beginner
Los Angeles, CA, United StatesVenice Beach
Venice's broad beach runs almost three miles below Ocean Front Walk, and the water off it is open Santa Monica Bay surf watched by county lifeguard towers. Pick a spot away from the breakwater, a busy surf break, and from the storm-drain outlets at Rose and Windward avenues, which grade worst after rain. The sampling site near the fishing pier has posted top marks.
Photo: Austin Dixon austin_dixon · CC0
Latest reading · SwimScore 78/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 23°C, wind 14 km/h, waves 0.7 m, UV 8. Updated .
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Almost 3 miles of beach (238 acres) along Ocean Front Walk in Venice.
- Parking & transport
- Three beach lots with more than 1,200 spaces (6 a.m.–10 p.m.) plus street parking.
- Lifeguards
- LA County lifeguards on duty during daylight hours.
- Water quality
- LA County surf-zone monitoring for fecal indicator bacteria. Heal the Bay 2025–26: Rose Ave. storm drain A+ summer dry, A winter dry, D wet weather; Windward Ave. storm drain F in wet weather; 50 yards south of the fishing pier A+ summer dry and wet weather.
- Watch for
- The Venice Breakwater is a popular surf spot
- Storm-drain outlets at Rose Ave. and Windward Ave.; avoid water near flowing drains
- Bacteria rise after rain; county rain advisories last 72 hours after rainfall ends
- Facilities
- Restrooms · Showers · Picnic tables · Bike path and bike rentals · Restaurants on Ocean Front Walk · Beach wheelchair
Sources: beaches.lacounty.gov, healthebay.org, publichealth.lacounty.gov
Hand-checked spots nearby
Safety Information
Community Reports
How was your swim?
How accurate were the predicted conditions?
What were actual conditions like?
What SwimScore would you give it?
—
Details
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Type
- ocean
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Coordinates
- 33.9937, -118.4829