Dana Point is a city located in southern Orange County, California. The population was 33,351 at the 2010 census. It has one of the few harbors along the Orange County coast, and with ready access via State Route 1, it is a popular local destination for surfing and was home to a legendary surf breakcalled Killer Dana.

The city was named after the headland of Dana Point, which was in turn named for Richard Henry Dana, Jr., author of Two Years Before the Mast, which included a description of the area. Dana described the locale, including neighboring San Juan Capistrano, as "the only romantic spot on the coast".^[2]Although Dana described the anchorage as poor, it is now a developed harbor and contains a replica of his ship, the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim is used as a classroom by the Ocean Institute, which is located at the harbor. This area is designated California Historical Landmark #189.

One of the very few known specimens of the megamouth shark was caught off Dana Point in 1990.

Producers of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County scouted Dana Point and numerous other affluent Southern California rich towns and beaches including San Marino, Palos Verdes, Carlsbad,and Malibu, before deciding to locate the show in Laguna Beach.