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Santa Monica State Beach is an iconic California state landmark. Millions of visitors from all around the world come each year to experience the renowned beauty of the 3.5-mile stretch of sprawling white beach and explore the famous Santa Monica Pier.

There’s far more to do at Santa Monica State Beach than soak up the sun and swim in the ocean. It’s surrounded by shops and restaurants, and the pier is host to street performers, vendors, musicians, its own aquarium, and its own amusement park. The offerings are almost too numerous to list.

Santa Monica State Beach California
Santa Monica State Beach in Southern California. Photo: Eiji Saito

Activities:

  • Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, fishing, basketball, volleyball, tennis, skateboarding, and biking
  • The Marvin Braude Bike Trail passes through Santa Monica State Beach. It runs 50 miles north to south, all the way down to South Bay.
  • Santa Monica Pier is home to Pacific Park Amusement Park, where you’ll find several games and rides, including the Pacific Wheel, the iconic solar-powered Ferris wheel.
  • Heal the Bay Aquarium, at the Santa Monica Pier, is an inexpensive aquarium run by a non-profit organization that contains over 100 marine species unique to Southern California.
  • The shops, restaurants, and attractions on Santa Monica Pier open and close at various times, but the pier itself is open 24/7.

Amenities:

  • Restrooms and showers
  • Picnic tables
  • Lifeguards
  • Tennis courts and volleyball courts
  • Bike path and bike rentals
  • Grass park
  • Children’s play area
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Nearby parking is available for a fee
  • Dogs are allowed on the pier, provided they’re leashed, but are not allowed on the beach

Fun Facts:

  • Santa Monica Pier is considered the ending point of Route 66, America’s most famous roadway.
  • Santa Monica State Beach is the home of the original Muscle Beach. Installed in the 1930s, Muscle Beach was the site of frequent acrobatic and gymnastic exhibitions. It also served as a popular workout spot for famous bodybuilders of the time.
  • The original Hot Dog on a Stick was opened at Santa Monica State Beach in 1946, just in front of Muscle Beach.
  • Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Wheel is the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel.

Nearby Attractions

Santa Monica State Beach Crowded Spring Day
Springtime at Santa Monica State Beach. Photo: Bosdos

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, which runs through Santa Monica State Beach, leads down to neighboring Venice Beach, another area with a wide array of shops, restaurants, and activities to enjoy. The two beaches are only two miles apart from one another, making the trip a walkable one, but bike rentals are also available.

Details

Address: 2600 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, California 90405

Season: Year-round

Website: smgov.net/Departments/CCS/content.aspx?id=53687097577

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