South Will Rogers State Beach

Located in the upscale, wealthy community of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles County, South Will Rogers State Beach is a 1.75-mile-long and wide golden sand beach. The beach is the southern part of the famous Will Rogers State Beach, positioned along the Santa Monica Bay coastline near Santa Monica Pier, and has a beautiful backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains.  South Will Rogers State Beach is promoted as an ecotourism destination and managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, encouraging people to maintain the beach's cleanliness and protect its ecosystem.

Visitors to Will Rogers Beach should note that thousands of homes and other structures burned down in January of 2025 due to a devastating fire called the Palisades Fire.

South Will Rogers State Beach is great for families and has many amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, beach equipment rental facilities, hiking trails, bike paths, volleyball courts, picnic areas, benches, a recreation center, and snack bars, nearby restaurants, and hotels.

South Will Rogers State Beach is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, surfing, fishing, cycling, paddleboarding, strolling, building sandcastles, beach volleyball, picnicking, and watching wildlife.  If you plan to go into the water, we recommend being careful, as water is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  This beach is a popular spot for surfing due to its frequent windy weather.   Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  If you enjoy fishing, you can enjoy surf fishing in designated areas. Visitors can also enjoy biking, as this beach is part of the popular Marvin Braude Bike Trail which runs along the beach.  Visitors might spot dolphins, seals, and a variety of seabirds near the shore. This beach hosts many interesting events, including beach clean-ups, yoga classes, and art festivals.  Visitors to this beach can enjoy a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.

South Will Rogers State Beach, California, offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to South Will Rogers State Beach is easy - the beach has a very large paid parking lot located near 15100 Ocean Front Walk, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, United States, which offers easy access to the beach.  Visitors can access the beach through many stairways and ramps from the Pacific Coast Highway.

This beach is named after the famous actor, comedian, and social commentator Will Rogers.  He was known for his wit, cowboy persona, and insightful commentary on American politics and society.  Rogers owned a ranch in the Pacific Palisades area, which is now part of the Will Rogers State Historic Park.  His contributions to American culture and his connection to the region inspired the naming of this beautiful coastal area in his honor.

There are many attractions near South Will Rogers State Beach.    Palisades Village is an upscale outdoor shopping arcade and a dining destination in the neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.  It offers a curated mix of luxury and boutique retailers, fine dining, casual eateries, and entertainment options.  In addition, it also hosts many community events throughout the year, including weekly kids' clubs, live music performances, in-store shopping parties, and fitness classes.  Getty Villa is an art museum that showcases a vast array of ancient artifacts, including sculptures, pottery, jewelry, coins, and other objects from ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria, through interesting exhibits.  It also has an outdoor amphitheater that hosts educational programs, cultural events, theater performances, and lectures.  Santa Monica Pier is a waterfront family entertainment area that offers many fun activities, including a small amusement park, an aquarium, a carousel, a fishing pier, a shopping arcade, and many casual to fine dining restaurants.  In addition, it also hosts many interesting events throughout the year, including fireworks shows, pirate shows, open-air movies, and themed events.  Tongva Park is a dog-friendly park spread over six acres and features unique structures, art sculptures, modern architecture, efficient landscaping, energy-efficient lighting, and eco-friendly features.  It offers many amenities, including playgrounds with swing sets, a splash pad, picnic areas, picnic tables, benches, restrooms, paved paths, bike racks, and a parking lot.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Will Rogers State Historic Park was once the private estate of famous humorist, actor, and social commentator Will Rogers, which was turned into a state park.  It features a ranch house where visitors can enjoy guided tours of the house of Will Roger which provide interesting insight into his life and personality.  In addition, visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and many interesting events, including talks and events that celebrate the life and legacy of Will Rogers.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near South Will Rogers State Beach.  Back on the Beach Cafe offers an indoor and outdoor seating area. It serves rancheros, soups, burritos, fajitas, salads, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and enchiladas.  Golden Bull Restaurant is an upscale seafood restaurant that serves incredible soups, salads, steaks, seafood, meat, poultry dishes, and desserts.  Locanda Portofino serves amazing Italian cuisine, including salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizzas, pasta, ravioli, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Spumoni Pizza Restaurant serves salads, pasta, pizza, gnocchi, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Pearl Dragon serves incredible Asian, sushi, and Japanese dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near South Will Rogers State Beach, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale oceanfront hotel, the 5-Star Regent Santa Monica Beach is 22 minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a spa, hot tubs, and many restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection, which offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a rooftop bar, a terrace, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-star Fairmont Miramar - Hotel & Bungalows, which offers many amenities, including a spa, a heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, and a fitness center.  A more reasonably priced option is the beachfront 3-Star Holiday Inn Express West Los Angeles-Santa Monica, an IHG Hotel, which has several amenities including a fitness center, a garden, and a complimentary breakfast.  If you are looking for another good nearby hotel, the 3-Star Hotel Angeleno has many amenities, including a heated outdoor pool, a fitness center, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.