Surfing in Los Angeles County
Overview of surfing in Los Angeles County
Properly Southern California, Los Angeles County begins with points in the Malibu region and a couple beach breaks before turning into the greater LA area at Santa Monica. After Santa Monica, the city continues into Redondo Beach and then Palos Verdes before reaching the Southern edge of Long Beach. The vibes along the coast vary from chill and crowded to hostile and relatively uncrowded. This area includes some of the most historic breaks in California: Malibu and Palos Verdes Cove. These spots have been a massive influence on surfing since the 50’s, grooming longboarding and shortboarding talent alike. Beyond the surf culture, the beaches of Santa Monica and the Redondo area are colorful to say the least. Exploring these areas of the LA area can be an amazing time for families as well as young adults.
The 23 best Surf spots in Los Angeles County
Surf seasons and when to go
Seasons
There is little variety in the weather here. Summers are hot and dry with temps usually high but also cooled by the ocean breeze. “Winters” here are colder but not by much, the fog is more common and therefore mornings stay a bit cooler. T shirt and flip flops will be fine in the summer, bring a couple layers for winter but you won’t need much. Water temps vary, but a 3/2 will be fine year round, but a springsuit is really all you need in the summer.
Winter
This season is best for surfing larger swells with better winds. The beach breaks and coves really like this time of year, and the offshore winds usually cooperate, especially in the mornings. Some of the points will also really turn on during these months. Bring a sweatshirt or two and you’ll be fine.
Summer
Summer is hot and dry with slightly worse winds that pick up earlier. This time of year smaller swells filter in and fill in the points up and down the coast. Malibu loves this time of year, but so do the crowds. Onshores will pick up earlier than winter. T shirts and shorts are the play this time of year.
Los Angeles County surf travel guide
Accommodations
This area has little in the way of camping (read no camping). The options will be contrained to high end resorts, hotels, and massive spas. There are some cheaper motels in the area if you head a little inland, but again there is a drive to consider.
Other Activities
Palos Verdes is full of downtime activities for the whole family. There is a lot of hiking around which mostly consists of cliff and canyon areas that often overlook the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Sunsets here are divine, a late evening hike is not a bad idea. There are a plethora of more “country club” activities as well. Golf courses and tennis courts are the norm around here, grab some clubs or a racket and get to it!
