The Strand
The scoop: A flat paved beach path through Santa Monica — bikes, strollers, and walkers, with a separate walking path alongside.
- Price
- Free (bike and surrey rentals extra)
- Hours
- Open year-round. No separate gate hours are published for the path itself. Adjacent Santa Monica beach restrooms are listed 6 a.m. to dusk.
- Best for
- Biking, Walking, Strollers, Beach, Families
- Address
- Ocean Front Walk / the beach bike path through Santa Monica
The scoop
The Strand is the local name for the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a 22-mile paved path that L.A. County runs from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach. Through Santa Monica it follows the sand, past the State Beach and the Pier, with a parallel pedestrian walking path. It's free and open year-round.
What to do
Ride a bike or surrey, walk, or push a stroller along the paved path. Keep walkers on the parallel walking path when you can, and expect the stretch near the Pier to be the busiest. You can rent bikes and surreys from shops along the beach path. The trail also connects to the Annenberg Community Beach House at the north end of the Santa Monica stretch if you want a playground stop.
When to go
The path is open year-round, with no separate gate hours published. Weekday mornings are calmer than summer weekends and holiday afternoons. As of Nov 2026, Pier Bridge construction can close Ocean Front Walk under the Pier on weekdays, 5 a.m.–1 p.m.; flaggers direct people around the work.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants a flat coastal ride or walk — including families with strollers — without committing to a full beach-lot day. It gets crowded near the Pier.
Kids: A good half-day with young kids on bikes, scooters, or in a stroller. The path is paved and flat. E-scooters aren't permitted on the Santa Monica beach bike path. In California, riders under 18 need a helmet.
Insider tips
- There's no trail-owned lot. Use the city's beach lots along the path, or the Annenberg Beach House lot at the north end. Rates and hours follow those lot pages.
- In Santa Monica, beach restrooms with outdoor showers sit north and south of the Pier. A city Community Services page lists them open daily 6 a.m. to dusk.
- E-scooters are not permitted on the beach bike path, the Pier, Ocean Front Walk, or city parks, and a ticket is possible.
- L.A. County Public Works does not maintain the Santa Monica State Beach section of the path — report problems on that stretch to the city.
- After Venice, the county trail heads inland near Washington Boulevard before returning to the coast at Playa del Rey — the only stretch that mixes with cars.
Skip it if…
You want a quiet trail, or you planned to ride an e-scooter. The path is busy near the Pier, and e-scooters aren't allowed on this stretch.