Moving to Orange County for sober living

Before you travel

1. Call admissions so we can match you to a men's or women's house in the right city and confirm a bed. Be ready to talk about your timeline, whether you need detox first, and whether you're bringing a pet.
2. Sort out detox. If you're still using or drinking daily, withdrawal can start on the trip. Withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines can be dangerous and needs medical supervision. Sober living isn't detox. We can help you find a licensed detox near our homes first.
3. Line up treatment if you need it. Many people live in sober living while attending PHP, IOP, or outpatient care nearby. Check your insurance first: see rehabs that accept insurance.
4. Book your own travel. Be wary of anyone who offers free flights to enroll somewhere. See rehab scams and patient brokering.

Which airport

Airport	Orange County (West)	Orange County (Central)	Orange County (North)	Orange County (East)
John Wayne (SNA)	19 min	11 min	18 min	11 min
Long Beach (LGB)	26 min	20 min	20 min	27 min
Los Angeles (LAX)	53 min	46 min	46 min	52 min

Driving times without traffic from each District area, calculated November 2026. Rush hour adds a lot, especially on the 405 toward LAX; the component shows a typical-traffic range next to each time. It renders from src/content/drive-times.json.

• SNA is the easiest: small, close, and inside Orange County.
• LGB is a good second choice, especially for Orange County (North).
• LAX has the most flights but the longest, least predictable drive.

How the District areas compare

Area	What it's like	Good fit if you
Orange County (West)	Residential, with museums, the zoo, and Disneyland a short drive north	Want weekend outings to look forward to
Orange County (Central)	Suburban and central, with Costa Mesa, Irvine, and old-town Orange all within reach	Want calm, with everything about 15 minutes away
Orange County (North)	Our largest area: neighborhood parks, trails, and the northern theme parks	Want a tight residential feel close to everything
Orange County (East)	Dense and transit-friendly, near courts and county services, with the coast a drive away	Need transit, or have court or county appointments

Each area has men's and women's District houses. We don't publish house addresses online; admissions shares location details after screening and once move-in is set.

What to bring

• Photo ID, insurance card, and any court or probation paperwork
• Prescribed medications in their original labeled bottles, with a list of doses
• Clothes for about two weeks
• Phone and charger
• For your pet: vaccination records, food, leash or carrier, and bedding

Ask admissions for the current move-in list (many homes restrict alcohol, drugs, and alcohol-based products) and any pet vaccination or size rules before you pack.

Your first week

• Day one: move in, meet the house, learn the rules.
• First few days: start or continue treatment if it's part of your plan, find meetings near your house (see recovery meetings in Orange County), and get an OC Bus or Metrolink plan if you don't have a car.
• By the end of the week: set up work or school, if that's the expectation. See getting a job in early recovery.

Paperwork to update

• Medi-Cal: it's managed by your county. If you're moving from another California county, update your county of residence. In Orange County, start with the 24/7 access line at (800) 723-8641.
• Out-of-state insurance: call your plan before you travel to ask about in-network and out-of-network coverage in California.
• Work: if you're taking leave, see FMLA and drug rehab in California.

Couples and families

• Couples live in separate District houses. Many couples find early recovery goes better with space. You can still see each other at PHP, OP, and aftercare programs.
• Families: Ask admissions about visiting hours and house rules for guests.

Call before you book

Admissions answers 24/7. Tell us when you land and which airport, and we'll tell you which house has a bed.