The best South Bay beaches run from El Segundo down to the Palos Verdes coves. Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, and Torrance are the easy sand. Malaga Cove is the steep walk. Abalone Cove is the tide-pool reserve, and the beach trails are closed for the landslide. Dogs stay off the sand. A legal beach fire means Dockweiler, not here.
South end of Dockweiler State Beach, where Grand Avenue meets Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey. The City of El Segundo calls this stretch El Segundo Beach.
County lot labeled Dockweiler, Grand Ave. Open 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in winter and 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in summer. Check the posted fee.
No dogs on the sand. County rule: no animals on the beach.
County fire pits are farther north, in front of the Dockweiler RV Park and the first two lots off Imperial Highway.
Dockweiler posts lifeguards in daylight hours. Restrooms, showers, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail are on this beach.
5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. Two coves and tide pools in a State Marine Conservation Area.
Paid lot, card only. First 30 minutes free, $6 up to 2 hours, $12 over 2 hours. Lot entry is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 24 and 25.
No dogs on the beach. The city FAQ also says dogs are not allowed in Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. Pets are allowed only on authorized trails. No fires.
Restrooms at the lot. Park hours run from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Portuguese Point tide pools were closed for falling rocks. As of July 9, 2024, Abalone Cove Beach, Sacred Cove, and the beach access trails are closed for the landslide. The park and lot can still be open. When the coves are open, low tide is when the tide pools show. Check rpvca.gov/trailalerts before you go.
No. Dogs are not allowed on the sand at El Porto, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, Redondo, Torrance, Malaga Cove, or Bluff Cove. County rule: no animals on the beach. Hermosa also bans dogs on the pier and allows a leash only on the Strand. Palos Verdes Estates keeps dogs off the beach and the water beside it. At Abalone Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes, dogs are not allowed on the beach, and the city FAQ says they are not allowed in Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. Pets are allowed only on authorized trails.
Where can I have a legal beach fire?
The legal beach fires in LA County are at Dockweiler in Playa del Rey, about 40 rings. Torrance Beach has none. El Porto has none. Abalone Cove bans fires. Hermosa bans fires on the beach and the Strand. Palos Verdes Estates bans fires and cooking on parklands, including Malaga Cove and Bluff Cove. Portuguese Bend has none. If you want a ring, leave the South Bay and drive to Dockweiler.
Where should I park for Hermosa or Manhattan Beach?
Manhattan Beach pier lots at Ocean Drive and Manhattan Beach Boulevard are $2.50 an hour with a 5-hour limit. El Porto uses the county lot at 45th Street and The Strand in Manhattan Beach. Check the meter. Hermosa Lot C at 1301 Hermosa Avenue is $3.50 an hour, open 24 hours. Torrance uses the county lot from dawn to dusk. Redondo pier structures are $2 an hour. Esplanade meter rates vary. Check the posted signs. Abalone Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes is card only. The first 30 minutes are free, then $6 up to 2 hours and $12 after that. Lot entry is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lot is closed January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 24 and 25.
Beach photos: LA County Beaches and Harbors, except Malaga Cove and Bluff Cove (Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0), Pelican Cove (carlfbagge, CC BY 2.0), and Abalone Cove (Fabio Achilli, CC BY 2.0).
