Pacific Park
The scoop: An ungated amusement park on the Pier, with the Pacific Wheel, a coaster, and pay-as-you-go rides.
- Price
- $$
- Hours
- The park opens 365 days a year, but ride hours vary by season, weather, and events and can change with little notice. Check pacpark.com/hours before you go. Rides generally start around 11 a.m., weather permitting.
- Best for
- Rides, Ferris wheel, Families, Kids
- Address
- 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The scoop
Pacific Park is the amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier: 12 rides, midway games, and the solar-powered Pacific Wheel. There's no gate and no admission fee. You pay per ride, or you buy an unlimited wristband for the day.
What to do
Ride the Pacific Wheel for the view, or work through the other rides if you meet the height rules. Games are pay-to-play and typically run $5–$15; they're not included in a wristband. The Funhouse is a separate ticket and is also left out of the wristband.
When to go
The park is open 365 days a year, but ride hours change with the season, weather, and special events, and some rides may be closed or on rotation. Check pacpark.com/hours the day you go. Rides generally start around 11 a.m., weather permitting. Weekends and warm evenings run later and busier than midweek afternoons.
Who it's for
Families and anyone who wants a Pier ride without a separate gate. It's a compact park on a busy deck, not a full-day destination on its own.
Kids: A good pick with young kids who meet the height rules. Riders 3 and under ride the Pacific Wheel free with a ticketed companion who meets the minimum height. Stay close — the park is ungated, and the Pier gets crowded.
Insider tips
- There's no gate fee. On the official ticket store, an advance Unlimited Ride Wristband was listed at $40 for ages 8 and over and $20 for ages 7 and under. Wristbands cover the park's rides for the day but not the Funhouse (listed at $7 online) or the games. Buy at a park booth or in advance; online wristbands have to be picked up at the ticket booth, which closes one hour before the park closes.
- The official visit page lists the Pacific Wheel at $17 per person. The official ticket store listed an advance single-ride ticket at $14. Confirm the price when you buy.
- Parking is the same as the Pier: Lot 1 North at 1550 Appian Way ($8 weekdays and $12 weekends November–March, $20 a day April–October) or the Pier deck Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Nearby public beach restrooms are at 1600 and 1700 Ocean Front Walk, daily 6 a.m. to dusk.
- As of Nov 2026, Pier Bridge work can mean noise, detours, and tighter parking at Ocean and Colorado. The park and Pier stay open.
Skip it if…
You don't want to pay for rides, or you'd rather have a quiet walk on the Pier without a midway.