Finding the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
Last Updated: June 18, 2020
How to Find the Least Crowded Beaches in Los Angeles
When it comes to finding a perfect beach to relax and enjoy sun, salty ocean, and fun outdoor activities, the City of Angeles is the ultimate beach paradise. With 75 miles of coastline, there is no shortage of places for a relaxed weekend by the ocean. However, never-ending flow of visitors presents some challenges when choosing the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles. I have a few tips that will help ease this task and make your beach experience even more enjoyable.
4 TIPS HOW TO FIND THE LEAST CROWDED BEACHES IN LOS ANGELES:
1. Do Your Research
To succeed at finding the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles, be sure to get familiar with the coastal area before venturing to the beach. Scanty pieces of information from social media are not enough and can often be misleading. The best advice is to do your own research.
- Make acquaintances with locals and entrust them with high honor to be your guide to the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles (even if it’s only verbally).
- Google can also give you a few great recommendations.
- If you are more of a guide person, study your travel books to a T. Generally, they capture and present information about the busiest and least crowded beaches very well.
- Read reviews about your preferred beaches to get a clear picture of what to expect and avoid big surprises before you go there.
2. Avoid Temptation to Stop at the First Beach You See
This advice is especially useful when driving Highway 1 from Santa Monica toward Malibu. With so many beautiful locations, the desire to pull over rises with every sandy beach filled with people. The sparkling water, bright sun, and warm sand allure you to stop as soon as possible and dip your feet in the welcoming blue ocean. Additionally, tanned bodies of the beach goers and surfers, boldly conquering one high wave after another, make you almost forget about the desire to find the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles.
However, objections against such places are more than enough to keep you driving and looking for those less popular beaches to sunbath and catch the wave in Los Angeles. Here’re a few problems with some of the busiest beaches in LA:
- The popular roadside beaches are typically small with limited parking spaces. Often you will spend more time waiting for a parking spot than lying on the warm sand under big umbrella.
- The crowds! The famous beaches in LA get busy pretty fast. If you are not an early riser and prefer to go outside in late morning or afternoon, the chances to find that perfect spot right next to the ocean to spread your beach towel are small. The solution is to find the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles elsewhere.
3. Prepare to Drive Longer Distance
Are you still determined to find the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles? Let’s drive a bit farther along the coast. Many secluded beaches are located just a short 15-minute drive from the more popular summer destinations.
- Even though spending more time on the road is required initially, in the end you save’ll at least 20 minutes otherwise wasted in line for the available parking spot.
- Furthermore, you get to share the beach with significantly less people. In some rare cases, you’ll have the sandy piece of land in front of the ocean all to yourself.
I can’t move forward without leaving you with some of the least crowded beaches to check out in Los Angeles. Less popular, they will impress with their uniqueness and the absence of the big crowds typical for such beaches as Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach.
Leo Carrillo State Beach
Nestled 28 miles northwest of Santa Monica, Leo Carrillo Beach is a 1.5 mile coastal strip with black and white sands. The beach is a favorite among many LA’s photographers aiming at sunset and sunrise photography. Despite its incredible tide pools, coastal caves, and reefs, the place sees significantly less visitors compared to other similar places in Los Angeles.
El Matador State Beach
More popular than Leo Carrillo State Beach, El Matador State Beach smooths this drawback with its unreal features. The towering cliffs and massive rocks delight and provide shade for the alert beach goers wishing not to overexpose their skin to the sun. Huge boulder with series of small arches attracts attention of the humans and birds alike. While the latter prefer to nestle atop, the intrigued visitors walk or crawl under the inviting curves of the main attraction of the beach.
Dan Blocker County Beach
Dan Blocker County Beach is a long narrow beach with a few cottages for rent behind it. Pretty secluded, the place attracts mostly the locals perfecting their skills in surfing and stand-up paddle boarding.
4. Explore Along the Way
Exploring is not always the most effective, but surely the most unpredictable way to find the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles. Nothing can beat excitement of discovering the coastline and venturing to the places that map and Google fail to mention. Be sure to pull over and explore any beaches that catch your eye. Enjoy the great choices that the shoreline has to offer, and you’ll find the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles in no time.
Less is not Always Bad
If up to this point the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles seemed like mission impossible, it’s a perfect time to change it. Go off the beaten path, avoid the most popular destinations, ask questions, and search for those hidden gems near you. Be sure to explore along the way and enjoy the least crowded beaches in Los Angeles.
Read Next
- Top 20 Beaches in Malibu You Ought to Explore
- 6 Must-Visit Beaches in Los Angeles
- How to Visit El Matador State Beach
