Costa Mesa travel guide
Costa Mesa Tourism | Costa Mesa Guide
You're Going to Love Costa Mesa
With a population of 109,960, Costa Mesa is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Costa Mesa deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Costa Mesa
If you’re looking for affordable options, VACA (695 Town Center Drive Suite 170) and Hamamori Restaurant and Sushi Bar (3333 Bear Street, Suite 320) are great picks.
When to visit Costa Mesa
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Costa Mesa in July, when the average temperature is 71.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 80.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 44.6 °F, with an average temperature of 55.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in March, when precipitation is around 2.6″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Costa Mesa, with an average rainfall of 0.1″.
How to Get to Costa Mesa
Plane
When flying to Costa Mesa, you’ll arrive at John Wayne Airport, OC (SNA), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Costa Mesa include American Airlines, Air Canada and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Costa Mesa departs from Oakland and takes around 1h 28m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Costa Mesa. The train journey from Costa Mesa to Fullerton takes 0h 39m and costs around $14 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Anaheim, expect to pay about $16 for a 0h 44m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Costa Mesa is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 36 miles from Costa Mesa. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Costa Mesa, including Bus, FlixBus and Greyhound. From Santa Barbara, the bus ride to Costa Mesa takes 120 miles and will cost you around $65. From Bakersfield, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 125 miles.
Airlines serving Costa Mesa
Where to stay in popular areas of Costa Mesa
Most booked hotels in Costa Mesa
Renting a car in Costa Mesa
Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $54 per day, on average, or $109 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 16% more expensive than at Los Angeles.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Costa Mesa (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Costa Mesa is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Kia Soul or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Costa Mesa
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$37/day
Pickup truck
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$38/day