26-Mile Bike Path
26-Mile Bike Path
4.5
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Starting at the Santa Monica pier, this is a popular path for biking, jogging and in-line skating along the Pacific Ocean.
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4.5
1,482 reviews
Excellent
1,105
Very good
328
Average
34
Poor
10
Terrible
5
Shhh Ject Labroddi
4 contributions
Jan 2021
apparently communicating with criminals from the entry point and identifying tourists for snags and thistle
If people xcross your path intentionally make sure you have a really bright flash light to flash them in the face as a defense mechanism in attempt to have these stalkers wade off. Some have pets that are very aggressive dogs are used as a tool of intimidation so bring spray , small caliber weapons , rubber bullets to protect you and your family after hours. as some attempt to get close for thievery and harassment
other than that . The people out here to Skate Bike and Stroll etc are very polite and respectable
If people xcross your path intentionally make sure you have a really bright flash light to flash them in the face as a defense mechanism in attempt to have these stalkers wade off. Some have pets that are very aggressive dogs are used as a tool of intimidation so bring spray , small caliber weapons , rubber bullets to protect you and your family after hours. as some attempt to get close for thievery and harassment
other than that . The people out here to Skate Bike and Stroll etc are very polite and respectable
Written 9 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom H
Kingston, Canada817 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Get a bike and explore. Go north from Santa Monica Bay and it’s less busy for miles along the beach.
There’s a hard surface bike path and parallel walking/running path for most of the distance.
Go south of the pier and visit Venice Beach. It gets busier so this is not really a high performance bike path, but more of a scenic ride to explore Santa Monica Bay.
Lots to see and do.
There’s another less busy pier near Venice Beach.
There’s a hard surface bike path and parallel walking/running path for most of the distance.
Go south of the pier and visit Venice Beach. It gets busier so this is not really a high performance bike path, but more of a scenic ride to explore Santa Monica Bay.
Lots to see and do.
There’s another less busy pier near Venice Beach.
Written 3 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CalifSue
california365 contributions
Feb 2021
We have been on this bike path the whole 26 miles over the last few months from Torrance all the way to Will Rodgers State Beach. The Whole path is great, but the Santa Monica portion is a favorite with a wide bike path and a separate wide walk area. Each area is unique and along the beach is a great way to get fresh air during Covid.
Written 18 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremy
Davis, CA97 contributions
Oct 2022
This is a must-do if you remember how to ride a bicycle. Didn't bring a bicycle on your trip? Rent one! There are several places along this bicycle highway to rent a two-wheeler for a few hours. Get all the sights, sounds, and smells easily and stop for some great photo ops with palm trees or lifeguard towers in the background.
Written 12 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
886tinal
Seattle, WA253 contributions
May 2022
I was so happily surprised at how clean and well maintained the path is. We were walking, not riding, and there is plenty of room for all. No garbage, no dog poop, safe...I don't know who maintains this - city, county?? But kudos to you! What a great place to walk, enjoy the beach.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith J
Gaborone100 contributions
Sept 2022
Hired a bicycle in Santa Monica and headed south along the cycle path. Passed by Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, under the LAX flight path and as far as Hermosa Beach. Could have gone further. Nice ride, flat, good surface, a bit crowded in places. Great views. Take sunscreen and water
Written 24 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil B
Cumbria, UK170 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
It's great to be able to rent a bicycle each and enjoy a safe environment to cycle.
Enjoying the sights as you go and a cup of coffee stop off on the way.
Signed cycle path all the way really enjoyable.
Enjoying the sights as you go and a cup of coffee stop off on the way.
Signed cycle path all the way really enjoyable.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patti R
Phoenix, United States13 contributions
June 2023
I love the bike and walk patha. I appreciated that the bike and walk paths are separated. I have road bikes on other board walks and have been injured because it is hard to get around the walkers. Having them separated make both experiences more enjoyable.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
78chevy
Nassau, NY100 contributions
Mar 2017
Great experience. Once rode from Santa Monica south to Venice then north to end of trail and back to SM in November and early March from Santa Monica south past LAX to about 8 miles from south end of trail. Great ride but you need to know a) Santa Monica to Venice section can be crowded which will slow your pace and can be annoying b) pedestrians routinely ignore the "bicycles only" signs on the path out of ignorance,arrogance or both - worst offenders on SM to Venice stretch. c) At Venice pier you leave the oceanfront path, travel east on Washington Avenue (real cear/truck traffic), after first block in a marked bike lane, proceed to Midred, make a right to rejoin bike/walking path, circle perimeter of Marina del Ray (follow signs through parking lots across streets etc) and end up back on beach side path. d) about 1 mile from Marina del Rey, with right wind, planes will be taking off directly over your head as LAX runways end shortly before the beach. There are mile markers painted on the path and plenty of public restrooms and water fountains along the way. Check wind direction before you start - headwinds on ride back were a challenge and while fairly level grade, seemed to be generally "uphill" going north.
Written 2 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leah B
Santa Monica, CA46 contributions
June 2015 • Solo
No matter where you start it is awesome, but watch out for pedestrians in Venice, so slow down many of the tourists do not read the no pedestrian signs and just walk into the path in front of you.
You can rent bikes in Venice and Santa Monica and there are places to stop for food and drinks, as well as water fountains and public restrooms.
Places to stop along the way, or at beginning or end of day, bring a lock!!!
and follow rules regarding walking the bike at Washington St. People do get tickets!:
Marina Del Rey, there is a small restaurant a few steps from the path and a Starbucks further down on Washington St for coffee, fruit or oatmeal, eggs or whatever.
Venice, there are a few sidewalk cafes but more than a few homeless mostly harmless, be sure to stay on the bike path, if not you must walk the bike if heavy pedestrian foot traffic which is a separate path. There are sidewalk art and crafts vendors, best to go earlier am or later pm to get great deals.
Shutters hotel has an upscale oceanfront restaurant open to everyone, and if staying there you can rent on of their teal beach cruisers.
Santa Monica side walk food stands near the pier, outdoor cafes serve beer, wine, ice cream, steaks, salads, across from the Santa Monica Aquarium which is small scale compared to the Long Beach one but really great for smaller children to have a general understanding of sea life.
There are Perry's Beach Cafes all along the bike path area, be sure to bring a lock.
The bathrooms aren't great so wait until you hit tone ones actually on the Pier, or after the Pier isn't too bad, best is at at the Annenberg Community Complex. Seriously! Take Lysol hand wipes and or seat covers.
The Pier has amusement rides, vendors, a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, pizza and sit down fish restaurants including Forest Gumps and a very nice upscale Fish restaurant.
On Ocean Ave near the Pier is an excellent mexican food restaurant with highly rated margaritas. Also can watch trapeze artists, play pinball in arcade, ride the merry go round, more ice cream with sundaes, floats, whatever!
Best area to take a bathroom break, is safe... police station is there before going on to Malibu.
See the Jonathan Beach Club, can't really stop there, it's a belong to very pricey club.
As well as the Santa Monica Bay Club which is for residents who live at the top of the hill.
Best stop is Annenberg Community Complex, great indoor / outdoor, an on the sand restaurant, and walk up counter that has not too pricey great lattes if you just want coffee, tea, or water and a snack.
There is a pool with activities, a great play ground for kids with swing sets, monkey bars, found water fountain to cool off, take a tour of Marian Davies beach front home or sit in the shade to cool off. Public restrooms and if you reserve early enough through Perry's Beach Cafe you can order a Concierge umbrella and lunch setup for more than a few dollars.
Further up in Malibu / Palisades section of the path ..... haven't gone much further than Annenberg. It's really a fun ride, nice breezes, Venice is a bit gnarly!
I used to live there and rode the path frequently.
Have fun!
You can rent bikes in Venice and Santa Monica and there are places to stop for food and drinks, as well as water fountains and public restrooms.
Places to stop along the way, or at beginning or end of day, bring a lock!!!
and follow rules regarding walking the bike at Washington St. People do get tickets!:
Marina Del Rey, there is a small restaurant a few steps from the path and a Starbucks further down on Washington St for coffee, fruit or oatmeal, eggs or whatever.
Venice, there are a few sidewalk cafes but more than a few homeless mostly harmless, be sure to stay on the bike path, if not you must walk the bike if heavy pedestrian foot traffic which is a separate path. There are sidewalk art and crafts vendors, best to go earlier am or later pm to get great deals.
Shutters hotel has an upscale oceanfront restaurant open to everyone, and if staying there you can rent on of their teal beach cruisers.
Santa Monica side walk food stands near the pier, outdoor cafes serve beer, wine, ice cream, steaks, salads, across from the Santa Monica Aquarium which is small scale compared to the Long Beach one but really great for smaller children to have a general understanding of sea life.
There are Perry's Beach Cafes all along the bike path area, be sure to bring a lock.
The bathrooms aren't great so wait until you hit tone ones actually on the Pier, or after the Pier isn't too bad, best is at at the Annenberg Community Complex. Seriously! Take Lysol hand wipes and or seat covers.
The Pier has amusement rides, vendors, a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, pizza and sit down fish restaurants including Forest Gumps and a very nice upscale Fish restaurant.
On Ocean Ave near the Pier is an excellent mexican food restaurant with highly rated margaritas. Also can watch trapeze artists, play pinball in arcade, ride the merry go round, more ice cream with sundaes, floats, whatever!
Best area to take a bathroom break, is safe... police station is there before going on to Malibu.
See the Jonathan Beach Club, can't really stop there, it's a belong to very pricey club.
As well as the Santa Monica Bay Club which is for residents who live at the top of the hill.
Best stop is Annenberg Community Complex, great indoor / outdoor, an on the sand restaurant, and walk up counter that has not too pricey great lattes if you just want coffee, tea, or water and a snack.
There is a pool with activities, a great play ground for kids with swing sets, monkey bars, found water fountain to cool off, take a tour of Marian Davies beach front home or sit in the shade to cool off. Public restrooms and if you reserve early enough through Perry's Beach Cafe you can order a Concierge umbrella and lunch setup for more than a few dollars.
Further up in Malibu / Palisades section of the path ..... haven't gone much further than Annenberg. It's really a fun ride, nice breezes, Venice is a bit gnarly!
I used to live there and rode the path frequently.
Have fun!
Written 24 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We used Jump electric pedal assist bikes. The pedal assist worked great around the city but not on the ocean front bike path. Is the pedal assist deactivated by sensor on the ocean bike path?
Written 13 July 2019
Motorized bikes are not allowed on the beach bike-running-walking paths.
Written 13 July 2019
Can anyone recommend a shop that we can rent bicycles to take from Playa Del Rey to Santa Monica? We'd be dropping the bikes off in Santa Monica. I thought this would be a cool way to get to Santa Monica instead of just taking an Uber.
Written 30 March 2019
Not sure there is such a shop. Have never seen a vehicle hauling bikes or anything like it
Written 29 April 2019
How is this path for rollerblading? Nice and smooth or dicey? Im an experienced skater. Thanks!
Written 26 October 2018
I don’t think you will have any problems rollerblading the path. Some of the sharper bends have a bit more sand on the path than other sections. The path can get quite congested during busy times as walkers, cyclists, scooter rides and rollerbladers all share the path in most sections.
Written 27 October 2018
Where around GLADSTONES can I wade ankle deep into the ocean?
Written 1 September 2018
a little further north at surfrider beach malibu...right next to the pier
Written 21 March 2019
Is the 26 mile route signposted or where do we get a map. Is it a circular and can you start in marina Del Rey ?
Written 5 August 2018
Further to your query there are periodic signs and you can start on it anywhere.
It runs along the beach except for about a mile where it goes inland for about a 1/4 mile just south of Washington Blvd. If you’re going to be staying in Marina del Rey I would go to Washington Blvd near the beach. There are a number of bike rental places that will also provide you with a helmet (which is required). If you have a choice take it during the week as it will be less crowded. Bike North through Venice and into Santa Monica if you want the sights and sounds of Southern California. If you want a quieter ride with less people and attractions then ride South.
Written 5 August 2018
Hi, if you want to stop and look in shops etc. along the way what do you do with the bikes? Do you get a lock when hiring so it’s safe? Thank you
Written 19 July 2018
It depends on the vendor as far as locks go.
Some do, Some Don't.
Even with a lock I wouldn't part with it in some of the beach communities due to the homeless and the thugs that tend to look for opportunity.
I'd say use the bike path, simply for that.
Take the bike indoors to the places that will allow them.
Written 30 July 2018
Bonjour. Merci pour ces précisions. Combien coûte la location de vélo de Santa Monica à Venice Pier?
Written 25 June 2018
In quanto tempo (in bici) si arriva a venice da Santa Monica?
Written 16 May 2018
Hi, is one way bike rental possible? how would we get back to our car? Thanks a lot!
Written 18 March 2018
You ride there and back (we bring our own bikes and hitch them to the car.). There’s no one way bike rental available, to my knowledge, on this path — but you can rent s bike and ride it back to the rd gal place in Santa Monica.
Written 19 March 2018
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