Cabrillo Beach (Inner Harbor)

Cabrillo's inner beach sits inside the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater, so there is no ocean surf and a roped-off swim area watched by city lifeguards. The breakwater blocks swell but not the strong westerly winds that windsurfers come for, and the harbor side has posted weaker bacteria grades than the ocean side. Stay inside the ropes and watch for boats near the launch ramp.

Directions

Photo: Sergei Gussev · CC BY 2.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 79/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 24°C, wind 17 km/h, waves 0.8 m, UV 8. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro. Two beaches: the calm inner beach inside the breakwater, with a roped-off swim area, and the outer surf beach. Open 5:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Parking & transport: Paid beach parking lot; separate trailer parking by the launch ramp at the north end.
Lifeguards: Los Angeles City lifeguards (Cabrillo Beach Lifeguard Headquarters) and LA County lifeguards cover the area.
Water quality: Heal the Bay 2025–26 (summer dry/winter dry/wet weather): harborside at boat launch A/C/F; harborside at restrooms D/F/F; ocean side A/A+/A.
Who swims here: Lifeguards and San Pedro residents hold the Angel's Gate Lighthouse Swim here each summer, and the Cabrillo Beach Junior Lifeguards program trains at the beach.
Watch for: Boat launch ramp and jet ski area at the north end
Predictably strong westerly winds (locally called Hurricane Gulch)
Harbor-side water quality drops, especially after rain
Facilities: Roped-off swim area · Restrooms, showers and snack bar in the 1932 bathhouse · Picnic tables and barbecue pits · Playground · Fishing pier · Cabrillo Marine Aquarium