What is “The Strand” and Where Is It?

The Strand is a bike trail that’s almost completely separated from automobile traffic (Class I), with the exception of a small portion in Marina Del Rey that requires road crossings (Class II). The path begins in Pacific Palisades at Will Rogers State Beach and traverses over 22 miles to Torrance Beach in Torrance. 

Because The Strand covers so many miles of coastline, and because it has that middle section in Marina Del Rey that isn’t completely separated from traffic, I recommend choosing either the northern section (Will Rogers to Venice Beach) or the southern section (Playa Del Rey to Torrance). Which section you choose to take depends mainly on proximity, but there are also differences in the amenities and atmosphere of either portion.

The draw of The Strand is obvious: an opportunity to ride bicycles without the fear of vehicular interference, the sparkling Pacific Ocean full of surfers, swimmers and in the distance, sailboats and larger vessels, and of course, the balmy Southern California weather.

 
The Strand has all kinds of entertainment in Santa Monica. Photo by Gina Ragland.

Best Bike Routes on The Strand for Families

Where to Start/End Your Ride on The Strand

If proximity is the sole deciding factor, I would generally recommend residents of the San Fernando Valley, Westside and Central Los Angeles to choose the northern section. This section runs through Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. If you live in the South Bay or Gateway Cities, I’d recommend the southern section that runs through Playa Del Rey, El Segundo, the Beach Cities and Torrance. 

There are other factors at play as well. While the entire length of The Strand has amenities like restaurants, playgrounds and bathrooms, the northern section is more urban and less family-centric, while the southern section is more family friendly. 

*Wildfire note: Due to the Palisades Fire, Will Rogers State Beach and its parking lots are currently closed. Unfortunately, these parking lots are some of the most convenient and affordable places to park, but there’s ample parking opportunities up and down The Strand.

Where to Rent Bikes to Ride The Strand 

Don’t have a bike for everyone to ride The Strand? Not to worry, there are plenty of places to rent beach cruisers, city bikes, e-bikes and electric scooters along The Strand. 

• Joyride Bike Rentals and Tours — 14800 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402
• Bike Share Connect — multiple locations
• Ride it Baby Bike and E-Bike Rentals — Santa Monica/Redondo Beach/Manhattan Beach
• Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals — 10 locations in Santa Monica and Venice
• Venice Boardwalk Beach Rental — 517 Ocean Front Walk #1, Venice, CA 90291
• Marina Bike Rentals King Harbor — 505 N Harbor Dr, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
• Manhattan Beach Bike & E-Bike Rentals — 3616 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 fg
• Jeffers Beach Rentals — 39 14th St, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
• Next Adventure Bike and E-Bikes — 1332 Hermosa Ave STE 5, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
• Hermosa Cyclery — 20 13th St, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
• Beach E Biking | E-Bike Rentals, Sales & Service in Redondo Beach — 129 W Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Public Bathrooms Along The Strand

One thing that’s great about The Strand? It has tons of bathrooms (though when it comes to cleanliness, your results may vary). Here’s a list of the bathrooms and where they are located along the bike trail, running from north to south:

Santa Monica/Palisades

• Will Rogers State Beach *Please note the park is currently closed for wildfire recovery efforts.
• North Beach Playground
• Adjacent to Lot 4 North (near the California Incline)
• At Arizona Avenue
• Adjacent to Lot 3 South (just north of Pico Blvd.)
• At Bicknell Avenue
• At Hollister Avenue
• At Dorothy Green Park/Ocean Park Blvd.

Venice Beach

• At the Venice Beach Playground
• At Brooks Avenue
• At Westminster Avenue
• At Venice Beach Basketball Courts
• At the Venice Beach Fishing Pier — this is the last bathroom along the northern section of The Strand

Playa Del Rey/Dockweiler

• At Culver Boulevard in Playa Del Rey — this is the first bathroom along the southern section of The Strand
• Adjacent to Lifeguard Tower #45
• Adjacent to the Dockweiler State Beach parking lot
• At Dockweiler Picnic Area
• Adjacent to the Dockweiler RV Park

El Segundo

• El Segundo Beach

Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach

• Rosecrans Avenue
• Manhattan Beach Pier Public Restrooms
• At Eighth Street (Manhattan Beach)
• Hermosa Beach Public Restrooms at 22nd Street
• At Hermosa Beach Pier
• At Second Street (Hermosa Beach)

Redondo Beach/Torrance

• Veteran’s Park
• Sapphire Street
• Adjacent to the Redondo Beach Jetty
• Knob Hill Avenue
• Avenue C Stairs
• Avenue G
• Miramar Park
• Torrance Beach

RELATED: 3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

 
Make it a fun day on the coast while staying active. Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Family-Friendly Points of Interest on The Strand

Places to Eat on The Strand

Bicycling for miles can really work up an appetite. Whether you want to stop for a full meal or just a quick snack, there are plenty of options near or even literally on The Strand!

• Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals — multiple locations along The Strand
• It’s Boba Time — Venice
• Turn Dough Ice Cream — Venice
• Oceans Cafe and Grill — Dockweiler
• Surf Food Stand — El Segundo
• Good Stuff — Hermosa Beach
• Captain Kidd’s Fish Market & Restaurant — Redondo Beach
• The Cheesecake Factory — Redondo Beach
• Slice ‘N Pint — Redondo Beach

Best Beaches and Playgrounds on The Strand

Want to take a quick break and let the kids work out even more energy? The bike trail is lined with parks and playgrounds along its entire stretch. Here are our favorites:

• Will Rogers State Beach — Pacific Palisades *Please note the park is currently closed for wildfire recovery efforts.
• North Beach Playground — Santa Monica 
• Ocean Park Playground — Santa Monica 
• South Beach Park Playground — Santa Monica 
• Venice Beach Playground — Venice Beach 
• Vista Del Mar Park — Playa Del Rey 
• Swings at Marine Avenue — Manhattan Beach 
• Veteran’s Park — Redondo Beach 

Other Family-Friendly Attractions on The Strand

There are so many beaches and iconic Los Angeles landmarks that you'll pass by when biking The Strand. From the Santa Monica Pier to the Roundhouse Aquarium on the Manhattan Beach Pier, there is no shortage of attractions for kids on The Strand. 

Santa Monica Attractions for Kids: 

• Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier 
• Annenberg Community Beach House

Venice Beach Attractions for Kids: 

• Original Muscle Beach
• Muscle Beach Traveling Rings and Slackline Park
• Venice Skatepark
• Venice Public Art Walls
• Muscle Beach Venice
• Volleyball Courts at Venice, Dockweiler, Redondo, Manhattan, Hermosa, Torrance Beaches
• Venice Beach Canals
• Venice Beach Fishing Pier
• Venice Beach Roller Skate Dance Plaza

Playa Del Rey Attractions for Kids: 

• Del Rey Lagoon

Manhattan Beach Attractions for Kids: 

• Roundhouse Aquarium 
• Manhattan Beach Strand Parcourse
• Manhattan Beach Pier

Hermosa Beach Attractions for Kids: 

• Hermosa Beach Pier

Redondo Beach Attractions for Kids: 

• King Harbor
• Seaside Lagoon
• Redondo Beach Pier Skatepark
• Riviera Village

Where to Park to Access The Strand

Parking is notoriously difficult throughout the Los Angeles area, but nowhere is this more true than in high-demand areas along the coast. While parking near The Strand is far from ample, there are plenty of places to park for a relatively modest fee. Prices vary by lot and garage, but expect to pay between $5 and $20 to park near the bike trail.

• Will Rogers State Beach has ample parking in lots #1, #3 and #5. *Please note the parking lots are currently closed for wildfire recovery efforts.
• The City of Santa Monica has nine public beach parking lots across three zones (Northern, Central and Southern).
• Venice Beach (which is within the City of Los Angeles) has public parking lots at Rose Avenue and Venice Blvd.)
• Dockweiler Beach (also within Los Angeles city limits) has public parking lots.
• Manhattan Beach runs 12 city parking lots, which are located near the pier.
• Hermosa Beach offers parking at a handful of lots, though the most convenient to The Strand is the garage at Hermosa Ave. and 13th Street.
• Redondo Beach has a large public parking lot near King Harbor and a smaller lot near Veterans Park.
• Torrance Beach in the city of Torrance has a public parking lot, conveniently located at the southernmost point of The Strand.

And if you're interested in taking public transportation, there are options too! The most obvious is the western terminus of the E Line in Downtown Santa Monica, which is just a few blocks from the bike trail.

Other options include the 134 bus that runs along the coast from the Santa Monica Pier to Malibu, the 33 bus that runs down Venice Blvd. and Main Street, the 4 bus which runs from Central Los Angeles to Santa Monica via Santa Monica Blvd. and the Culver CityBus's 1 line down Washington Blvd. Transit options are more limited in the South Bay, though there are lines operated by Beach Cities Transit which provide access to the beach.