Santa Monica Pier
The scoop: A free-to-walk pier with a carousel, rides, fishing, and restaurants — busy, and under construction at the entrance.
- Price
- Free to walk; rides and most attractions paid
- Hours
- The official Pier FAQ lists daily hours as 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Pacific Park’s hours page lists the Pier until 11 p.m. Shops, rides, and restaurants set their own hours. The historic carousel is listed Monday and Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Best for
- Carousel, Amusement park, Fishing, Families, Walking
- Address
- Ocean Avenue at Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The scoop
The Santa Monica Pier has been here since 1909. You can walk it for free: a historic carousel, an amusement park, an arcade, restaurants, and a fishing deck at the end. You pay only if you want a ride, a game, or a meal.
What to do
Walk the deck, ride the historic merry-go-round, or head into Pacific Park for the Wheel and other rides. Fishing is allowed on the Pier. Free walking tours are listed Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., and Monday at 7 p.m. for sunset. Locals' Night is every third Thursday, September–May, 3:30–7:30 p.m. As of Nov 2026, check Heal the Bay Aquarium before planning a weekend drop-in under the Pier.
When to go
The official Pier FAQ lists daily hours as 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Pacific Park's hours page instead says the Pier stays open until 11 p.m. Shops and rides keep their own schedules. Weekends, holidays, and warm afternoons get crowded; weekdays are easier.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants a walk over the water, a carousel ride, or a look at the Wheel. It's a busy visitor stop, not a quiet beach walk.
Kids: A solid outing with young kids. The carousel is the gentler ride, Pacific Park has height rules, and the open deck means you'll want to stay close. Strollers work, but it gets crowded.
Insider tips
- The Pier parking deck is listed Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Lot 1 North at 1550 Appian Way (6 a.m.–2 a.m.) is the better all-week option: $8 weekdays and $12 weekends November–March, $20 a day April–October. Downtown structures and Beach Lot 4 South are backups. Accessible parking is in Lot 1 North and Lot 1 South; a public elevator at Bubba Gump (301 Santa Monica Pier) runs during the restaurant's hours.
- Public beach restrooms with outdoor showers are at 1600 and 1700 Ocean Front Walk, daily 6 a.m. to dusk.
- Leashed dogs are welcome on the Pier, not on the beach. No smoking, and there are no lockers. E-scooters aren't permitted on the Pier.
- As of Nov 2026, Pier Bridge work at Ocean and Colorado can close Ocean Front Walk under the bridge on weekdays, 5 a.m.–1 p.m. The Moomat Ahiko Way ramps have been closed since about Sept 28 for roughly two months. The project is expected to finish by the end of 2027. The Pier stays open.
Skip it if…
You want a quiet, uncrowded walk, or you'd rather skip the construction around the entrance.