Are Los Angeles beaches swimmable?

With over 120 kilometers (75 miles) of coastline and over 100 beaches, Los Angeles is the perfect place to get your toes wet. The city features plenty of island, coastal, and inland swimming spots.



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Yes, you can definitely swim at Santa Monica Beach as well as enjoy other water activities like surfing or paddle boarding. Even with 280 days of Santa Monica sunshine, the Pacific Ocean tends to be a little cold, so you may want to consider swimming during warmer months.

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The water temperature in the ocean in Los Angeles varies throughout the year, but generally, it is warm enough to swim from late spring to early fall. The warmest months are typically July, August, and September, when ocean temperatures can reach into the low 70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius).

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But on that same beach, it's not uncommon to see kids shivering as they run out of the water, or a surfer wearing a partial wetsuit as they jog out for a session. California's ocean water is pretty cold, even in the summer, and it often catches visitors off-guard.

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Beyond the natural elements and fitness opportunities, there's also the iconic Santa Monica Pier with its own amusement park, equipped with the world's only solar-powered Ferris Wheel and a roller coaster. So much of Santa Monica's culture stems from the beach and is reflected throughout the city.

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These were the dirtiest beaches in California in 2022:
  • Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles County)
  • Linda Mar Beach (San Mateo County)
  • Marlin Park (San Mateo County)
  • Erckenbrack Park (San Mateo County)
  • Tijuana River Mouth (San Diego County)
  • Pillar Point Harbor at Capistrano Avenue (San Mateo County)


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La Jolla Cove is widely known to have some of the clearest water anywhere. Water here tends to be warmer and clearer because of its protected cove, with underwater visibility extending up to 30 feet.

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The cleanest beaches in Los Angeles are:
  • Manhattan Beach.
  • Venice Beach.
  • Santa Monica Bay Beach.
  • Zuma Beach.


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Santa Monica is a city, filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and lots of people all about (think Brighton on a sunny day). Malibu is a laid back, locals only, small town - not much to see except to take pictures at the Pier and watch surfers - enjoy the 27 miles of Malibu coastline on your drive up to SB.

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The upwelling further cools the already cool California Current. This is the mechanism that produces California's characteristic coastal fog and cool ocean waters. As a result, ocean surf temperatures are much colder along the Pacific coast than the Atlantic coast.

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