Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, CA
Redondo Beach centers on King Harbor, where a cluster of fishing piers, the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier, and Monstad Pier sit side by side above a working marina and sportfishing fleet. A blufftop walkway runs along the sand to the south, giving a longer view of the coast than the harbor scene alone offers.
The harbor and pier scene gives it more to do than a typical stretch of sand, though it trades some of that open-beach feel for it.
How we score beachesThe piers here are open 24 hours and stay lively well past sunset, worth a walk even if fishing isn't the plan.
Multiple fee lots serve King Harbor and the pier area.
Ramps connect the blufftop walkway down to the sand at several points.
Standard South Bay pattern, cool water into early summer with the most comfortable swimming from August into fall.
More Pacific Coast beaches
Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.
Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.