Venice Beach, Los Angeles: history, what to see, how to get there and hours

Venice Beach in Los Angeles is a city beach and boardwalk, Ocean Front Walk, on the city's west side at 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks calls it its busiest facility and estimates 28,000 to 30,000 visitors a day. People come for the street performers on the boardwalk, the sports courts by the water, the skate plaza, the fishing pier and the bike path along the ocean.

Venice Beach history: "Venice of America"

In the 1890s the land here was a run-down marsh west of Los Angeles. Abbot Kinney dreamed of a Renaissance-style resort and amusement park, and despite doubt and opposition he built it. It was nicknamed the "Coney Island of the Pacific".

The timeline below is the one Recreation and Parks gives:

The rides are gone; the boardwalk stayed. The city says Ocean Front Walk is the second most-visited destination in Southern California, with an average of more than 10 million visitors a year.

What to see at Venice Beach

The boardwalk runs over two miles, lined with hundreds of street vendors and performers and many privately owned restaurants. LA County says the beach itself has almost 3 miles of coastline and 238 acres of sand.

• Muscle Beach Venice. The famous outdoor gym, part of the Venice Beach Recreation Center, which also runs basketball, paddle tennis and handball tournaments.
• Courts and play areas. Basketball, handball, pickleball, sand volleyball, a gymnastics area, an outdoor stage and two children's play areas, all open to the public daily.
• The skate plaza. The city calls it world renowned. The county also lists a Skate Dancing plaza.
• Venice Pier. A fishing pier. The city is repairing it under the Venice Pier Phase II project (piles and deck between Pier 51 and the Central Terminal), so check the department's page for closures before you go.
• Venice Breakwater. The county calls it a well-known local surf spot. Swimming, fishing and windsurfing are popular here too.
• The bike path. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a 22-mile paved path from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach, passes the beach and is open year-round. Bike rentals are on site.

How to get to Venice Beach and where to park

LA County lists two transit stops: Bus 1 at Washington Blvd./Dell Ave., and the LA County Free Beach Shuttle at Washington Blvd. and Pacific Ave. The county does not say which operator runs that Bus 1. Separately, Big Blue Bus in Santa Monica runs Route 1, Main St & Santa Monica Blvd, which its timetable shows running from UCLA to Venice, ending at Main & Market; the map and schedule are on the route page. Shuttle details are on the county's Venice Beach page.

By car: three county lots with more than 1,200 spaces in all, plus street parking, open 6 am to 10 pm.

County pay stations take Visa, Mastercard and $1 and $5 bills, and give no change. Overnight parking is not allowed at county beach lots.

Venice Beach hours and prices

Neither the city's nor the county's page lists any fee to enter the beach or the boardwalk. You pay for parking and rentals.

Hours and prices checked on November 5, 2026 at recreation.parks.lacity.gov and beaches.lacounty.gov.

Winter rates run from September (the day after the last Sunday) to May (the Friday before Memorial Day); summer rates cover the rest of the year. Early morning (6 to 8 am) and evening parking costs less, major holidays more; the full table is the county's Parking Locations and Fees sheet. Muscle Beach and the recreation center close on City holidays, and Muscle Beach also for special events and on rainy days.

Venice Beach rules and tips

The county's Venice Beach page links to the LA County beach rules. On the sand, these are not allowed:

• animals of any kind, dogs included;
• alcohol, smoking and glass containers;
• fires, barbecues and fireworks;
• tents, overnight camping or sleeping, and loitering between midnight and 6 am;
• amplified music and diving in shallow water;
• selling merchandise or soliciting;
• driving or parking on the sand or the bike path.

Groups over 50 and any organized party or event need a permit. On the boardwalk, performing, vending and noise fall under L.A.M.C. Sec. 42.15, and park hours under L.A.M.C. Sec. 63.44.

If walking on sand is hard for you, the county offers free beach wheelchairs and beach access mats. There are restrooms, showers and picnic tables. More of the city is on our Los Angeles page and in what to see in Los Angeles.

Questions people ask

Does Venice Beach charge admission?

Neither the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks nor LA County Beaches and Harbors lists any fee to enter the beach or Ocean Front Walk. Parking is what costs money: at the three county lots, daytime parking is $6 on weekdays and $9 on weekends at winter rates, and $9 and $18 in summer.

Can I bring my dog to Venice Beach?

No. The LA County beach rules, linked from the county's Venice Beach page, allow no animals on the beach, including dogs, cats and horses. The same rules ban alcohol, smoking, glass containers, fires and overnight sleeping, and nobody may loiter on the beach between midnight and 6 am.

What are the Muscle Beach hours?

Muscle Beach Venice is open 8 am to 5 pm from November 1 to March 31 and 8 am to 7 pm from April 1 to October 31, opening at 10 am on Sundays. It closes on City holidays, for special and permitted events and on rainy days; the recreation center posts closures on Instagram at @Venice_Beach_RC.

How do I get to Venice Beach without a car?

LA County lists a Bus 1 stop at Washington Blvd./Dell Ave. and a stop for the LA County Free Beach Shuttle at Washington Blvd. and Pacific Ave. The 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail also runs along the beach and is open year-round, and bike rentals are available at Venice Beach.