Choosing between Venice Beach or Santa Monica comes down to the kind of coastal outing you want: Venice has Ocean Front Walk, a broad mix of beach activities and residential canals, while Santa Monica pairs a two-mile beach with its famous pier. Both offer places to walk, cycle and spend time outdoors, but their landmarks and facilities differ.
- Venice Beach: Almost 3 miles of coastline, Ocean Front Walk, sports facilities and nearby canals.
- Santa Monica: Santa Monica State Beach is two miles long, with a pier, picnic areas, courts, shops and paths.
- Canals: The Venice Canals are open to visitors year-round without a ticket or reservation.
- Pier hours: The Santa Monica Pier is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
A two-star motel in Inglewood, this Inglewood motel is about 14 minutes by car from Los Angeles International Airport. Which beach suits your day best depends on whether you want Venice’s mix of shoreline and canals or Santa Monica’s beach-and-pier combination.
How the two beach areas differ
Venice Beach spreads its appeal across coastline, recreation and canals; Santa Monica brings its beach and pier together in one coastal destination.
Los Angeles County describes Venice Beach as almost 3 miles of coastline covering 238 acres. Its features include Ocean Front Walk, Muscle Beach, tennis and volleyball courts, a Skate Dancing plaza, a bike trail and the beach itself. Swimming, surfing, fishing, volleyball and biking are among the activities.
Santa Monica State Beach is a two-mile-long beach with picnic areas, shops, volleyball and basketball courts, and biking and walking paths. The pier adds another focal point, at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado.
In short, Venice gives you a wider spread of places to explore, including its canals. Santa Monica’s mix is more concentrated around the beach and pier.
Venice Beach: boardwalk, canals and beach
Venice Beach combines an active beachfront with the quieter setting of its residential canals.
Start with Ocean Front Walk and the beach, then choose from activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, volleyball or biking. Venice Beach has three parking lots with over 1,200 spaces; parking lots and street parking are open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Access options include Bus 1 at Washington Boulevard and Dell Avenue, and the LA County Free Beach Shuttle at Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue.
For a change of scene, visit the Venice Canals. Venice of America was founded as a beach resort town by Abbot Kinney in 1905, and its grand opening featured 16 miles of canals. Today, the canals are a residential area; visitors can walk there year-round without a ticket or reservation.
You can use a rowboat, canoe, kayak or another human-propelled boat on the canals, but motorized boats are not allowed. Boats may be launched at the public ramp at 501 North Venice Boulevard. Commercial boat rentals are not allowed in this residential area.
Beach lifeguards are present at Venice Beach during daylight hours.
Santa Monica: pier, beach and downtown
Santa Monica suits a day built around a long beach, outdoor recreation and time at the pier.
Follow the beach’s walking or biking paths, stop at a picnic area, or use the volleyball and basketball courts. Shops and the pier add options beyond the sand, so you can combine a beach visit with time around the waterfront landmark.
The Santa Monica Pier is at Ocean and Colorado and is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Its historic merry-go-round is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Parking options include the Pier parking deck, the beach lot at 1550 Appian Way (Lot 1 North), Downtown Public Parking Structures and Beach Lot 4-South. The deck is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM. Beach lot 1 North is also at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, with daily hours of 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM and accessible parking.
Getting to the coast from Inglewood
To plan a trip from Inglewood to either beach, compare current routes and travel times before setting out; getting around Inglewood and Los Angeles involves planning routes beyond the beach area.
For Venice, access options include Bus 1 at the Washington Boulevard/Dell Avenue stop and the LA County Free Beach Shuttle at Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue. For Santa Monica, parking choices include the pier deck and several public beach and downtown lots.
If you’re planning airport connections as part of your trip, the drive from Inglewood to LAX takes about 14 minutes; transport between LAX and Inglewood is another part of the journey to consider.
Venice Beach has three lots with over 1,200 spaces, while Santa Monica has separate pier and beach parking options. Hours can vary by location, so check the official site before you go.
Choosing by time, interests and conditions
Choose Venice for its combination of beach activities, Ocean Front Walk and canals; choose Santa Monica for a two-mile beach with paths, courts and a pier.
Venice makes it easy to build a day around more than the shoreline: you can add the canals, where visits do not require a ticket or reservation. Keep in mind that the canals are residential, and commercial boat rentals are not allowed.
Santa Monica offers a straightforward pairing of beach time and a pier visit. Check the pier’s daily hours if you plan to go, and look up parking details for the lot you intend to use. Venice’s beach activities include swimming and surfing, and lifeguards are present during daylight hours.
For a day focused on the beach and a single landmark, Santa Monica’s beach-and-pier combination is a natural fit. If you want a broader mix of waterfront recreation and a canal-side walk, Venice offers more variety in its features.
FAQs
Can you visit the Venice Canals without a reservation?
Yes. Visitors can visit the canals year-round without a ticket or reservation.
What activities are available at Venice Beach?
Activities include swimming, surfing, fishing, volleyball and biking, among others.
What can you do at Santa Monica State Beach?
The beach has picnic areas, shops, volleyball and basketball courts, and biking and walking paths.