Travel & Stay
Read below for details on accommodation, travel tips, and the history of San Juan Capistrano.
San Juan Capistrano
Known as the Birthplace of Orange County, San Juan Capistrano is a stunning coastal town nestled near the Pacific, with a charming Old World California feel.
San Juan Capistrano was founded by the Spanish in 1776, when St. Junípero Serra established Mission San Juan Capistrano, “The Jewel of the Missions,” as the seventh of 21 missions dotting the coastline of California.
The Miracle of the Swallows takes place each year at Mission San Juan Capistrano, on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Day, which marks the return of the swallows to their summer home. Swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina, to San Juan Capistrano every year.
Today, the mission is a thriving cultural landmark in Orange County, and offers a fascinating snapshot of California's early colonial history. Its stunning Spanish Colonial buildings, magnificent gardens, and preserved adobe architecture make it a must-do when visiting SoCal.
Accommodations
The wedding party and families will be staying through the weekend onsite at Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Friday August 29, 2024 – Monday September 2, 2024.
We would be thrilled to have our friends and family join us — let’s take over the wedding hotel together!
We also recommend the Best Western Capistrano Inn, which is a convenient 1/2 mile away from the wedding venue. Additionally, the nearby city of Dana Point hosts a dozen or more hotels at varying price points, about a ten minute ride from San Juan Capistrano.
Please consider booking your accommodation well in advance, as this is a holiday weekend!
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, an Autograph Collection Hotel
26907 Old Mission Rd
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
⭐⭐⭐⭐
$400+ per night
Residence Inn by Marriott Dana Point San Juan Capistrano
33711 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92624
⭐⭐⭐
$300+ per night
Flying In
For air travel, we highly recommend flying into John Wayne Airport / Santa Ana (SNA). This is the closest airport to San Juan Capistrano (20 minute drive) and is serviced by all four major airlines (Southwest, American, Delta, United) as well as smaller regional airlines.
Out-of-state guests may find that Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is nominally cheaper when searching for flights — but please be advised that LAX is 60 miles from San Juan Capistrano, and the drive can take upwards of 2 hours. Uber or Lyft costs can also be quite steep, ranging from $80 – $120 each way.
