For a day trip to Santa Monica from Los Angeles, pair Santa Monica State Beach with Santa Monica Pier, where you can walk, find food and visit attractions. The Pier is open year-round, so the best time to visit Santa Monica Pier depends on which businesses or activities you want to catch; their hours can vary.
- Beach: a two-mile-long stretch operated by the City of Santa Monica.
- Pier address: the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.
- From Downtown Santa Monica station: about a 10-minute walk to the Pier.
- Pier entry: free; individual businesses and attractions set their own hours and offerings.
How do you get from Los Angeles to Santa Monica Pier?
You can reach the Pier by car via I-10 or Pacific Coast Highway, or take Metro rail to Downtown Santa Monica station.
Metro’s E Line runs between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica, and bus Line 4 connects Santa Monica and Downtown LA via Santa Monica Boulevard. For the wider city, how to get around Los Angeles from Olyver can help put the transit options in context.
From Downtown Santa Monica station, allow about a 10-minute walk to the Pier. The station is at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, so you can continue toward the waterfront on foot after arriving by rail.
If you’re driving, the Pier operator identifies the parking deck, beach parking at 1550 Appian Way and downtown public parking structures as options. The parking deck is open Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
You can also reach the Pier by bicycle; the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, known as The Strand, is a paved 22-mile coastal route from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County Beach.
The Pier operator advises rideshare passengers to use 1550 Appian Way for drop-off to avoid congestion at Ocean Avenue and the Pier Bridge. Stairs and wheelchair-accessible ramps lead from that area to the Pier deck.
What can you do at Santa Monica State Beach?
Santa Monica State Beach has a picnic area, shops, volleyball and basketball courts, and paths for walking and biking. The beach and Pier sit together as part of the same coastal outing, so you can spend time by the water before heading onto the Pier.
For a bike ride beyond the immediate beach paths, the Marvin Braude Bike Trail follows the coast for 22 miles. Bicycles are also allowed on the Pier.
What can you do around Santa Monica Pier?
Santa Monica Pier activities include walking, Pacific Park rides and games, food, vendor carts and street performances. Entry to the Pier is free, but individual attractions and businesses set their own hours and offerings.
The historic merry-go-round is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Heal the Bay Aquarium is beneath the Pier’s historic Carousel building, with hours Wednesday–Sunday, noon–4:00 p.m. Pacific Park hours vary by season and may change because of weather or special events.
The Pier’s official site gives recurring walking tour times of 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and 7:00 p.m. on Mondays. Locals’ Night takes place on the third Thursday from September through May, 3:30–7:30 p.m.
Choosing between Santa Monica and Venice
Santa Monica’s beach and Pier make a straightforward choice if you want a coastal outing that combines beach facilities with a pier, rides, food and public paths. The beach has courts and a picnic area, while the Pier adds its own attractions and activities.
There are no comparable details here about Venice, so a side-by-side choice depends on what you want to do there. For Santa Monica, use the beach facilities and Pier activities as your planning anchors; a broader one-day Los Angeles route can put this coastal outing alongside other city stops.
When should you go, and what should you check?
The Pier is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and year-round except during special events. That broad opening pattern makes it possible to plan a beach visit around a Pier stop, but individual businesses and attractions can follow different schedules. Pacific Park hours vary by season and can change because of weather or special events.
Before you go, check the official site of the Santa Monica Pier operator for current hours and any special-event information. The City of Santa Monica operates Santa Monica State Beach.
Olyver Hotel offers room options for your Los Angeles stay.
FAQs
Is Santa Monica Pier free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the Pier is free, though individual businesses and attractions set their own hours and offerings.
Where is Santa Monica Pier?
The Pier is at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Santa Monica.
Can you walk from Metro to Santa Monica Pier?
Yes. The Pier operator estimates about a 10-minute walk from Downtown Santa Monica station.