Manhattan Beach Pier and Beach

Save
Manhattan Beach Pier and Beach

Photo: Evanthomas1 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

🏖️ Beach · Manhattan Beach

3 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 3.0
1–3 yrs
★ 4.0
3–5 yrs
★ 4.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 50 min drive
    From Arcadia · Parking: County lot under the pier and street meters (about $1.5–2/hour), arrive before 10am on summer weekends
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Little shade
    Handles heat · Great on sunny days · Wind-OK
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 3 hours
    Best seasons: Summer · Spring · Fall

The prettiest beach town in the South Bay: a wide beach, a 1920 pier with a free little aquarium at the end (Roundhouse Aquarium, with a touch pool), a stroller roll along The Strand watching beach volleyball, then back into town for ice cream.

💡 Tips
The waves are real, so little ones stick to sand play at the water's edge; Roundhouse Aquarium is free (donations accepted), check the website for hours. Parking in town is tough, so the county lot under the pier is the safe bet.

What this place offers

✓pier
✓free aquarium
✓beach
✓The Strand
✓ice cream
✓restrooms
✓volleyball

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Manhattan Beach

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☁️
Sat 10/17
Overcast · 69–89°F · 1% rain
🌤️
Sun 10/18
Partly cloudy · 73–81°F · 0% rain

Location

Manhattan Beach, California

More like this

Annenberg Community Beach House
Kid favorite

Annenberg Community Beach House

5.0

Santa Monica · 60 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Beach House lot charges by the hour (about $3/hour, summer day rate about $12), full before noon on summer weekends

Mother's Beach (Marina del Rey)
Kid favoriteRepresentative photo

Mother's Beach (Marina del Rey)

5.0

Marina del Rey · 55 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: County lot off Admiralty Way, hourly (about $1–2/hour), arrive in the morning on summer weekends

Cabrillo Beach Inner Harbor and Tide Pools
Kid favorite

Cabrillo Beach Inner Harbor and Tide Pools

5.0

San Pedro · 45 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Beach lot about $1–2/hour (daily cap on summer weekends), right next to the aquarium

Santa Fe Dam Lake Beach and Water Play Area
Kid favorite

Santa Fe Dam Lake Beach and Water Play Area

5.0

Irwindale · 10 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Entry about $10 per car (more on holidays), lot right next to the beach