Is Santa Monica a warm beach?

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. Planning on heading out in winter and spring months? Wetsuits are recommended for all water activities.



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Overall, the Santa Monica ocean water temperature typically ranges between 53F and 70F throughout the entire year.

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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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The Pacific is known for being cooler than its Atlantic counterpart, as the currents bring water down from the north on the West Coast, while water flows up from the south on the East. This means that the water can be colder than people expect if they decide to jump in without checking the temperature first.

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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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Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica Beach is a prime example of the famed Southern California state beaches. With large expanses of beach, bike trails and many other things to do, Santa Monica Beach has everything you're looking for: Plenty of space–3.5 miles long. Soft, sandy shores for little feet.

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The beach at the Santa Monica Pier is back in the top 10 worst West Coast beaches for water quality in the latest report card from Heal the Bay.

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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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