(Updated September 2026) Looking for the best places to have a beach bonfire in Orange County? There are several beaches throughout Orange County with designated fire rings, including Huntington Beach, Bolsa Chica, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Doheny and San Clemente.
My family has been having beach bonfires in Orange County for years, and they're still one of my favorite inexpensive ways to spend an evening at the beach. Below, I've included where to find fire pits, which locations allow wood or charcoal, tips for getting a fire ring, and what to bring for the perfect beach bonfire.
Where to Have a Beach Bonfire in Orange County
When it comes to having a fire in the OC, you must be careful. As you know our area is very fire prone. there aren't any parks or areas other than near the beach that allow for outdoor bonfires. It's too much of a fire risk.
But luckily the beaches are great for that sort of thing because they are located on the sand away from trees, and they have concrete fire rings. These make the best bonfire pits, plus you get that great ocean view.
Orange County Beach Bonfire Spots at a Glance
| Beach | Fire Rings | Wood Allowed? | Reservations? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolsa Chica State Beach | Nearly 200 | Yes, in designated rings | Some picnic areas can be reserved |
| Huntington State Beach | Yes | Yes, in designated rings | Some ramadas include a reserved fire ring |
| Huntington City Beach | 100+ fire rings maintained along the city beach | Yes, in designated rings | Generally first come |
| Corona del Mar State Beach | 24 total | Yes in unpainted rings; green rings are charcoal-only | First come |
| Balboa Pier – West Side | 16 total | Yes in unpainted rings; green rings are charcoal-only | First come |
| Balboa Pier – East Side | 15 total | Yes in unpainted rings; green rings are charcoal-only | First come |
| Doheny State Beach | Yes | Yes, in designated rings | Some picnic areas may include/reserve a ring |
| San Clemente North Beach | Yes | Check current posted rules | First come |
| San Clemente Pier Beach | Yes | Check current posted rules | First come |
| San Clemente T-Street Beach | Yes | Check current posted rules | First come |
| San Clemente State Beach | Yes | Yes, in designated State Park rings | Some picnic areas may be reservable |
Orange County Beach Bonfire Locations: Details, Rules & Tips
Here's a list of all the beaches in Orange County where you can have a bonfire, plus any details, rules, and tips that I have found helpful:
Aliso Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 31131 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
- Parking: Metered parking
- Amenities: Restrooms, playground, picnic areas and concessions.
- Note: Aliso Beach no longer has free public fire rings, but portable fire pits can be rented from The Ranch at Laguna Beach's Lost Pier Cafe, which also offers beach chairs, umbrellas, and a grill menu.
Bolsa Chica State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
- Parking: City Beach parking fee
- Amenities: Restrooms, showers, volleyball courts, concessions and beach trail.Bolsa Chica has close to 200 fire rings, making it one of the best options in Orange County if you're hoping to get a bonfire pit.
- Fire rings are available year-round from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Most are first-come, first-served, although some picnic-area reservations include a fire ring.
- Wood and charcoal may be burned only inside the designated fire rings.
- City website with Fire Pit information.
Corona Del Mar State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 3001 Ocean Boulevard, Corona del Mar, CA
- Parking: City Beach parking fee
- Amenities: Restrooms, lifeguards, picnic tables, concessions and showers.
- There are 16 wood burning fire rings, four designated for ADA access, and 8 charcoal only.
- City website with Fire Pit information
Crystal Cove State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 8471 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA
- Parking: State Beach Parking fee. Validation available at Beachcomber restaurant with purchase.
- Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, trails, historic cottages, restaurants: Beachcomber and Shake Shack.
- Fire pits are only available to rent from the Beachcomber Cafe.
- You can bring a gas canister powered campfires. They are allowed on the beach, provided they are not sitting directly on the sand.
Doheny State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA
- Parking: State Beach parking fee
- Amenities: Restrooms, showers, picnic areas, volleyball courts, beach access and concessions.
- Doheny State Beach has designated bonfire rings available year-round from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.Most fire rings are first-come, first-served, although some may be reserved with picnic areas through California State Parks.
- Fires must stay inside the designated fire rings. Makeshift fire pits are not allowed.
- Check the California State Parks website for current fire-ring rules and picnic reservations.
- City website with Fire Pit information.
Huntington State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 21601 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
- Parking: State Beach Parking fee
- Amenities: Restrooms, lifeguards, picnic tables, lawn area, volleyball courts, and showers
- Reservtions: Firepits can be reserved! There is a fee. See the city website to reserve.
- Address: 103 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
- Parking: City Beach Parking fee.
- There are 127 firepits and they are located South of First Street to Beach Blvd.
- City website with Fire Pit information.
Newport Dunes Resort Fire Pits
- Address: 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, CA
- Parking: Resort parking fee.
- Amenities: Restrooms, playground, picnic areas, personal boat rentals, campgrounds, concessions.
- There are 8 wood burning fire rings.
- City website with Fire Pit information
Newport State Beach Fire Pits
West of the Balboa Pier
- Address: 1 Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, 92661
- Parking: Metered.
- Amenities: Restrooms, playground, restaurants, picnic areas, and lawn area.
- Located on the lawn, there are 8 wood burning, four designated for ADA access. Plus, 8 charcoal only.
- City website with Fire Pit information
East of the Balboa Pier
- Address: 1 Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, 92661
- Parking: Metered.
- Amenities: Restrooms and showers.
- Located on the sand, there are 7 wood burning, four designated for ADA access. Plus, 8 charcoal only.
- City website with Fire Pit information
Important: In Newport Beach, unpainted fire rings can be used for wood or charcoal. Green-painted fire rings are charcoal only.
San Clemente State Beach Fire Pits
- Address: 225W. Calafia Ave, San Clemente, CA
- Parking: State Beach parking fee.
- Amenities: Restrooms, lifeguards, picnic area, and showers.
- Fire pits are located within the campground at the picnic area on the bluff. Beach is located down the hill.
- State Parks website with Fire Pit Information.
San Clemente City Beaches Fire Pits
Fire pits are located at North Beach, T-street and the Pier. More info is found on the city website.
San Clemente Pier
- Address: 622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA
- Parking: Metered
- Amenities: Restrooms, picnic area, and concessions.
San Clemente North Beach
- Address: 1850 Avenida Estacion, San Clemente, CA
- Parking: Metered
- Amenities: Restrooms, picnic area, and concessions.
- Must access by stairs
San Clemente T-street Beach
- Address: 339 W. Paseo De Cristobal, San Clemente, CA
- Parking: Metered
- Amenities: Restrooms, picnic area, and concessions.
- Must access by stairs
Is It Hard to Get a Beach Fire Pit in Orange County?
On summer weekends and holidays, yes, beach fire rings can fill up quickly!
If having a bonfire is the main reason for your beach day, plan to arrive early, especially at popular locations like Huntington Beach, Bolsa Chica and Corona del Mar. Weekdays and the off-season are usually much easier.
Some beaches also offer fire rings connected to reservable picnic areas, which can be worth looking into if you're planning a birthday, family gathering or larger group.
Also, don't forget to bring some fire making supplies...
Now that you have picked the best spot in Orange County to have a bonfire, it's time to pack.
What You Need to Build a Bonfire at the Beach
Be mindful when building a bonfire. make sure kids do not jump in the fire pits, as there may be hot coals from previous users. Make sure that you put out your fire completely when you are done.
What to Bring for a Beach Bonfire
- Firewood or charcoal, depending on the fire-ring rules
- Matches or a long lighterFire starters
- Long roasting sticksWater for completely extinguishing the fire
- Food and drinks
- Plates, napkins and utensils
- Trash bags
- Blankets or beach chairs
- Jackets or sweatshirts
- Wagon for hauling supplies
- S'mores ingredients
Always check the rules for your specific beach before bringing firewood. Some fire rings allow wood, while others are charcoal-only.
Next, along with your bonfire making supplies, you need stuff to enjoy your time at the bonfire.
Things You Need for the Best Beach Bonfire Experience.
Finally, you will probably want to bring a few items to make your bonfire fun and comfortable. My motto is always less is more, because whatever you bring, you have to bring back! So I like to try and only bring the necessities.
- Food. Ideas mentioned below.
- Fire making supplies. Items listed above.
- Plates, napkins, trash bags and insulated hot cups.
- Blankets. i like to use flat sheets to sit on and soft, thicker blankets to cuddle up with. flat sheets are thin and lightweight, making traveling easier.
- Chairs. These in my opinion are optional. I usually ditch the chairs, one less thing to carry. Blankets make great seats.
- Cutting board and knife. You will need these to prepare the food.
- Wipes. these a great for dirty hands
- Jackets. I suggest bringing a jacket because it will get chilly with the ocean breeze. I would also suggest dressing in layers, incase its starts of warm and then gets cold.
- Wagon. great to carry food and supplies
- Music. It's fun to have music. I would either bring a Bluetooth speaker connected to a phone or a guitar if someone can play.
- Pop-up table. This is optional, but can come in handy for food prep and keeping stuff out of the sand.
How to have the best beach bonfire in Orange County.
Finally, you need to pack the food and beverages. How about these fun ideas.
The Best Foods for Beach Bonfires
When packing food for a beach bonfire, I have three go-to meals. use these ideas as inspiration!
Beach Bonfire Meal Ideas #1
The traditional hot dog meal. Get your favorite hot dogs and bring some roasting sticks to let the kids roast their hotdogs over the fire. You can even bring gourmet sausages for the adults. Chips, fruit and corn are great sides that are easy to pack. butter the corn and wrap in foil, then place next to the campfire till cooked.
Beach Bonfire Meal Ideas #2
You can make foil dinners. Cut up veggies, onions and your favorite meats and put them in a foil packet. add your favorite seasonings and a little olive oil or butter. these are super easy, make practically no mess, and you can customize for each person. Prepare them ahead of time, then at the beach, lay them on the fire until the food is cooked.
Beach Bonfire Meal Ideas #3
Make a gourmet picnic. This is my favorite kind of meal. I like to pick up stuff to make a nice cheese and meat board, specially chips and snacks, fried chicken is always fun, pasta salads, soup and hot chocolate.
Think i am crazy for suggesting soup and hot chocolate? A thermos of hot chocolate is one of my favorite things to bring, especially once the sun goes down and it gets chilly.
Sipping something warm around the campfire is the best! And these cups are great for all beverages....even adult beverages. They keep things hot or cold and are convenient to carry.
What about Dessert?
P.s. Don't forget to bring supplies for s'mores. You will definitely need marshmallows, graham crackers and roasting sticks. And have you thought of adding your favorite candy bars to your s'more?
Orange County Beach Bonfire FAQs
Which Orange County beach has the most fire pits?
Bolsa Chica State Beach has close to 200 fire rings, making it one of the largest concentrations of beach fire pits in Orange County.
Can you have a bonfire at Huntington Beach?
Yes. Huntington State Beach has designated fire rings available year-round. Most are first-come, first-served, although some fire rings are included with reservable picnic areas.
Can you burn wood at Newport Beach fire pits?
Yes, but only in the unpainted fire rings. Newport Beach's green-painted rings are charcoal-only.
What time do beach fire pits close?
Rules depend on the beach, but several major Orange County State Beaches allow fire-ring use until 10 p.m. Always check the beach's current rules before visiting.
Are Orange County beach fire pits free?
Many public fire rings are available on a first-come, first-served basis, although you'll generally still pay for beach parking. Some reservable picnic areas and private bonfire setups charge a fee.
You are now ready to have an awesome bonfire!
All this talk about bonfires is making me excited for Spring Break. However, since Southern California has great weather all year round, you can have a bonfire practically every day of the year. A fun and inexpensive activity that is fun for the whole family!
More Orange County Beach Fun
Planning more beach days? Check out my guide to the best family-friendly tide pools in Orange County for another fun way to explore the coast with kids.
Susan L Nuttall
LOOKS LIKE FUN
Sebastian
So this is how you prepare for an overnight stay on the beach..bonfire is the best! 🙂
Kathy BROWN
Went to Huntington State beach early before it opened to get a Bonfire pit for a family reunion. Pointer, go to the main gate, Brookhurst gate doesn't open until 6:30am
Aditya Chauhan
If I do bonfire on night some insect may attract how I get rid of them