Most guides list the same five beaches and call it a day. That approach misses the tide pools at Abalone Cove, the near-empty sand at El Matador and the difference a single freeway exit makes to your entire afternoon. Los Angeles stretches over 75 miles of coastline and each stretch has its own personality, from the surf culture of South Bay to the cliffside coves of Malibu. This guide breaks down the best beaches in Los Angeles by what you actually want to do there, whether that’s catching a wave before breakfast or finding a stretch of sand with no one else on it.
Picking from the best beaches in Los Angeles usually comes down to three things: how far you’re willing to drive, whether you want to surf or calm water and how much you care about crowds. This guide is organized around those three questions so you can jump straight to the section that matches your trip.
In This Guide You Will Find:
- Which beaches are best for surfing versus swimming
- Where to find parking that doesn’t cost $30
- The quiet coves most tourists never find
- Which beach fits families with young kids
- The real difference between Santa Monica and Venice Beach
- When to visit for empty sand and warm water
Quick Info Box
Location: Los Angeles County coastline, from Malibu to Palos Verdes
Nearest Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 10 to 25 minutes from most beach areas, depending on traffic
Best Time to Visit: Late May through early October for the warmest water September for fewer crowds
Travel Time from Downtown Los Angeles: 30 to 60 minutes by car, depending on the beach and traffic
Days Recommended: 2 to 4 days to explore the main coastal stretch
Average Daily Cost: 25 to 60 USD per person, including parking, food and beach rentals
Best Beaches in Los Angeles for Surfing
Malibu’s Surfrider Beach is the reason California surf culture exists in its modern form and the point break here still draws longboarders every morning. Among the best beaches in Los Angeles, this one has the longest history with surf culture, dating back to the 1950s when the first film crews showed up to shoot beach movies here. The wave wraps around Malibu Pier for close to 300 yards on a good south swell, giving beginners a long, forgiving ride.
Parking at the Malibu Pier lot runs $12 for the first two hours or you can park free on Pacific Coast Highway if you arrive before 9 a.m. Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, about 25 miles south, offer steeper beach breaks better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
Among the best beaches in Los Angeles for a lesson, Malibu’s Surfrider still wins because the water stays calmer near the pier pilings. A private lesson from a local shop runs $90 to $120 for 90 minutes, board included. Most first-timers underestimate how tiring paddling out actually is, so book a morning slot before the wind picks up in the afternoon.
Further south, Venice Beach Breakwater and Bay Street in Hermosa also draw a steady crowd of local surfers before work, usually between 6 and 8 a.m. Board rentals near these spots run $15 to $20 for a half day, cheaper than anything you’ll find closer to the pier in Santa Monica. If you’re comparing the best beaches in Los Angeles purely for wave quality, South Bay edges out Malibu on consistency, since the swell here holds up even when the point break goes flat.
Pro Tip: Book surf lessons for 7 or 8 a.m. before onshore wind chops up the water.
Best Beaches in Los Angeles for Families and Swimming
Santa Monica State Beach has the widest stretch of flat sand in the city, close to 200 feet at low tide, which makes it the easiest beach for setting up with young kids. The Santa Monica Pier sits right at the edge, with an aquarium ($5 suggested donation) and a solar-powered Ferris wheel ($5 to $8 per ride). Parking in the beach lots costs $10 to $18 depending on the season, though the side streets east of Ocean Avenue often have free two-hour spots.
Dockweiler State Beach, just south near LAX, gets overlooked because planes fly low overhead but it has the only public fire pits left on this stretch of coast. A permit isn’t required and firewood costs about $8 a bundle from the nearby gas station on Vista del Mar. Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro is calmer still, since a breakwater blocks most of the swell, making it one of the best beaches in Los Angeles for toddlers and non-swimmers.
Verdict: For families, Santa Monica wins on convenience, Cabrillo wins on calm water.
Manhattan Beach Pier area also works well for families who want a mix of activity and calm water, since the pier splits the surf zone from a wide swimming area to its south. Restrooms, playgrounds and volleyball courts line the sand every few hundred feet and lifeguards staff the towers year-round. Among the best beaches in Los Angeles for a full-day outing with kids, this stretch consistently comes up because parking, food and bathrooms are all within a five-minute walk of each other.
Best Beaches in Los Angeles for Quiet Escapes
El Matador State Beach in Malibu requires a walk down a steep staircase and through a narrow rock passage, which keeps the crowds thin even on summer weekends. The sea stacks and caves here make it one of the most photographed beaches in the county, yet most tourists drive past the small, easy-to-miss sign on Pacific Coast Highway. Parking costs $8 to $12 in the small lot and it fills by 10 a.m. on Saturdays.
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park in Palos Verdes sits about 35 minutes south of LAX and offers tide pools packed with sea anemones, starfish and the occasional octopus at low tide. Point Dume State Beach, back up in Malibu, adds a bluff-top trail with views stretching to Catalina Island on clear days. These three spots consistently rank among the best beaches in Los Angeles for anyone trying to avoid a crowded boardwalk.
Pro Tip: Check a tide chart before visiting Abalone Cove tide pooling only works within two hours of low tide.
Further out, Leo Carrillo State Beach sits close to the Ventura County line and adds sea caves you can only reach on foot at low tide, along with a small campground for anyone wanting to stay overnight near the sand. Compared to the busier spots closer to downtown, this stretch of coast feels closer to how the county looked before the boardwalks arrived. Anyone building a list of the best beaches in Los Angeles for photography should put this one near the top, especially at golden hour when the cliffs catch the light.
Best Beaches in Los Angeles: Practical Tips and What to Avoid
Traffic on Pacific Coast Highway backs up badly on summer weekends between noon and 4 p.m. so plan beach trips to Malibu for early morning or after 5 p.m. Metered street parking across most LA beaches runs $1.50 to $4 per hour, while beachfront lots charge a flat $10 to $30 depending on the season and the beach’s popularity. Venice Beach draws bigger crowds than Santa Monica because of the boardwalk’s street performers and Muscle Beach gym but the sand itself gets more crowded and less clean by afternoon.
Most visitors don’t realize that many of the best beaches in Los Angeles have free showers and restrooms maintained by LA County, though towels and shade tents are worth bringing since rentals near the pier cost $15 to $25 a day. Planning around these free amenities is one of the easiest ways to keep a beach day affordable across any of the best beaches in Los Angeles you choose to visit.
Rip currents are a real risk at open beaches like Zuma and El Matador, so swim near a lifeguard tower, especially outside peak summer staffing hours. Compared to San Diego’s beaches, LA’s stretch feels more varied within a shorter drive, though San Diego’s water tends to run slightly warmer from May through July.
Verdict: Go early, park on side streets when possible and check lifeguard hours before swimming at unstaffed spots.
Public transit reaches several of the best beaches in Los Angeles too, which helps if you’d rather skip parking altogether. The Metro E Line runs directly to Santa Monica from Downtown LA and the Metro Bus 232 connects South Bay beach towns without ever touching Pacific Coast Highway traffic. Bikes are another option along the 22-mile Marvin Braude bike path, which runs from Pacific Palisades down to Torrance and links most of the major beaches in a single ride.
You may also like:
Swim with Leopard Sharks La Jolla
7 Days in San Francisco Itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for the best beaches in Los Angeles?
Two full days cover the highlights, one for Malibu and Point Dume, one for Santa Monica, Venice and the South Bay. Four days lets you add Palos Verdes and a slower pace with time for tide pooling and a surf lesson.
Is Los Angeles worth visiting for its beaches?
Yes, the county’s 75-mile coastline offers more variety than most U.S. destinations, from surf breaks to protected coves. Few other American cities let you surf in the morning and hike coastal bluffs by early afternoon, which is part of why the best beaches in Los Angeles keep showing up on travel lists year after year.
What is the best time to visit the beaches in Los Angeles?
Late May through early October brings the warmest water, typically 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. September and early October have the fewest crowds and often the clearest skies, since the marine layer that fogs up June mornings has usually cleared by then.
Are the best beaches in Los Angeles expensive for tourists?
Parking and rentals add up but the beaches themselves are free to enter. Expect to spend $25 to $60 a day per person once you include parking, food and any equipment rental.
Is Malibu better than Santa Monica for a beach day?
Malibu wins for scenery, surf and quiet coves like El Matador, while Santa Monica wins for convenience, food options and family amenities near the pier. Pick Malibu for a slower, scenic day and Santa Monica if you want everything walkable from one parking spot.
Final Thoughts
The best beaches in Los Angeles reward anyone willing to drive past the first exit off Pacific Coast Highway. Whether you’re chasing a wave in South Bay, watching kids build sandcastles at Santa Monica or timing a tide pool visit at Abalone Cove, the coastline rewards a bit of planning over guesswork. Skip the crowded boardwalk for an afternoon and walk down the staircase at El Matador instead, timing your visit for an hour before sunset when the sea stacks turn orange and the tourist buses have already left.
No matter how you picture your perfect beach day, Los Angeles has a stretch of coastline that fits. Start early, explore beyond the busiest beaches and don’t be afraid to visit more than one in a day. With a little planning, you’ll experience why the best beaches in Los Angeles continue to be one of Southern California’s biggest highlights.
