Parks & Beaches · Our pick in Los Angeles
Santa Monica State Beach
Wide sand and the Pier
About Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica’s wide beach stretches north and south of the Pier, with lifeguard towers, volleyball courts and the beach path running south to Venice.
Why it's on our list
- Wide sand
- Beach path to Venice
- Lifeguards
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Santa Monica State Beach before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Santa Monica State Beach, as the crow flies.
- Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows0.3 mi5 min walk
- Santa Monica Proper0.7 mi14 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Santa Monica State Beach are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Santa Monica Pier0.7 miWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Venice Beach Boardwalk2.6 miCycle 17 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Getty Center4.5 miCycle 29 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Rodeo Drive6.9 miCycle 45 minCar or taxi 27 min
- LACMA9.0 miCar or taxi 34 min
- The Grove9.3 miCar or taxi 35 min
- TCL Chinese Theatre11 miCar or taxi 41 min
- Hollywood Bowl12 miCar or taxi 43 min
- Griffith Observatory14 miCar or taxi 49 min
- Walt Disney Concert Hall15 miCar or taxi 53 min