Planning a trip feels like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded these days. Travel is meant to be restorative, but in an uncertain world where prices are perpetually going up and every airline has its own arcane baggage-check rules, the result can be more headaches than healing.
Our solution? Hit the road. Get in your car and go. Ditch the airport lines and overpriced terminal snacks, pack your favorite treats, make a killer playlist, and let the highway set the pace. At the end of your journey, you’ll find Costa Mesa, just off the 405 and brimming with SoCal charm.
Costa Mesa checks every box for a roadtrip home base: ocean waves are minutes away, Disney and Legoland are just a short drive, and LA and San Diego are on its flanks. It’s Orange County distilled—and it welcomes anyone ready to roam.
Rest Easy: Hotels Minutes from the Freeway
No detours are required. Once you arrive, choose from our hotels that are just minutes—or seconds—from the freeway:
- The Westin South Coast Plaza
- Hilton Costa Mesa
- Costa Mesa Marriott
- Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa
- Crowne Plaza
Or you could stay closer to the beach at:
Whatever your preference, after you check in, get ready for walkable streets, a thriving dining scene, world-class art, and the largest open-air shopping center in the country. Ready to make a reservation? Book your hotel now to lock in convenience.
Your Journey Starts Here
We’re here to help you discover your route to relaxation with some tips for folks coming from all corners.
Los Angeles: Palm Springs is so last season. Joshua Tree? Been there, done that. Costa Mesa’s a better trip: it gives major Echo Park-meets-Silverlake vibes, and a bonus cool breeze rolls in from the ocean and off the mesa. And as an extra special treat, there’s parking! The trip’s short, just around forty miles—enough to feel like an escape, which you definitely need.
Inland Empire: Beat the heat and chase the waves. Most importantly, cool the heck off. Costa Mesa has major beach proximity without the super-inflated price tag common to Orange County (which means more budget for tacos). We love the Santa Ana River, but nothing beats the Pacific in all her glory.
San Diego: We love San Diego for many, many reasons, but retail therapy isn’t one of them. Put the boutiques in your rearview and experience the 250+ stores of South Coast Plaza. Stop by and have a toast at Michelin-starred Knife Pleat and then grab some churros at Mercado Gonzalez. You’ll be far enough from home to feel like an explorer, but still within a tank of gas to get there and back.
Las Vegas: Okay, we told the inland folks to come and enjoy the weather and the ocean breeze, but we really mean it if you’re in Vegas. Costa Mesa is a taste of SoCal without the overwhelm of LA. You won’t bake in 115-degree heat, and you can take a walk around without bumping into five thousand tourists. (And if driving through the desert doesn’t sound like much fun, there’s direct flights between John Wayne Airport [SNA] and Vegas that are super underrated.)
No Itinerary Needed—Just Arrive
Costa Mesa doesn’t demand a multi-page itinerary. All you need to do is get here. What happens after that is the good part. If you want to walk from one adventure to the next, sip cocktails under palm trees, or have access to some of the best shopping and dining to be found on the West Coast, just fuel up and point your tires at Costa Mesa. The city is ready for you.
