15 Best Beaches In L.a. County

Named for nan character and conservationist, Leo Carrillo State Beach is wherever you spell to explore. Movies for illustration “CastAway,” “Grease” and “The Karate Kid” changeable on this 1.5-mile stretch, which includes awe-inspiring oversea caves and tide pools afloat of oversea stars, oversea anemones, mussels and crabs.

Make your sojourn a play getaway by booking 1 of its 135 campsites wrong stepping region from nan water. Plan to reserve astir six months up for spots during outpouring break and from Memorial Day done Labor Day.

A astonishing feature? Alcohol is allowed connected nan beach, arsenic agelong arsenic it’s not successful glass.

Best for: Exploring, surfing, lounging, fishing

Bathrooms: Yes

Parking: Parking batch adjacent South Beach ($3 per hour, $12 per day) aliases for free on PCH (watch for no-parking signs). The North Beach parking batch besides is disposable but is taxable to closure owed to precocious tides.

Dog-friendly: Yes, astatine North Beach, which is located northbound of Lifeguard Tower 3. Dogs are allowed successful day-use areas astatine nan parkland and connected nan campground but not connected backcountry trails.

ADA-accessible: According to California State Parks, formation entree isn’t ADA-compliant astatine this clip because wintertime rainstorm h2o successful nan creek severely damaged nan ramp to nan formation from nan parking lot. However, formation wheelchairs are available. Ask parkland unit upon introduction aliases telephone (310) 457-8144.

What’s nearby:

, a edifice known for its laid-back, section vibes — motorcycles parked retired front, fried calamari dotting nan tables.

Situated connected nan occidental extremity of Malibu, Nicholas Canyon Beach is simply a surfer’s paradise. Surfers commonly mention to nan secluded formation arsenic “Zeros” aliases “Point Zero” because it’s 1 of nan fewer spots wherever they tin find nan cleanable break. Also, it’s typically little crowded than different Malibu beaches.

Even if you’re not looking to surf, it’s entertaining to beryllium connected nan place and watch nan surfers do their thing. There are besides respective picnic tables successful nan parking batch and connected nan bluff supra this long, sandy formation accessed via staircase. Otherwise, location aren’t galore amenities.

Best for: Surfing, sunbathing, lounging, strolling, picnicking

Bathrooms: Yes, location are port-a-potties.

Parking: Lot ranges from $3 to $16. You tin parkland on PCH, but watch for no-parking signs. (All ADA parking pinch a placard is free Monday done Friday isolated from connected county-observed holidays aliases erstwhile nan parking batch has an equipped gross and is unattended.)

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: No, but 1 tin return successful nan position from nan overlook.

What’s nearby: If you’re willing successful a little but serene hike, caput complete to nan Nicholas Pond Trail (111 feet elevation; a 3rd of a mile).

El Matador State Beach is nan spot you return personification you want to impressment — whether it’s a date, a loved 1 visiting from retired of municipality aliases a well-traveled friend. This secluded pouch formation is 1 of 3 that dress up nan Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach system, but its idyllic views guidelines retired from nan rest.

To get here, you’ll person to maneuver down a steep ungraded hill, past locomotion down 2 staircases. You’ll beryllium rewarded pinch monolithic stone formations, beautiful tide pools and unique oversea caves, which are nosy to research erstwhile nan tide is low. Don’t beryllium amazed if you spot engagement aliases maternity photograph shoots here.

The waves are little accordant than astatine neighboring beaches, truthful surfers don’t travel often, but swimmers tin bask little rocky areas. Lifeguards are connected work during highest season, typically during outpouring break and successful nan summertime.

Best for: Snorkeling, swimming, tide pools, sunbathing, photos

Bathrooms: Yes, port-a-potties are located astatine nan apical of nan bluff adjacent nan parking lot.

Parking: Small, engaged batch ($3 per hr aliases $10 per day). You tin parkland on PCH (watch for no-parking signs), but beryllium prepared to walk. (It’s not uncommon for cars to idle until different conveyance leaves a parking spot.)

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: No

What’s nearby? Hiking trails including

. The closest edifice is

, which serves salads, burgers and pasta. Also worthy checking retired are El Matador’s sister beaches, La Piedra and El Pescador, aliases a individual favorite, Lechuza Beach.

It’s nary wonderment this formation is 1 of Malibu’s astir popular. It has a wide, sandy statement that extends for astir 2 miles pinch ample parking, respective lifeguard shacks, restrooms and showers. It besides has volleyball nets and concession stands. Zuma Beach is little than 2 miles from Westward and Point Dume beaches, which are known for whale watching (depending connected nan clip of year).

Best for: Swimming, surfing, diving, boogie boarding, lounging, strolling

Bathrooms: Yes

Parking: Eight lots, $3 to $20. You tin parkland for free on PCH (watch for no-parking signs) and Westward Beach Road adjacent Westward Beach. (ADA parking pinch a placard astatine each County beaches is free Monday done Friday, isolated from connected County-observed holidays and unless nan parking batch has an equipped gross and is unattended.)

Dog-friendly: No, but it’s communal for group to locomotion their dogs successful nan monolithic parking lots.

ADA-accessible: Zuma has an access mat (April done October) and formation wheelchairs, which are disposable for checkout.

What’s nearby:

, an upscale family-friendly edifice that serves Italian and American dishes, and

, which, yes, has sunset views.

This is by acold 1 of nan astir action-packed beaches successful Malibu. On a emblematic weekday, you mightiness spot group coating landscapes, families going connected hikes, children clambering complete monolithic stone formations and adults rock-climbing disconnected a gangly seaside cliff. Several movies person been changeable here, including nan last segment of nan original “

” You whitethorn besides spot grey whales migrating offshore December done March.

Best for: Swimming, surfing, scuba diving, lounging, cave exploration, stone climbing, strolling

Bathrooms: Yes

Parking: Lot ranges from $3 to $20. You tin parkland for free on PCH (watch for no-parking signs) aliases connected Westward Beach Road. (ADA parking pinch a placard astatine each County beaches is free Monday done Friday, isolated from connected County-observed holidays and unless nan parking batch has an equipped gross and is unattended.)

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: Yes, but only from nan main parking batch to nan sand, not connected nan trails. Point Dume Beach has 1 formation wheelchair disposable connected a first-come, first-served basis. You tin petition it astatine nan closest lifeguard tower. Call (310) 457-2525.

What’s nearby: It’s crossed nan thoroughfare from the Sunset Restaurant, wherever you tin bask a seafood platter and cocktail while watching nan sunset. Wide and sandy Westward Beach — a.k.a. “Free Beach” — besides is worthy checking out.

For nan eventual family formation time you can’t hit Will Rogers State Beach, located connected a 1.75-mile agelong betwixt Santa Monica and Malibu. The comparatively gentle surf and short locomotion from nan parking batch to nan cleanable spot connected nan soil is simply a dream for anyone pinch small kids and a trunk afloat of formation gear.

If you for illustration nan power of a crowded beach, group up adjacent nan entranceway crossed from Temescal Canyon Road, which will put you adjacent nan bathrooms and nan Beach Side Cafe. Head southbound done nan parking batch for a much mellow experience.

Best for: Families, chilling

Bathrooms: Yes, connected some ends of nan beach.

Parking: Summer rates (May-September) are $9 connected weekdays and $15 weekends and holidays. Winter rates (October-April) are $6 connected weekdays and $9 connected weekends and holidays. Will Rogers State Beach is 1 of nan fewer California State Parks that does not judge nan Annual Day Use Pass.

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: There are 2 formation wheelchairs disposable connected a first-come, first-served basis. Pick them up astatine L.A. County Lifeguard Headquarters astatine 15100 Pacific Coast Highway. Call (310) 394-3261.

What’s nearby: Coffee from an Airstream, anyone? Rustic Coffee is astir a 20-minute locomotion away. Take nan mildly creepy passageway that runs nether Pacific Coast Highway crossed from West Channel Road and caput up nan hill.

Santa Monica State Beach has beautiful, achromatic soil beaches, temperate surf conditions, restaurants pinch romanticist water views and motorcycle way entree for riding and rollerblading, not to mention a bustling pier pinch an amusement park, trapeze school, snacks-on-a-stick, thoroughfare performers and, underneath, Heal nan Bay Aquarium.

But swimming wrong 100 yards successful either guidance of nan pier (or nan Pico-Kenter large wind drain) is not connected nan agenda. For nan 5th year, that area made Heal nan Bay’s dirtiest beaches database last week. Outside of those areas, nan h2o tends to meet value standards for nan remainder of nan 3.5-mile agelong of shoreline. The metropolis of Santa Monica has spent millions to conflict nan h2o contamination successful that area to nary avail. A caller task unit is underway.

Santa Monica State Beach is besides nan “birthplace” of formation volleyball, according to nan metropolis — it will big nan athletics during nan 2028 Olympics — and location are ample courts on nan sand. Don’t miss nan Original Muscle Beach workout area and Chess Park, crossed from it.

Best for: Families, tourists, surfing

Parking: 13 beach lots, $7 to $15 for nan day; constricted free and metered thoroughfare parking

Bathrooms: Yes

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: ADA parking successful tons 3 and 4; ADA formation entree astatine Annenberg Community Beach House, Montana Avenue, Arizona Avenue, instantly northbound of nan pier arsenic good arsenic Bay Street, Ocean Park Boulevard and Ashland Avenue southbound of nan pier; free electrical formation wheelchairs disposable astatine Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals (1200 and 2400 locations) on pinch 2 manual ones astatine nan Annenberg Community Beach House.

What’s nearby: Shutters connected nan Beach, Hotel Casa del Mar, Palisades Park and nan nationalist Annenberg Community Beach House, which has a excavation ($10 time pass), volleyball courts and playground.

Venice Beach is an iconic destination that’s particularly suited for progressive beachgoers — swimmers, surfers, skaters, volleyball players. But people-watching is nan real game here. The Venice Beach Boardwalk offers immoderate of nan astir colorful characters and thoroughfare performers successful L.A. (Look retired for nan rollerblading guitar player.) The boardwalk is besides chock-full of shops hawking crystals, jewelry, sunglasses and formation apparel, arsenic good arsenic tattoo studios.

The surf conditions present are somewhat much precocious than successful adjacent Santa Monica and due for intermediate surfers. The Venice Beach Skate Park, pinch athletes sailing done nan air, is simply a tourer draw, arsenic is nan Muscle Beach Venice Gym, a private, on-beach gym for assemblage builders. And location are courts galore on nan beach: for tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball. There’s besides a sportfishing pier connected nan confederate extremity of nan sand.

There’s a curated motorcycle rental outlet astatine each parking lot. The 1 astatine nan Washington Boulevard lot, for example, besides has a robust action of wetsuits.

Don’t time off Venice Beach without stopping for soft service astatine nan colorful Ocean Front Kitchen. Not into formation sports — aliases moreover beaches? Relax astatine Small World Books connected nan boardwalk.

Best for: Beachside amenities, group watching

Parking: Three lots, $5 to $18 for nan day; constricted free and metered thoroughfare parking

Bathrooms: Yes

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: Beach entree mat astatine nan Venice Boulevard parking lot. Two formation wheelchairs disposable for free — inquire nan lifeguard.

What’s nearby: The Venice Pride Lifeguard Tower and nan Venice Canals.

“Are you present to pit?” nan formation dude asked, eagerly, flashing a bid sign.

“Firepitting” is not only a verb astatine Dockweiler State Beach, it’s a sport. And a competitive one astatine that. The formation hosts much than 80 free firepits connected a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early successful summertime — we’re talking sunrise — and scheme to defender your pit each day, until it’s bonfire time. The pits are perfect for roasting marshmallows by nan oversea aliases for a fire-adjacent singalong astatine sunset. Just task your sound loudly because — truthful adjacent to LAX — planes roar overhead each fewer minutes.

Dockweiler besides features L.A. County’s only beach-adjacent RV campground (137 spaces astatine $45 to $85 per night), unfastened Feb. 1 done Dec. 31. Make reservations 90 days successful beforehand for nan champion chance astatine scoring a spot.

There are besides volleyball courts, jetties for sportfishing and motorcycle way access. Windsports Hang Gliding offers lessons.

It’s nan firepits, however, that springiness Dockweiler its characteristic — nan scent of smoldering charcoal fills nan air. This is municipality camping astatine its finest. There are 3 adjacent parking lots, which costs astir $3 to $13 for nan day. Limited free thoroughfare parking is besides available.

Finding a parking spot, particularly 1 adjacent to nan beach, tin beryllium a situation (even pinch a twelve city-run lots), but nan payoff is simply a 450-foot-wide, 2.1-mile-long, sand-covered portion of paradise pinch an unspoiled position southbound from nan pier each nan measurement to nan curve of nan Palos Verdes Peninsula. Both sides of nan pier are dotted pinch statement aft statement of volleyball nets, a motion to nan beach’s domiciled successful nan popularization of nan sport, which includes nan 63-year-old (and counting) Manhattan Beach Open, nan only pro tourney unfastened to qualifying amateurs.

Take a break from basking connected nan formation to stroll to nan extremity of nan pier and cheque retired nan Roundhouse Aquarium, a free, acquisition abstraction wherever you tin spot section oversea dwellers (eels, jellyfish and nan like) up close.

Best for: Beach volleyball

Parking: Multiple tons wrong six blocks of nan pier; nan 2 closest to nan formation (Lot 10 conscionable northbound of nan pier and Lot 11 conscionable southbound of it) connection five-hour metered parking astatine $2.50 per hour.

Bathrooms: Yes

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: Two formation wheelchairs are disposable connected a first-come, first-served ground by visiting 42nd Street lifeguard building (4250 nan Strand).

What’s nearby: For a brew pinch an water view, effort nan divey Shellback Tavern. If you’re looking for a saccharine treat, drawback a cone aliases candy astatine Manhattan Beach Creamery. If you’re emotion fancy, effort Fishing With Dynamite 2 blocks disconnected nan formation northbound of nan pier.

Hermosa Beach’s expansive soil seems to dwarf its neighbour Redondo Beach. A lifeguard connected work astatine Tower 10 moreover told maine that, to him, nan soil feels “softer here.” I stay undecided.

Athletes apparently besides admit this. Hermosa’s heavy soil is said to beryllium perfect training crushed for formation volleyball because it makes title elsewhere consciousness easier.

Featuring 71 nationalist courts and regular tournaments, Hermosa has earned its spot arsenic a premier hub for nan sport. It’s besides 1 of respective cities considered nan birthplace of surfing successful California (along pinch Huntington Beach). The waves present thin to beryllium gentler than adjacent spots, attracting beginner and intermediate surfers alike.

The bosom of nan action is centered astir nan pier area, wherever nan highest density of visitors are. At nan extremity of nan pier sits lifeguard headquarters, backed by a palm-lined promenade filled pinch restaurants, bars and surf shops. Scotty’s connected nan Strand stood retired arsenic an particularly relaxed spot to drawback a food taco and bask nan water air, while Tower 12 drew a decent crowd pinch its beachy barroom segment and romanticist outdoor patio.

Best for: surfing, formation volleyball

Bathrooms: Yes

Parking: $3 per location successful metered batch aliases on streets

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: accessibility formation path; wheelchair besides disposable astatine Lifeguard Headquarters; abnormal parking astatine nationalist batch 1101 Hermosa Ave.

What’s nearby: Hermosa Avenue and Pier Plaza are packed pinch nutrient and portion options that enactment lively good aft sunset. Live euphony fans whitethorn want to cheque retired

, a legendary jazz nine that helped style West Coast jazz history successful nan 1950s and ‘60s.

You can’t talk astir Redondo Beach without besides mentioning nan floating metropolis that is nan pier. Besides nan plethora of businesses, location are besides free summertime concerts and free outdoor yoga connected offer.

Redondo Beach feels for illustration nan benignant of spot wherever you tin walk an full day wandering without ever mounting ft successful nan water.

I went connected a Thursday to cheque retired nan Market by nan Sea farmers marketplace connected nan southbound broadside of Veterans Park. It’s straight supra nan formation and unfastened from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each week. Complete pinch unrecorded euphony and astir 40 stalls, I recovered everything from vegan dips and kefir, to beef tallow moisturizer and hand-poured candles. Plata’s Tamales (cash only) had an particularly agelong statement nan time I was there. Grab a tamale aliases a strawberry coconut matcha and caput to nan soil to bask a sunny day.

If you’re a scuba diver, statement nan area conscionable southbound of nan pier crossed from Veterans Park. That’s where, from mid-December done March, you’ll find what California Diving News calls “one red-hot nighttime dive spot that stands retired against each of nan rest”: a chance to acquisition a squid tally up close. Mating squid swarm astir divers, arsenic ovum baskets capable nan scene.

Best for: shopping, dining, scuba diving astatine night

Bathrooms: Yes

Parking: $2 per hr successful adjacent structure

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: Two wheelchairs disposable astatine nan Lifeguard Headquarters connected Avenue C

What’s nearby: Countless dining, shopping and nightlife options capable Redondo Pier. The scenic bike/rollerblade Marvin Braude Trail (known among locals arsenic “The Strand”) connects Redondo straight to Manhattan Beach.

This 1.5-mile-long, 40-acre soft soil formation mightiness conscionable beryllium nan Goldilocks of beaches acknowledgment to its location. A short locomotion to its confederate extremity and it curves into RAT (short for Right After Torrance) Beach, a secluded, rocky, cliff-framed go-to for surfers and divers. To nan north, nan endless agelong of soil melds into nan vibrant cacophony of Redondo Beach and its possibility-packed pier. This formation besides marks nan confederate extremity of nan Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, a paved ribbon that snakes northbound 22.3 miles to Santa Monica.

Best for: Surfing, scuba diving, bicycling

Parking: Lot is $3 Monday done Friday, $7 weekends and holidays.

Bathrooms: Yes

Dog-friendly: No

ADA-accessible: There is 1 first-come, first-served formation wheelchair disposable by visiting nan lifeguard office building (389 Paseo de la Playa) and an entree mat halfway to nan water’s edge.

What’s nearby: The closest eateries are a fewer blocks distant (including Pedone’s Pizza & Deli’s Redondo location, which will present to you successful nan formation parking batch Wednesday done Sunday).

People don’t travel to White Point/Royal Palms Beach for a lazy time of sunbathing, they travel present to explore. At debased tide, nan rocky shoreline is simply a maze of crater-like formations and tide pools wherever visitors crouch complete searching for life. During my visit, 2 men poking astir pinch sportfishing rods excitedly showed maine a mini octopus they had spotted successful 1 of nan crevices. It’s nary wonder: White Point offers immoderate of nan astir divers tide pools successful Southern California.

If you parkland successful nan precocious parking and playground area, nan acquisition starts to consciousness typical earlier moreover reaching nan water. Brass plaques placed passim nan bluff picture nan area’s rich | history, while dramatic, panoramic views of nan rugged cliffs and stony coastline unfold below. From there, it’s astir a 10-minute locomotion downhill to nan formation itself. The rocky statement is not perfect for swimming, but scuba divers travel to acquisition nan

.

During a caller visit, building instrumentality occupied 1 extremity of nan formation owed to activity connected a sewage line, though nan lifeguard connected work assured maine that treated wastewater is released astir 3 miles offshore, wherever heavy water currents disperse it earlier it tin impact h2o value astatine nan coast.

Best for: melodramatic views, tide-pooling, scuba diving, fishing

Bathrooms: Yes (additional portable toilets besides disposable astatine bottommost of hill)

Parking: Lot instantly aft entranceway (10 minutes downhill locomotion to beach) is free weekdays, $8 connected weekends; there’s different batch correct by nan beach, which is $6 aft 9 a.m. connected weekdays, $8 connected weekends

Dog-friendly: Leashed dogs are permitted connected nan paved trails beyond nan rocks

ADA-accessible: ADA parking, but nary wheelchair disposable owed to nan rocks

What’s nearby: The adjacent White Point Nature Preserve offers 102 acres of coastal residence and hiking trails. There isn’t overmuch successful position of nutrient aliases portion successful this area, truthful bring sustenance and make usage of nan picnic tables connected nan beach’s precocious bluff portion.

Located connected a constrictive portion of onshore that juts into nan h2o disconnected nan eastbound broadside of nan Palos Verdes Peninsula, Cabrillo Beach is really 2 sandy formation areas separated by a parking lot; for swimming, take Outer Cabrillo Beach, nan water side, because of nan harbor side’s mediocre h2o quality. The south-facing, mile-long, ocean-facing broadside has a moderately wide, sandy formation pinch cliff views to nan right, a sportfishing pier to nan near and a position (when it’s clear enough) of Catalina Island 25 miles away.

Also worthy checking out: nan historical Mediterranean-style Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse (which offers kid-friendly programming), Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, tide pools, a coastal autochthonal works plot and cliffs studded pinch ammunition fossils.

Best for: Families

Parking: Lot operates from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, $1 per hour, $9 maximum (no rate aliases American Express cards)

Bathrooms: Yes

Dog-friendly: Not allowed connected nan formation (but permitted on-leash elsewhere)

ADA-accessible: Two formation wheelchairs are disposable connected a first-come, first-served ground astatine nan aquarium invited booth. Call (310) 548-7562 for availability. There’s a way portion of nan measurement crossed nan soil — but not to nan water’s separator — connected nan harbor-side beach.

What’s nearby: Charlie’s Hot Dogs does brisk business trading basking dogs, cheeseburgers and nachos from a bluish shelter successful nan parking lot.