Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach is a state-managed sandy shoreline along the Pacific coast in the city of Santa Monica, California, centered on the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The site is a major recreational stretch of coastline within western Los Angeles County.

The beach includes the Santa Monica Pier with its amusement area and fishing piers, a broad sandy shore lined with lifeguard stations, public restrooms and volleyball courts, plus the paved coastal path popular with cyclists and pedestrians. The long coastal bike and pedestrian trail links the beach to neighbouring Venice Beach and other shorefront communities.

The Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and has been a focal point for seaside recreation and events since the early 20th century; the beach has been managed as public recreation land through subsequent decades. The pier and beachfront facilities have been renovated and maintained as civic amenities and visitor attractions.

The beach faces the Pacific Ocean on the western edge of Los Angeles County, immediately adjacent to Venice Beach to the south and Pacific Palisades to the north. It lies roughly 15 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and is accessible by road, public transit and regional bike routes.

• Length and facilities: Stretching roughly 3.5 miles (about 5.6 km) of continuous sand, the beach includes lifeguard towers, volleyball courts and access to the coastal bike path.
• Coastal bike path: The Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail runs along the coast for about 22 miles, passing the beach and providing a continuous paved route for cyclists and pedestrians.

What to See #

• Santa Monica Pier: The Santa Monica Pier is the major landmark on the beach with an amusement area, fishing spots and the pier's Ferris wheel and arcade attractions.