🔥 Bonfire nights
Beach fire pits in SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
12 spots within 60 miles of 92692
Aliso Beach Park
Laguna Beach
Just seven wood-burning rings on a pocket cove — the only bonfire spot in Laguna, with a playground and creek mouth kids love, plus local bonfire-rental services if the rings fill.
🗓️ Rings first-come; small count, so claim early
Get directions →Doheny State Beach
Dana Point
Wood-burning rings on the south end plus reservable fire rings in the big grassy picnic area — the reservable ones are the move for a birthday bonfire you don't want to gamble on.
🗓️ Day-use rings first-come; picnic-area rings reservable
Get directions →Corona del Mar State Beach (Big Corona)
Newport Beach
24 fire pits on one of OC's prettiest coves — most take wood or charcoal, a handful are charcoal-only (they're marked), with rocky jetties and tide pools for kids to explore before dark.
🗓️ Beach hours 6am–10pm; rings first-come
Get directions →Balboa Pier (Newport Beach)
Newport Beach
30+ fire rings on either side of the pier, some ADA accessible — do the Balboa Fun Zone and a frozen banana first, then finish with a sunset fire.
🗓️ Rings first-come during beach hours — check posted rules
Get directions →Huntington State Beach
Huntington Beach
200+ fire rings along two miles of sand between the Santa Ana River and Beach Blvd — quieter than the pier area, with restrooms and snack stands close to the rings.
🗓️ Rings first-come; fires out by closing — check posted rules
Get directions →Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach
125+ fire pits south of the pier make this SoCal's bonfire capital — wide flat sand, firewood sold at nearby stands, and plenty of room for a s'mores crowd.
🗓️ Rings first-come, year-round; arrive by late afternoon on summer weekends
Get directions →Bolsa Chica State Beach
Huntington Beach
A mellower Huntington alternative with fire rings spread along three miles of sand, easy parking lots right behind the beach, and gentle surf for pre-bonfire wading.
🗓️ Rings first-come; some picnic areas with rings are reservable
Get directions →Oceanside Harbor Beach
Oceanside
Fire pits between two jetties on an extra-wide stretch of harbor sand — some face the sunset, some face the glowing 'Oceanside' sign, and the harbor restaurants are a short walk.
🗓️ Rings first-come; fires in pits only
Get directions →Cabrillo Beach
San Pedro
Fire rings sit on the calm harbor-side inner beach — protected water that's gentle for little swimmers, with the free Cabrillo Marine Aquarium steps away for a pre-bonfire visit.
🗓️ Rings first-come on the inner beach — check posted rules
Get directions →Moonlight State Beach
Encinitas
Eight fire pits on a family-favorite beach with a playground, volleyball courts, a snack bar and lifeguards — everything a kid bonfire night needs in one cove.
🗓️ Rings first-come; fires until 10pm
Get directions →Dockweiler State Beach
Playa del Rey
LA's classic bonfire beach — one of only two LA County beaches that kept its fire rings, with a paved bike path and jets from LAX roaring overhead to entertain the kids.
🗓️ Rings first-come; fires until ~10pm — check posted rules
Get directions →La Jolla Shores
La Jolla
A handful of summer fire rings on San Diego's gentlest big beach — flat calm-ish surf, Kellogg Park's grass and playground behind you, and only wood, charcoal or paper in the ring.
🗓️ Rings seasonal (summer); city fires allowed 5am–midnight
Get directions →Bonfire strategy — what locals know
- 🔥 Rings are first-come at almost every beach — on summer weekends, send someone to claim one by mid-afternoon and hold it until the rest of the family arrives at sunset.
- 🔥 Bring your own firewood (grocery stores and stands near Huntington and Dockweiler sell bundles) — only clean wood, charcoal or paper is allowed; never burn pallets, painted wood or trash.
- 🔥 Check the rules posted at your beach before you light up — some rings are charcoal-only, most beaches cut fires off between 10pm and midnight, and rings can close on red-flag wind days.
- 🔥 Pack layers and blankets even after a hot day — the coast drops 15–20 degrees fast once the sun goes down, and the fire only warms one side of you.
- 🔥 Douse the fire completely with water before you leave (don't bury it — sand insulates coals and they stay dangerously hot for hours), and pack out everything you brought.
Make it a full beach day first: see the best family beaches, tide pools and sunset photo spots. Fire-pit programs change with budgets and air-quality rules — verified August 2026; check posted signs before you light up.
Frequently asked questions
Which SoCal beaches still have fire pits?
Huntington Beach is the bonfire capital (well over 300 rings across the city and state beaches), with more at Bolsa Chica, Newport's Balboa Pier and Big Corona, Aliso Beach, Doheny, Dockweiler and Cabrillo in LA County, and around San Diego's Mission Bay, Moonlight Beach, Oceanside Harbor and Coronado. Every beach in our finder above was verified to currently have public rings.
Are beach fire pits free? Can you reserve one?
The rings themselves are free and first-come at almost every beach — you pay only for parking. The main exception is Doheny State Beach, where fire rings in the picnic area can be reserved, which is the safe move for a birthday bonfire. On summer weekends, claim a first-come ring by mid-afternoon.
What can you burn in a beach fire pit?
Clean firewood, charcoal or paper only — never pallets, painted or treated wood, or trash. Some rings (marked, e.g. several at Corona del Mar) are charcoal-only, and rules can tighten on red-flag wind days, so check the signs posted at your beach before lighting up.
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