Santa Monica Beach or Venice Beach today?
Santa Monica, California · Los Angeles, California — 4 km apart
Updated 1:00 AM PDT
95Santa Monica Beach
vs
95Venice Beach
Too close to call today. Santa Monica Beach scores 95 and Venice Beach scores 95 — 4 km apart and sharing the same weather, so pick on what you want to do.
Which one, for what
- Go to Santa Monica Beach for swimming, families with kids — swimming 80 vs 71.
- Venice Beach does not lead on any activity today.
| Activity | Santa Monica Beach | Venice Beach | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming | 80 | 71 | Santa Monica Beach |
| Families with kids | 77 | 71 | Santa Monica Beach |
| Walking & shelling | 72 | 72 | tie |
| Surfing | 86 | 84 | tie |
Conditions side by side
| Now | Santa Monica Beach | Venice Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 73°F | 72°F |
| Wave height | 3.2 ft | 3.2 ft |
| Air temperature | 58°F | 57°F |
| Wind | 4 mph | 5 mph |
| UV index | 0 | 0 |
| Next tide | Low 4:23 AM | Low 4:23 AM |
| Water quality | 30–95, varies along the beach | Graded A+ |
Both readings taken at the same moment, from the same sources, so the comparison is like for like.
Frequently asked questions
Should I go to Santa Monica Beach or Venice Beach today?
They score within a few points of each other (95 and 95), so pick on what you plan to do rather than the overall number.
How far apart are Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach?
About 4 km in a straight line. Close enough that they usually share weather and swell, so the difference is often in the shape of the beach rather than the forecast.
Which is better with kids, Santa Monica Beach or Venice Beach?
Santa Monica Beach today — 77 against 71 on our family score, which weights calm surf and UV most heavily.