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.

Great day for a beach walk.

75°F air · 69°F water

Full NWS forecast for Today

A slight chance of rain showers between 11am and 5pm, then patchy fog. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Patchy fog before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Weather

  • 75°F air — ideal beach weather

Water

  • 69°F water — swimmable, refreshing

Safety

  • UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
74 /100
great
71 Swim
73 Sunbathe
83 Walk
70 Fish
77 Photo

Best for walking today

Air Temp
75°F
Clear
Wind
0 to 10 mph
SSW
Rain
3%
Today
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
76°F
Patchy Fog
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Next High Tide
8:10 PM
7.1 ft · in 4.9h
Wave Height
2.3 ft
15s · SSW swell
Water Quality
Above threshold
1,200 MPN/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Sunrise
8:51 AM
Sunset
11:07 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
2:54 AM Low -1.2 ft
9:30 AM High 3.7 ft
1:41 PM Low 2.4 ft
8:10 PM High 7.1 ft

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

Today Jul 12
75°

Slight Chance Rain Showers

3%
77
Mon Jul 13
76°

Patchy Fog

3%
71
Tue Jul 14
80°

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

1%
80
Wed Jul 15
82°

Sunny

0%
83
Thu Jul 16
78°

Mostly Sunny

1%
83
Fri Jul 17
75°

Partly Sunny

6%
81
Sat Jul 18
74°

Partly Sunny

3%
81
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high

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.

Minor
8:40 PM - 9:40 PM
Major
12:50 AM - 2:50 AM
Minor
6:20 AM - 7:20 AM
Major
1:20 PM - 3:20 PM

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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