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

Costa Mesa in May
Estimated package price
$387
2 travelers
Flight to Costa Mesa
3 nights at hotel
Costa Mesa in May
Estimated package price
$387
2 travelers
Flight to Costa Mesa
3 nights at hotel

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″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

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 Las Vegas and takes around 1h 16m.

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 Woodland Hills, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 43m 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 Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Costa Mesa, including Bus, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Ontario, the bus ride to Costa Mesa takes 40 miles and will cost you around $12. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $64 for a journey of 120 miles.

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 Las Vegas and takes around 1h 16m.

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 Woodland Hills, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 43m 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 Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Costa Mesa, including Bus, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Ontario, the bus ride to Costa Mesa takes 40 miles and will cost you around $12. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $64 for a journey of 120 miles.

Airports near Costa Mesa

Airlines serving Costa Mesa

Lufthansa
Good (4,666 reviews)
KLM
Good (853 reviews)
SWISS
Good (941 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,530 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,618 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (985 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,582 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (485 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,122 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,469 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,849 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (870 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,174 reviews)
LOT
Good (684 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (924 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (827 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Costa Mesa

Most booked hotels in Costa Mesa

Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
4 stars
Excellent (9, 770 reviews)
$345+
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort And Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 803 reviews)
$410+
The Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 417 reviews)
$243+
Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa Newport Beach
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 549 reviews)
$175+
The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 468 reviews)
$396+
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 804 reviews)
$212+

Renting a car in Costa Mesa

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $47 per day, on average, or $93 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, 2% more expensive than at Los Angeles.

Expect to pay $3.94 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 $47.24 and $62.99. 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, 58% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $47 per day, on average, or $93 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, 2% more expensive than at Los Angeles.

Expect to pay $3.94 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 $47.24 and $62.99. 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, 58% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.