The 5 Best (and 5 Worst) Beaches in Los Angeles

For every style of beachy fun, venture to Point Dume State Beach. Besides 34 acres of stunning sand and several rocky coves, there’s stand-out hiking on Point Dume Cove Trail and magnificent views of seaside cliffs. (The sunset rivals nearby El Matador Beach sans the selfie-obsessed crowds.) Point Dume is also distinguished for its access to rock climbing and advanced-level scuba diving. For a prime spot in the parking lot, go early in the day. Otherwise, another option is to park by Cliffside Drive and Birdview Avenue, and then take a recently built staircase down to the beach.

Located northwest of Point Dume and walkable from there by shore, Zuma Beach shines with picture-perfect Malibu views. For classic California fun, spike a volleyball on the sand courts or brave the rough surf on a board. While summers and weekends on Zuma Beach can be packed, there is usually ample space on the 2-mile-long stretch of sand. Arrive before 11 a.m. in order to dodge the biggest crowds. Keep in mind Zuma Beach’s amenities are a bit sparse, and the public bathrooms can be hit or miss.

At the western end of Mulholland Drive and the Pacific Coast Highway, Leo Carrillo State Beach is a natural preserve rich with tide pools and sea caves that illustrate the rich biodiversity of Southern California. For access to the sea caves, start at Sequint Point and wait for low tide to wade inside. Other hallmarks include a bare-essentials campsite located a few minutes walk from the coast and an adorable sea-life mural by David Legaspi covering one of the Pacific Coast Highway underpass bridges.

For an option closer to central Los Angeles, Redondo Beach features an eclectic and chill vibe like Venice Beach but is cleaner and less spendy. It’s notable for its calm waves and family-friendly atmosphere. The horseshoe-shaped pier is a haven for dependable shops and dining. For more appealing waters and fewer crowds, head south of the pier. Activities include pedal boating, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. With paid garages and street spaces, parking is usually plentiful.

Do not be alarmed by the name. It doesn’t have anything to do with rodents. RAT Beach is actually a colloquial acronym that stands for “right after Torrance,” a nearby coastal town. The locals’ enclave has peaceful waters and idyllic southeast views of the Palos Verdes Hills. While Surfrider, El Porto, and Venice beaches are among the most popular spots for surfing, many “hang 10” here in the fall and winter. In spring, the adjacent reef and kelp forest at Malaga Cove to the southwest are a fave of scuba divers.

Despite starring as a filming location in the likes of Point Break and Seinfeld, Playa del Rey’s Dockweiler Beach has built up an unsavory reputation. With nearby noise and air pollution emanating from Los Angeles International Airport, it’s not exactly quiet or relaxing, and Monday mornings can be a rude survey of last weekend’s trash accumulated during its infamous bonfires and other social gatherings. Also, the bike paths are continually buried in sand, and the water quality is quite poor.

Think twice before bringing your mama—or any other adult relative or friend—to Mother’s Beach at the family-friendly Marine Park in Long Beach. It’s barely a beach. There are barely any waves for surfing or other watersports, and swimming can be spotty given red tides and high bacteria during Southern California’s seasons with warmer weather. Parking availability is skimpy at best: Most visitors must fight for the few limited street spaces on hand. There is, however, a decent playground for children.

There is little to love about Escondido Beach: prickly residents blocking access, poor water quality, a lack of facilities, reported sewage discharge, and slim pickings when it comes to parking. (There is a rewarding hike on Escondido Falls Trail, a moderate journey starting at Winding Way less than a mile west on the Pacific Coast Highway.) Point Dume State Beach and Zuma Beach, which are located a bit west of Escondido Beach in the Malibu area, are far more welcoming choices for visitors in the vicinity.

Swarmed by tourists, overpriced, and overwhelming, no L.A. beach is likely more unrelaxing or unrewarding than Santa Monica Beach. When compared to other nearby beaches, the views of anything other than the dazzling pier with its giant Ferris wheel and roller coaster are bland. The exorbitant prices, stressful parking, and unruly crowds are certain to exhaust visitors and their wallets. The best part about Santa Monica Beach is that it’s easy to access by light rail, which means it’s also easy to depart, too.

Dulled by iffy water quality on the breakwater side, areas of painfully rocky coast, and lackluster parking and bathrooms, Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro is not worth stopping for unless touring the quaint Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on the itinerary. Where it’s not rocky, the quality of the sand isn’t inviting, and the area is tarnished by its close proximity to a battered fishing pier and the Port of Los Angeles, great spots for fish-loving anglers and ship-capturing photographers but not so much for relaxation-seeking beachcombers.