Huntington Beach is close enough to Los Angeles for an overnight trip, but relaxed enough to feel farther away once you arrive. The ocean is right there. Pacific City, downtown restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and the beach path are all within a short walk.
I went with a friend who lives in LA, and she agreed that Huntington Beach was the right beach town to make one night feel like a real vacation.
We stayed at the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, where the amenities added real value to our short stay. That did a lot of the work for us: we could see the ocean from our balcony, walk to the sand in about five minutes, borrow the hotel bikes instead of arranging a separate rental, relax by the fire pits and sip wine and beer during the hotel’s social hour.
Editor’s note: The writer was hosted.
Is Huntington Beach Worth It for a One-Night Getaway?
Yes, Huntington Beach is worth it for one night, especially if you are coming from Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego. It is close enough that you do not spend half the trip getting there and beachy enough that it still feels like you went somewhere.
The key is location. You can stay near the beach and downtown so you can spend your time walking or biking instead of driving around.
For us, Huntington Beach worked because the best parts of the trip were close together:
- The beach and pier: Easy to walk to and always active, with surfers in the water and plenty of people out enjoying the coast.
- Pacific City: Good for coffee, shopping, lunch and ocean views without needing a separate plan. Loved the waterproof jewelry that is moderately priced at See Sea.
- Restaurants and coffee shops: Close enough that meals felt like part of the getaway, not another logistical decision.
- The beach path: One of the easiest ways to make the trip feel active and relaxing at the same time.
- Hotel amenities: Bikes, beach gear, fire pits and social spaces helped fill the trip.
Here, you do not need a long itinerary to feel like you did something. The ocean, pier, Pacific City, beach path, restaurants and hotel amenities can easily fill 24 to 30 hours.
That is why it felt like a complete getaway to us. We did a lot, ate well, rested and moved our bodies without feeling like we were racing around.
What I’d spend time and money on: For a short Huntington Beach trip, I would spend money on location first. I also would not overbook the trip. I would prioritize:
- One ocean-view meal: It makes the trip feel like a real beach getaway.
- A hotel with useful amenities: Bikes, beach gear and fire pits mattered more to us than fancy extras.
- A reset activity: Beach yoga, a long walk, a surf lesson or a slow morning coffee all work.
- Time on the beach path: Walking or biking by the ocean is one of the easiest wins in Huntington Beach.
- A flexible checkout day: The trip feels longer when you are not rushed out the door.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Before booking a short getaway, ask the hotel staff: “What amenities can guests use after checkout?” Access to beach towels, chairs, bikes, fire pits, changing areas and luggage storage can turn departure day into an actual vacation day.
Who This Huntington Beach Getaway Is Best For
This one-night Huntington Beach itinerary works well for:
- A girlfriend getaway
- A couple’s overnight trip
- A mother-daughter beach escape
- A mother-son beach escape
- A solo reset near the ocean
- A birthday or friend reunion
- A quick weekend getaway from Los Angeles
- A low-planning Southern California beach trip
We met a group of women from Pasadena and Monrovia who had come to Huntington Beach to reconnect. They chose the Kimpton for the same reasons we did: location and amenities. They agreed that Huntington Beach was the right choice because it gave them what they wanted: time together and the feeling of a real getaway without needing to drive too far.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
For any one-night getaway, location matters more than almost anything.
We stayed at Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, and that choice shaped the whole trip. The hotel sits in the center of the Huntington Beach action, close to the pier, downtown, Pacific City and the beach.
From our balcony, we could see the ocean. The sand was about a five-minute walk away. Pacific City was about a 15-minute walk, with restaurants and shops in between.
That kind of location matters when you only have one night. It keeps the trip from turning into a series of errands.
The hotel itself has a relaxed surf-town energy with boutique-hotel polish. There were pets everywhere, including a pet wall of fame, which gave the property a fun, social feel. The hotel also had live music, fire pits, complimentary s’mores kits at night and a daily social hour with beer, wine, soda and snacks.
Our room worked well for two birthday besties. We had two queen beds, a desk, chargers, sleep machines and a record player. Guests can choose albums in the lobby so we got ready to Christopher Cross (don’t judge!).
The big surprise was the bathtub. It is built for two and comes with bath salts. My hour-long soak made the overnight feel more like a retreat than a hotel stay.
Note: This is not a sleepy or secluded resort. It has resort vibes with urban, beachy energy.
Why the Kimpton Shorebreak Made One Night Feel Longer
Kimpton Shorebreak helped make one night feel like a full weekend because we did not have to build every activity outside of the hotel.
The hotel gave us:
- Beach amenities: bikes, towels, chairs
- Vinyl record player in every room
- Fire pits and s’mores kits
- Social hour with wine, beer, soda
- Live music
- State-of-the-art gym with climbing wall
- Table games (ping pong, foosball)
- A walkable location
- A pet-friendly, social atmosphere
- Access to amenities after checkout
One-Night Huntington Beach Itinerary
Day 1: Pacific City Shopping, Coffee and Happy Hour
Pacific City is an outdoor mall a short walk from the Kimpton hotel. It puts coffee, lunch, shopping and ocean views in one place.
We started at IYKYK! Coffee Lab, created by coffee lover Dawna, which is much more than a coffee stop.
She roasts her own blends, keeps record players and albums on hand on the counter so guests can pair music with their coffee, and hosts a.m. DJ sessions on some weekends. She also collaborates with standout local bakeries, which is how we ended up with stuffed bagels from Calic Bagels that are a must. The habanero-stuffed bagel we had was crunchy on the outside, not overstuffed, with a little kick. There were also giant croissants and other pastries that made it very hard to be reasonable.
I am a decaf drinker and IYKYK!’s decaf cardamom orange latte is rich and delicious. Mine was topped with the SheBuysTravel logo and I was over the moon. If coffee is not your thing, do not skip the matcha. Dawna met with dozens of Japanese matcha roasters to find the one she serves. It has an earthy aroma and flavor I had not tasted before.
After IYKYK!, we went a few doors down to Morning Lavender, a feminine boutique with a charm bar and crafting table. This was a fun, low-effort activity that skews younger and is very sweet. I used my charm bracelet as backpack bling.
Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
Huntington Beach is Surf City USA, and that identity is part of what makes the destination feel different from other Southern California beach towns. The docent is the founder’s daughter. She gave us a guided tour of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, including the World’s Largest Surfboard (which makes a great Instagram post). It’s an homage to Duke, the king of surfing, and all that he has done for the sport. His dream was to make it an Olympic sport, which it now is.
Important note: this was a private media tour. The museum is moving soon and is currently closed to the public. It will reopen on July 23, 2026, at the Main Street Library and admission is free. Verify the reopening and public access before planning around it.
Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel Social Hour, 5-6 pm daily
We took advantage of the hotel social hour at Kimpton Shorebreak. They offer beer, wine, soda and snacks. For a short getaway, it is a convenient and relaxing way to catch up before dinner. It gave the hotel a more social feel. People were hanging out, talking, sipping and snacking.
Dinner at Duke’s Huntington Beach
Dinner at Duke’s Huntington Beach is the classic first-night Surf City USA experience.
This is not a hidden local secret. It is the gorgeous oceanfront choice, and that makes dinner feel like part of the trip instead of just another meal. The restaurant sits near the entrance to the Huntington Beach Pier, with ocean views, live music in the bar and Polynesian dancers on weekends.
What stood out:
- The setting: Oceanfront, near the entrance to the Huntington Beach Pier, with the kind of view that makes dinner feel like part of the getaway.
- The vibe: Hawaiian-inspired, lively and relaxed. In the bar, there was live acoustic music and Polynesian dancers.
- The menu: Seafood, steaks, lychee martinis and famous Mai Tais.
- What I’d order again: The dirty martini followed by the furikake tuna.
- A Duke’s classic: I have been a fan of the macadamia nut-crusted fish since visiting Duke’s in Hawaii, and the Huntington Beach location is consistent.
- Locals Tip: Check Island nights at the Barefoot Bar – special drink and food pricing (i.e., Taco Tuesday – 2 tacos with chips & salsa, $14, + $8 margs. Aloha Friday rice bowls are $14-19 from 3–6 p.m. with live Hawaiian music and Polynesian dancing. Mai Tais are $10 (reg price is $17).
- Good to know: There was a mix-up with our order, but the team corrected it quickly and graciously.
- Friday tip: On Fridays, Duke’s offers $10 Mai Tais and rice bowls.
S’mores and Fire Pits at the Kimpton
End Day 1 back at Kimpton Shorebreak, we ended the night around a fire pit with s’mores.
The hotel gives guests complimentary s’mores kits, and we joined other guests already gathered around the fire. We made new friends over burnt flaming marshmallows and tips for more fun in the area.
Day 2: Beach Yoga, Coffee, Brunch and Bikes
Start with Yoga on the Beach
The next morning, we started with private yoga instruction and a sound bath on the beach with Chanda, which kept checkout day from feeling rushed.
Instead of waking up and immediately packing, we were on the sand with the ocean and surfers as the backdrop. IHG One Rewards members may get 2 p.m. checkout when available, which helps stretch a one-night stay into a fuller 24-hour reset.
NOTE: The yoga teacher offers donation-based classes on the beach at Tower 14. Instagram: @YogaonthebeachHuntingtonBeach
Breakfast at 1 Oz Coffee
After yoga, we had breakfast at 1 Oz Coffee, a cozy local spot next to the Kimpton in downtown Huntington Beach.
My cinnamon honey oatmilk latte was the right amount of sweet and totally delicious. The real star for us both was the breakfast bowl with gravlax salmon, quinoa, a poached egg and greens. There were also croissants, banana bread and other pastries.
Check-out but Don’t Leave
At Kimpton Shorebreak, checkout did not mean the getaway was over. We were still able to use the hotel amenities, so instead of packing up and heading straight home, we turned departure day into one more day of fun.
I made full use of the morning. After beach yoga and breakfast, I returned to the room for one last treat: a soak in the oversized tub with the bath salts provided by the hotel.
After that, we borrowed the hotel bikes and rode the Huntington Beach bike path for a couple of hours. Huntington Beach is a great biking destination because the coastal path runs right along the beach, with wide-open ocean views for much of the ride.
When we were done, we returned the bikes, checked our bags at the front desk and headed to lunch.
Lunch at Jolie & The Belle
Lunch at Jolie & The Belle gave us another ocean-view meal before heading home.
The restaurant has a stylish coastal feel, with views of the surfers in the Pacific and the activity on the Huntington Beach Pier.
We sipped a non-alcoholic espresso martini and Aperol Spritz from their fun mocktail menu and noshed on their popular and photogenic spicy tuna crispy rice stack.
One Night in Huntington Beach Itinerary
If I were planning this trip again for someone who wanted the simplest version, I would do this:
Day 1
- Arrive around lunch
- Coffee at IYKYK! at Pacific City
- Shop or do a small activity like Morning Lavender
- Walk the pier or downtown Huntington Beach
- Check into the Kimpton Shorebreak hotel
- Enjoy the hotel social hour
- Have dinner at Duke’s or another ocean-view restaurant
- End with fire pits, s’mores or a beach walk
Day 2
- Start with beach yoga, a walk or coffee by the ocean
- Have breakfast at a local coffee shop
- Use hotel beach amenities after checkout
- Have lunch with a view at Jolie Restaurant & Rooftop
- Visit the Huntington Beach Surf Museum
- Ride bikes along the beach path
- Head home in the late afternoon
Tips for a Short Huntington Beach Getaway
- Stay near the pier
- Plan one ocean-view meal (reservations are important)
- Spend time at Pacific City
- Use the beach path
- Build in one reset activity (beach walk or workout; surf lessons, tub soak)
- Choose a hotel with check-out day amenities
FAQs About a One-Night Huntington Beach Getaway
Yes. Huntington Beach is a strong weekend getaway destination because it has a walkable beach area, ocean-view restaurants, the Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific City, bike paths, coffee shops and boutique hotels close together. It works especially well for travelers coming from Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego.
Yes. One night in Huntington Beach can feel like a real getaway if you stay near the beach and keep the itinerary simple. Focus on the pier, beach path, one or two good meals, Pacific City and hotel amenities that extend the vacation feeling.
For a short Huntington Beach trip, stay near the Huntington Beach Pier and downtown. That area is close to the sand, restaurants, shopping, coffee, nightlife and the beach path.
Yes. Huntington Beach is a good getaway from Los Angeles because it is close enough for one night but far enough from city vibes to relax. Traffic varies, but it is often about an hour from parts of Los Angeles, making it realistic for a quick beach escape.
With 24 hours in Huntington Beach, spend time at the beach, walk the pier, explore Pacific City, have dinner with an ocean view, start the next morning with beach yoga or a coastal walk, grab coffee and ride bikes along the beach path.
You may need a car to get to Huntington Beach, but if you stay near the pier or downtown, you can walk or bike to many of the best short getaway activities. For this itinerary, we used rideshare to get there and hotel bikes and walking to get around.
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