Best Beaches in Los Angeles For Every Type of Traveler

The scene at Venice Beach is the quintessential LA people-watching experience: skateboarders at the skate park, bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, street performers along Ocean Front Walk, and cyclists weaving past murals and palm trees. While the beach is ideal for sunbathing and swimming—and the adjacent Venice Beach Boardwalk for strolling—the surrounding neighborhood deserves equal attention. Wander south toward the peaceful Venice Canal Historic District, where flower-draped bridges cross quiet waterways lined with eclectic homes. For a more structured visit, join a guided e-bike ride or take a surf lesson.

Among the most family-friendly beaches in Los Angeles, Santa Monica State Beach delivers wide sandy shores, gentle surf, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and easy public facilities—all things that make it especially appealing for travelers with children. It's also one of the best Los Angeles beaches for sunset views. Beyond the sand, the Santa Monica Pier is the main attraction, with its Ferris wheel, arcade games, and aquarium. Don't miss a chance to rent bikes and cruise the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, more commonly known as the Strand, which runs along the beach.

Any Los Angeles surf beaches guide worth its salt should include Surfrider Beach near the top. Located beside the historic Malibu Pier, this legendary point break defined California surf culture in the 1950s and still draws surfers chasing long, peeling waves. And if you're a beginner, don't fret—you can take surf lessons here. Visitors can also combine a beach morning with wine tasting (and hiking) in the Malibu hills in the afternoon, or take a full Malibu scenic beaches day trip along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Travelers searching for quiet beaches near Los Angeles to enjoy a romantic date often fall hard for El Matador State Beach. Tucked beneath dramatic cliffs in Malibu, this small cove feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city despite being just about 40 minutes from Santa Monica—depending on traffic, of course. A set of steep stairs leads down to the beach, where the scene is especially beautiful in late afternoon, when golden light hits the cliffs. You can even book a private photo shoot here, taking advantage of the gorgeous landscape.

Dockweiler State Beach is one of the most accessible beaches in Los Angeles thanks to its free beach wheelchairs (available to reserve in advance via the Dockweiler Youth Center), sand-access mat, and 3.7 miles (5.6 kilometers) of paved bike path. The atmosphere here is laid-back and local, with volleyball courts, picnic areas, a fishing jetty, and one of the few legal beach fire pit zones in LA. Planespotters will also love Dockweiler—it's right at the end of the runways at Los Angeles International Airport. That said, don't expect peace and quiet here.

If wild coastal scenery is your jam, the landscapes of Leo Carrillo State Park is your beach. Tide pools, caves, reefs, and coastal trails attract visitors who want more than just a towel-and-umbrella beach day. The 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) beach is perfect for kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, snorkeling, and tidepooling—all with a beautiful rocky backdrop. You can even camp here to get away from city life for a night, as long as you book your spot in advance. There's a camp store on-site to help kit you out with anything you might need.

A hub of beachfront activities in Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach is inextricably tied to the Southern California beach volleyball community: The Manhattan Beach Open is one of the longest-running competitions in the sport, and it's even nicknamed the "Wimbledon of beach volleyball." You might even bump elbows with Olympians here.

Don't worry, you don't have to play with the pros—casual players can often find a court here, too. And if volleyball isn't your thing, there are plenty of other beach activities here: surf lessons, swimming, jogging on the pedestrian trail, or cycling on the South Bay Bicycle Trail.

Point Dume State Beach combines one of Malibu’s most scenic stretches of coastline with easy hiking trails and sweeping Pacific views. A short blufftop trail climbs above the beach to panoramic overlooks where, depending on the season, visitors might spot migrating gray whales, dolphins, or surfers on the waves. Down below, the quiet beach has rocky coves, tide pools, and broad sandy sections ideal for sunbathing after a walk.

Insider tip: There's free 2-hour parking at the top of Point Dume, but spaces are very limited. There are additional paid parking spots at Westward Beach.

Royal Palms State Beach at White Point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula offers one of the most rewarding tide-pooling experiences in Southern California. At low tide, the rocky shoreline reveals a maze of shallow pools filled with sea stars, anemones, crabs, limpets, and other marine life, making it especially appealing for curious kids and nature-focused travelers. While the rocky beach isn't great for swimming, you can go scuba diving here at high tide to see underwater hot springs, reefs, and small kelp forests. Just be warned that it's best for intermediate divers and above.