The route
This is a short drive, not a long one, and that's the point: it's the most scenic stretch of coast in Orange County, it fits in a morning, and it ends somewhere worth stopping.
- Start in Newport Beach. Pick up the car at your hotel or home, or meet us near the harbor.
- Corona del Mar. PCH runs right through the village. If you want a photo stop, the bluffs above Little Corona and Inspiration Point look straight down on the water.
- Crystal Cove State Park. Past Corona del Mar the buildings drop away and you get open hills on one side and the ocean on the other. This is the stretch people rent the convertible for.
- Into Laguna Beach. The road narrows and slows as you come into town. Main Beach and Heisler Park are the classic stops.
- Keep going, or turn back. Carry on south through Dana Point, or loop back to Irvine and the 405 through Laguna Canyon Road (SR-133).
When to go
Weekday mornings are best. By late morning on a summer weekend, PCH through Corona del Mar and Laguna can crawl, and parking in Laguna fills up fast. Golden hour is beautiful but busy. For an empty road, go early.
Which car
A convertible. The road isn't fast, so this is about the roof, the sound and the view, not lap times.
- Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder ($1,250/day): V10, roof down in seconds, the loudest way to do it.
- McLaren 750S Spider ($1,650/day): the sharpest car in the fleet, with a folding hardtop.
- Bentley Continental GTC ($850/day): seats four, the relaxed choice if you're bringing friends.
Every rental includes 100 miles a day. The whole Newport to Laguna run and back is only a small part of that.
Practical notes
- Speed limits drop as you enter Corona del Mar and Laguna, and they're enforced.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen for a long top-down run, and keep a layer handy; the coast gets cool in the morning and evening.
- Parking a supercar in Laguna: use a paid lot rather than a tight street space, and fold the mirrors.
