Oak Street meets Gaviota Drive.
The city’s page for the beach describes the water. Popular activities are surfing and skim boarding. In summer it is a surfing-only beach, not one for swimmers or body boarders. The whole area is a rock reef suited to surfing, and the city lists many rip and surf hazards, especially when the surf is large.
The city splits the water into zones. Swimmers are not allowed in the surfing area because boards can hit them, and the page says swimming is permitted past the surf flag at the northern end of Anita Street Beach. Anita’s stairway is about 400 feet north of Oak’s, and the Brooks Street stairway is about 330 feet to the south.
The city adds a general caution for rocky beaches like this one: it answers emergency calls on its rocks every weekend, and waves can knock people off their feet.
Getting there and parking
The access is a stairway at the end of Oak Street. The Coastal Commission’s listing for the Anita Street to Pearl Street stretch says there are stairs at most street ends and on-street parking, and OpenStreetMap maps a paved stairway at the end of Oak Street.
There is no beach lot. The city lists three-hour meters in some areas and very limited neighborhood parking in others. The city’s parking page lists enforcement from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but its lot list gives 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the off-season through June 2027, so check the meter. The city’s app shows open spaces. The parking guide covers permits and summer lots. The free Coastal Route trolley also runs along Coast Highway, every 20 to 30 minutes in the off-season; see the getting around guide.
Plan for no restrooms. The Coastal Commission lists none for this stretch. Main Beach, Treasure Island Beach and Crescent Bay Beach are the three the city recommends for restrooms and showers.
Rules and safety
Oak is inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, which stretches from Abalone Point south to Goff Island. Taking or possessing anything living, geological or cultural there is unlawful. The city’s Oak Street page tells visitors not to collect or disturb marine life or carry off rocks and shells, and it says fishing is not allowed at this beach.
With many rip conditions on this stretch, the city’s standing advice applies: swim near a lifeguard and with a buddy. The city also says not every beach has a lifeguard at all times.
Dogs on leash are allowed, with one summer limit: between June 15 and September 10 they may be on the beach only before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Good to know
Closing time is 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. at every city beach. Alcohol, smoking and fires are banned on them, and the alcohol ban applies to adults 21 and over too.
The stairways on either side are Anita Street to the north and Brooks Street to the south. Homes nearby are covered on The Village page.
Live from NOAA
Tides and water at Oak Street
| Day | High and low tides |
|---|---|
| Loading NOAA predictions… | |
Sources: NOAA tide predictions, station 9410580 and NOAA NDBC buoy 46253 (owned by Scripps). The buoy reads open water offshore; water at the beach can differ. Check posted lifeguard flags before you swim.
Things to do
Things to do at Oak Street
.jpg){kind=link}
Living nearby
The Village, by the numbers
The closest neighborhood to Oak Street Beach. Read the The Village guide.
CRMLS: homes for sale today; closed sales in the 12 months through October 19, 2026. A median needs 5 sales.
Questions
Can you swim at Oak Street Beach?
In summer the city calls Oak a surfing-only beach that is not for swimmers or body boarders, and it does not allow swimmers in the surfing area. The city's Oak Street page says swimming is permitted past the surf flag at the northern end of Anita Street beach.
Where do you park for Oak Street Beach?
There is no beach lot. The Coastal Commission lists on-street parking for the stretch, and the city says some areas have three-hour meters while others have very limited neighborhood parking. The city's parking page lists enforcement from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but its lot list gives 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the off-season through June 2027, so check the meter.
Can you fish at Oak Street Beach?
No. The city says fishing is not allowed at this beach, and the beach lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, where state rules bar taking marine resources.
Moving to Laguna Beach?
Get the printable moving checklist by email: what to do before you move, moving week and your first 30 days.
Last reviewed
Sources (12)
- Oak Street Beach page: surfing and skim boarding, surfing-only in summer, not for swimmers or body boarders, rock reef suited for surfing, many rip and surf hazards especially in large surf, swimmers kept out of the surfing area, swimming permitted past the surf flag at the northern end of Anita Street beach, no taking marine life, no fishing (read via Wayback capture of March 9, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- City beach list: Oak Street Beach is a marine protected area (read via Wayback capture of July 12, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Anita Street to Pearl Street listing: stairs at most street ends, on-street parking, no restrooms; Main Beach coordinates: api.coastal.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Three-hour meters and limited neighborhood parking; Parking App; restrooms at Main Beach, Treasure Island and Crescent Bay; rocks and waves warning; closing hours; alcohol ("Even if you're 21"), smoking and fire rules; swim near a lifeguard and with a buddy; lifeguard coverage (read via Wayback capture of June 14, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Parking page: parking enforcement hours are from 8:00am to 9:00pm: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Public Parking Lots page, Off-Season Parking (September 8, 2026 to June 25, 2027): parking enforcement hours are from 8:00am to 7:00pm, and every lot that lists hours shows 8:00am to 7:00pm: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Free Coastal Route trolley on Coast Highway every 20 to 30 minutes (off-season schedule; row of the 2026-10-09 verified table): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Dogs on leash, summer hours before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from June 15 to September 10 (read via Wayback capture of September 13, 2026): lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-09
- Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve runs from Abalone Point to Goff Island; no-take rule; no fishing: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-09
- Location of the paved stairway at the end of Oak Street, beside Oak Street and Gaviota Drive (OpenStreetMap steps way): api.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Oak Street position used for distances to Anita and Brooks: nominatim.openstreetmap.org, checked 2026-10-09
- Closest neighborhood: the realatrends.com The Village page lists homes at 368 and 469 Oak Street and on Gaviota Drive: realatrends.com, checked 2026-10-09