Los Angeles Beaches

Los Angeles Beaches Overview

What's a visit to California without going to the beach? California is sure to have something for everybody from the rocky, tumultuous shoreline of its north coast to the warm, wide-open, sandy beaches to the south. If you're looking for lots of activity and amenities such as restaurants, cantinas and shops, go to a beach with a pier. Piers are always a hub for locals and tourists alike where the layed-back, California spirit can be absorbed.

NOTE: Unfortunately, many beach cities in heavily populated regions of the state have negleted to appreciate their valuable resource. Many popular beaches including Huntington and Newport Beaches in Orange County, and Mission Bay in San Diego have regular beach closures throughout the year due to raw-sewage spills. To check on the currently water quality conditions, be sure to visit the Heal the Bay web site for details. Volunteer programs are also available for those wanting to take an active roll in keeping our beaches clean.

Los Angeles Beaches
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Leo Carrillo is the northernmost beach in Los Angeles County. This is a popular beach for camping, hiking and mountain biking. Camping is in close proximity to the beach among shade providing sycamore trees. The beach offers a mix of sandy beach, tide pools and rocky coastline including small sea caves. Known by locals as 'Movie Beach', many movies have been filmed here including From Here To Eternity, Grease, Karate Kid, The Usual Suspects and dozens more.

Leo Carrillo State Beach
35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90265
(818) 880-0350
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Malibu is located north of Santa Monica and offers narrow sandy beaches often backed by million dollar homes. The lagoon formed by Malibu Creek offers excellent opportunities for bird watching. Malibu pier offers opportunities for fishing and surfing. Just north of the pier is 'Surfrider Beach', which consistantly provides perfect rights for surfers. Malibu is mostly a longboarder break. To the north around the bend is Zuma beach, which offers larger sandy beaches and is also popular with the surfers.

Malibu Lagoon State Park
23200 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90265
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Will Rogers is located at the northern end of Santa Monica in Pacific Palisades. This is a large sandy beach with many amenities including concession stands, public restrooms, a playground and 'The Strand'. The Strand is a cement bike path that continues unimpeded all the way to Marina Del Rey. And with a few city street connections through Marina Del Rey, it continues all the way to Palos Verdes.

TIP: This is the set of the 'Baywatch' television show. The lifeguard headquarters seen on the show is here. Free parking can be had along Temescal Canyon Road.

Will Rogers State Beach
Temescal Canyon Road & PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)
Pacific Palisades, California 90272
(310) 305-9503
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Santa Monica is located at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Bay north of Marina Del Rey. This is a huge sandy beach offering two miles of activity and entertainment. A cement bike path called 'The Strand', runs through Santa Monica connecting with Marina Del Rey to the south and Will Rogers State Beach to the north. Included within Santa Monica is Venice Beach, Muscle Beach and Pacific Park amusement park. Venice Beach is known for its eclectic shops and street entertainers. Further inland are beautiful homes along saltwater canals similar to Venice, Italy. Muscle Beach is a small area with an outdoor gym and weight equipment. Bodybuilders work out here as spectators watch. Pacific Park is on the Santa Monica pier and features classic as well as modern rides, rollercoasters and arcade games. South of Venice Beach is Marina Del Rey offering opportunities for boat rentals, sport fishing, restaurants, entertainment and accommodations.

TIP: Want to try surfing? Go to a pier where there are lifeguards or try a surf school like Learn to Surf L.A..

Santa Monica Pier
Colorado Avenue & Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90401
(818) 880-0350
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Dockweiler is located at the end of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) runway. This is a popular beach for picnicking, beach parties and airplane viewing. Three miles of sandy beach includes a picnic area, fire rings, barbeques and concession stands. Referred to locally as "The Strand", a cement bike path parallels the entire length and connects Dockweiler all the way to Redondo Beach. Fishing is good along the jetty on the north end.

Dockweiler State Beach
Imperial Highway & Vista Del Mar
Playa del Rey, California 90293
(818) 880-0350
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Manhattan Beach is located 3 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It is one of the beach cities comprising the "South Bay". A wide and long sandy beach blends with Dockweiler to the north and Hermosa to the south. The north end of Manhattan (in front of the red & white smoke stacks) is El Porto, and is a designated surfing zone. The Manhattan Pier is situated at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and offers a small marine aquarium at the end, surfing and fishing. Manhattan Beach Boulevard is a mecca for great restaurants, shops and bars. Referred to locally as "The Strand", a cement bike path parallels the entire length and connects Manhattan with Dockweiler to the north and all the way to Redondo Beach to the south.

Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach Blvd. & The Strand
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
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Hermosa Beach is located between Manhattan and Redondo beaches. It is one of the beach cities comprising the "South Bay". A wide and long sandy beach blends with Manhattan to the north and Hermosa to the south. Hermosa offers a pier that is popular for fishing and surfing. The road leading to the pier is blocked to vehicle traffic and offers great restaurants, shops and bars. Referred to locally as "The Strand", a cement bike path parallels the entire length and connects all the way to Dockweiler to the north and and Redondo Beach to the south. A statue of Tim Kelly, a former lifeguard and youth mentor stands at the base of the Hermosa Beach Pier.

Hermosa Beach
Pier Avenue & The Strand
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
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Redondo Beach is located between Hermosa and Torrance Beaches. It is one of the beach cities comprising the "South Bay". Half of Redondo is wide sandy beach and the other half is a harbor. King Harbor offers deep sea fishing charters, restaurants, shops and great surfing along the jetty. To the south end of the harbor is Seaside Lagoon, a large saltwater lagoon that is sealed off from the ocean by a sea wall. The Seaside Lagoon offers diving boards up to high dive, play equipment for youngsters in the shallows, a sand beach, a grass area and a condiment stand. A little further south is the Redondo Beach Pier. Once a mega structure with several stories of shops, restaurants, fish market, bars and entertainment, it was completely destroyed in a fire. It has been rebuilt however, in its trademark 'horseshoe' shape and businesses are slowly beginning to return. Fishing and surfing are great at this pier.

Redondo Beach Pier
Torrance Avenue & Catalina Avenue
Redondo Beach, California 90254
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Torrance Beach is located between Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes. It is one of the beach cities comprising the "South Bay". A wide and long sandy beach blends with Redondo to the north and ends at the cliffs of P.V. to the south. The lack of a pier and other tourist attractions makes Torrance Beach a great place to escape the crowds of other "South Bay" beaches. Torrance also offers convieniences like public restrooms, showers and a small playground for children. Parking is available up the hillside from the beach along Paseo de la Playa.

Torrance Beach
Paseo de la Playa & Esplanade
Torrance, CA 90506
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Palos Verdes is located between Torrance Beach and the Port of Los Angeles & Long Beach. P.V. offers a multitude of hidden coves and ocean bluffs with landscape resembling the rocky coastline of Northern California. P.V. is known for its wealth, world-class resorts & golf courses and beautiful peacocks. Trails across the bluffs lead to coves along nearly 20 miles of shoreline. Beaches are mostly rocky including in the water, which makes for unpleasant sunbathing and swimming. Some sandy beaches do exist. All public beaches are accessible from Palos Verdes Drive. Tidepool exploration, hiking, diving and surfing are common activities. An interpretive center is located at the Point Vincente Lighthouse.

Point Vincente Interpretive Center
Palos Verdes Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
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Long Beach is located at the southernmost corner of Los Angeles County just south of the Los Angeles Harbor. Long Beach is bordered by the Port of Los Angeles to the north and Long Beach Harbor to the south. Long Beach offers a plethora of visitor attractions including the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village and of course, long white sand beaches. There is so much to do in Long Beach we've dedicated an entire PAGE to the city.

Shoreline Village
429 Shoreline Village Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
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Beaches by Region
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