15 of the Best Beaches Near Los Angeles for Families

Beach vacations have consistently been a classic and reliable vacation choice for many, many years. Most families still return to traditional beach vacations despite scrolling through what feels like miles of family travel guide websites. 

You might be wondering, “Why are beaches considered the perfect family destination?”. First of all, there is something at the beach for everybody. The kids can play in the sand while the parents watch while still getting their socialization and sun-tan in.

Even teenagers can find something fun to take up their time at the beach. Being a teenager at one time myself, I can vouch for the statement that lazily reading magazines and talking about high-school crushes is, in fact, a very relaxing activity. Despite beach vacations being a very common and popular daytime leisure activity, the quality of the beach you go to can really make or break the quality of your day.

When taking your family to the beach, you want to feel comfortable letting them swim in the water and walk around the coast. The restrooms should be clean and have the necessary amenities for washing off sand after a swim. There should also be somewhere nearby that can offer medical assistance in the case that anything were to go wrong. Lastly, there should be plenty of activities for you and your family to do to last the entire day. 

While Los Angeles offers an abundance of activities for your family to enjoy, don’t forget to check out all of the best beaches in California for families to make sure you aren’t missing out on your perfect trip.

Without further ado though, let’s get into some beaches in Los Angeles guaranteed to make your family vacation unforgettable.  

Santa Monica State Beach

With its large size and variety of activities, Santa Monica beach is a classic Southern California beach. The boardwalk offers a taste of fun without the mess of getting sand everywhere, while the sandy beach below the boardwalk is perfect for sitting and watching the waves touch your toes. 

Looking for some more inspiration in Southern California? We created this handy guide to the best family beach vacations in Southern California to help you choose your next vacation.

Advantages 

• Three and a half miles long 
• Walking distance to many hotels, restaurants, and other attractions
• Within 20 miles of Los Angeles
• Santa Monica Pier is one the most iconic and famous places in Los Angeles
• Allows Dogs on leashes on the boardwalk portion of the beach
• Close to the North Beach Playground 
• Plenty of restrooms and parking are available throughout the beach
• Well-lit Paths are great for both biking and walking 

Disadvantages 

• It can get to be too crowded during peak seasons
• A large number of homeless people 
• Irresponsible bikers and roller-bladers along paths can be dangerous

Mother’s Beach

Also known as Marine Park, Mother’s Beach offers the perfect place for families with young children to come and not worry about their children’s safety. 

Because of its location on the northeastern side of Naples Island within Alamitos Bay, the beach receives only gentle waves in its shallow swimming area. This quiet beach also offers a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles life. 

Advantages 

• Lifeguards present during peak periods
• Playground located very close to the beach
• The parking lot is close and surrounded by a grassy area ideal for picnics
• Home to Mom’s Beach Café 
• Allows paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating
• Offers boating storage 

Disadvantages

• Not ideal for those looking for an exciting beach
• Not many places to eat of than the Café
• Not very close to Los Angeles

Venice City Beach

Venice Beach is perfect for those adrenaline junkies and thrill-seekers in the family. Suppose your teen feels at home in Hot Topic. In that case, they will feel right at home along Ocean Front Boardwalk, where several street performers specialize in utilizing their freaky body modifications to amaze, scare, and disgust onlookers. 

Stretching along with the Venice District of Los Angeles before Santa Monica Beach, this stretch of boardwalk offers many exciting views and shopping opportunities that appeal to the whole family. 

Advantages 

• Home to Muscle Beach – a popular workout destination for bodybuilders 
• Plenty of grassy areas to play frisbee or soccer in
• Lots of restrooms 
• An abundance of tennis courts, volleyball courts, and basketball courts
• Paved trails that allow bikes
• Great place to buy souvenirs 
• Very inclusive 

Disadvantages

• It can be crowded during peak times
• It might not be suitable for younger children 
• Parking is not free 
• No dogs allowed

Playa del Rey Beach

Located just northwest of the Los Angeles Airport, Playa del Rey Beach is a primarily flat beach just in front of the Playa del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Because of its location, this beach offers a calm, not densely populated taste of beach life. With plenty of grassy areas and long stretches of just sand and water, Playa del Rey Beach is perfect for taking a quiet stroll while appreciating the colorful and unique architecture of the Playa del Rey neighborhoods on one side and the peaceful ocean on the other side.

Advantages 

• Paved paths 
• Free parking 
• Allows fishing 
• Has volleyball and basketball courts
• Plenty of restrooms with showers
• Lifeguards during peak hours
• Quiet 
• Not too far from the city 

Disadvantages

• The residential view may be too disruptive for some
• No dogs allowed
• Small beach 
• Not ideal for those looking for many activities 

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is a volleyball lover’s dream. The two-mile-long sandy flat beach features over 100 sand volleyball courts and several places to lie down, get a tan, and rejuvenate after a good game. 

There is also a boardwalk that is relatively peaceful and plain, unlike Santa Monica Pier, perfect for those just looking for a good viewpoint over the beach. 

Advantages

• Home to several cute cafés along the boardwalk and pier 
• 22-mile paved trail perfect for walking or biking
• Has the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium 
• Several Lifeguard stations throughout the beach
• Great for surfing 
• Allows fishing

Disadvantages

• Not many places to park
• No dogs allowed 
• Holds many events that can get to be too crowded for some 

Will Rogers State Beach

With Sunset Boulevard at its most Northern tip, Will Rogers State Beach is a large beach with much to offer. This beach offers a beautiful view of Santa Monica Pier while still showcasing the elegant mountainside waterfront of the Pacific Palisades district of Los Angeles. 

Two of the Will Rogers State Beach standout features are the abundant amount of parking available along the beach and its close location to  Ginger Rogers Beach.

Advantages 

• Plenty of lifeguards 
• Connects to the 22-mile bike trail showcasing all of Los Angeles beaches 
• Home to Ginger Rogers Beach
• Very close to Sunset Boulevard and old Hollywood
• Less of a city feel 
• Volleyball courts

Disadvantages

• Beach can be too much of a party after nightfall 
• Fee for parking 
• No dogs allowed  

Dockweiler State Beach

Dockweiler State Beach is a long beach just west of the Los Angeles Airport. While some may see Dockweiler’s location negatively, this beach offers a unique experience for plane fanatics. 

In the evening, this beach becomes even more of a unique experience. With several places to hold bonfires and barbeques, families can plan to sit on the beach, eat good burgers, and watch the night sky light up with the plane lights above.  

Advantages 

• Fishing allowed 
• Surfing allowed 
• Great place for sunbathing 
• Perfect for people who love planes
• Many restrooms throughout the beach
• A good amount of lifeguards
• BBQ and bonfire pits 
• Many picnic tables and grassy areas to sit
• Close to the Playa del Rey district

Disadvantages

• Close proximity to the airport can be annoying for some
• Not many places to eat 
• It might be a bit of a party beach at night
• Fee for parking 
• No dogs allowed

Zuma Beach

Located in Malibu, Zuma Beach is a beautiful beach ideal for extreme sports like scuba diving and surfing. This two-mile beach is massive, with a parking lot to match. 

Due to the strong currents that often run through the water, there are always lifeguards on duty. While these currents can be dangerous, they also make the beach one of the best places to surf in Los Angeles. 

Advantages 

• Allows scuba diving
• Allows fishing
• Great place to surf
• Plenty of restrooms 
• A lot of lifeguards
• Wheelchair accessible 
• Playground nearby
• Plenty of small snack bars along the beach
• Doesn’t have a residential area to mess up the beach view

Disadvantages

• It might be dangerous for family members who can’t swim
• Fee for parking 
• No dogs allowed
• Relatively far from the city

Malibu Lagoon Beach

Malibu Lagoon Beach is located at the end of Malibu Creek. In the winter, the tidal flow separates Lagoon beach from Surfrider Beach. 

Malibu Lagoon Beach tends to appeal to the nature lover in the family due to the number of dirt hiking trails that wrap around the wetland, creating a great place to hike and bird-watch. 

There are also many informative signs placed around the trails so that the whole family can become more educated and aware of the environment that they are experiencing. 

Advantages 

• Unique hiking experience 
• Home to Surfrider Beach
• Great for surfing
• Great for whale and bird watching 
• Located close to the museum 
• Lifeguards on duty 
• Peaceful atmosphere

Disadvantages 

• Not many places to go close to the beach
• Rocky beach – Don’t go barefoot!
• Fee for parking 
• No dogs allowed
• Not ideal for swimming or sunbathing

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Located in Malibu, Leo Carrillo State Beach drains part of the Santa Monica Mountains and offers some of the most breathtaking views in California. 

This beach offers several sea caves and tunnels, including Nicholas Canyon County Beach. 

During low tide, tide pools can also be explored.

Another great feature about Leo Carrillo State Beach is the amount of campground space and trails – some of which are wheelchair accessible – that are available for those looking to get a peaceful retreat away from the city. 

Advantages 

• Dogs are allowed in some portions of the beach
• Cool tidepool experiences
• Plenty of caves and tunnels to explore
• Restrooms along the beach
• Great place to find seashells
• Wheelchair accessible
• Allows scuba diving 
• Allows fishing
• Lifeguards are present

Disadvantages

• Entrance and parking fee 
• Not many places to eat 
• It might be unsafe during high tide for small children
• Very isolated

Annenberg Community Beach House

Annenberg Community Beach House is perfect for an overcast or rainy beach day. This resort located near Santa Monica Beach offers countless activities for the kids to enjoy both indoors and outdoors. 

One of the Annenberg Community Beach House’s most standout features is the free wifi and tours of historic guest houses on the property. 

Advantages 

• Gated courtyard and pool
• Tours of the guest house
• Playground
• Volleyball courts
• Offers guests a private experience and shelter from possible lousy weather

Disadvantages

• Not technically a beach
• Reservations do cost money
• Holds events that may interfere with your experience

Paradise Cove Beach

If you have any movie buffs in the family, they might recognize Paradise Cove Beach. With its sprawling beaches, Malibu mansions, and majestic sandstone cliffs, it is no wonder that this beach has been featured in several movies throughout time. 

Paradise Cove Beach offers the perfect place for walking along the beach and then a bite to eat at the Paradise Cove Café. The surrounding properties are stunning to look at while still fitting with the beach theme that Paradise Cove Beach is known for. 

While this beach might come off as too commercial for some, it is known for its clean facilities and safe atmosphere.

 Advantages

• Beautiful views from every direction
• Plenty of places to eat 
• Several restrooms
• Soft sand is ideal for sunbathing
• Great for swimming
• Features a fishing pier
• Offers kayaking
• Offers beach chair views 

Disadvantages

• Parking fee
• No dogs are allowed anywhere on the property
• Caters to tourists 

Seaside Lagoon

Seaside Lagoon is a man-made salt-water lagoon designed for families with kids. Next to  Redondo Beach Harbor, the lagoon is surrounded by sand but is close to several playgrounds.

Interestingly, the lagoon also plays a role in keeping a nearby steam generator plant cool. Seawater is first used to cool the steam generator plant before being chlorinated, used in the lagoon, before being dechlorinated, and put back into the ocean. 

While the Seaside Lagoon is only open between the Spring and Summer months, it makes for a perfect family stop on a hot day. 

Advantages

• Close to Redondo Beach Harbor
• Lifeguards are always on duty
• Water slides and playgrounds everywhere
• Plenty of snack bars and restaurants nearby
• BBQ area and picnic benches
• Clean restrooms
• Volleyball court 
• Urban environment

Disadvantages

• Only open seasonally
• Not a beach
• No dogs allowed
• The fee to get in 

Carbon Beach

Nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach” because of the many elaborate celebrity houses on its beach, Carbon Beach is a mile-long south-facing beach perfect for walking or sunbathing. 

The architecture featured in some of the crazily expensive houses adds to the overall beauty of the beach, most of which has soft flat sand and very calm waters. 

Because much of the beach is right in many people’s backyards, the beach is only open in the daytime.

Advantages

• Amazing house views 
• Soft sand and waves 
• Free street parking 
• Great for walking and sunbathing 

Disadvantages

• Can be crowded 
• It might feel like you’re walking on someone’s property
• Small beach
• No dogs allowed

Huntington Beach

With a constant high tide, Huntington Beach lives up to the name “Surf City USA.” This beach is about three and a half miles of sand and pier.

 Along the pier are many restaurants, shops, and places to park. Another draw for this pier is its close distance to Huntington Dog Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach. 

Although this beach can get crowded, you can always count on an open spot at some point along with its distance. 

Advantages

• Excellent spot for surfing
• Offers camping 
• Plenty of volleyball courts
• Many restaurants and snack bars along the pier
• Offers boat and kayak rentals
• Lifeguards are always on duty 
• Bonfires at night 

Disadvantages

• It can be too crowded 
• No dogs allowed
• Parking fee
• Big waves may not be safe for small children

Final Thoughts 

Whether you are looking for a laid-back sun tanning day, a walk into nature, or a place where your kids can have a blast, there is a beach in Los Angeles for that. 

When choosing a beach, it is essential to consider all the factors of that day, including weather and cost.

Save going to a scenic beach like Malibu Lagoon for a day when the sun will be out, and use the rainy day to visit the billionaire’s houses on Carbon Beach. 

Enjoy the free parking at Manhattan beach so you can splurge at a nice dinner at one of the cute cafés available near the boardwalk. 

Choosing a beach that offers many activities that you know your family will love is a surefire way to guarantee that it will be an unforgettable beach experience that they will wish would last a lifetime. 

So what are you waiting for? Grab your towels, flip flops, sunglasses, and good attitude; It’s time for a trip to the beach.

Are you looking to find stunning beaches across Southern California? We’ve created a great guide to the best family beaches in Southern California to help you plan your next trip!