Will Rogers State Beach
Will Rogers State Beach is the state beach directly north of Santa Monica State Beach, at 17700 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. It is a separate beach run by Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors, not the City of Santa Monica. It has over 3 miles of sand, volleyball courts, picnic tables and lifeguards during daylight hours, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail starts here.
Will Rogers at a Glance
Will Rogers vs Santa Monica State Beach
The two beaches touch, and many people treat them as one stretch of sand, but they are run by different agencies. Santa Monica State Beach is operated by the City of Santa Monica. Will Rogers State Beach has been operated by the County of Los Angeles since 1975. That means different parking lots, rates and rules.
LA County describes Will Rogers as less crowded than its neighbors in Malibu and Santa Monica, though busy in summer. It is about 103 acres of beach, good for sunbathing and swimming, and popular for surfing, surf fishing, sailing and windsurfing. Beach wheelchairs are available.
Parking
LA County lists these lots:
- Lot 1, 14800 Pacific Coast Highway: dawn to dusk.
- Lot 3, 15800 Pacific Coast Highway: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Lot 5, 17580 Pacific Coast Highway: closed to the public for wildfire recovery work.
Street parking is also available. Will Rogers is an easy walk from the Annenberg Community Beach House, and the City of Santa Monica sends visitors to the Will Rogers lots when the Beach House lot is full.
Lifeguards and Facilities
LA County lists lifeguards during daylight hours, a seasonal beach access mat, volleyball courts and picnic tables. LA County Fire lifeguards serve this beach, as they do Santa Monica.
The Bike Trail Starts Here
The Marvin Braude Bike Trail begins at Will Rogers State Beach and runs 22 miles south along the sand, through Santa Monica and Venice to Torrance Beach.
Who Will Rogers Was
The beach is named for Will Rogers, the actor, philosopher and cowboy whose syndicated newspaper column ran in more papers than any other writer's. In the early 1930s he was Hollywood's highest-paid star. In the 1920s he bought land in the hills above, which became Will Rogers State Historic Park after his widow, Betty, gave the ranch to the State of California in 1944. She also donated the land for the state beach. Rogers died in a plane crash in 1935.
Getting There
Drive north on Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica, or take Metro bus 534 to the Pacific Coast Highway / Porto Marina stop.
Will Rogers State Beach FAQ
Is Will Rogers State Beach part of Santa Monica?
No. It is a separate state beach just north of Santa Monica State Beach, in Pacific Palisades, operated by LA County Beaches and Harbors since 1975. The two beaches meet, and the bike path links them.
Where do you park at Will Rogers State Beach?
LA County runs Lot 1 at 14800 PCH (dawn to dusk) and Lot 3 at 15800 PCH (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Lot 5 at 17580 PCH is closed for wildfire recovery. Street parking is also available.
Are there lifeguards at Will Rogers State Beach?
Yes. LA County lists beach lifeguards during daylight hours at Will Rogers State Beach.
Is Will Rogers State Beach good for swimming?
LA County describes it as sandy and good for sunbathing and swimming, and less crowded than Santa Monica or Malibu outside summer. Check water quality and swim near a staffed lifeguard tower.