The Santa Monica to Venice beach path with a stroller

There’s something about walking by the ocean that resets your whole day. The beach path between Santa Monica and Venice is flat, paved and right on the sand, with salty air, palm trees and pelicans for company. Go as far as you like, turn around when nap time ends and stop at a beach playground on the way back.

The path is part of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a roughly 22-mile paved path along the coast of Los Angeles County, from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades down to Torrance. The stretch from the Santa Monica Pier to Venice is the most famous part, and one of the easiest long stroller walks in LA.

At a glance

• Pier to Venice boardwalkAbout 2 miles
• Pier to Washington BlvdAbout 3.3 miles
• SurfaceFlat, paved
• BikesSeparate bike path
• ShadeAlmost none
• CostFree (parking extra)

At an easy stroller pace, plan on roughly 20 to 25 minutes per mile with a few stops. Because it’s an out-and-back, the walk is as long as you want it to be. Just remember you have to walk back.

Map

Open walking directions in Google Maps

The path runs along the sand just west of Ocean Front Walk and Barnard Way. The LA County Beaches and Harbors website has beach maps, rules and alerts.

Where to walk (not the bike path)

This is the most important tip on this page: the main paved path on the sand is a bike path. It’s busy with cyclists, e-bikes, skaters and scooters, and some of them are fast. Along this stretch, walkers have their own lane or walkway, and that’s where you and the stroller belong.

• In Santa Monica, use the pedestrian path that runs alongside the bike path, or the wide Ocean Front Walk promenade.
• In Venice, walkers use Ocean Front Walk, the famous boardwalk. The bike path continues closer to the sand.
• When you cross the bike path to get to the sand or a playground, stop, look both ways and cross quickly, the way you would a street.
• Watch for signs and painted markings. They show which side is for bikes and which is for people on foot.

Pick your walk

• 🎡
  About 1 to 2 milesThe pier and back

  Start at the Santa Monica Pier, walk south toward Ocean Park and turn around. Calm, easy and close to the car or the train.

• 🏖️
  About 4 miles round tripPier to Venice and back

  Walk from the pier to the start of the Venice boardwalk (about 2 miles) and back. Our favorite for a full morning.

• 💪
  About 6.6 miles round tripThe whole stretch

  Pier to Washington Boulevard at the south end of Venice and back. A real workout with a stroller. Save it for when you’re feeling strong.

• 🌴
  About 2 miles round tripNorth of the pier

  Head north from the pier toward North Beach Playground and the Annenberg Community Beach House. Quieter than the Venice side.

Getting there and parking

By train

The Metro E Line ends at Downtown Santa Monica station at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, about a 10-minute walk to the pier. Metro rail stations are accessible, which makes the E Line one of the easiest ways to get to the beach with a stroller. Use the Metro trip planner to plan your trip.

By car

• Santa Monica beach lots: paid lots right on the sand, north and south of the pier and along Barnard Way. According to Santa Monica’s tourism office, beach lots generally run about $6 to $15 for the day, and there’s no free beach parking.
• Downtown Santa Monica structures: city lots along 2nd and 4th Streets are a short walk from the pier and often easier on busy days.
• Venice: public beach lots near the boardwalk fill fast on weekends. Street parking is limited and heavily signed.

On sunny weekends, beach lots can fill up by late morning. Arrive early, or start your walk from a lot south of the pier near Ocean Park, which is often calmer.

Restrooms

There are public restrooms along the beach in both Santa Monica and Venice, including near the pier, at Original Muscle Beach just south of the pier and near the beach parks and parking lots. Beach restrooms can be busy and sandy, and changing tables aren’t guaranteed, so bring a portable changing pad. Check LA County Beaches and Harbors for maps and alerts.

Beach playgrounds

This is the secret to a happy toddler on a long beach walk: Santa Monica has several playgrounds right on the sand, so you can plan your turnaround point around one.

• South Beach Park Playground (3400 Barnard Way): a universally accessible playground on the beach south of the pier, toward Venice.
• North Beach Playground (next to the 810 Pacific Coast Highway lot): a universally accessible playground north of the pier, next to restrooms and parking.
• Smaller play areas in the sand pop up along the path between Santa Monica and Venice.
• Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has rides for little ones, with separate ride fees.

Playground equipment in the sun can get hot. Feel slides and surfaces before little ones climb on, especially in the afternoon.

Coffee and food

• Beachside cafés: casual spots right on Ocean Front Walk, including Perry’s Cafe locations north and south of the pier, which also rent bikes.
• Santa Monica Pier: lots of quick food options (and ice cream).
• Main Street, Santa Monica: a few blocks inland from the Ocean Park area, with cafés, bakeries and family-friendly restaurants.
• Venice: food stands along the boardwalk, and cafés on Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Rose Avenue a few blocks inland.

Bring water. There are drinking fountains along the beach, but on hot days you’ll want your own.

A note on Venice

Venice is part of the fun: street performers, Muscle Beach, the skatepark, murals and people-watching like nowhere else. It’s also loud, crowded and unpredictable, especially on weekend afternoons, and the boardwalk can be tricky to navigate with a stroller.

Many families prefer to walk the calmer Santa Monica stretch, peek into Venice and turn around. If you want to explore Venice, go in the morning, when it’s quieter. The Venice Canals, a few blocks inland, make a peaceful detour, though some of the little bridges are steep with a stroller.

Seasons and weather

• SpringMild and lovely, but late spring often brings the “May Gray” marine layer: cool, cloudy mornings that burn off by midday. Bring a layer.
• Summer“June Gloom” mornings, then sunny, crowded afternoons. Go early, before the crowds and the strongest sun. Weekends are very busy.
• FallOften the best beach weather of the year: warm, clear and less crowded after the summer rush.
• WinterCooler and quieter, with beautiful sunsets. Pack a jacket and a stroller blanket for the ocean breeze.

Check the LA County Beaches and Harbors website for closures and alerts before you go.

Pro tips

• ⏰
  TimingGo early

  Before about 9 a.m., the path is calm, parking is easier and the light is beautiful. By late morning on weekends, it’s packed.

• ☀️
  SunThere’s no shade

  Use a stroller sunshade, a hat for you and the baby and sun protection that’s right for your baby’s age (ask your pediatrician for little ones).

• 🌬️
  WindPack a layer

  It’s often cooler and breezier by the water than inland, even on sunny days.

• 👟
  SandStay on the pavement

  Most strollers sink in sand. Some beaches have mats or wooden walkways toward the water. Otherwise, carry the baby onto the sand.

• 🚲
  BikesStay in your lane

  Keep the stroller on the pedestrian side, and keep little walkers close. Bikes and e-bikes can come up fast and quiet.

• 📍
  Meeting upName a landmark

  “Meet at the bottom of the pier” or “at South Beach Playground” is much easier than “by the beach.”

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding long walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk the beach path with us

The beach path is one of the places we expect our first LA walk clubs to start, likely with early morning walks in Santa Monica. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

Want shade instead of sun? Read our guide to Fern Dell in Griffith Park. And see everything we’re building in Los Angeles.

More stroller walks in Los Angeles

• Fern Dell, Griffith ParkLos Feliz · our full stroller guide
• Lake BalboaVan Nuys, the Valley · our full stroller guide
• Kenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaBaldwin Hills · our full stroller guide