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. 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, Andrea at Pelican Hill (22701 Pelican Hill Road South) and VACA (695 Town Center Drive Suite 170) 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 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Costa Mesa.

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 MEXRENTACAR and Ace, among others, in Los Angeles.

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 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Costa Mesa.

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 MEXRENTACAR and Ace, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airports near Costa Mesa

LAXLos Angeles
ONTOntario
SNASanta Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Airlines serving Costa Mesa

Lufthansa
Good (7,156 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,363 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,030 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,964 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,632 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,853 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,778 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,467 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,810 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (804 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,273 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,591 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,393 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,081 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (355 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,246 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,292 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,895 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,212 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Costa Mesa

Where to stay in popular areas of Costa Mesa

Most booked hotels in Costa Mesa

See all
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort And Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1165 reviews)
$374+
View
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1159 reviews)
$320+
View
Hyatt Regency Irvine
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 705 reviews)
$226+
View
The Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 623 reviews)
$221+
View
The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 989 reviews)
$381+
View
Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1283 reviews)
$147+
View

Renting a car in Costa Mesa

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $40 per day, on average, or $80 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 18% cheaper than airport locations in Costa Mesa.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Costa Mesa is Full-size (Ford F-150 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 37% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Costa Mesa costs $40 per day, on average, or $80 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 18% cheaper than airport locations in Costa Mesa.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Costa Mesa is Full-size (Ford F-150 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 37% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Costa Mesa

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$30/day

Compact
Find car rentals in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Costa Mesa city guide for the best Costa Mesa travel tips. To help you organize your Costa Mesa trip ideas, this Costa Mesa visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.