Santa Monica Beach or Zuma Beach today?
Santa Monica, California · Malibu, California — 30 km apart
Updated 1:00 AM PDT
95Santa Monica Beach
vs
95Zuma Beach
Too close to call today. Santa Monica Beach scores 95 and Zuma Beach scores 95, 30 km apart. Pick on what you plan to do rather than the overall number.
Which one, for what
- Go to Santa Monica Beach for swimming, families with kids, walking & shelling — swimming 80 vs 64.
- Go to Zuma Beach for surfing — surfing 90 vs 86.
| Activity | Santa Monica Beach | Zuma Beach | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming | 80 | 64 | Santa Monica Beach |
| Families with kids | 77 | 62 | Santa Monica Beach |
| Walking & shelling | 72 | 68 | Santa Monica Beach |
| Surfing | 86 | 90 | Zuma Beach |
Conditions side by side
| Now | Santa Monica Beach | Zuma Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 73°F | 72°F |
| Wave height | 3.2 ft | 3.9 ft |
| Air temperature | 58°F | 59°F |
| Wind | 4 mph | 7 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 Zuma 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 Zuma Beach?
About 30 km in a straight line. Far enough apart that conditions can genuinely differ between them.
Which is better with kids, Santa Monica Beach or Zuma Beach?
Santa Monica Beach today — 77 against 62 on our family score, which weights calm surf and UV most heavily.