Santa Monica State Beach

1550 PCH, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Three and a half miles of wide sand fronting downtown Santa Monica — the iconic Santa Monica Pier with the 1922 carousel and Pacific Park amusement park, the western terminus of Route 66, and the 22-mile Marvin Braude bike path. The most recognizable LA beach.

Eats & Drinks 209 Stay 43 Rentals 34 Shops 21

Ideal for a beach walk.

NWS alert active · 81°F air · 74°F water

Full NWS forecast for Today

Sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Weather

  • 81°F air — ideal beach weather
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing

Safety

  • NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued november 7 at 7:07am pst until november 7 at 3:00pm pst by nws los angeles/oxnard ca
70 /100
great
55 Swim
85 Sunbathe
87 Walk
64 Fish
83 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 0.7 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 9410840 · Observed 4.78 ft · Predicted 4.10 ft

Small Craft Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued November 7 at 7:07AM PST until November 7 at 3:00PM PST by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

NWS · In effect through Nov 7, 3:00 PM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...Hazardous sea conditions. * WHERE...Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands. * WHEN...Until 3 PM PST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...See the Coastal Waters Forecast (CWFLOX) for more.

Air Temp
81°F
Clear
Wind
10 mph
NW
Rain
0%
Today
Air Quality
25 Good
Ozone · NW Coastal LA
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
84°F
Sunny
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
8:25 PM
4.1 ft · in 1.9h
Wave Height
3.3 ft
14s · WSW swell
Sunrise
6:19 AM
Sunset
4:56 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
1:06 AM Low 1.3 ft
7:25 AM High 6.1 ft
2:16 PM Low -0.2 ft
8:25 PM High 4.1 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410840, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Nov 7
81°

Sunny

0%
70
Sun Nov 8
84°

Sunny

0%
85
Mon Nov 9
83°

Sunny

0%
85
Tue Nov 10
83°

Sunny

0%
85
Wed Nov 11
83°

Sunny

0%
85
Thu Nov 12
80°

Sunny

1%
86
Fri Nov 13
76°

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain

17%
80
  • optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major
9:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Minor
4:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Major
9:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Parking

Paid municipal lots and metered street parking. Beach Lot 1S (south of pier) and Lot 3N (north) are largest.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the beach. Permitted leashed on the bike path.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

1550 PCH, Santa Monica, CA 90401

lifeguardspieramusement parkrestaurantsshopsrestroomsshowersbike path
Is it safe to swim at Santa Monica State Beach today?

Santa Monica State Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Santa Monica State Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the beach. Permitted leashed on the bike path.

Is there an entry fee at Santa Monica State Beach?

Entry to Santa Monica State Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Santa Monica State Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Santa Monica State Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Santa Monica State Beach?

Amenities at Santa Monica State Beach include lifeguards, pier, amusement park, restaurants, shops, restrooms, showers, bike path.

When is the water warmest at Santa Monica State Beach?

The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.

Where is Santa Monica State Beach located?

Santa Monica State Beach is in Los Angeles County, CA, at 1550 PCH, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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