Orange County

Orange County is a Southern California county next to Los Angeles, known for Disneyland in Anaheim, surf at Huntington Beach and beaches along the coast.

Find a room in Orange County Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Orange County

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Orange County is in Southern California, part of the Greater Los Angeles area, and is the third most populous county in California. Anaheim is the main tourist hub, home to the Disneyland Resort, where Disneyland ranks as the second most visited theme park in the world. Huntington Beach, nicknamed Surf City USA, hosts surf competitions and has a well-known pier. Beaches stretch more than 40 miles along the coast in places, and an average annual temperature of about 68 °F (20 °C) keeps them usable year-round.

Laguna Beach, just south of Newport Beach, has the county's only natural lakes, the Laguna Lakes. Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded during Spanish colonization, is known as the destination of migrating swallows. Choose a base by what you want to do: Anaheim suits theme park days, and the coast suits slower beach trips. Plan each area separately before you book.

Orange County in five

Choose Anaheim or the coast as your baseAnaheim puts Disneyland Resort, with Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, at your door. Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach are 30 to 60 minutes away and suit sand and sunsets.
Check the official site for park ticketsDisneyland Resort lists ticket options and rules on its own site, and the options change by date and park. Buy only from the official site or an authorized seller, and check what the ticket includes.Tours and tickets
Fly into John Wayne Airport when you canSNA is small, central and close to Anaheim and the coast, while LAX has more flights but a longer drive in traffic. Compare total travel time, not just the fare.Los Angeles
Plan around freeway trafficI-5, I-405 and SR-55 slow at commute hours and on summer weekends. Leave the coast by mid-afternoon on Sundays, and build slack into any airport transfer.
Use Pacific Surfliner for a car-free coast dayAmtrak's Pacific Surfliner stops in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, so one rail day can link a mission, a beach and the harbor. Check the Amtrak site for current schedules.

Things to do in Orange County

See all attractions in Orange County

Sight · Orange CountyStar Wars Launch Bay

Sight · Orange CountyRichard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum

Sight · Orange CountyPirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Orange CountyPut the places you like in Orange County on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: John Wayne (SNA); Los Angeles (LAX) and Long Beach are alternatives
Getting there: Fly into SNA or LAX; Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops in the county
Getting around: A car or rideshare; OCTA buses and Amtrak serve main corridors
Best base: Anaheim for theme parks; Newport or Laguna Beach for the coast
Time needed: 3 to 5 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, winter swell
FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, rain chance
MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, clear
AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, spring break
MayClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Gray mornings
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low17°Warm, June gloom
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, busy beaches
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low19°Hot, busy beaches
SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low19°Warm, clear
OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm, clear
NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, quieter
DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Cool, holiday lights

Average daily high and low in Santa Ana, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Orange County

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 16°
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Orange County

12:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-8

Today25°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue23°13°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed22°14°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu24°17°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri27°18°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat29°20°0%Saturday: Clear. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun28°21°0%Sunday: Clear. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 08:42 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Orange County

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Los Angeles, USASuper BowlFeb 14, 2027 · Read the event guide

Day trips by train

Before you go to Orange County

Anaheim and coastal hotelsTheme park bases versus beach townsCheck availability

Theme park and tour ticketsCompare ticket options by dateBook timed entry

eSIM for Southern CaliforniaMaps and rideshare apps in LA trafficRead the guide

Cover for a theme park family tripMedical bills and flight delaysRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Orange County, checked

Check whether you need a visa or an ESTA before you fly to the US. Read the current entry rules on the U.S. Department of State site before you book.Source
Visa Waiver Program travelers apply for an ESTA online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before they buy a flight.Source
Declare fruit, plant material and food on the arrival form. US border officers inspect these items, and the rules are set out on the CBP site.Source
Follow lifeguard flags and posted signs at Orange County beaches. Check lifeguard status before you swim, especially at surf spots.

Plan around Orange County

Los Angeles

North on I-5 for the city and the coast

Read the guide Greater Palm Springs

Desert resorts about two hours east

Read the guide Joshua Tree National Park

Desert boulders east of Palm Springs

Read the guide Las Vegas

A long drive across the Mojave

Read the guide Getting around the USA

Rental cars, trains and buses compared

Read the guide Oʻahu

Hawaii's main island, a flight west from California

Read the guide All of the USA

States, parks and cities in one planning hub

Read the guide

Orange County FAQ

Is Orange County worth visiting?

Yes for Disneyland Resort, the beaches and an easier pace than Los Angeles. It works best as a family or beach trip, and you can add Los Angeles by car or train.

Should I stay in Anaheim or Newport Beach?

Anaheim if Disneyland Resort is the main day-to-day plan. Newport Beach or Laguna Beach if you want the coast, with a theme park as a single driving day.

How many days do you need in Orange County?

Three days covers one theme park day, one beach day and a town walk. Five days adds a second park day or a Los Angeles trip. Fewer than three leaves little room for traffic.

Do you need a car in Orange County?

For most trips, yes. Anaheim's park area is walkable and has shuttles, but the coast is spread out. Amtrak and local buses help, though schedules limit evening flexibility.

When is the best time to visit Orange County?

September, October and spring have warm, clear weather without peak summer crowds. June can bring gray mornings, July and August are busy and hot, and winter is mild with occasional rain.