Zuma Beach

Zuma Beach is a county-run beach at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, about 35 miles (56 km) west of downtown Los Angeles. It is among the largest and widest beaches in Los Angeles County, stretching roughly two miles with broad, soft, pale sand backed by a long run of parking lots and the Santa Monica Mountains rising beyond the highway. The water is a deeper blue and generally clearer than at the city beaches farther south. The coast is fully open to the Pacific, so surf is regular, and the strong shorebreak in summer and fall makes it a favorite for bodysurfing and bodyboarding but demands caution from weaker swimmers. Rip currents are a known hazard, and visitors should swim near the lifeguard towers. The atmosphere is relaxed and local, popular with families, school groups and surfers alike, and it feels more spacious than the pier beaches. Amenities include Los Angeles County lifeguards through the day, restrooms, outdoor showers, a snack bar and volleyball courts, plus large parking lots that charge a daily fee, about $10-15 in summer. The lots rarely fill except on the hottest holiday weekends. There is no practical public transit option, so most visitors arrive by car or rideshare via Pacific Coast Highway. Food options on site are limited to the snack bar, and many visitors bring picnics or stop at cafes in Malibu on the drive. The sand is wide enough that the walk from the lot to the water can be long on a hot day, so carrying shade, water and a cart or wagon is common. Nearby Point Dume and the sea cliffs offer a short drive to a more scenic viewpoint, and the beach is a popular location for filming and events. Winter brings larger swell, fewer visitors and occasional beach closures after storms.