Zuma Beach is on of my favorite beaches in Southern California. It is located in Malibu off PCH and the traffic on PCH is often terrible, so leave early and expect to be in traffic on your way back. Part of the beach is used for surfing and that is fun to watch if you don't surf. They keep the area clean. Parking is for a fee. It is most beautiful at sunset. If you are not a good swimmer do not go swimming in the water or let your kids go swimming alone. There are life guards most of the time and they are great, but really you could drown. Zuma has a strong riptide that will just take you away and if you are not a strong swimmer this will not be fun. I don't swim there anymore even though I have all the Red Cross cards you can get for swimming, even lifeguard. But that was some time ago, I am much older now, and will not go beyond my calfs. It is also cold water all winter and nippy in the summer. Be careful. The lagoon area is a great place to see birds. The place one of the largest, widest, and popular stretches of sand in Malibu. It is known for its clean water and has been used many times for and appearances in TV shows and movies like Baywatch and Planet of the Apes. It really is stunning. read more

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My favorite beach. So clean, not Like Venice or Santa Monica. The quality of the beach and the water is amazing Guests don't play music load and everyone is so respectful of each person and their belongings read more

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I just want to add an update to my previous review, with a shoutout to the lifeguards here. Today my kids were in the water with friends and my son actually got swept further out and couldn't get back... they were all struggling a bit. The lifeguards acted quickly and within seconds one was on his way out, 2 more ran in and one was on standby and then the truck came with the lights and horns. It was a relief to have the kids out of the water and safe, and the guards were so fast and efficient. I am not a good swimmer, that's why I don't even go in the ocean. I trust these lifeguards 100%! read more

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This is my favorite beach to go to during the summertime. We have good memories here, relaxing and having picnics. It's a pretty clean beach and we always have a good time here. read more

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Beautiful beach. Very clean. Even on a holiday, it wasn't overcrowded. Good amount of parking. It's overpriced on holidays and concessions are also closed on holidays. I saw some people parking at meters just outside the entrance, but I'd rather park closer. Also, there's a Vons close by where you can get sandwiches and snacks. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

This is my go to beach when it starts to heat up in the Valley. There's ample of parking (if you come early enough) or hopefully you find parking along PCH. But make sure you read the signs as I saw a few cars being towed away. The beach is nice and clean and you don't have to walk a mile to get to the ocean, like you do at Huntington Beach. It doesn't get too crowded and you have enough room to spread out. The people that come here are respectful and are not there to make any type of trouble. There were lifeguards walking along the shore as the waves were pretty high and choppy. read more

We originally drove to a different beach nearby, but quickly realized it was going to be a long walk just to reach the sand. I have small kids and bunch of beach equipment, so that was a dealbreaker for me. We decided to leave and found this beach just a few minutes away. The access here is super easy; you just park and walk right across the lot straight onto the sand. It was clean, and honestly coming from Nevada, pretty much any beach feels like paradise to me lmaoo Parking took a little while to find but to be fair we did go on a Saturday. $15 for all day parking isn't too bad. The only downside was the restrooms. They were really dirty. We could only find one stall that was actually usable, the rest were filthy. I'm probably gonna go somewhere else next time but overall it wasn't a bad experience. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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A beautiful stretch of beach that's always a must. Along the famous highway 1, it's a nice big beach thats for perfect day outing. Parking wise, there's street parking along PCH, paid parking lot on PCH, street along the beach as well as another paid lot on the beach. Depending on the time, parking is a bitch as it's always full. It's a pretty wide stretch of beach so there's plenty of spaces for laying out and so on. One side has all the volleyball court. We arrived around 11:30 and luckily found street parking along the beach. It was nice out, sunny and a good amount of people along close to the water. We found a spot and made ourself comfortable. There was a good half dozen or so school buses parked where the volleyball courts are. Either a summer camp or school is back in session and it was a beach day. The odd thing, after an hour we arrived, the clouds started to roll in. Within minutes, it went from sunshine to overcast and gloomy. Stayed like that for a good hour and half. Even looking out to the hillside, it was so gloomy that you couldn't see down the beach. When the clouds burned off, it was back to beautiful beach weather. Lifeguard towers were in full force. We did notice that security on four wheelers were patrolling. They did questioned some people. It's a beautiful stretch of beach if you haven't been. The water was beautiful and looked clean but the waves were on a different level. They were pretty massive so lifeguards were on full force. People did go in the water but not a lot. To make it more magical, there were schools of dolphins swimming close by the shore. Even more fun, you could see them basically surfing the waves. That brought everyone on their feet trying to get the perfect picture. There's a good amount of restrooms and showers. It was actually clean which is a major plus. There's also a little lagoon that's a hangout for all the seagulls and pelican. Sand was soft and hot. Beach was clean, water was clean so it's was a good experience. It's a must if you haven't been. read more

One of the famous beaches in Southern California for its big parking lot and large stretch of beach. The parking is so close to the beach that taking your stuff to the beach is so convenient. No need to walk for long. There are lifeguards on duty and many public restrooms and showers. The fee for parking is $8 weekdays and $15 on weekends. You can also park on the PCH but not easy to find on the weekends. A great spot for families with small kids. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

Such a great spot! It's clean, peaceful, and not too crowded. Perfect for photography--highly recommend it. read more

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This is one of the nicest beaches I've been to in Los Angeles. It's also massively long so there is tons of room for anyone to come by and spread out. Even on the hottest of summer days you will be able to find parking in their lot ($15 up front) and some prime beach real estate to plop down your blankets & gear. I also really like that it's a long shoreline. We have 3 small kids and there is plenty of space for them to run around in the break without having to worry about things getting too deep too fast. If you are in to skim boarding and or boogie boarding, this is a great beach for that. And yet, if you just go a little further out, it's a great spot for some surfing. It really offers something for everyone. Bathrooms are nice. When we were there everything was clean and smelt nice. Definitely a step above other beach bathrooms I've been to throughout the city. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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This beach is one of the places plenty of people travel to visit so it can feel pretty packed it's not as wide as other beaches especially in other parts of LA county or Orange County but it's still quite a long beach. Worth checking out if you're from out of town but parking can be a hassle since there is a lot and some street parking but can be pretty busy when it's a hot day. read more

Zuma Beach - The beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

Zuma has always been my tried and true. It's easy to get to, there's loads of parking, and the bathrooms are pretty decent for public beach restrooms. Waves are great, lifeguards are present and plenty of beach space to picnic. There's really no bad time of year to come, though in the summer months it definitely gets more crowded. I wish there were more trash cans present on the beach part as well as some sort of food options available. I know there used to be some small food stands, but they have since closed. Love coming here with the family for a beach picnic. Love that the bathrooms have showers to rinse off after a day of playing in the sand. read more

Peaceful and serene. Not over crowded and super busy. The only con was parking is very, very limited and few. Most made their own space. Life guards were on duty and walking around talking to beach visitors. The sand was clean and not full of yuk. Jus a beautiful costal spot to visit. read more

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I only go to the beach about once a year because I'm not really a beach person. However, the family wanted to go, so I grabbed our beach chairs and sand toys, and off we went. This beach seems cleaner than many of the others I've been to, and they have multiple lifeguard stations, which makes me feel a lot safer, especially with so many young children around. There is some street parking available, or you can park in their paid lot. The prices vary depending on the season, but in July 2025 it was $15. I didn't get a chance to check out the bathrooms, but they do have them every few yards, which is very helpful. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

One of the most reliable and consistent beaches that my friends and I enjoy choosing to go to!! Parking lot entrance is easy to be found along the PCH, and you pay $8 daily rate to park inside with so many open lots and spaces to choose from. You can go during the crowd rush but still find a spot. We visited recently where it was fairly empty (a Tuesday afternoon at around 2-3PM) and had a pleasant experience. I like the width of this beach's coast, with the sand being a good distance away from the lot and the waters and waves being active. The sand is soft but I'm sometimes careful as there could be sharp surprised (just a general fear of mine). There are many trash cans with closable lids that help keep the beach clean. Several lifeguard posts are stationed and depending on which area of the beach you park at, there are some with volleyball nets to play at! There's always seagulls scanning the area and I've seen them once flock a bag of chips laying around so definitely keep your food hidden! They like to prey and watch the set ups that are left behind. No dogs allowed on the beach but they can be walked on the concrete paths. Thankfully Leo Carillo beach just down the coast is dog-friendly! *bathrooms here, but if it's an empty (less crowded) day they are closed and you need to use the porta potties nearby *usually windy so have sweaters/pants ready! *pleasant swimming experience read more

Zuma Beach - Coast views - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

Decides to come see the sunset. Very beautiful beach, just be very careful where you step. We found hooks from people fishing that I almost stepped on People fishing, please be aware and careful of the stuff you have. Will probably visit earlier in the day read more

If Laguna is my fav beach in OC, Zuma would have to be my fav in LA. I'll always carry a soft spot for this beach because it was a place that always welcomed me with open arms when I was at my all time lowest point in my life. It's nice coming back to places with a fresh new outlook on life :) read more

When you want a low key beach, then this is the place to go to in Malibu! This place is away from all the store, restaurants and tourists attractions of Santa Monica. The beach offers both paid and street parking on highway one. The paid parking lot is gigantic: it stretches across the whole length of the beach! For street parking, read the signs carefully as they do ticket! The beach also offers multiple/bathroom shower houses. Nothing fancy but gets the job done! The beach is divided between surf and swimming area. The far end from parking lot entrance is for surfing! If you do get hungry: on highway one not too far away, you could walk, there is a small shopping center with a fancy grocery store, Starbucks and two causal restaurants. Enjoy your day at the beach! read more

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I live about 20-30 min away from this beach and I decided to brave the crowds and see if it was worth it. Unfortunately the sun didn't decide to make an appearance which of course isn't the beaches fault. The beach was sort of packed but not the worst. The parking was too much money in my opinion. The bathrooms were close but very dirty and smelly. The constant presence of the police on their little cars was also kind of annoying. I probably wouldn't return unless it's a day when no one goes. read more

This is a great beach to visit to play in the sand, jump in waves, boogie board and see dolphins! If you're looking for a fun summer day at the beach with kids or a tranquil winter walk along this is the place to go. A bit further North than Santa Monica but way out of the crowds! Bathrooms are usually open in summer (not so much winter so be aware!) and are spaced well along the beach. Zuma is a longggggg stretch of beach with ample pay or street parking. If you park on the street make SURE to check the signs! The sand is nothing to write home about but still works well to dig! Edit: bathrooms are now porta potties only! Takes from a 5 to 3 stars! Rinse off stations still open. read more

Zuma Beach - A pod of about 10 dolphins - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

What a fantastic beach! The waves were awesome. There was plenty of parking in the paid parking lot. They had lifeguards on the beach, paying attention to what was going on. I'm grateful they had bathrooms, but they were pretty gross. read more

A wide, clean beach with plenty of space to relax and enjoy the ocean. I liked how open it felt, and it was easy to find a spot to unwind without feeling too crowded. read more

Zuma Beach checks all the boxes: beautiful, peaceful, and super convenient. Parking's right by the sand, so you're not hauling gear forever, perfect for families. Bring a book and let the waves (and your kids) be your soundtrack - one of life's simple pleasures. read more

I absolutely love Zuma beach it's my favorite. I've been going since I was a child. There's no other beach in California that I'd rather visit and I give the beach itself five stars. I especially love seeing the seal swim through and the dolphins frolicking in the waves. I came here today, though to warn people, especially those who drive cars that have sensors in the front which don't allow for front license plates. When we entered, I noticed a lot of of police presence. There is a reason for this. They watch you as you enter the gate to check if you have a front license plate they then follow you to where you park and as soon as you park and leave to the beach, they leave a ticket on your car. The fine for no front license plate is $58. I'll pay it but next time I'll be sure to bring my husband's vehicle which has both the front and back license plate. Unfortunately, my car does not allow for one. read more

Zuma Beach in Malibu is an awesome large sandy beach. The beach is generally not so crowded. It offers volleyball courts and bathrooms. There is a charge for parking. We had a wedding on beach and it beautiful especially when the sunset. read more

The beach was beautiful, the bathrooms were clean and spacious, there were plenty of places to shower off the sand, the lifeguard presence was impressive and the parking was ample (and cheap). Overall, I would give this beach a 10 out of 10, that is until I learned of the shark presence. We thought it was amazing that we saw so many dolphins in the three days we visited the beach (we are from out of town). There was one time we thought we saw a baby shark swimming right next to us as we were boggy boarding, but thought we might be wrong. It was then we did the research. I HIGHLY recommend googling "sharks and Zuma beach". The facilities, beach and parking were fantastic and overall we had a great experience, however we will not be back. I have small kids and it's just not worth the gamble. read more

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I have a new love for Zuma... We celebrated our wedding for the day and cut our wedding cake and had a few glasses of wine and just stared at the big blue! It was 8 bucks to get in... we paid but we also seen lots of cars parking on the side of the road and jumping over to get in. There is sooo much parking and the stretch of the beach is so long. We took our electric bikes and rode through the parking lots up and down the entire place. We seen lots of birds and lots of families but overall it was not too busy. The bathrooms were clean so that's a major plus for me... Check it out if you are in the Malibu area! read more

Zuma Beach - Super cute bird that kept getting a little too close - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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I'm a LA born and raised type. From the sfv. 818. This is our best/closest beach. Open. Free parking. Beautiful.

It's a cool chill beach, today was the best weather for a beach day for me. The waves were strong and beautiful to look at. I was really impressed by the number of lifeguards on duty and their diligence watching over the swimmers. They were always on alert, monitoring the severity of the tides and waves, making sure people were safe. Restrooms, however, were out of order but Porta-loos were available. Last but not least, I wasn't quite sure why there were sheriffs driving ATVs around the beach and lurking around people. Personally, I prefer other Malibu beaches such as El Matador beach due to the scenery and beautiful rock formations. At Zuma, though it's easy to park and a couple of volleyball tents are available, there was nothing really exciting to look at. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

4 stars because there are times when you don't want to visit this beach and of course common sense dictates that is when it's crowded. I'll leave a few tips under the tip section on that but as far as the beauty of the beach and the area, it's hard to argue that it's one of the better beaches in the Bu. I recommend it and try and get here earlier in the morning. read more

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Such a great beach to go to! I used to come here with my family when I was younger. It's not too packed but sometimes there is a lot of people there. But there is so much sand and space that a lot of people can fit and still be spread out from each other. The people there are super nice and there is always a lot of lifeguards around so you feel safe. They have tons of volleyball nets to play on. Some sections of the beach have rocks in the water but if you walk out a little bit into the water, it isn't as rocky and the further you go there is no rocks. As soon as me and my friends got there I went to go out in the water and saw something jump out of the water in the distance, then saw a fin! I was a little scared because my first thought was a shark but I guess it was a dolphin, so I felt a little better and got in the water! Highly recommend coming to this beach it's very family friendly and they even have a good shack for food and drinks! read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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My companion and I were in Los Angeles for an event and we decided to stop by Zuma beach because my companion had been in an area with no beach and hasn't seen the beach for so long. So we looked up different beaches in Malibu to go to and he ended up picking this one due to the review. So, what could I say...other than oblige! It took us a while to drive to Malibu given a traffic (despite covid!!) on a Saturday afternoon. We got there about an hour before the sunset..so it was quite a good timing. We were quite lucky to quickly find a spot to park on the street along that beach as well. The walk on the sandy beach was nice and pleasant. The view was quite nice and the color of the red sunset reflecting on the sky was quite pleasant to watch. The only thing I didn't like was that the people there seemed to be less COVID cautious. Pretty much no one was wearing a mask (despite a quite crowded beach!!). Overall, a great, beautiful and popular beach for sure. It was also pleasantly clean with minimal trash! We were glad we visited there for a nice sunset watch..and my companion ended up with a bonus photo that he now uses as his cell phone background! read more

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So as others have said parking is expensive and it could get crowded but not as crowded as Santa Monica. It's a bit farther of drive but worth it at times. When I went it was not as crowded. I'd suggest adding more trash cans to increase the cleanliness. I like that life guards are around and they have little cafe but i haven't tried it yet, but it's convenient. read more

Zuma Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

We only came here because there was a crazy long line to get into the parking lot for Point Dume, and this was next door. Parking is $15 per vehicle. Just a long flat stretch of beach and water. It is most definitely not the prettiest beach ever. But quick and easy. Unfortunately when we tried to go swimming, there are a million rocks by the shore, so you will most likely get cut up. Our friend was bleeding from trying to body surf the waves. Be careful out there! read more

This is one of the cleaner, and sometimes quieter beaches (depending on which life guard tower you sit by). There's paid parking near Tower 7 ($8, and no leaving and coming back), and some free parking along PCH, if you can score it. There's restrooms as well. Came here for a kid's birthday party about a month ago, and enjoyed eating tamales (life hack: a cooler does just as good of a job keeping tamales warm, as it can keeping drinks cold), and pastries brought by the party hosts. The water was little rough, and little less swimmable than at my previous visit. I still enjoyed myself! read more

Conditions are often just right for some excellent body surfing. Swells can get large at times. Lifeguards will call you out if you're obviously not looking like you can handle the surf. Parking can get super packed on the weekends during peak season. Very accessible sandy beach. read more

The bathrooms and shower areas were gross and in need of serious repairs, none of the food stands were operating, the Beach itself was good.

Pretty big beach with more shoreline and "beach" than some of the other beaches. Parking was $8 and not too hard to get on a Sunday afternoon. Not very picturesque since it's very flat, but it has nice vibes and more people. read more

Zuma Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

Zuma Beach is a great beach to spend the day at. street parking or a paid lot available. They have clean bathrooms and showers. Beautiful beach but the waves are fairly high so be cautious when getting in. read more