Los Angeles Beach Guide

Our guide will take you to the best Los Angeles beach for surfing, volleyball, people-watching, bonfires and more.

This Los Angeles beach map shows the locations of the best beaches from Malibu to Long Beach.

A guide to the best hotels on the beach in Los Angeles

Not too crowded, clean and great for tide pooling.

Lucky visitors have sighted porpoises and sea lions at Point Dume - and it's good for whale-watching in the winter.

Located on the south end of the Palos Verdes peninsula, Abalone Cove is good for tide pooling and has excellent views of Catalina Island.

A long, narrow beach, closer to LA than Malibu, but not as crowded as Santa Monica. It's a good place for ocean swimming.

Malibu Lagoon has lots to see and do - surfing, wetlands to explore, a historic house to visit and at low tide, you can can walk past oceanfront mansions.

You'll find a few places in LA and Southern California where you can camp. right. on. the. beach.

Located just west of the LAX runway, Dockweiler is the only Los Angeles beach with an RV park, and the only one where you can have a bonfire.

This small Los Angeles County beach north of Malibu is very scenic and a nice place for a romantic stroll.

The best Los Angeles beach for surfing, home of beach volleyball or a good place for a walk.

Paradise Cove is a privately-owned beach with a restaurant and pier, a fun vibe and great views.

This Los Angeles beach is one of the best places for kids, with plenty to do on the nearby pier if they tire of the ocean. With hotels close by and lots of things to do it's also the best place for a Los Angeles beach getaway.

Santa Monica has an amusement park on the pier and shopping nearby.

The best Los Angeles beach for people-watching.

This northern Los Angeles County beach is rated best for surfing and clean water.