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Santa Monica State Beach – South Beach, Santa Monica, California
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'},],});jQuery( '.open-full-gallery' ).on( 'click', function(){beachGallery.openGallery();});jQuery( '.gallery-preview--thumb' ).on( 'click', function(){beachGallery.openGallery( jQuery( this ).data( 'slide' ) );});}); });});About Santa Monica State Beach – South Beach in Santa Monica, California
The south part of Santa Monica State Beach is located south of the Santa Monica Pier and north of Venice Beach. On the other side of the pier you’ll find North Beach which continues in that direction to Pacific Palisades. The city of Santa Monica operates this California state beach and Los Angeles County provides the lifeguards. It’s a popular beach to say the least and is one of the LA area’s best beaches.
South of the Santa Monica Pier there are several different parks and public parking lots with beach access. These parks have open fields, sport courts, picnic areas, playgrounds for kids, and even a large human-scale chess board. The original Muscle Beach which began in the 1930’s is still located near the pier with workout facilities for bodybuilders. Bike riders and skaters zoom along on the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, a paved path that winds through the back part of the beach. Volleyball courts are all along this wide sandy beach that is big enough to land a jumbo jet on.
The pier is home to Pacific Park Amusem*nt Park which has thrill rides and arcade games, restaurants, shops, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. If you haven’t been to the pier before, make this a destination on your trip to LA.
Parking lots for Santa Monica State Beach are located near the pier and along Ocean Avenue and Barnard Way. The main park centered on South Beach is at the west end of Ocean Park Boulevard.
- Address
- 2600 Barnard Way
Santa Monica, CA 90405 - Phone
- 310-458-8300
- Park Name
- Santa Monica State Beach, South Beach Park, Ocean View Park, Crescent Bay Park, Bernard Way Linear Park, Beach Green, Chess Park
- Other Names
- Ocean Park Beach, Original Muscle Beach
- Owner
- State Park
- Pet Details
- No dogs allowed on the beach
- Fees
- Fees for parking
- Activities
- Biking, Skating, Walking, Tennis, Volleyball, Fishing, Surfing, Swimming, Sunbathing, Basketball, Chess, Beach Walking
- Amenities
- Restrooms, Showers, Playground, Picnic Tables, Grass Park, Volleyball Courts, Paved Bike Path, Walking Path, Tennis Courts, Accessible Features, Lifeguard, Bike Rentals, Fishing Pier
- Links
- Water QualityWater TempsTide ChartSurfing InfoWeb Cam
Santa Monica, US
7:03 am, June 10, 2024
61°F
L: 60° H: 68°
Feels like 60.62 °F overcast clouds
Wind gusts: 2 m/s
UV Index: 0.45
Precipitation: 0 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 5:42 am
Sunset: 8:04 pm
90 %
1014 mb
2 m/s
Nearby Beaches
Santa Monica State Beach – North Beach
0.9 miles away
The north part of Santa Monica State Beach is a wide sandy beach that runs north from the Santa...
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Venice City Beach
1 miles away
Venice City Beach is the main beach in the Venice District of Los Angeles. It stretches from the Venice...
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Sorrento Beach
1.6 miles away
Sorrento Beach is the northernmost beach in Santa Monica State Beach yet just one mile from the Santa Monica...
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Nearby Attractions
Original Muscle Beach
0.6 miles away
The Original Muscle Beach was an outdoor body-building gym on the beach just south of the Santa Monica Pier....
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Tongva Park
0.7 miles away
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Nearby Lodging
Sea Shore Motel
0.2 miles away
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Bayside Hotel
0.4 miles away
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Reviews
5.0
1 review(s)
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April 11, 2023
Amazing beach, but bon fires are not allowed on this beach. thumbs down for that.
Zack F
