The city of Anaheim is only 20 minutes from Costa Mesa, and it makes for a great trip — many people spend two to three days at Disneyland alone. You'll also want to visit the Knott's Berry Farm theme park, take in a baseball game at Angels Stadium, and spend a day in the walkable and historic Packing District.Â
Also, 20 minutes away is the tiny resort community of Laguna Beach, famous for its spectacular natural beauty and thriving arts scene. You should plan on at least three days in this vibrant beach town so that you'll have enough time to enjoy the sandy beaches, the 40 miles of hiking trails, and the area's many sea caves and tide pools. You'll also want to visit some of the numerous art galleries in town and search the local boutique shops for whale-themed souvenirs.Â
Just a 40-minute drive from Costa Mesa is Los Angeles, a city you could easily spend a week exploring. There's the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Broad Museum in downtown LA, horseback riding, hiking, and biking in Pacific Palisades, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Griffith Park, and sightings of celebrities, or at least of their luxurious homes, in Beverly Hills. Plus, you can stop and camp along the entire West Coast in your RV on a grand Los Angeles to Seattle road trip.
Once a rural farming community, Costa Mesa acquired its name in 1920 when a contest was organized to rename the Orange County town, then known as Harper. The winning name made reference to the community's location and geography, as "costa" means coast and "mesa" means table in Spanish, and Costa Mesa is situated on a plateau only a mile from the beach. Both oil drilling and the nearby Santa Ana Army Air Base brought people to the area over the years, and today, the city's population numbers about 112,000. Costa Mesa enjoys the plentiful sunshine and mild Mediterranean climate Southern California is known for.
If you like to shop, you've come to the right place as Costa Mesa boasts the largest shopping center on the West Coast. South Coast Plaza, an indoor mall, houses over 250 retailers, many of them designer boutiques, as well as a collection of dining options ranging from French bistros to steakhouses to Asian noodle spots.
Costa Mesa is a city where the arts thrive — it's the home of the South Coast Repertory Theater, the Pacific Symphony, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The latter is a performing arts venue offering frequent jazz, classical music, and opera concerts as well Broadway musicals and ballet and modern dance performances.
Year-round family-oriented entertainment can be found at the OC Fair and Event Center, which hosts the annual OC Fair. The venue is the permanent home of Centennial Farm, a working farm benefiting the local community, and Heroes Hall Veterans Museum, which honors area residents who have served their country. It also hosts trade shows and expos, a swap meet, and a weekly farmers market.
Irvine Studio Arts Festival – Held in June, the festival is a showcase for the original paintings, photos, jewelry, ceramics, and sculptures of local artists.
Newport Beach Food and Wine Festival – Featuring food and wine samplings from top area restaurants and cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs, you'll want to eat light before attending this October event.
Orange County Fair – Held every summer at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, the fair offers old-fashioned family fun with exhibits, live animals, food, and rides.
When RVing in Costa Mesa, you can't go wrong staying at Stone Villa RV Park featuring Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, telephone hookups, and propane delivery to campsites. In nearby Long Beach, enjoy a stay at the amenities-laden Golden Shore RV Resort with a heated pool, complimentary Wi-Fi, a picnic area, and shuffleboard courts. Luxury waterfront RVing is possible at the Newport Dunes Resort. Enjoy a soak in their hydrotherapy pool, lounge in a poolside cabana, and get access to their exclusive reserved beach area.Â
Inevitably, you’ll need a dump station while RVing in California. In Costa Mesa, you'll find a dump station at the OC Fair and Event Center Campground and another at the Red-E-Rentals on Harbor Blvd., where they also stock propane.Â
Costa Mesa offers those storing their RVs here a location with year-round moderate temperatures. Even so, for that extra peace of mind, keep your baby in a climate-controlled unit at Extra Storage Newport Mesa. The convenience of an on-site dump station distinguishes Beach Cities RV storage, a very secure facility that's gated and has 24-hour video surveillance.
The principal attraction at Sequoia National Park, the U.S.’s second-oldest national park, is the park’s namesake, the giant sequoia. Viewing the groves of giant sequoias is awe-inspiring, but be sure not to miss the star of the show, the General Sherman Tree, considered the single largest tree by volume in the world. In addition to hiking and camping, visitors love to take the cave tours at this park.
Another national park where the main attraction is also the park's namesake is Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua trees are actually a kind of yucca, but they have an unusual shape evoking a human with arms stretched up towards heaven. You'll encounter an otherworldly landscape here, thanks to both the unique trees and the barren desert dotted with enormous boulders. A night's stay will offer you the chance to see an unmatched sunset and sunrise; plus, you'll marvel at how the night sky, lacking in light pollution because of the park's remote location, affords epic stargazing.
Consisting of five islands just off the California coast, Channel Islands National Park is located in nearby Ventura County. Uncrowded and teeming with unique plant life, the islands are a water sports enthusiast's dream, with opportunities to kayak, surf, snorkel, and dive in waters rich with wildlife. In fact, a chance to spot whales, seals, dolphins, and orcas, not to mention seabirds, foxes, and bats, is one of the top reasons people come to this park.
Nearby Crystal Cove State Park has miles of both lovely beaches and scenic backcountry hiking trails. You can also view the cottages that remain from a 1930s seaside colony that have been restored and are now part of the park's Historic District.
Bolsa Chica State Beach is less than 10 miles from Costa Mesa and offers three miles of beautiful beaches where visitors can camp, fish, surf, or have a picnic. Cap off a day of enjoying the sun and surf with a singalong by a beach bonfire.
Just a 25-minute drive from Costa Mesa is Doheny State Beach. It's a great spot for surfing, family picnics, and dry camping. There are tide pools to explore, and the park also has a visitor center with an aquarium.
Can’t miss California landmarks near Costa Mesa include the famous Hollywood sign. You can hike all the way up to the sign for a spectacular view, but if you're not up for a climb, you can still capture the sign in the background of your photos from lots of LA vantage points.
Near the sign is another monument you don't want to leave without visiting. Getting a photo of you, or one of your fellow travelers, stepping into a famous movie star's footprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theater is practically a requirement when visiting California. As this is a functioning movie theater, you can also take in a flick while you're here.Â
When RVing in Costa Mesa, you can't go wrong staying at Stone Villa RV Park featuring Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, telephone hookups, and propane delivery to campsites. In nearby Long Beach, enjoy a stay at the amenities-laden Golden Shore RV Resort with a heated pool, complimentary Wi-Fi, a picnic area, and shuffleboard courts. Luxury waterfront RVing is possible at the Newport Dunes Resort. Enjoy a soak in their hydrotherapy pool, lounge in a poolside cabana, and get access to their exclusive reserved beach area.Â
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Costa Mesa, CA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Costa Mesa?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Costa Mesa from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Costa Mesa?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.