Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Entry to pier | Free |
| Ferris wheel ride | $10 |
| All-day ride wristband | $39.95 |
| Aquarium | $10 suggested donation |
| Pier hours | 24/7 (rides close 10-11pm) |
| Parking | $16/day pier lot |
| Best time | Weekday afternoon, sunset |
The wooden Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and is the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast. It sticks 1,600 feet into Santa Monica Bay, with Pacific Park amusement rides midway and a classic carousel from 1922 at the entrance.
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Pacific Park Rides
Pacific Park is the small amusement park on the pier deck. Twelve rides including the signature Pacific Wheel — the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel — and the West Coaster, a compact steel roller coaster that loops out over the ocean.
- Pacific Wheel (Ferris wheel): $10
- West Coaster: $10
- Inkie's Scrambler: $5
- Sea Dragon: $6
- Midway games: $3-5 each
- All-day unlimited wristband: $39.95 adult / $21.95 child
- Sunset Deal wristband (after 5pm): $24.95
For most families the unlimited wristband pays off after 4-5 rides. If you only want the Ferris wheel for the view, buy the single ride — the wheel climbs ~130 feet and gives a clean shot of the beach and Malibu mountains.
Ride the Pacific Wheel at sunset (book the ride 20 minutes before sunset). The LED lighting switches on at dusk so you get daylight views on the way up and neon-lit views on the way down.
Route 66 End Sign
The unofficial "End of the Trail" Route 66 sign sits near the pier entrance — one of the most photographed signs in California. It's a re-creation installed in 2009 by the California Historic Route 66 Association.
The historical western terminus of Route 66 is actually a few blocks inland, at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, marked by a small plaque near the Palisades Park bluffs. Purists take both photos.
Walking to Venice Beach
Walking from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach Boardwalk is a classic LA experience. The route follows the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (a.k.a. The Strand) — a paved beachfront path that runs 22 miles total from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance.
- Santa Monica Pier to Venice Pier: 2.5 miles
- Walking time: 45-60 minutes
- Biking time: 15 minutes (rentals $12/hour near pier)
- Key stops: Muscle Beach Venice, Venice Skate Park, Venice Canals, Windward Circle
Bike rentals on the pier run $12-15 per hour or $40 per day. Electric scooters from Lime and Bird are cheaper per trip but technically not allowed on the bike path in many sections.
Fishing and the Beach
You can fish from Santa Monica Pier without a California fishing license — all public ocean piers in California are license-exempt. Bring your own rod or rent from the bait shop at the far end of the pier (~$12/hour, bait included).
Common catches: Pacific mackerel, bonito, jack smelt, corbina, occasionally halibut. The best time is early morning (5-8am) on an incoming tide. Local anglers favor live anchovy or frozen squid.
Below the pier, the beach is wide, soft and free. Showers and bathrooms are available at the north and south pier bases. Lifeguards staff the beach 9am-6pm in summer. The water runs 58-70°F year-round — wetsuit weather even in August.
Where to Eat
On-pier food is tourist-priced but a few standouts are worth the premium:
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. — chain but reliable, great ocean views
- The Albright — excellent fish and chips, lobster rolls, at the pier entrance
- Pier Burger — classic American burger, open late
- Soda Jerks — 1950s-style milkshakes and malts
Walk two blocks inland to 3rd Street Promenade for better value and variety — Tocaya (Mexican), Tender Greens, Sweetgreen, and dozens more. The Santa Monica Place rooftop food hall has ocean views without the pier markup.
Parking and Getting There
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|
| Pier deck lot | $16/day | Closest but often full by 11am in summer |
| Beach lots 1-5 | $3-15 | 1/4 mile walk, cheaper off-season |
| 3rd Street Promenade garages | $1.50/hr | First 2 hours free, 5-min walk |
| Metro E Line | $1.75 | Downtown Santa Monica station, 10-min walk |
| Big Blue Bus | $1.25 | Routes 1, 2, 7 from all over Westside |
If you are staying on the Westside without a car, the Metro E Line (Expo) from DTLA to Downtown Santa Monica costs $1.75 and takes 45 minutes. The pier is a 10-minute walk from the terminus.
For sunset photos, the best angle is from the beach just south of the pier looking back at the pier silhouette with the Ferris wheel lit up.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Entry to pier | Free |
| Ferris wheel ride | $10 |
| All-day ride wristband | $39.95 |
| Aquarium | $10 suggested donation |
| Pier hours | 24/7 (rides close 10-11pm) |
| Parking | $16/day pier lot |
| Best time | Weekday afternoon, sunset |
The wooden Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and is the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast. It sticks 1,600 feet into Santa Monica Bay, with Pacific Park amusement rides midway and a classic carousel from 1922 at the entrance.
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning a Los Angeles trip? Get a personalised LA travel budget — hotels near Santa Monica, car hire, attractions and daily costs.
Pacific Park Rides
Pacific Park is the small amusement park on the pier deck. Twelve rides including the signature Pacific Wheel — the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel — and the West Coaster, a compact steel roller coaster that loops out over the ocean.
- Pacific Wheel (Ferris wheel): $10
- West Coaster: $10
- Inkie's Scrambler: $5
- Sea Dragon: $6
- Midway games: $3-5 each
- All-day unlimited wristband: $39.95 adult / $21.95 child
- Sunset Deal wristband (after 5pm): $24.95
For most families the unlimited wristband pays off after 4-5 rides. If you only want the Ferris wheel for the view, buy the single ride — the wheel climbs ~130 feet and gives a clean shot of the beach and Malibu mountains.
Ride the Pacific Wheel at sunset (book the ride 20 minutes before sunset). The LED lighting switches on at dusk so you get daylight views on the way up and neon-lit views on the way down.
Route 66 End Sign
The unofficial "End of the Trail" Route 66 sign sits near the pier entrance — one of the most photographed signs in California. It's a re-creation installed in 2009 by the California Historic Route 66 Association.
The historical western terminus of Route 66 is actually a few blocks inland, at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, marked by a small plaque near the Palisades Park bluffs. Purists take both photos.
Walking to Venice Beach
Walking from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach Boardwalk is a classic LA experience. The route follows the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (a.k.a. The Strand) — a paved beachfront path that runs 22 miles total from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance.
- Santa Monica Pier to Venice Pier: 2.5 miles
- Walking time: 45-60 minutes
- Biking time: 15 minutes (rentals $12/hour near pier)
- Key stops: Muscle Beach Venice, Venice Skate Park, Venice Canals, Windward Circle
Bike rentals on the pier run $12-15 per hour or $40 per day. Electric scooters from Lime and Bird are cheaper per trip but technically not allowed on the bike path in many sections.
Fishing and the Beach
You can fish from Santa Monica Pier without a California fishing license — all public ocean piers in California are license-exempt. Bring your own rod or rent from the bait shop at the far end of the pier (~$12/hour, bait included).
Common catches: Pacific mackerel, bonito, jack smelt, corbina, occasionally halibut. The best time is early morning (5-8am) on an incoming tide. Local anglers favor live anchovy or frozen squid.
Below the pier, the beach is wide, soft and free. Showers and bathrooms are available at the north and south pier bases. Lifeguards staff the beach 9am-6pm in summer. The water runs 58-70°F year-round — wetsuit weather even in August.
Where to Eat
On-pier food is tourist-priced but a few standouts are worth the premium:
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. — chain but reliable, great ocean views
- The Albright — excellent fish and chips, lobster rolls, at the pier entrance
- Pier Burger — classic American burger, open late
- Soda Jerks — 1950s-style milkshakes and malts
Walk two blocks inland to 3rd Street Promenade for better value and variety — Tocaya (Mexican), Tender Greens, Sweetgreen, and dozens more. The Santa Monica Place rooftop food hall has ocean views without the pier markup.
Parking and Getting There
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|
| Pier deck lot | $16/day | Closest but often full by 11am in summer |
| Beach lots 1-5 | $3-15 | 1/4 mile walk, cheaper off-season |
| 3rd Street Promenade garages | $1.50/hr | First 2 hours free, 5-min walk |
| Metro E Line | $1.75 | Downtown Santa Monica station, 10-min walk |
| Big Blue Bus | $1.25 | Routes 1, 2, 7 from all over Westside |
If you are staying on the Westside without a car, the Metro E Line (Expo) from DTLA to Downtown Santa Monica costs $1.75 and takes 45 minutes. The pier is a 10-minute walk from the terminus.
For sunset photos, the best angle is from the beach just south of the pier looking back at the pier silhouette with the Ferris wheel lit up.