- Location: West Los Angeles on the Santa Monica Bay, south of LAX. See directions below
- How Long: Allow half a day for the pier and beach, but you could stay busy here for a weekend
- Best Time to Visit: Like most of the Los Angeles coastline, Redondo Beach can be shrouded in foggy "June gloom" for days or weeks on end. Rainy, winter days may be best spent elesewhere, but on a clear day just after a rain, the views are stellar.
- See It Now: Photo Tour
More Nearby Towns: Manhattan Beach | Hermosa Beach
There's more to Redondo Beach than just the sandy fringe where it meets the Santa Monica Bay, but if you're looking for a beach getaway or a day at a stereotypical California beach, you'll find plenty to do within the area centered on the marina and pier.
Things to Do in Redondo Beach
- Redondo Beach: The sandy part of Redondo Beach, just south of the pier. Lifeguards are on duty here, watching kids and adults alike bobbing around in the surf.
- Redondo Beach Pier: This U-shaped pier bristles with fishing poles, and once in a while you'll see someone reel in a catch. You'll also find restaurants, fast-food stands here, along with souvenir shops, one of which touts a 16-and-a-half-foot long great white shark on display. Starboard Attitude is the oldest live blues club in the South Bay, with lots of live acts. No cover charge, but you must be over 21.
- Rent a Bicycle: Ride a little or ride a lot. The oceanfront bike path here is flat and runs for over 20 miles up to Santa Monica.
- Sport Fishing: Half-day and longer deep-sea fishing trips. No pole? No problem. Rent equipment at their tackle shop. Catches here include halibut, mackerel, bonita, sand bass, yellowtail and more.
- Rent a Kayak: The marina and nearby harbor offer plenty of room to paddle around, and lots to see.
- Take a Speedboat Ride: This 70-foot, 140-passenger speedboat blasts off hourly on weekends and holiday afternoons.
- Head for the Hollywood Riviera: Some say this six blocks of unique, local shops, salons and eateries resembles southern France. You can get there by walking along the oceanfront sidewalk south from the pier or take Beach Cities Transit bus #104.
- Go for a Swim: You can swim in the ocean, but if you like your water calmer, Seaside Lagoon offers a salt water pool with sandy beaches.
- Watch the Grunion Run: No, this isn't a 5K or a 10K. Instead, it's the mating spectacle of small, silvery fish that spawn en masse on southern California beaches shortly at high tide shortly after a full moon. The peak spawning period is late March through early June.
Redondo Beach Tips
- You can park in the lot at the pier, but in other areas, bring lots of coins for the parking meters
- Many of the businesses on the pier will validate your parking.
- The Redondo Beach Farmers Market takes up many of the parking places in the lot next to the pier on Thursday mornings.
Redondo Beach Review
We rate Redondo Beach 3.5 stars out of 4 for its oceanfront location, beaches and fun things to do on the pier.
Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.
What do you think of Redondo Beach as a tourist destination?
Getting to Redondo Beach
From LAX, the most enjoyable (albeit a bit slow) way to get to Redondo Beach is to drive straight west toward the ocean on Imperial Highway and turn left. Follow the beach as closely as you can as you drive through Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach on your way south.
From I-405, take Artesia Blvd. west to Pacific Coast Highway and go south. Turn right on W. Beryl St. to reach the marina. The Redondo Beach Pier is at Torrance Blvd. Continue south to reach the "Hollywood Riviera" area.
