Santa Monica Beach or Venice Beach today?
Santa Monica, California · Los Angeles, California — 4 km apart
Updated 4:03 AM PDT
96Santa Monica Beach
vs
96Venice Beach
Too close to call today. Santa Monica Beach scores 96 and Venice Beach scores 96 — 4 km apart and sharing the same weather, so pick on what you want to do.
Which one, for what
- Neither pulls ahead on anything we measure today — every activity is within a few points. At 4 km apart they are drawing on the same weather and swell, so the deciding factor is the beach itself: parking, crowds, and what you want from the day.
| Activity | Santa Monica Beach | Venice Beach | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming | 84 | 83 | tie |
| Families with kids | 81 | 79 | tie |
| Walking & shelling | 85 | 83 | tie |
| Surfing | 82 | 82 | tie |
Conditions side by side
| Now | Santa Monica Beach | Venice Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 74°F | 74°F |
| Wave height | 2.6 ft | 2.6 ft |
| Air temperature | 72°F | 71°F |
| Wind | 3 mph | 3 mph |
| UV index | 0 | 0 |
| Next tide | Low 4:13 AM | Low 4:13 AM |
| Water quality | 30–96, 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 (96 and 96), 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.