Moreno Beach, Perris | Top 150 Bikini Destinations
LAKE PERRIS, INLAND EMPIRE / CALIFORNIA, USA
A day by the lake
Moreno Beach.
Start in Palm Springs and head west for a sandy shore, picnic tables, and a designated freshwater swimming area.
Plan your beach day ↘TOP 150 BIKINI DESTINATIONS / RIVERSIDE COUNTY
From the desert
to a freshwater shore.
Palm Springs makes a starting point for this inland road trip. Moreno Beach sits on the north side of Lake Perris, between dry hills and the reservoir.
Spend a morning on the sand, bring a picnic, and leave time for a museum stop on the return. Swim inside the marked area only when posted conditions allow it.
ON THE WORLD MAP
A lake in Riverside County.
Moreno Beach, Perris, Southern California
01 / GETTING THERE
Start in Palm Springs.
Arrive in the desert
Palm Springs International Airport sits east of downtown. The lake is a separate drive west into Riverside County.
Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY 4.0Get around Lake Perris
At the park entrance, ask about day-use parking and head to lots 8 through 10 for Moreno Beach. Summer weekends can fill up.
On the beach
Check the state park’s lake conditions and any water-quality advisories. Lifeguard coverage is seasonal, and lake access can change. Beach status ↗
02 / BEACH ESSENTIALS
Know before you go.
Moreno Beach is a sandy reservoir beach with paid day-use access, picnic facilities, and seasonal lifeguards.
01 / HOW TO GET THERE
Via the Moreno Valley entrance
From CA-60, take Moreno Beach Drive and Via Del Lago. Follow signs inside the park to lots 8 through 10. State Parks lists US$10 per vehicle at the regular rate and US$20 at designated peak times. Arrive early on summer weekends.
Lake Perris hours and fees ↗02 / BEACH ACCESS
From the lot to the shoreline
Follow the day-use paths from the designated lots. There are accessible picnic and restroom facilities. Loose sand and changing water levels affect the last stretch to the water.
03 / THE SAND
Pale sand and a changing waterline
The open sand can get hot. Small pebbles and shells may collect near the water. Bring sandals for the walk and keep clear of the boat launch.
04 / FOOD & WATER
Bring a picnic and drinking water
Pack a cooler and a full bottle for the day. There are picnic tables and shade structures near the beach. Check the marina separately if you need supplies.
05 / CHAIRS & UMBRELLAS
Bring a hat and shade
Pack a chair or towel and a hat. Picnic shade is available at some tables. Check park rules before setting up a shade structure on the sand.
06 / RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
Changing rooms and showers
State Parks lists showers, changing rooms, and restrooms by the swim area. Lifeguard coverage is seasonal. Ask at the gate and read the posted signs.
03 / THE BEACH
A day at Moreno Beach.
An inland beach day
An archival view looking east along Moreno Beach. Water levels and the width of the sand can change.
Photo: Summit Hopper · CC BY 2.001 / EARLY
Walk the sand before it warms up
Use the day-use lots and pick a spot near the marked swimming area. Leave room for the shoreline to change as the reservoir level moves.
02 / IN THE WATER
Check the posted swim conditions
Read the lake advisories and speak with park staff before entering. Stay within the marked swim area and away from boat lanes.
03 / MIDDAY
Take a shaded picnic break
Walk back to the day-use tables for water and lunch. Pack out everything you bring and keep wildlife away from food.
04 / LATE DAY
Leave time for the drive back
Follow the park road to the gate and head back through the pass. A museum or an early meal makes a practical stop on the way.
A day at the lake can still work if swimming is closed. Spend time on dry sand, use a picnic table, or choose a museum stop.
04 / NEARBY BEACHES
Four more beaches nearby.
The first two are on Lake Perris. The other two are separate Inland Empire lake outings.
Perris Beach
A second designated swim area on the same reservoir, with an open sandy edge and picnic space.
- Best for
- A shorter drive within the state park
- Facilities
- Parking at lots 1 through 4 and nearby facilities
- Good to know
- Check the same state park lake advisories and posted staffing.
Bernasconi Beach
A quieter shoreline on the southeast side of Lake Perris, reached via the Bernasconi entrance.
- Best for
- A dry-shore walk and the lake view
- Facilities
- Day-use parking through the separate entrance
- Good to know
- This is outside the designated swimming areas. Check trail and gate hours.
Launch Pointe Beach
Sandy shoreline by the recreation complex on the northwest side of Lake Elsinore.
- Best for
- A walk or a separate lake outing
- Facilities
- Paid day-use access and facilities at the complex
- Good to know
- Use city water-quality updates and follow restrictions posted at the beach.
Lake Gregory Swim Beach
A seasonal swim beach in a mountain lake at Crestline, with trees and hills close to the water.
- Best for
- A summer day trip in the mountains
- Facilities
- Seasonal paid swim access and regional park facilities
- Good to know
- The swim beach closes outside the summer season. Check the operator before driving up.
Distances are straight-line from Moreno Beach. Facilities change by season, so check on the day.
05 / MUST-SEE PLACES
Three ways to see the Inland Empire and the desert.
01 / PERRIS
Tour the Southern California Railway Museum
Walk among preserved streetcars and locomotives. Check the museum calendar for running days if you want a ride.
Railway Museum visitor information ↗02 / MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE
Visit March Field Air Museum
The outdoor collection includes an SR-71. Leave time for the indoor galleries and check hours and admission.
March Field hours and admission ↗03 / PALM SPRINGS
Visit Palm Springs Art Museum
Save a stop at the downtown museum for a return day in town. Check the exhibition calendar, admission, and hours before setting out.
Palm Springs Art Museum admission and hours ↗EXPLORE THE AREA
Moreno Beach and Lake Perris.
The pin is on the north shore near the lots 8 through 10 swim area. Zoom out to see the park entrances and the route from CA-60.
Open the interactive map ↗BEYOND THE BEACH
From the reservoir to the desert.
Make time for railway and aviation history near the lake, then return through the pass to Palm Springs.
The railway museum
The railway museum preserves engines and streetcars at its Perris campus.
Photo: bossco · CC BY-SA 2.0
March Field
March Field Air Museum displays aircraft beside the March Air Reserve Base.
Photo: Dereck Bradley · CC BY 2.0
Indian Canyons
Palm groves shade parts of the canyon system south of Palm Springs.
Photo: David Balmer · CC BY 3.0
Palm Springs Art Museum
The museum sits at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Photo: Gillfoto · CC BY-SA 4.006 / SIX HOTELS
Find your base.
WEST MORENO VALLEY
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Moreno Valley
$ Budget · US$89–107 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
A simple base off CA-60 with breakfast. Allow about 20 minutes to the lake gate and additional time to reach the beach lots.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Moreno Valley official site ↗CANYON ESTATES, LAKE ELSINORE
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Elsinore
$ Budget · US$100–114 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
A hotel off I-15 with breakfast and an indoor pool. Budget at least half an hour by car to Moreno Beach.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Elsinore official site ↗MENIFEE
Fairfield Inn & Suites Menifee
$$ Mid-Range · US$144–172 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
A hotel near I-215 with breakfast and rooms for a short road trip. It is roughly half an hour by car from Moreno Beach in light traffic.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Menifee official site ↗WEST HEMET
Hampton Inn & Suites Hemet
$$ Mid-Range · US$134–167 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
A base for the San Jacinto Valley with rooms and suites. Drive west toward Lake Perris and allow roughly half an hour for the trip.
Hampton Inn & Suites Hemet official site ↗DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
$$$ Upscale · US$251–290 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
The historic inn is close to downtown Riverside’s museums and restaurants. Allow roughly half an hour or more to reach the lake gate.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa official site ↗DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
$$$$ Luxury · US$325–504 a night on sampled direct rates, checked November 2026
Stay in Palm Springs for a walkable desert base and a rooftop pool. Moreno Beach is a separate drive of about an hour or more.
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs official site ↗
WHEN TO GO
Choose the day you want.
Summer can be hot at the lake and in the desert. Start early for shade and parking. Spring and fall can be more comfortable for walking. Check the forecast before heading out. Climate normals ↗
07 / FOOD, LANGUAGE & LOCAL LIFE
From sand to table.
Palm Canyon Drive
Stop for a meal along Palm Canyon Drive after the return to Palm Springs.
Photo: Renhau (R. Haupt) · CC BY-SA 3.0What to order
Pack sandwiches and water for the state park. For a meal after the lake, choose a diner in Perris, a Riverside dinner, or a stop near your stay in Palm Springs.
Local habits
Check kitchen hours before you drive over. Bring a dry layer for dining rooms and reserve ahead for a weekend dinner.
A LITTLE SPANISH
Useful on the beach and in town.
- Buenos días
- Good morning
- Gracias
- Thank you
- Agua, por favor
- Water, please
- La cuenta, por favor
- The bill, please
SIX RESTAURANTS
Where to eat.
PERRIS VALLEY AIRPORT
The Bombshelter Restaurant & Bar
$ Budget · US$13.99–15.49 for selected breakfast burritos, menu checked November 2026
Stop for breakfast near the skydiving airfield in Perris. The menu includes vegan and meat-filled burritos for an early start.
The Bombshelter Restaurant & Bar official site ↗ALESSANDRO BOULEVARD, MORENO VALLEY
R Burgers
$ Budget · US$5.99 for the original burger or US$11.99 as a combo, menu checked November 2026
A quick option in Moreno Valley. Order a burger by itself or a meal with fries and a drink before the drive back.
R Burgers official site ↗LAKESHORE DRIVE, LAKE ELSINORE
Jack’s Bar-B-Q
$$ Mid-Range · US$17 for a barbecue pork or chicken sandwich, menu checked November 2026
Have a sandwich with slaw near Lake Elsinore. The restaurant is a separate stop west of Moreno Beach.
Jack’s Bar-B-Q official site ↗CANYON CREST, RIVERSIDE
Smoke and Fire Social Eatery
$$ Mid-Range · US$16.99–22.99 for a brisket burrito or Big Texan, menu checked November 2026
Order barbecue in Canyon Crest. Check the menu for a brisket burrito, a larger sandwich, or a side to share.
Smoke and Fire Social Eatery official site ↗MISSION INN AVENUE, RIVERSIDE
Mario’s Place
$$$ Upscale · US$28–31 for chicken Diavola or penne with oxtail ragù, menu checked November 2026
Make a dinner stop downtown for pan-roasted chicken or a plate of pasta. Reserve if you are returning on a busy weekend.
Mario’s Place official site ↗UPTOWN PALM SPRINGS
Workshop Kitchen + Bar
$$$$ Luxury · US$42–52 for selected mains, menu checked November 2026
Go for a longer dinner back in Palm Springs. The menu includes a wood-grilled pork chop, prime flat iron steak, and scallops.
Workshop Kitchen + Bar official site ↗08 / THE INLAND EMPIRE AND PALM SPRINGS AFTER DARK
Three bars.
Presidential Lounge
The Mission Inn’s lounge is a stop for a drink after a walk downtown. Check the hotel’s dining hours before you go. Presidential Lounge information ↗
High Bar
Go for the mountain view and a light bite on the Rowan rooftop. Check access hours and food service. High Bar menu and hours ↗
The Amigo Room
Stop at the Ace for a drink or snack after the drive. The hotel lists hours and its current menu online. The Amigo Room menu ↗
If you drove to the lake, park at your lodging before heading out for the evening or arrange a ride back.
09 / RIVERSIDE COUNTY EVENT CALENDAR & MONEY
Plan around the celebrations.
Modernism Week
In late winter, Palm Springs hosts architecture tours, talks, and exhibits about desert modernism. Reserve guided visits early.
Modernism Week program official site ↗Mission Inn Festival of Lights
During the winter holiday season, the Mission Inn lights up its buildings and courtyards in downtown Riverside. Check the hotel’s program for public viewing.
Mission Inn holiday program ↗Currency / US dollar
Bring a card for park fees and dining, and carry a little cash as a backup. Check current park fees and hotel charges before booking.
US currency denominations ↗10 / WHAT TO WEAR
Pack for an inland lake day.
THE MORENO BEACH KIT
Swim.
Walk.
Stay out.
On the sand
Wear the Palm Springs Groove bikini with a brimmed hat, a loose cover-up, and sandals.
For the picnic
Bring water, a dry layer, and a cooler. Use sunscreen and plan for exposed sand around midday.
In town
Pack a dry shirt for the drive back and an extra layer for an evening in town.
11 / BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Good to know.
Is this beach in Palm Springs?
Moreno Beach is at Lake Perris in Riverside County. The guide starts in Palm Springs and follows the route west for a day trip.
Can I swim at Moreno Beach?
It is a designated swim area. Check state park conditions, water-quality advisories, and lifeguard coverage before you enter.
Which lots serve the beach?
Follow State Parks signs for lots 8 through 10. Check for closures or full lots before setting out.
Are there showers and restrooms?
State Parks lists restrooms, showers, and changing rooms near the beach. Check access at the gate.
Can I bring my dog onto the beach?
State Parks does not allow dogs on the sand or in the lake. Check the park rules for areas where leashed dogs are permitted.
FOG & FOUNDRY / SWIM
Retro waves. Worn poolside in Palm Springs.
Hot pink, orange, and butter-yellow waves on a string set with bright pink ties. The existing gallery was shot by a Palm Springs motel pool.
Explore the Palm Springs Groove bikini ↗
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