Best Family Friendly Beaches in Los Angeles

Tucked between Los Angeles’ Venice Beach and El Segundo’s Dockweiler Beach, Playa Del Rey Beach is a favorite of Los Angeles locals. Quaint and picturesque, Playa del Rey is the perfect spot for a restful day at the beach.

Only 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Los Angeles, Playa del Rey feels worlds away. With its undeveloped beachfront and quaint small-town setting, Playa del Rey is incredibly quiet. Although small, the beach itself is one of LA’s best. Its sand is white, soft, thick, and free of the trash that comes with large crowds. The water is turquoise and crystal clear, making the beach perfect for swimming, fishing, paddle-boarding, snorkeling, surfing, and sailing. From its scenic walking paths and picnic tables, beachgoers have views of lush sea-grape trees, the ocean, and the Los Angeles skyline.

Located in Westside Los Angeles, Sunset Point Beach, also known as Sunset Beach, is the northernmost part of a state park known as Will Rogers State Beach. Sunset Beach is separated from the rest of Will Rogers State Beach by a stretch of rocky shoreline. Sunset Point Beach has light brown sand, and manmade rocky embankments have been fixed throughout the beach shoreline to prevent erosion. The beach has a variety of amenities including lifeguards, showers, and restrooms. Dogs are not allowed on this beach. 

Located in the Westside region of Los Angeles County, Will Rogers State Beach - sometimes also known as Will Rogers Beach - is a large and three miles long beach with light brown sand, a few rocky breakwaters, and a few rocks. The approximate area of this beach is around 103 acres. This beach is located in the neighborhood of Pacific Palisades - it is important to note that despite this beach’s name, Will Rogers State Beach is actually managed by the County of Los Angeles. The southern portion of this beach is wide and sandy and the central portion of this beach has a series of short rocky breakwaters. The northern portion of this beach is significantly narrow and this portion is also rockier than other parts of Will Rogers State Beach. The northernmost portion of this beach is named Sunset Point Beach and it is also known as Sunset Beach. In addition, there is also another portion of Will Rogers State Beach that is known as Ginger Rogers Beach - this beach is located near the southernmost portion of Will Rogers State Beach. Ginger Rogers Beach is located just south of the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Entrada Drive - this beach is popular with the local LGBTQ+ community. Will Rogers State Beach is named after famous Hollywood actor and cowboy Will Rogers - Will Rogers initially owned a portion of this beach area and he also owned an estate nearby. After Rogers’ death in a plane crash in 1935, his wife Betty inherited his estate and properties. Betty in turn donated Rogers’ coastal land to the State of California. Will Rogers State Beach was dedicated to the public by the State of California in 1942. In 1975, the County of Los Angeles took over the management of this beach from the State of California. There is a rock on Will Rogers State Beach that has a bronze plaque commemorating Will Rogers. Will Rogers State Beach should not be confused with another separate state park named Will Rogers State Historic Park- this state park is located near Will Rogers State Beach. As an interesting fact, many movies and television shows have been shot on Will Rogers State Beach including the popular television show Baywatch, the 1954 movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the 1950Humphrey Bogartmovie In a Lonely Place. A creek named Rustic Creek flows in the southern portion of Will Rogers State Beach - once this creek passes the beach, it flows into the Pacific Ocean. Will Rogers State Beach has lifeguards - the lifeguards here are deployed from sunrise to sunset. In addition to lifeguards, Will Rogers State Beach also has many other amenities including picnic tables, a children’s playground, concession stands, restrooms, a walking path, showers, volleyball courts, and a biking path. Dogs are not allowed in Will Rogers State Beach. Beach wheelchairs for visitors with disabilities are available at Will Rogers State Beach on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you want a beach wheelchair, you can contact the lifeguards posted at Will Rogers State Beach for more information regarding the wheelchair booking process.

Please note that as a result of the Palisades Fire in January 2025, many of the businesses and homes near Will Rogers State Beach have been destroyed, and we recommend not visiting this beach due to unsafe water conditions and poor air quality.