Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city of 92,151 people in Orange County, California.
Why visit Mission Viejo
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 118 parks and trails, 288 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Regal Edwards Kaleidoscope, Jose Serrano Adobe, Pretend City Children's Museum and Cordova Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; December lows average 44°F.
Weather in Mission Viejo
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo ( vee-AY-hoh; corruption of Misión Vieja [miˈsjon ˈbjexa]; Spanish for 'Old Mission') is a commuter city in the Saddleback Valley in Orange County, California, United States. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado in size. Its population as of 2020 was 93,653.
From the Wikipedia article Mission Viejo, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks6
Jose Serrano Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Pretend City Children's Museum
Museum · 5.3 mi
Children's Museum in California, U.S.
Aguaje del Cuate
Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi
Mission Viejo Historical Site marker: Aguaje del Cuate; Historic HIghway 101; An ancient spring near the railroad tracks played an...
Costeau Pit Monument
Monument and historic site · 2.2 mi
Prehistoric giant ground sloth statue
Parks, trails and playgrounds118
Laguna Niguel Regional Park
Park · 5.2 mi
Regional park in Laguna Niguel, California
Lake Forest Golf & Practice Center
Golf course · 2.1 mi
9 hole Par 29
23308 Cherry Avenue, Lake Forest
O'Neill Regional Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Park in Orange County, United States of America
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
Park · 4.8 mi
Park in Orange County, California
106 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes288
Biagio's Italian Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 3.1 mi
Delivery available Wednesday to Sunday
24301 Muirlands Boulevard, Lake Forest
Su-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Su 11:00-21:00
Crimson Coward
Restaurant · Chicken · 2.7 mi
Nashville Hot Chicken
23706 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo - Su 11:00- 22:00
Denny's
Diner · American · 2.7 mi
Curbside pickup hours: 8 AM to 6 PM, 7 days a week.
23515 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th 05:00-23:59; Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa 00:00-24:00; Su 00:00-24:00
Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.8 mi
Pets allowed in the outdoor seating area.
23760 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30
Minato Sushi
Restaurant · Sushi · 2.7 mi
18% gratuity added for parties of 6 or more
23505 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
"Su-Th 11:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00"
Musashi Sushiya
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 2.5 mi
No Apple Pay
23532 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Sal's Pizzeria
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian · 3.5 mi
Sal's Pizzeria Mission Viejo, CA Pizza Delivery, Catering and Pickup
27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo
Su-Th 11:00-20:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Aloha Stacks
Restaurant · Breakfast, Lunch, Hawaiian · 2.9 mi
27762 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
06:30-14:00
Ameci Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.2 mi
25431 Trabuco Road
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Asia Buffet
Restaurant · Chinese, Japanese, Seafood, Barbecue, Buffet · 2.6 mi
23552 El Toro Road, Lake Forest
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
276 more on the map.
History
Rancho Mission Viejo was bought by Gregory James Forster, an English-born Mexican ranchero. During the Mexican–American War, Forster provided fresh horses to United States military forces which were used on the march of San Diego to invade Los Angeles.
Mission Viejo was a hilly region primarily used as cattle and sheep grazing land, since it was of little use to farmers. This city was one of the last regions of Orange County to be urbanized due to its geologic complexity. In 1960, early developers dismissed most of the land in Mission Viejo as simply "undevelopable".
From the History section of Mission Viejo, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
The Hills Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
25205 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills
Churches and places of worship10
Grace Community Church
Church · Protestant · 1.9 mi
26052 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest
Santiago de Campostela Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 3.0 mi
21682 Lake Forest Drive
Sukyo Mahikari
Place of worship · 2.8 mi
23151 Camino Altozano, Rancho Santa Margarita
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 2.2 mi
23850 Los Alisos Boulevard, Mission Viejo
Calvary Chapel Mission Viejo
Church · 1.1 mi
24821 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo
Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist
Church · 1.3 mi
26001 Muirlands Boulevard, Mission Viejo
Shopping48
Gas and EV charging37
Schools, colleges and libraries87
Healthcare18
Southland Family & Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.0 mi
27660 Santa Margarita Parkway, Mission Viejo
Orange County Surgical Specialists - Facial Plastic Surgery
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.3 mi
29829 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Map of Mission Viejo
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 44°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 45°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 48°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 50°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 77°F | 55°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 72°F | 48°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Laguna Beach (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Orange County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-10-16: Norte Fire (Fire)
- 2026-05-25: Chemical Release (Chemical)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-05-12: Coastal Fire (Fire)
- 2020-12-03: Bond Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 miles away.
- Laguna Hills 3 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Lake Forest 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Rancho Santa Margarita 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Coto de Caza 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Ladera Ranch 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Laguna Woods 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Aliso Viejo 5 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Laguna Niguel 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- San Juan Capistrano 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Irvine 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Snow at Lake Mission Viejo 005, User:Wikpe44, Public domain
- Discover Mission Viejo Geocache, Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mission Viejo Library, Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mission viejo lake - panoramio, FuzzyNinja42, CC BY 3.0
- Holy Fire from Mission Viejo, Bluesnote, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saddleback Mountains seen from Lake Mission Viejo - panoramio, TjGilmour, CC BY 3.0
- El Toro Branch Library in Lake Forest CA front entrance, bdwz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Female Diver 5943 (28007206197), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Diver 6036 (28007201657), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Diver 6004 (42875863211), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Diver 5932 (28007209797), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Diver 6235 (41065697980), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Diving Platform at the Dr. Ron O’Brien Dive Well, Marguerite Aquatics Complex, Rosslieb, CC0
- Female Diver 7349 (42827750722), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Blue Boy (28029436507), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rosebowl Twisting Dive 5422 (41141218560), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Diving Sequence (41497552975), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aztec Free Twist Up (29073925808), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rosebowl Twisting Dive 5420 (42902213512), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rosebowl Twisting Dive 5316 (41141223110), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aztec Free Twist Down (41136207320), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Inverted Diver (43527080281), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Reverse Twist (43527082351), Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Roberto Garcia Lachner 2019 USMS Summer National Championship, UFgrad007, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anaheim sketch, Orange County Police Department, Public domain
- Backyard - panoramio (5), Steve Riggins, CC BY 3.0
- Happy National Dog Day Benni Girl - Flickr - Bennilover, Bennilover from USA, CC BY 2.0
- Melilotus indicus leaf (07), Adena Arviso, CC BY 4.0
- Lampropeltis multifasciata, Rachel Whitt, CC0
- Paralaoma servilis 347113825, nmoorhatch, CC BY 4.0
- Trabuco Adobe, Rancho Santa Margarita, Nov 1967, Orange County Archives, CC BY 2.0
- 20140629-0586 Olympiad Park, Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Julie Foudy plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Al Joyner plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Jeanne Beauprey Reeves plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Michele Mitchell plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Wendy Wyland plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
- Lisa Jacob plaque MV, Sewageboy, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpeg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.