Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA
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.
Reliable surf and plenty of room to spread out, but the lot fills by mid morning most summer days and parking is the main complaint locals have.
How we score beachesThe parking lot fills by mid morning in summer, so arrive before 9am or plan on the overflow lot up the highway.
Dogs are not permitted on the sand at Zuma Beach or anywhere on Malibu's beaches, though they may walk on the road and in the parking lot.
The marine layer often keeps mornings gray through June, so the water peaks later than visitors expect, cresting in the low 70s by September. Locals treat late summer into October as the real season, once the fog burns off and the crowds thin.
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