The 25+ Best Southern California Beaches
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1. La Jolla Cove
John Uhrig Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Tucked away at the foot of the sandstone cliffs north of San Diego, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in SoCal, so it's fair to say it's exceptionally beautiful. The Spanish phrase "La Jolla" means "jewel" and this cove is a gem.
Facing north it has an exceptionally clear deep blue waters with visibility up to 30 feet in depth making it popular for swimming, snorkelling… read more »
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2. Laguna Beach
© Joe Belanger Great for:- Surfing
Located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Laguna Beach is the archetypal Southern Californian beach town. This is one of the most fashionable seaside towns in Orange County and as such has attracted the wealthy and famous for many years. Laguna Beach has a long established reputation as a cultural hotspot and is home to any number of art festivals, most notably the Pageant of the Masters.
But it is… read more »
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3. Venice Beach
Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
When thinking of Los Angeles it is hard not to picture the city's iconic Venice Beach. Whilst many beaches are exactly that, and nothing else, Venice Beach is much more than that; a beach, cultural institution, vibrant community and international tourist destination to name a few. What goes on along the beach front is as important to Venice beach's character as the sand,ocean and palms trees that physically define it.
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4. Santa Monica State Beach
Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Just west of downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica State Beach stretches for an astonishing 8 miles of soft sand. Cleaned and raked on a daily basis, it will host the beach volleyball competition of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The archetypal West Coast beach town, Santa Monica State Beach has a pier with an amusement park that contains a carousel dating from 1922 and is listed as a National Historic… read more »
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5. Mussel Shoals Beach
Harold Litwiler Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Situated in the north of Ventura County, just off Highway 101 is Mussel Shoals Beach. A pleasant stretch of golden sand backed by a clutch of low rise beachfront properties, the beach here has a fairly laid back vibe.
Probably the most recognizable feature of Mussel Shoals Beach is the long pier stretching out from mid beach. The pier leads out to a small island adorned with a number of palm trees.… read more »
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6. Torrance County Beach
Great for:- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Nestled between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove, you may hear the locals refer to this stretch as RAT Beach - as in, Right After Torrance or Redondo & Torrance.
The soft white sands here sit at the bottom of a picturesque cliff, so snapping some Insta-worthy photos is a breeze.
When it comes to amenities, you'll find loads of parking spaces close by, lifeguards on daily duty, and restrooms and showers right… read more »
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7. Zuma Beach
tmastro Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Surfing
One of largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, Zuma Beach has clean waters and wide sands that extend for a total of around two miles. The location for the famous final scene in the original 1968 version of Planet of the Apes, it is now better known by the surfing community for its breaks, with Zuma Beach hosting several major competitions each year. Kite surfers tend to… read more »
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8. El Matador State Beach
Graham Great for:- Swimming
This public beach in Western Malibu is one of the smallest but most charming of the region's long list of shoreline attractions. El Matador State Beach sits at the base of dramatic cliffs and formed of golden sand washed by aquamarine waters.
It is accessed along a steep path and wooden staircase, via a small parking lot suitable for around 20 vehicles which sits on a bluff above the high tide… read more »
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9. Huntington Beach
© James Kim Great for:- Surfing
Nicknamed "Surf City USA", Huntington Beach is a popular resort destination for locals and international tourists. This 121-acre state beach has a long pier and a beautiful sandy beach with dunes sheltering many bird species.
Facilities include parking lots (open until 10pm), bathrooms, showers, lifeguard HQ and fire rings for bonfires. It is ideal for sunbathing, walking, fishing and watching pro surfers.
There are sandbars at the south end of Huntington Beach… read more »
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10. Coronado Beach
ashleytheartist2002 Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Surfing
Consistently voted one of America's finest beaches, Coronado Beach is a long sandy stretch on the outskirts of San Diego. The main Central Beach runs along Ocean Boulevard from the Hotel del Coronado to Sunset Park. An area near Sunset Park is set aside for dog owners to bring their dogs to play on what is known locally as Dog Run Beach. There is parking near the Coronado Hotel.
The beach… read more »
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11. Black's Beach
Raquel Baranow Great for:- Surfing
Situated on the beautiful California coastline north of San Diego, Black's Beach is north of La Jolla at Torrey Pines, just below the famous golf course of the same name. The name Black's Beach comes from the horse farm in the area that was once owned by the Black family.
A little off-the-beaten-track, the beach is accessed down a steep sandy trail from the Gliderport Parking Area. It can be tricky… read more »
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12. Scripps Beach
Kenny Chung Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
Scripps Beach takes its name from the adjoining UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla. Although the iconic long concrete pier is not open to the public, you can use the sandy beach on either side of it.
This beach is much quieter than its better-known neighbour at La Jolla Shores as it is less accessible, but it is popular with locals. Surfers head for the… read more »
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13. Dockweiler State Beach
Alistair McMillan Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
This vast beach, which sits just three miles away from Los Angeles' international airport is a near-four mile stretch of soft golden sand on California's south east coast.
Its proximity to the airport makes it a top spot for seeing the aeroplanes take off, but there's a lot more to this beach than plane spotting.
Among the many amenities here, you'll find fire pits, picnic facilities, showers and restrooms, and there… read more »
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14. Will Rogers State Beach
© Don Ramey Logan Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Will Rogers sits between two illustrious neighbours, Malibu and Santa Monica, just to the north of Los Angeles. Stretching for nearly 3 miles this is a great option when the city beaches become too busy.
The long sandy beach here is everything you would imagine of a South Californian beach. Surf from the deep blue pacific, permanent sunshine and a host of volleyball courts.It should be little surprise… read more »
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15. Newport Beach
Mitch Barrie Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Home of the biggest recreational harbor on the west coast, the classic California surf town of Newport Beach offers sandy beaches, water sports, and incredible views of the sunset. This is a place you will never run out of ways to fill your day, and you can experience a real slice of Southern California beach life.
The sand stretches for 10 miles at Newport Beach with the central Municipal beach… read more »
