A Southern California classic has just been crowned the top Pacific Coast beach in the world. In the Global Beach Index 2026 — a ranking of the planet's 25 best beaches built from expert opinion, NASA and EU data, and traveller reviews — Huntington Beach came in at number 15 globally. That makes it the second-best beach in the United States and the finest on the entire West Coast.
Set between Long Beach and Laguna Beach, Huntington stretches roughly 3.5 miles from the Bolsa Chica Basin to the Santa Ana River. It sits about 45 minutes from Los Angeles and half an hour from Anaheim, with John Wayne Airport (SNA) a mere 15-minute drive away — one of the easiest beach arrivals in California.
The town's nickname, Surf City USA, is earned, not marketed. Surfing pioneers George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku rode waves here in the early 20th century, and Huntington has hosted the U.S. Surfing Championship since the 1950s. Today the water caters to every level: beginners do well at Doheny (crowded on weekends) or Blackies near Newport Pier, while Bolsa Chica offers gentler waves — though watch for stingrays. The iconic Huntington Beach Pier has breaks north and south for intermediate surfers, and experts tackle the monster swells and tricky paddle-out at Surfside Jetty. Jack's Surfboards and Huntington Surf and Sport's flagship store line the seafront for gear and rentals.
Need a dry hour? The International Surfing Museum digs into the sport's history and how it shaped the town, with vintage boards on display.
Huntington also punches above its weight off the sand. Seafood rules the casual scene at spots like Duke's, King's Fish House and Sandy's Beach Shack, while the Watertable at the Hyatt does seasonal American cooking and serious cocktails. Sandbar Cocina y Tequila puts an elegant spin on Mexican classics, and nearby Newport Beach adds upmarket options like Nobu and Marché Moderne.
On the accommodation side, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa sits a short walk from the sand with plenty for families, the Waterfront Beach Resort offers true beachfront positions, and the Paséa Hotel & Spa has a rooftop bar that's hard to beat at sunset.
For anyone planning a California coast trip in 2026, this ranking is a useful nudge: Huntington gives you genuine surf culture, walkable beachfront, and a dining scene that swings from beach shack to upscale — all within a short drive of both LA and Orange County's theme parks.
