Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Costa Mesa has to offer.

Where to Eat in Costa Mesa

If you’re looking for affordable options, Andrea at Pelican Hill (22701 Pelican Hill Road South) and Water Grill - South Coast Plaza (3300 Bristol St) are great picks.

When to visit Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa in December
Estimated hotel price
$145
1 night at 3-star hotel
Costa Mesa in December
Estimated hotel price
$145
1 night at 3-star 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 6 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Costa Mesa include Southwest, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Costa Mesa departs from San Jose and takes around 1h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Costa Mesa is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 59 km from Costa Mesa. You’ll find branches of Ace and Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Plane

When flying to Costa Mesa, you’ll arrive at John Wayne Airport, OC (SNA), which is located 6 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Costa Mesa include Southwest, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Costa Mesa departs from San Jose and takes around 1h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Costa Mesa is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 59 km from Costa Mesa. You’ll find branches of Ace and Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airports near Costa Mesa

LAXLos Angeles Los Angeles
ONTOntario
SNASanta Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Airlines serving Costa Mesa

Lufthansa
Good (8,131 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,537 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,105 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,442 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,001 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,466 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,255 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,625 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (943 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,981 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,744 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,612 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,877 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,210 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,333 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,418 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (422 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,475 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,406 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,336 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Costa Mesa

Where to stay in Costa Mesa

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Travelodge by Wyndham Costa Mesa Newport Beach Hacienda and Vagabond Inn Costa Mesa.

Where to stay in popular areas of Costa Mesa

Most booked hotels in Costa Mesa

See all
The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1050 reviews)
$371+
View
Paséa Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 850 reviews)
$364+
View
Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1341 reviews)
$139+
View
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1171 reviews)
$190+
View
Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa Newport Beach
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1127 reviews)
$132+
View
Costa Mesa Marriott
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 445 reviews)
$199+
View

Renting a car in Costa Mesa

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $42 per day, on average, or $126 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 21% cheaper than airport locations in Costa Mesa.

Expect to pay $4.20 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 $50.42 and $67.23. Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Costa Mesa, while also 51% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $42 per day, on average, or $126 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 21% cheaper than airport locations in Costa Mesa.

Expect to pay $4.20 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 $50.42 and $67.23. Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Costa Mesa, while also 51% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Costa Mesa

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$29/day

Compact

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$31/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Costa Mesa