Venice Beach or Santa Monica: Choosing a Coast Day from Los Angeles

Venice Beach centers on a broad mix of beach recreation and Ocean Front Walk, while Santa Monica State Beach combines shoreline activities with the pier.

Los Angeles County describes Venice Beach as almost 3 miles of coastline across 238 acres; the beach has volleyball courts, a bike trail, tennis courts, Skate Dancing plaza and Muscle Beach. Swimming, surfing, fishing, volleyball and biking are among the activities there, and lifeguards are on the beach during daylight hours.

Santa Monica State Beach is two miles long, with picnic areas, shops, volleyball and basketball courts, and paths for walking and biking. Its pier adds a distinct destination at the water’s edge. Choose Venice for the boardwalk-and-beach mix and a separate canals visit; choose Santa Monica if a long beach and pier fit your plans better.

Venice Beach brings together shoreline recreation and Ocean Front Walk, while the nearby canals offer a quieter residential-area stroll. The coastline covers 238 acres, with three parking lots and more than 1,200 spaces.

The Venice Canals Association says the canals are open to visitors year-round without a ticket or reservation. The canals date to Venice of America, founded by Abbot Kinney as a beach resort town in 1905; its grand opening featured 16 miles of canals. Today, the canals are residential, and commercial boat rentals are not allowed.

You may use a rowboat, canoe, kayak or another human-propelled boat on the canals; motorized boats are not allowed. Boats can launch from the public ramp at 501 North Venice Boulevard.

For Venice Beach, Bus 1 stops at Washington Boulevard and Dell Avenue, and the LA County Free Beach Shuttle stops at Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue; these are among the getting-around options from Park Cienega Motel.

Santa Monica State Beach combines a two-mile shoreline and recreation paths with the Santa Monica Pier. The pier stands at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado in Santa Monica. Its historic merry-go-round is open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday and Thursday through Sunday.

Parking options include the Pier parking deck, the beach lot at 1550 Appian Way (Lot 1 North), Downtown Public Parking Structures and Beach Lot 4-South. Lot 1 North is at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway and has accessible parking.

California State Parks does not give park hours for Santa Monica State Beach; the Los Angeles County listing says the beach and pier are open 7 days a week. The Pier is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Before you go, check the official site for current hours and access details.

Pick Venice for Ocean Front Walk, its varied beach activities and a canals visit; pick Santa Monica for the long beach, walking and biking paths, and the pier. If you are deciding between the two, the main difference is the mix of places you want to visit, not a shortage of ways to spend time outside.

For Venice, you can combine time on the beach with a canals visit; the canals do not require a ticket or reservation. For Santa Monica, the pier and beach sit within the same coastal destination. Parking and facility schedules can differ, so verify the details for the specific place you plan to use.

Both beach areas are Los Angeles coast outings from Park Cienega Motel; the motel is about 18 minutes by car from Los Angeles International Airport. Its rooms at Park Cienega Motel are available to book.