Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach spreads along 3 miles of sand in the heart of metropolitan Los Angeles. As one of the most popular beaches in California, it draws visitors from the Los Angeles region as well as from across the country. The iconic Santa Monica Pier serves as the beach's anchor, with bike trails and walking paths stretching away north and south.

Facilities at the beach include restrooms, lifeguard towers, and picnic areas, a Chess Park, Muscle Beach with its exercise equipment, a number of restaurants and snack shops, and the Annenberg Community Beach House, along with basketball, volleyball and tennis courts.

Parking at Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica maintains an excellent parking website (along with a mobile app) which displays available parking and current rates:
Santa Monica Parking Map

Parking lots along the beach nearly all accept cash or credit cards. Lots closer to the pier are slightly more expensive. Summer parking fees range from $12 a day to $15. Metered parking is available on many adjacent streets, usually $1 to $2 per hour during the day and free at night. Numerous other parking lots are located nearby.

Parking times for most of the lots are similar, except for Lot 1 North which is open from 6:30 AM to 2:00 AM and Pier Parking which is available from 7:30 AM to 12 midnight.

Santa Monica Beach Features

Bike Trail

The Bike Trail at Santa Monica Beach is part of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, which extends 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in the north to Torrance County Beach in the south. Along Santa Monica Beach the Bike Trail winds across the beach, passing under the pier. Vehicles allowed on the beach bike path include unicycles, bicycles, bicycles with training wheels, wheelchairs, and single-person tricycles.

Ocean Front Walk

Coming from the south, Ocean Front Walk separates from the Bike Trail near Bicknell Avenue and swings to the east, passing Muscle Beach and Chess Park before arriving at the Santa Monica Pier. Bicycles are not allowed on the Ocean Front Walk.

Annenberg Community Beach House

The Annenberg Community Beach House, located at the north end of the beach, is a public facility offering fitness classes, recreation program, and cultural events. It has a pool, beach volleyball courts, a cafe, and rec room. No membership is required.
Annenberg Community Beach House

Santa Monica Pier

World-famous Santa Monica Pier draws thousands of visitors every year. Ride Pacific Park's Ferris wheel and the historic 1922 carousel. Food and refreshments are available at the many restaurants and food stands. There is so much to see and do on the pier that we have devoted a full page to it:
Santa Monica Pier