California Car Rentals and the Ocean Institute

On weekends, the Ocean Institute opens its doors to you to come visit with your California car rental for a look into how ocean science, history, and literature all inspire life-long learners.

Dive deep

Guests of the Ocean Institute can look forward to a variety of family -friendly fun, including ocean lab activities, viewing sea creatures, enjoying Octopus and Jellyfish feedings, and even driving a Remotely Operated Vehicle (remote controlled boat)!

The Ocean Institute is only an ideal getaway with your California car rental on weekends because during the week the centre is only open for students and groups. The hours of operation during the weekends are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the fee is only $6, making this a cheap, yet highly enjoyable day trip with your California car rental.

Get on the boat

Guests at the Ocean Institute can ride the 70 foot ocean RV sea explorer, which is an interactive ocean lab on the water. You can see under the underwater life, learn about life in the ocean, and even do some whale watching. The whale watching alone is enough to make you want to drive your California car rental down to the Ocean Institute.

Guests can also come check out the Ocean Institutes prime attractions, which are the two tall ships docked there. Spirit of Dana Point and Brig Pilgrimare are both historic replicas of ship built hundreds of years ago that are each over 125 feet long. These ships are a great part of American history, and are not to be missed on a day trip to the Ocean Institute in your California car rental.

Planning your trip

The Ocean Institute is located in Dana Point, in sunny Southern California. To get there with your California car rental please take the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH - Hwy 1) to Dana Point

Traveling south (from Laguna Beach): Turn right on Golden Lantern, then turn right onto Dana Point Harbor Drive and following it to our parking lot.

Traveling north (from San Clemente): Turn left onto Dana Point Harbor Drive and follow it to our parking lot.

The Dana Point Harbor houses 2,500 yachts within its two marinas inside a one-and-a-half mile jetty, so there are tons of things to do after your visit to the Ocean Institute in your California car rental.