Cool Off! 24 Affordable L.a. Pools To Beat The Heat

Tucked onto nan Santa Monica College campus, nan aquatic analyzable has an airy, Southern California openness to it. On a caller visit, it struck maine arsenic nan uncommon nationalist excavation that manages to cater to some hardcore swimmers and families looking to cool off.

The concealed is its two-pool setup. The deep, Olympic-sized fittingness excavation is built for speed, pinch wave-reducing gutters that thief support nan h2o amazingly calm moreover erstwhile lanes are packed. Nearby, a lukewarm instructional excavation hosts aquatics lessons, h2o aerobics and younger swimmers taking their first strokes. Together, they create a installation that’s bigger, busier and much versatile than astir municipal pools successful Los Angeles. Beyond thigh swimming, lessons and fittingness classes, nan halfway besides offers synchronized swimming classes pinch nan vintage-inspired h2o ballet troupe, nan Aqualillies, astatine nan SMC pool. Participants study nan fundamentals of creator swimming — including sculling, backmost layouts, ballet legs and tucks — while getting a amazingly challenging full-body workout.

Size: 50-meter x 25-yard successful some pools
Swim lanes: 19 lanes short course; 8 lanes agelong people (reservations whitethorn beryllium required during highest hours)
Depth: Fitness excavation ranges from astir 6.5 feet to 13 feet deep; Splash excavation is astir 4.5 feet heavy throughout.
Admission: Single-entry fees commencement astatine $2 for Santa Monica residents and $4 for nonresidents; discounts are disposable for seniors and students. Family play passes and 20-swim passes are besides offered. Children younger than 2 aquatics free.
Parking: Paid parking is disposable successful Santa Monica College lots, pinch further metered thoroughfare parking nearby.
Hours: Check nan updated summertime schedule to scheme accordingly. Reservations are encouraged from 3 p.m. to closing, Monday done Friday.
Extras: The Splash excavation offers aquatics lessons, h2o aerobics and family programming, including Family Splash Nights pinch excavation floats and a floating obstacle course. For thing decidedly much L.A., nan halfway partners pinch nan Aqualillies for artistic-swimming classes that thatch everything from sculling to ballet legs. Birthday parties and typical events tin beryllium booked successful designated spaces, including nan Upper Sun Deck overlooking nan excavation complex.

When summertime hits nan San Fernando Valley, uncovering ways to cool disconnected is simply a must, which is why my kids grew up swimming astatine nan Verdugo Aquatic Facility successful Burbank.

(When it closed for upgrades, nan kids connected our thoroughfare were truthful bereft that they group up a lemonade stand, hoping it would thief expedite nan pool’s reopening.)

The excavation is unfastened year-round, but it’s particularly celebrated successful nan summer, erstwhile it offers recreational swimming, aquatics lessons starting astatine 6 months old, a inferior lifeguard program, thigh swimming and different sports.

There’s a nosy activity excavation for kids ages 4 and under, pinch waterslides, dumping h2o buckets, a play area and a shallow wading excavation pinch a beach-style entry. Chaise longues, picnic tables pinch umbrellas, and aggregate lifeguards springiness nan nationalist excavation a edifice feel.

On a caller Friday, nan main Olympic-sized excavation was engaged pinch families, but location were still plentifulness of lanes unfastened for thigh swimming. I tried a Monday evening Aquatic NoodleFit class, wherever you usage a excavation noodle for low-impact guidance training while opinionated successful nan halfway of nan pool. The instructor, Karen Eldridge, was lukewarm and welcoming and gave clear instructions, moreover moving up a sweat herself arsenic we followed her moves connected nan excavation deck. The workout was challenging and fun, but not overwhelming for students of each levels, assemblage types and ages, acknowledgment to nan water’s support.

During nan week, nan activity excavation is usually not crowded, but connected weekends, unit intimately show capacity arsenic it tin get busy. Burbank residents get privilege and tin bargain presale wristbands online astatine BurbankParks.com from Monday to Friday betwixt 9 and 10 a.m. If you can’t get into nan activity pool, don’t worry. The recreational excavation is simply a nosy and easy backup option.

Size: 50 by 18 meters
Temperature: 80 to 82
Swim lanes: 7
Depth: 2.5 feet to 8 feet and a 12-foot diving well
Admission: Lap swimming, $5 to $9. Monthly membership, $41 to $96. Activity pool, $4. Water fittingness classes are subscription-based and scope from $99 to $110, depending connected nan class. (My Aquatic NoodleFit people costs $109 arsenic a nonresident for an 11-class series).
Parking: Free.
Hours: Lap swimming, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday done Thursday; 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Recreational swimming, 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Extras: Activity pool, snack bar, vending machines.

If your perfect excavation time involves moving done spray fountains pinch a toddler successful tow alternatively than logging laps, Stoner Park Pool whitethorn beryllium nan astir nosy nationalist excavation connected nan Westside. This Sawtelle-area excavation feels much for illustration a mini h2o park. A elephantine serpentine waterslide curls overhead for illustration a relic from summers past — it’s presently retired of service, but still serves arsenic nan pool’s unofficial mascot. A shallow-entry recreation excavation invites kids to wade successful gradually, while six interactive h2o features spray, scatter and soak swimmers from each direction. A awesome prime for families pinch young kids. For a organization mostly made up of toddlers, unit promote families to bring their ain chairs and approved h2o toys, a rarity astatine galore nationalist pools.

Serious swimmers whitethorn want to look elsewhere. While 4 marked lanes exist, thigh swimming isn’t formally offered, and nan pool’s maximum extent of 4.5 feet makes it amended suited for splashing than training. But for young children, opening swimmers and anyone looking to cool disconnected connected a basking afternoon, Stoner Park delivers precisely what galore metropolis pools don’t: a spot wherever play comes first.

Lap swimming details: Four marked lanes are available, but nan excavation does not connection dedicated lap-swim sessions aliases lane reservations.

Size: 24 yards
Swim lanes: 4
Depth: Beach-style introduction starts astatine 0 feet and gradually slopes to 4.5 feet astatine nan deepest point.
Admission: Cash only. $1 for children, seniors and group pinch disabilities; $4 for adults ages 18–49. A Youth Summer Swim Pass ($10) provides unlimited admittance to L.A. City pools from Memorial Day done Labor Day.
Parking: One shared batch serves nan full parkland and fills quickly during summertime afternoons. Limited thoroughfare parking is disposable nearby, overmuch of it pinch clip restrictions.
Hours: Summer recreational aquatics is typically offered weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Check schedules earlier visiting, arsenic hours tin change.
Extras: Six interactive scatter features see everything from mushroom fountains to high-pressure spray cannons. The excavation besides offers aquatics lessons, inferior lifeguard training and younker swim-team programs. Families whitethorn bring their ain chairs, blankets and approved h2o toys. A abstracted mini instructional excavation is utilized for water-acclimation classes and beginner lessons. Note that nan ADA excavation assistance was not operational astatine nan clip of reporting; interaction nan installation up of clip for accessibility accommodations.

The Hilda Solis Aquatic Center is nan caller kid connected nan L.A. swimming segment (it opened June 2025) and it shows — this state-of-the-art installation has 2 beautiful pools, including 1 Olympic-sized excavation and 1 purely recreational pool. There’s besides freely locker rooms and thoughtful, community-centric creation that useful for family excursions aliases solo summertime swims. A ample lot, motorcycle racks and EV charging stations create an inclusive, stress-free parking experience, while bleachers, a mini parkland and an indigenous plot (wafting notes of sage and lavender passim nan entryway!) besides make it easy to sit, soak and enactment a while.

The halfway is nan first L.A. County-operated aquatic installation successful nan San Gabriel Valley, which intends extended hours compared to different L.A. Parks and Rec pools (though beryllium warned — they’re closed connected Sundays). Named and created successful business pinch Supervisor Hilda Solis (who grew up successful Puente Valley), nan Hilda Solis Aquatic Center has made rather a scatter (sorry) pinch its free recreational aquatics times, ample swimming lanes and assortment of summertime activities, including lifeguard training, swimming lessons, squad sports and a mysteriously fun-sounding “artistic swimming” class.

Size: 50 by 25 meters, 25 by 25 meters
Swim lanes: 13-15 lanes (no reservations required)
Depth: 7-13 feet successful nan Olympic-sized pool, 3.6–5 feet successful nan recreational pool
Admission: Free for free swim, $80 for 30 punches, aliases $15 for 5 punches for thigh swim.
Parking: Large free lot, EV chargers, motorcycle racks
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday done Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Extras: Splash pads, h2o polo, h2o workout classes, swimming classes.

Nestled successful Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco, conscionable a short locomotion from Kidspace Museum and nan Rose Bowl, nan Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is simply a lively spot, truthful beloved by regulars that galore are already mourning its closure adjacent twelvemonth arsenic it prepares to big diving events for nan 2028 Olympics. (The halfway will enactment unfastened done 2026 and portion of 2027 earlier closing.)

On immoderate day, you mightiness spot group swimming laps successful nan 2 Olympic-sized pools, kids and adults learning to swim, divers executing flips, h2o polo games, aquatics meets, aqua fittingness classes successful some shallow and heavy h2o and moreover a therapy excavation successful use.

Over nan years, I’ve taken galore aqua fittingness classes here, including finning, aqua Zumba, beardown h2o pain successful nan shallow extremity and move deep-water fitness. In nan deep-water classes, you deterioration a flotation loop and usage Styrofoam weights while exercising. Just for illustration thigh swimming, you tin spell astatine your ain gait successful these classes. Some group return it easy, while others push themselves. Sometimes, group make friends and get truthful engaged chatting that instructors person to punctual them to salary attraction to nan class.

Lap swimming is simply a solo sport, but here, nan pools bring group together. I’ve seen swimmers hop into a lane conscionable to shake hands Maurine Kornfeld, nan 104-year-old swimmer everyone calls “Mighty Mo.” More recently, aft nan Eaton occurrence destroyed thousands of homes successful Altadena, nan excavation became a spot wherever group could travel together and support each different arsenic they cared for not conscionable their physical, but their intelligence wellness too.

Size: 50 meters agelong by 25 yards wide
Swim lanes: 20 lanes complete 2 Olympic-sized pools.
Depth: 3 feet 6 inches to 17 feet successful nan diving well.
Admission: Recreational swim: $2 for adults and $1 for children. Lap aquatics passes: $22 per day, $52 per week, aliases $100 per month. Lap therapy excavation (which besides includes thigh swimming): $22 per time aliases $118 per month. Water fittingness classes: $22 a day, $136 for nan month. Quarterly and semi-annual passes are besides available.
Parking: Free
Hours: The halfway is unfastened Monday done Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recreational aquatics hours: noon to 12:55 p.m. Monday done Friday; 1 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. to 8:35 p.m. Saturday; 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Sunday.
Extras: Fitness center, 2 jacuzzis, cafe and an aquatics merchandise shop. Foam dumbbells, noodles and aquatic fittingness aquatics float jog belts are provided.

Looking for nan eventual spot to cool off? Dive into nan Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, 1 of nan largest nationalist swimming pools successful nan country. The San Fernando Valley’s sprawling, 1.5-acre excavation is perfect for families and recreational swimmers alike. Built successful 1999, nan $15-million installation replaced an older vicinity excavation that had antecedently filled pinch silt. A wide portion of soil surrounds nan pool, giving swimmers nan emotion of relaxing connected a beach. Along nan sandy shores, individuals tin return portion successful a crippled of formation volleyball aliases teqball. There are besides different levels of shallow h2o cleanable for young swimmers, and a h2o descent for thrill-seekers. If visitors request a alteration of scenery, nan excavation resides adjacent a recreational lake, wherever you tin bask a stepping trail, spell sportfishing aliases peddle connected nonmotorized boats.

One awesome tip: The excavation holds up to 3,500 group truthful beryllium prepared for a lively, festive ambiance connected basking summertime days.

Size: Pool is 1.5 acres
Swim lanes: No aquatics lanes; nary thigh swimming.
Depth: 1.5 cardinal gallons of water, 4.5 feet max
Admission: Children ages 17 and younger, $1; adults ages 18 to 49, $4; seniors ages 50 and older, $1; persons pinch disabilities, $1; and younker summertime aquatics passes, $10.
Parking: Large batch successful beforehand of aquatic center.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Extras: Waterslide, 2 volleyball courts, 1 teqball table, soil area, canopies for rental. Next to nan excavation is simply a 9-acre recreational reservoir for fishing, nonmotorized boats.

Before I moved to Los Angeles, TV shows for illustration “The Hills” and “Entourage” filled my encephalon pinch deliciously glamorous (albeit generic) L.A. stereotypes: beautiful group lounging connected a rooftop pool, taking successful basking gossip, California sunshine and dazzling panoramic views.

Though I’ve agelong near that mostly-illusory preconception of L.A. down maine aft 2 decades successful L.A. (but who’s counting?), West Hollywood Aquatic Center has each nan romance of nan Los Angeles sold to maine by cablegram programming … for a fraction of nan cost.

Nestled betwixt specified WeHo metropolis treasures arsenic nan Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood Park and SUR (shout-out to chap Bravo diehards), nan West Hollywood Aquatic Center rivals nan city’s bougiest rooftop bars and edifice excavation experiences; and astatine a specified $7.50 to aquatics (less if you unrecorded successful WeHo), you tin really spend it.

Poolgoers tin aquatics immoderate laps, return a fittingness class, aliases conscionable bent retired and bask nan luxurious, 360-degree position connected nan pool’s ample terrace — conscionable make judge you cheque nan facility’s schedule of summertime closures and make a preservation (when necessary). Give yourself ample presence clip too. Between nan library, parking car shed and chaos of Melrose Avenue, uncovering nan halfway for nan first clip tin beryllium a small confusing. You’ll cognize you’ve arrived erstwhile you perceive nan pool’s pulsing popular soundtrack — a small drama, conscionable for illustration connected TV.

Size: recreational pool: 25 x 25 yards, title excavation 25 x 50 yards
Swim lanes: 10 (reservations required)
Depth: 3 feet that increases to 7 feet (recreation pool), 7 feet (competition pool)
Admission: Lap swim: $3 (adult resident), $7.50 (adult non-resident), free (senior/disabled resident). Rec swim: $1.50 (child resident), $3 (child non-resident), $3 (adult resident), $5 (adult non-resident), free (senior/disabled resident).
Parking: ample batch successful nan analyzable (it’s easy to get lost, though — you physically person to time off nan analyzable and return an elevator up to nan center, located connected nan 5th floor)
Hours: The installation is mostly unfastened from 6 a.m. aliases 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. aliases 8:30 p.m. Check nan website for specifications connected closures, amended hours and different events (there are many).
Extras: Swim classes, site-specific events, aquatics teams, inferior lifeguard classes, rank opportunities, an outdoor lounge abstraction and an fantabulous position of Los Angeles.

The Van Ness Recreation Center, which was primitively built successful 1959, had been without a moving excavation for astir 15 years. But erstwhile a awesome renewal task gave it caller life successful 2021, nan excavation erstwhile again became a organization hub, complete pinch a diving committee and 42-foot serpentine descent (that’s unfastened successful nan summer). Cheery pops of yellowish and teal situation nan year-round aquatic halfway that caters to visitors wanting recreational and thigh swims.

The heated excavation offers aquatics classes for children and adults, and younker squad sports for illustration h2o polo, dive, and creator swim, arsenic good arsenic a inferior lifeguards program. When location are typical events held astatine nan pool, there’s other nosy to beryllium had pinch Aqua Fit classes, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

A imperishable characteristic extracurricular nan excavation is simply a scatter pad wherever kids tin cool disconnected nether spouting fountains. To make a afloat time retired of a visit, there’s besides an adjacent playground and hoops court.

Size: 75 feet by 120 feet
Swim lanes: 8, depending connected programming; nary reservations required
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet; diving good 12 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The costs is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and group pinch disabilities of immoderate age. Payment is rate only.
Parking: Free parking successful Van Ness Recreation Center lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but cheque nan website earlier visiting.
Extras: Waterslide, scatter pad and diving board.

After conscionable 1 sojourn to nan Lincoln Park Pool successful Lincoln Heights, moreover L.A.’s loudest detractors will person to admit nan metropolis is doing thing right: It’s that good. Embedded successful 1 of L.A.’s oldest nationalist parks, making love backmost to 1881, nan excavation was renovated successful 2019 and still maintains a fresh, updated consciousness 7 years later. Parking is easy and free successful nan adjacent lot, and you’ll participate nan excavation installation done a shaded courtyard pinch a towering works wall connected 1 end. After purchasing your summons ($4 if you are betwixt nan ages of 18 and 49, $1 if you are not), you’ll walk into a curved unfastened area pinch cleanable backstage bathrooms that double arsenic changing stalls arsenic good arsenic outdoor showers wherever you tin rinse disconnected successful lukewarm water. The excavation itself is ample and well-maintained pinch 8 thigh lanes and 3 areas for recreational swimming, including a heavy h2o area pinch a diving board. I’ve been told nan excavation gets crowded connected nan weekends and summertime afternoons, but I arrived conscionable aft it opened astatine noon connected a weekday and location were only a fistful of thigh swimmers gliding softly done nan water. Parents of young kids will admit nan scatter pad playground correct adjacent to nan excavation that is unfastened from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. And if you find you’re quiet aft your aquatics (I ever do), nan fantabulous Village Mart and Deli is simply a three-minute thrust away. The excavation besides offers aquatics lessons, synchronized swimming, h2o polo, diving, aquafit cardio and a inferior lifeguard program.

Size: 9,000 quadrate feet
Swim lanes: 8
Depth: 3 feet, 6 inches to 12 feet
Admission: $1 children 17 and under, $4 for adults, $1 adults 50 and up
Parking: Free
Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Monday done Friday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The ray bluish midcentury-style accommodation astatine Hollywood Pool evoke a definite nostalgia for summertime play.

However vintage it whitethorn look, nan excavation is 1 of nan newer swimming locales successful nan City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks’ offerings; it opened successful 2015. Tucked successful a vicinity conscionable blocks southbound of nan Walk of Fame, Hollywood Pool caters to some families and pro swimmers pinch a two-sided shallow excavation and 8 thigh lanes. Sunbaked bleacher-style seating offers a spot to remainder aliases watch nan splish-splash action. The accommodation were cleanable and astir patrons were calm connected a caller June day, but arsenic nan play wears on, guests tin expect nan excavation to capable up pinch young and aged Angelenos alike.

Size: 38 by 22 meters
Swim lanes: 8
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet; diving boards astatine 12 feet.
Admission: $1 for children up to 17, for adults 50 and up and for persons pinch disabilities; $4 for adults 18-49. $10 for Summer Youth Pass
Parking: Free, but spaces are limited. Street parking is metered.
Hours: Monday to Friday 3 p.m to 7 p.m. for recreational swim; Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for recreational swim. Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for thigh swim. Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Extras: A descent (check up if it is successful operation) and competition-ready starting blocks.

It is theoretically imaginable to aquatics outdoors each twelvemonth agelong successful nan metropolis of Los Angeles. That being said, location are times erstwhile an indoor excavation beckons. On those days, nan Echo Park Pool, located southbound of nan 101 Freeway connected Colton Street, can’t beryllium beat. Large, cleanable and airy successful an business benignant of way, nan excavation area gets ample earthy ray from windows connected 3 of its 4 sides and contempt its monolithic size, it has someway managed to flight nan pungent smell of chlorine that I retrieve from nan indoor pools of my youth. The unit is friendly, nan dressing rooms cleanable and good cared for (if not needfully beautiful), and nan programming is robust: backstage and group aquatics lessons, AquaFit classes, inferior lifeguard training and h2o polo, creator swimming and aquatics teams. On a caller midday sojourn I shared nan excavation pinch conscionable a fewer different thigh swimmers and a begetter and boy who were playing successful nan recreational area, but that tranquility is not guaranteed. According to a sign, each thigh lane tin accommodate up to 7 swimmers, which sounds stressful to me. The excavation is unfastened for some thigh aquatics and recreational swim, but I highly urge calling aliases checking nan pool’s progressive Instagram relationship earlier you spell to make judge nan times haven’t changed. They look to beryllium successful predominant flux.

Size: 9,000 quadrate feet (25 yards by 40 yards)
Depth: 9 feet
Swim lanes: 16 (8 lanes for thigh swimming)
Admission: $1 children 0-17, $4 for adults, $1 adults 50 and up
Parking: Free
Hours: Monday done Friday: Lap swim, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (limited). Recreational swim, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Lap swim, noon to 5 p.m. Recreational swim, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Just steps from nan Alondra Aquatic Center, visitors are often greeted by a man trading elotes beneath a rainbow umbrella. It’s nan type of show — for illustration a sunburn, popsicle, aliases ill-fated romance — that invites nan emotion of a perennial L.A. summertime day. To nan correct of nan aquatic halfway sits a actual skatepark for nan young, fearless, and invincible. Inside, there’s plentifulness of nosy to beryllium had successful lukewarm waters. Children jump disconnected diving boards, pursuing 1 different for illustration a way of ducklings. They’re portion of 1 of nan galore swimming programs offered by nan halfway for each ages. For competitory swimmers, lane dividers carve nan excavation into training lanes wherever they tin log their miles. A lone thenar character towers complete nan pool. Nearby, a shaded seating area allows families to cheer connected loved ones arsenic they study to swim. Next doorway is simply a well-maintained scatter pad, wherever toddlers tally beneath a waterfall, their screams concisely mistaken for terror. An extracurricular parking batch provides ample parking. The excavation is unfastened for a fewer hours each time and is closed connected Sundays. The installation includes a locker room pinch showers and changing stalls adorned successful aquamarine-colored tile, a scatter of that makes Rendondo Beach consciousness for illustration a tropical paradise.

Size of pool: 25 x 25 meters
Swim lanes: 10 lanes
Depth: 3.5 feet to 12.5 feet
Admission: Free for recreational swimming, $15 for 5 thigh passes.
Parking: Yes
Hours: Summer hours (June 8- Aug. 15) Monday-Saturday: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., Saturday: 12:30 - 4 p.m.,

Extras: All levels aquatics classes, scatter pad, skate park.

Tucked distant successful nan remodeled Algin Sutton Recreation Center, nan namesake excavation has been a portion of nan park’s history for astir a century. In 2021, nan parkland unveiled a much-needed upgrade and its excavation was demolished and recently constructed. It was complete pinch renovated locker rooms and an adjacent scatter pad surrounded by thenar trees.

The landscaping besides had a makeover and nan aquatic halfway is now surrounded by uplifting colors of yellow, bluish and red. A achromatic metallic canopy resembling a plane’s wings serves arsenic a motion to nan formation paths overhead from nan adjacent Los Angeles International Airport.

The year-round and heated excavation offers a bevy of aquatics classes and younker programs, from h2o polo to creator aquatics and diving teams, and inferior lifeguards. But astir of all, it’s a coagulated spot to get a bully thigh aquatics in.

Size: 75 feet by 120 feet
Swim lanes: 8, depending connected programming(no reservations required)
Depth: 2.5 feet to 8 feet; diving good 12 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The costs is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and group pinch disabilities of immoderate age. Payment is rate only, and nonstop alteration is preferred.
Parking: Free parking successful Algin Sutton Recreation Center lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m., but cheque nan website earlier visiting.
Extras: Splash pad, diving board.

A black-and-white photograph of Hollywood swimming prima Esther Williams hangs adjacent nan entrance, while a preserved newspaper clipping notes that successful 1949, vicinity kids first handed complete 20 cents for a swim. More than 75 years later, “The Plunge” remains 1 of nan longest-operating municipal pools successful Los Angeles County. It’s a classical title excavation built for group who really want to swim. The heated outdoor excavation tin beryllium configured for either long-course aliases short-course swimming, attracting everyone from thigh swimmers and triathletes to Boy Scouts completing aquatics tests and group AquaFit classes. The h2o is maintained pinch a partial saltwater system, and temperatures typically hover astir 76 degrees. Whenever nan sun’s not out, nan h2o tin get a spot cold, truthful bring a aquatics headdress to enactment warm.

Size: 50-meter by 25-yard
Swim lanes: 19 lanes short course; 8 lanes agelong people (reservations required)
Depth: 4.5 feet successful shallow; 13 feet successful nan deep
Admission: Reservations are required done online registration, though 1 drop-in lane is disposable connected a first-come, first-served basis, particularly during nan summer; admittance is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $3 for younker 17 and younger, seniors 50 and older, and group pinch disabilities.
Parking: Free successful nan Veterans Memorial Park lot, pinch entranceway connected Culver Boulevard; Wednesday evenings tin beryllium peculiarly engaged owed to adjacent organization meetings and events.
Hours: Check nan city’s website earlier visiting but emblematic hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6 a.m. to noon; Tuesday and Thursday 6 to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday noon to 3 p.m.
Extras: A abstracted 25-yard-by-52-foot diving good features 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. Programming includes AquaFit classes, big h2o exercise, stand-up paddleboard fittingness classes, aquatics lessons for each ages and free lifeguard certification courses for ages 15 and up. The excavation will besides big nan Aquacade during Fiesta La Ballona this Aug. 28-30, transforming nan Plunge into a family-friendly aquatic playground pinch recreational swims, a dive-in movie, ducky races and a elephantine inflatable obstacle course.

L.A.’s nationalist pools are a awesome municipal resource, sure, but they’re typically no-frills, unmemorable locales to get immoderate laps in. Hey Rookie is rather nan exception. Perched connected a elevation overlooking nan San Pedro harbor, this excavation is stunning, featuring a tiled floor, modern stadium seating and a glass-paned main building.

But what’s moreover much singular is nan pool’s history. It was built connected Ft. MacArthur during nan early years of World War II, funded by proceeds from a unrecorded show called “Hey Rookie” that aimed to boost nan morale of nan men stationed astatine nan distant weapon battery. For decades aft nan war, nan excavation was enjoyed by nan San Pedro organization until nan 1990s erstwhile it was drained and became a canvas for taggers.

Size: 33 1/3 meters
Swim lanes: 2-9 (no reservations required)
Depth: 3.5 feet to 8 feet
Admission: $4 for adults, $1 for younker nether 18 (cash only, nonstop alteration required); summertime passes are available
Parking: Small batch and thoroughfare parking.
Hours: Recreational aquatics hours are 1 to 3:25 p.m. connected weekdays, 1 to 4:55 p.m. connected weekends. Lap aquatics hours are 9 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. connected weekdays, 1 to 4:55 p.m. connected weekends. Check nan pool’s Instagram page (@heyrookiepool.lacityparks) for updates connected closures.
Extras: For a walk-in value of $5, you tin return an big “aquafit” cardio class, offered each weekday astatine 12:05 p.m.

If nan chaos of nan water h2o offends you, mightiness I urge nan Belmont Plaza Pool, conscionable a fewer feet from nan beach? The excavation occupies a coveted location, surrounded by retro java shops and diners — nan benignant that mightiness animate a Beach Boys lyric. The installation moreover has a notable history: it hosted 2 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, successful 1968 and 1976. Once astatine nan pool, nan calming brackish breeze still floats done nan air, while nan pummeling waves stay audible from yards away. The h2o is overmuch warmer than nan Pacific Ocean, too. The Olympic-sized excavation is magnificent, reflecting a cool cyan hue reminiscent of a David Hockney painting. The excavation has dividers for lane swimming, arsenic good arsenic a number of starting blocks for competitions. In nan background, a peculiarly relaxed lifeguard plays Grateful Dead–style stone euphony done a speaker. Street parking on nan formation is mostly accessible; nan excavation is closed connected Fridays and Sundays. After you’re done pinch your butterfly stroke, return a speedy thrust to sojourn nan Queen Mary — nan legendary water liner moored successful Long Beach Harbor.

Size of pool: Olympic 50 meters x 25 meters
Lanes: 18-20 lanes
Depth: 3.5 - 6.5 feet
Admission: Adults $4, seniors $3, free for younker 17 and under
Parking: Coin-operated metered lot.
Hours: Lap swim: 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday done Friday; recreational swim: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday done Saturday and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; closed Sundays.

For a nationalist facility, Reseda Park Pool is reasonably emblematic — clean, minimal, pinch ample outdoor abstraction and galore opportunities for excavation sports and leagues. Yet dissimilar galore different pools, Reseda is simply a existent “Valley Relic,” a historical small SFV gem that fuses metropolis inferior and 1930s flare.

Walking done nan pool’s two-story, Mission-style management building and burnt reddish Spanish colonnades, you tin almost image its opening measurement backmost connected July 4, 1931 … until you’re offered a foam noodle nether an business cabana astatine nan separator of its gleaming, modern pool. While nan creation has incorporated shadiness from nan cabana and surrounding structures, nan 100-year-old installation gets immoderate beautiful aggravated sunlight, truthful hydrate and deterioration tons of sunscreen. And hey, if you request much of a cooldown, you tin besides cheque retired nan park’s different 2 “pools,” nan Reseda Park Lake and nan Northeast information of nan (intermittently) beloved L.A. River.

Size: 22.86 meters by 36.57 meters.
Swim lanes: 9 (no reservations required)
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet
Admission: Children (0–17): $1, Adults (18–49): $4, 50+ (50 & Up): $1, Persons pinch Disabilities (All Ages): $1. Cash only.
Parking: Free ample lot.
Hours: Typical hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Monday done Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check nan website earlier you go, arsenic hours are taxable to alteration without notice.
Extras: Noodles and kickboards available, squad sports, lifeguard training and aquatics lessons.

Ritchie Valens Pool is simply a low-key, no-frills spot wherever you tin walk an day beating nan San Fernando Valley power and connecting to immoderate profound (if tragic) Valley history. Originally nan Paxton Pool, successful 1994 it was renamed nan Ritchie Valens Recreational Center and excavation successful 1994, commemorating nan Pacoima-born Latino stone fable successful nan spot he called home. Ritchie Valens (born Richard Stephen Valenzuela) was a 17-year-old student astatine San Fernando High School erstwhile he died successful a 1959 level clang alongside chap musicians nan Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. Called “the Little Richard of San Fernando,” Valens was champion known for his deed song, “La Bamba,” a stone ’n’ rotation re-imagining of a accepted Mexican wedding song. Valens’ bequest is felt worldwide, but particularly successful Pacoima, wherever nan excavation and rec area memorialize Valens and observe Pacoima’s Latino civilization and community. While nan rec area is usually bustling pinch squad sports, nan excavation area is secluded from nan halfway and usually beautiful quiet — cipher will kick if you popular connected “Donna” aliases “La Bamba,” for aged times’ sake.

Size: 20 by 40 meters
Swim lanes: 2-4 lanes (no reservations required)
Depth: 9 feet
Admission: Adults (ages 18 to 49) are $4. Children (17 and younger), adults 50 and older, and group pinch disabilities of each ages are $1. Cash only.
Parking: Large batch adjacent to pool
Hours: Typical hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday done Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. connected prime weekends. Check nan website earlier you go, arsenic hours are taxable to alteration without notice.
Extras: Lifeguard training, group, semi-private and backstage aquatics lessons.

Nestled down nan L.A. Memorial Coliseum is 1 of nan city’s grandest nationalist swimming complexes, Expo Center’s John C. Argue Swim Stadium. Originally built for nan 1932 Summer Olympics, nan stadium has been location to historical diving and swimming competitions for astir a century. With excitement buzzing for nan upcoming LA28 Olympics, a sojourn to this hidden gem feels particularly poignant arsenic a travel backmost successful time.

While its 50-meter title excavation is presently drained and nether construction, its year-round and heated family recreation pool, which was besides built successful 1932, is up and running. And it is simply a delight. The half-moon-shaped pool, surrounded by thenar trees and lounge chairs, is simply a serene break from nan hustle and bustle of Exposition Park. The zero-entry excavation gradually slopes down for illustration a formation to 3.5 feet for recreational swimming, and nan aggregate h2o sprays springiness it a playful edifice feel. It besides includes dedicated thigh lanes that spell down to 4.5 feet. Programming includes BOGA and AquaFit classes for adults, and aquatics lessons for each ages, pinch younker aquatics squad and scatter shot successful nan mix. One of nan champion parts is that nan excavation tin beryllium rented retired for parties.

Even though nan pools were past refurbished successful 2003, immoderate of nan original architectural details, for illustration nan Grecian-inspired urns and lion’s caput fountains, person remained. Even Huell Howser was truthful amazed by nan analyzable that he filmed an section astir it for “California’s Gold.” For schedules, instruction registrations, and installation updates, cheque nan website.

Size: Family excavation — 40 by 30 meters.
Swim lanes: 5, depending connected programming (no reservations required)
Depth: 0 to 4.5 feet
Admission: $1 for children 17 and under, persons pinch disabilities and adults complete 50; $4 for adults 18-49; $10 for Summer Youth Pass; rate only.
Parking: Free parking disposable straight adjacent to nan excavation and down Ralph M. Parsons Preschool, and constricted free thoroughfare parking connected Menlo Avenue. Paid overflow parking disposable eastbound of nan excavation successful Pink Lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and weekends from noon to 1 p.m., but cheque nan website earlier visiting.
Extras: Water sprays.

The sleek Celes King III Pool is simply a stunner erstwhile it comes to L.A.’s nationalist indoor excavation scene. From its precocious ceilings to nan plethora of windows that fto successful earthy sunlight, it ne'er feels cramped wrong nan airy space. (An added perk is that nan locker rooms are modern and clean.) Situated successful nan Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex (formerly called Rancho Cienega), nan year-round and heated excavation was recently built successful 2022 to switch nan original 1 from 1962. The parkland is besides important since it was nan location wherever Barack Obama held his first L.A. run rally successful 2007.

The excavation is T-shaped pinch a recreational swimming area connected 1 side, and thigh lanes connected nan different that person designated rows for slow, mean and accelerated swimmers.

When I stopped by nan excavation connected a weekend, nan segment was vibrant: An workout people was taking spot successful 1 corner, folks were jumping disconnected a diving board, and kids were throwing a hoops from nan h2o into a hoop. This aquatic halfway has go a beardown organization space, wherever it gets particularly packed connected weeknights for its AquaFit Cardio classes. For nan youth, location are diving, creator swimming and h2o polo teams, and a inferior lifeguards program. Sometimes erstwhile location are nationalist events held astatine nan pool, instructors whitethorn moreover bring successful kayaks arsenic portion of nan festivities.

Size: T-shaped astatine 56 feet by 75 feet, and 35 feet by 105 feet.
Swim lanes: 7, depending connected programming (no reservations required)
Depth: 3.5 feet to 12.25 feet; diving good 12.25 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The costs is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and group pinch disabilities of immoderate age. Payment is rate only, and nonstop alteration is preferred.
Parking: Free parking successful lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4:50 p.m., but cheque nan website earlier visiting.
Extras: Diving committee and hoops hoop.

A cleanable pool, successful my opinion, evokes puerility memories. The champion pools look to carrier you into a John Hughes movie — coquettish glances, assemblage admissions, spats pinch stepparents. Built successful 2019, nan El Segundo Aquatic Center achieves precisely that: a excavation truthful idyllic it seems for illustration a movie set. Children tally astir successful glee beneath nan summertime sun. Blue-and-white flags are strung supra nan pool, occasionally rippling successful nan wind. Dutiful lifeguards, dressed successful reddish and white, beryllium perched supra nan water. In nan distance, chrome bleachers place nan excavation deck. In fact, nan facility’s only responsibility whitethorn beryllium its position of a adjacent business complex. The aquatic halfway is divided into 3 pools and offers classes for some adults and children, ranging from basal recreational swimming to h2o aerobics. Some of nan pools characteristic lane dividers for thigh swimming. A recently built locker room includes well-maintained bathrooms, changing stalls and showers. The excavation is unfastened each time astatine staggered times. The installation besides offers ample, convenient parking.

Size of pool: 50 meters x 25 meters
Depth: 6.5 feet to 13.5 feet, Instructional pool: 2 feet to 4.5 feet
Swim lanes: 20 lanes
Admission: Adults: $7 for nonresidents, $5 for residents. Military, seniors and youth: $5 for nonresidents, $3 for residents.
Parking: Free lot.
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Extras: Senior, youth, and toddler aquatics classes, occasional evening aquatics schedules disposable upon request.

Home of nan Sea Monsters, nan heated indoor excavation astatine Westwood Recreation Center is simply a no-frills workhorse for those looking to get in, get retired and really find parking. It’s not fancy, but it is functional. On immoderate fixed day, nan excavation cycles done a wide scope of uses: h2o polo scrimmages, aqua jogging and aqua HIIT classes, positive dependable thigh swimming and diving. Sometimes there’s euphony played done nan underground speakers.

In summer, nan excavation shifts into precocious cogwheel pinch “Camp Splash,” a younker programme that fills nan shallow extremity pinch aquatics lessons, games and nonstop activity. It besides serves arsenic a training tract for nan PlayLA Aquatics USA Swim Team, a city-sponsored, low-cost competitory programme for kids ages 3 to 17, pinch a attraction connected some dry-land conditioning and in-water believe respective times a week.

Size: 25 meters x 25 yards
Swim lanes: 6 lanes
Depth: 3.5 feet successful shallow; 9.5 feet successful nan deep
Admission: Cash only. $1 for children, seniors and group pinch disabilities; $4 for adults ages 18–49. A Youth Summer Swim Pass ($10) provides unlimited admittance to L.A. City pools from Memorial Day done Labor Day.
Parking: Free outdoor parking lot.
Hours: Lap aquatics is typically offered early mornings and evenings Monday done Friday (6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.), pinch play greeting sessions (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Recreational aquatics runs successful nan afternoons, including weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Schedules whitethorn shift, truthful cheque up earlier visiting.

With views of nan San Gabriel Mountains, nan Hon. John J. Kennedy excavation makes you consciousness for illustration you’re connected picnic — not doing laps astatine a metropolis pool. Located conscionable a fewer miles from nan Rose Bowl Aquatics Center’s Olympic-sized pools, nan overmuch smaller Pasadena pool, which opened successful 2023, offers an affordable, relaxed spot to swim.

The 25-foot-long excavation has 4 lanes and is heated to 90 degrees, which whitethorn consciousness a spot lukewarm to some. Still, nan ambiance is welcoming, pinch friends unit and lifeguards, popular euphony reverberating passim nan deck, and no-nonsense amenities for illustration outdoor showers and family-friendly, gender-neutral bathrooms pinch changing tables. The excavation is unfastened year-round and offers thigh swimming, h2o aerobics, aquatics lessons and recreational swimming for each ages. There’s a mildly sloped walk-in introduction for easy entree for kids and seniors and a 9-foot-deep extremity for lifeguard training. While shadiness is constricted connected nan deck, a fewer canopies complete nan bleachers connection a spot to cool off, watch your kids aliases conscionable dress you’re worlds distant from it all.

Size: 25-meter excavation spanning 4,141 quadrate feet.
Swim lanes: 4
Depth: Zero-depth introduction to 9 feet deep.
Admission: $5 for thigh swimming ($2 for Pasadena residents)
Parking: Free.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. Monday done Thursday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Recreation Swim (free to nan public): 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday done Thursday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday done Sunday. Lap swimming and h2o fitness: 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday done Thursday (water workout besides has an evening convention from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.); 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.