The Best Beaches Near LAX Airport (With Pros & Cons Of Each)
Short On Time Or Wanting A Quick Beach Day And Looking For The Best Beaches Near LAX Airport?
As a half Californian (my mom’s from here), I’ve spent many summers on these Los Angeles beaches as well as driving this stretch of coastline countless times, and though there are some beaches very near to the LAX airport, I personally prefer those a bit further south, but I created a complete list of options with pro & con details so you can decide what works best for you depending on your time and preferences.
👉 Beaches Near LAX Airport Overview Table
| Beach | Miles From LAX | Ave. Time From LAX |
|---|---|---|
| Dockweiler | 3.5 | 7-14 min |
| Playa Del Rey | 4-5 | 8-20 min |
| El Segundo | 4-5 | 8-24 min |
| El Porto | 5-6 | 10-28 min |
| Manhattan | 5-7 | 12-26 min |
| Venice | 6-9 | 12-40 min |
| Hermosa | 7-9 | 14-40 min |
| Redondo | 8-11 | 18-50 min |
| Santa Monica | 9-12 | 24-55 min |
| Torrance County | 10-13 | 26 min-1 hr 5 min |
| Malibu | 23 | 35 min-1 hr 15 min |
| Long Beach | 24-26 | 26-50 min |
| OC | 29-57 | 30 min-1 hr 25 min |
🏖 Best Beaches Near LAX Airport
In order of distance, these are the best beaches near LAX airport with my personal pros & cons of each. If I were recommending the best beaches to go to in Southern California, I would suggest those further south away from the airport, but if you’re short on time or just want a quick beach day, most of these will be fine.
1. Dockweiler
Dockweiler beach is the closest beach to LAX airport, just 7 minutes depending on traffic. It’s a good enough beach if you’re short on time, but there are some downsides.
- ✅ Pros:
- closest beach to LAX airport
- state beach with amenities including bonfires and a boardwalk
- ❌ Cons:
- paid entrance
- not very pretty
- tar is often a problem (it’s very difficult and annoying to get off your feet)
- nearby airport and industrial plants cause unpleasant sounds and smells (not good for sensory issues)
2. Playa del Rey
Playa del Rey is almost as close to LAX airport as Dockweiler beach so it shares some of the same downsides, but it’s also one of the less crowded beaches in the area.
- ✅ Pros:
- very near to the LAX airport
- nice amenities like bonfires, a jetty, and a boardwalk
- wide soft beach
- less crowded
- ❌ Cons:
- bad jet fuel sounds and smells
- dirty, trashy, tar problems, and not very pretty
- not very good for surfing
- paid and sometimes difficult parking
3. El Segundo
El Segundo beach is also one of the closest beaches to LAX airport, but it’s honestly worse aesthetically because of the industrial plants nearby.
- ✅ Pros:
- near LAX with cheap and sometimes free parking
- also allows bonfires and has a boardwalk
- decent surfing
- not very crowded or touristy
- ❌ Cons:
- huge Chevron refinery, power plant, and water plant next-door
- not pretty with dirty sand (from the tar)
4. El Porto
El Porto beach is the last of the beaches that are very near to the LAX airport, but it again falls under the same cons as the others with the smells, sights, and sounds.
- ✅ Pros:
- near the airport
- metered parking (cheaper than lots)
- not touristy
- pretty good surfing
- ❌ Cons:
- not very pretty
- same tar problems
- crowded with locals
- oil, power, and water plants nearby
*️⃣ Tip: if you’re staying near the airport and want to get to one of these close by beaches, ride-shares might not be too expensive for short distances, but it will be very expensive to use Uber to get to destinations all over the Southern California area
5. Manhattan
Manhattan Beach is still pretty close to LAX airport, but it’s a much cuter town, known for its clean and safe beaches. Of all the close-by beaches to LAX airport, I recommend Manhattan Beach as the best option.
- ✅ Pros:
- ❌ Cons:
- busier beach
- some tar issues
6. Venice
Now Venice Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Los Angeles and it’s pretty near to the LAX airport, but the town has gotten really disgusting over the last few years so it’s not one I recommend spending the whole day at. I suggest visiting quickly during the day and always being aware of your surroundings here.
- ✅ Pros:
- close-ish to LAX
- paid and limited free parking (inland)
- popular amenities like a boardwalk, pier, shops, restaurants, Muscle Beach Hall of Fame, street performers, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball, a skatepark, and an outdoor gym
- it’s famous
- decent surfing
- ❌ Cons:
- crowded and touristy
- not very family friendly
- very dirty and very smelly (to the extreme)
- disgusting beach bathrooms
- annoying vendors
- not super safe feeling with lots of drug users and a large homeless population
7. Hermosa
I’ve spent lots of time at Hermosa Beach (a family friend has a home two blocks from the beach here that I’ve stayed at many times) and I love the neighborhood-local feel, plus it’s nice and clean (very similar to Manhattan Beach since it’s right next door).
- ✅ Pros:
- neighborhood feel
- not too crowded
- great boardwalk, pier, and lots of shops and restaurants
- clean
- decent surfing
- ❌ Cons:
- busier boardwalk
- some tar problems
- limited parking
8. Redondo
Redondo Beach is a little further from LAX airport, but it’s one of the best beaches for activities and it’s very family friendly.
- ✅ Pros:
- awesome pier and harbor area with shops and restaurants
- bike, boat, gondola, kayak, paddleboard, and peddle boat rentals
- very family friendly
- clean
- decent surfing
- close and easy paid parking, some free parking in neighborhoods
- ❌ Cons:
- not super close to LAX
9. Santa Monica
Although Santa Monica Beach isn’t one of the beaches that’s most near to the LAX airport, it’s one worth visiting for a short time because of its popularity and famous status.
- ✅ Pros:
- famous pier with an amusement park and aquarium
- decent surfing for beginners
- an outdoor gym, the Original Muscle Beach, bike rentals, and a nice boardwalk
- the end of Route 66
- lots of shops and restaurants
- entertaining street performers
- ❌ Cons:
- very crowded and very touristy
- expensive and sometimes difficult parking
- large homeless population and some drug use nearby
10. Torrance County
Torrance County Beach is one of the furthest beaches in Los Angeles County from LAX airport, but I included it because it’s a calm, wide beach with great views of the Palos Verdes cliffs.
- ✅ Pros:
- clean, beautiful, and a nice wide beach
- surfing, fishing, biking, diving, windsurfing
- family friendly
- not too crowded
- easy paid parking
- great beach showers
- ❌ Cons:
- not super close to LAX
11. Malibu
Malibu beach might be a good distance from the airport, but it’s one of the most beautiful places in the Los Angeles area and a very popular area that is worth visiting at least once.
- ✅ Pros:
- ❌ Cons:
- one way in and out
- not very close to LAX
- potentially dangerous mud/landslides
- busy and not always easy parking
12. Long Beach
Long Beach is the furthest of the beaches in Los Angeles County from LAX airport, but there are some great bay beaches for young kids and babies, plus it has The Queen Mary (if you’re a fan of TBBT, the guys also fictionally visit this ship).
- ✅ Pros:
- bay beaches with little to no waves
- family friendly
- easier parking lots
- attractions like The Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
- Rosie’s Dog Beach
- a pier plus biking and walking paths
- lots of shops and restaurants
- ❌ Cons:
- far from LAX
- pretty busy
- shipping port nearby
13. Orange County
While Orange County beaches are in no way considered close to LAX airport (30+ miles), they’re the best beaches in Southern California in my opinion so I felt like I needed to at least list them here so you could decide if they’re worth driving to.
- ✅ Pros:
- beautiful and clean
- awesome surfing and surf culture
- surf competitions and great surf viewing
- more neighborhood-feel
- very family friendly
- lots of great active things to do
- beautiful historic and natural areas to explore
- closer to theme parks in Anaheim
- close to John Wayne airport
- ❌ Cons:
- far from LAX
- crowded
*️⃣ Tip: if worrying about sharks causes you anxiety or even keeps you from going in the ocean, I highly recommend Sharkbanz (I love mine) to help give you a little more peace of mind in the water
🔁 Sum Up: Best Beaches Near LAX Airport
It’s hard to go wrong with California beaches for the most part, but there are some that are quite a bit nicer than others especially in the Los Angeles area. Those beaches closest to LAX airport won’t be the prettiest or cleanest (they’ll do on short notice though), while venturing a little further south out towards Orange County will definitely be worth it if you have the time.
