Top 7 Beaches In and Near Los Angeles

Locals and tourists are incited to witness the sun-drenched beaches near LA while indulging in customary Southern California experiences, which are framed by the Pacific Ocean. This guide will walk you through the top 7 beaches in LA and nearby offering a wonderful blend of sea, sand, and sun:

Santa Monica Beach:

Santa Monica Beach is a timeless symbol of California’s coastal charm, tucked down by the well-known Santa Monica Pier, it stretches for over 3 miles, offering different recreational activities like beach volleyball and carnival rides. In Pacific Park, the famous Ferris wheel adds a touch of fun and amusement to bring about a whimsical element to the landscape, while the lively strolls are lined with cafes, shops, and street performers that evoke the bright energy this place features!

• Facilities: It is equipped with restrooms, lifeguards, bike paths, piers, and showers.
• Parking: Provided with multiple paid parking slots everywhere.
• Good For: Tourists, families, and groups of friends or individuals.
  
   

Venice Beach:

Venice Beach is an unusual and quirky beach located in the south of Santa Monica, where a short drive from Santa Monica will take you to an artistic Venice beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk and diverse street performers. This LA beach is a mix of cultural diversity and artistic expression. The vibrant Venice skate park, Ocean Front Walk, and Muscle Beach Gym contribute to the boho atmosphere of this place, reflecting a vibrant tapestry of creativity that gives a unique definition to Venice Beach. Here you can discover different vendors and shops revealing a colorful mosaic embodying the beauty of Los Angeles beach.

• Facilities: Provided with tennis, lifeguards, skate parks, restrooms, workout equipment, and beach-adjacent bars.
• Parking: Feature multiple parking lots.
• Good For: Tourists and families.
  
   

Malibu-Surf-rider Beach:

Los Angeles vacation is incomplete without a visit to this famous surf-rider beach located in Malibu, known for its luxurious celebrity homes, located just off the Pacific Coast Highway. This beach is one of the most fun-filled Los Angeles vacation trips, tourists call it a surfer’s paradise offering a rhythmic dance or surfer to the oceanic waves. This beautiful Malibu Pier is a charming backdrop to strolling and fishing while enjoying the tranquil sounds of the area, the ocean attracts the surfers and makes it a quiet haven for those looking for an escape and are drawn to the laid-back vibes of the beach.

• Facilities: Provided with showers and restrooms.
• Parking: This place features free street parking and a fee for the separate parking lot, which charges around 3-15$
• Good For: Tourists, adventurers, and surfers.
   

El-Matador Beach:

This beautiful El-Matador Beach in Malibu is a hidden gem for people longing for the beauty of the landscape and a private yet beautiful place to have fun with family. It is adorned with sea caves, huge cliffs, and unique rock formations in a uniquely carved way of a staircase that leads down from the cliff-top parking area. This beautiful beach gives off the sounds of crashing waves creating a rhythmic pattern, and a tranquil and romantic atmosphere, making this place a perfect spot for romantic couple photography and a haven for nature enthusiasts.

• Facilities: Porta-potty (portable toilet containing building)
• Parking: There is free street parking, but you have to watch out for “No parking” signboards and a charged parking for $10 all day or $3 per hour.
• Good For: Couples, nature enthusiasts, explorers.
  
   

Zuma Beach:

Zuma Beach is in Malibu, a beach near LA stretching through the coastline, featuring golden sand and a popular vacation spot for locals offering a friendly environment with excellent facilities to facilitate families, so they can have a perfect weekend getaway. The coastline is dotted with lifeguard towers, which provide a safer environment for swimmers and surfers, offering different recreational activities and water sports like beach games, sunbathing, beach volleyball, and other water sports, making it an ideal destination with a safe parking lot and picnic areas.

• Facilities: Facilities like bike paths, showers, coast guards, restrooms, volleyball courts, and swings to enjoy.
• Parking: Free street parking is available and a private parking space charging $15/day and $3/hour.
• Good For: Facilitates groups, boogie boarders, and families.

Leo Carrillo State Beach:

This is one of the most beautiful LA beaches, which has become a coastal oasis, surrounded by tidal pools and rugged cliffs, stretching to the north, going along the Pacific Coast Highway, being named after an actor Leo Carrilo, offering campgrounds for those who are into the adventure side of the beaches, an ideal treat for those seeking a seaside getaway. The surrounding tidal pools are filled with marine life, which adds to its value by making this trip an educational and interactive experience and fun for campers as well.

• Facilities: Showers, pools, and lifeguards.
• Parking: Multiple parking slots.
• Good For: Families and groups.
  
   

Hermosa Beach:

Los Angeles’ South Bay has another beautiful beach to offer, known as Hermosa Beach, which has a spirit of laid-back surf town and gives off a perfect representation of life in Southern California, while offering plenty of dining and nightlife options and is a great escape from life worries, to soak in the tranquil sounds of beach waves and chill around the area.

• Facilities: Showers, lifeguards & nightclubs.
• Parking: Multiple parking lots are available.
• Good For: Couples, friends, locals, and tourists.