Running in LA: Santa Monica
Great Places to Run in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a vast and diverse area. Each area below offers something a little different and is great for all types of runs.
Running in San Vicente Boulevard/Running at Santa Monica Pier Area
Santa Monica is well-known in Southern California as a beautiful city overlooking a beautiful coast. The address can be found at the LAparks website. To get there, take the 405, exit at Sunset, and go west. Click here for a view of the area and help with specific directions after leaving the 405. There is parking (metered) along Ocean Avenue (next to the park), as well as free parking in some partly residential streets (a good example is the area left to the star along Ocean, near Adelaide).
A wide grassy median runs for miles along the center of San Vicente Boulevard. Along Ocean Avenue, running along the coast and perpendicular to San Vicente, there are dirt trails and sidewalk in Pacific Palisades park that parallel and overlook the beach, that lead all the way to the Santa Monica Pier. Down on the beach, there are miles of bike paths that can be run on as well.
Places to Run
San Vicente Boulevard has a shaded, wide grassy median that separates the two sides of the road. It is one of the most popular locations to run in Los Angeles, especially on the weekends, when one sees a runner or biker everywhere one looks. The grass is cut medium in length, and fairly well-kept. As there are trees along the median, there are occasionally large tree roots sticking out which should be watched for, but they are easy to see. From Ocean Avenue (where the grassy median starts) to the end of the grassy median at Goshen Avenue, it is approximately four miles. The grassy median is meant for runners; it is not simply something to divide the road. In most places, it would fit over 20 runners, running side-by-side. It is mostly a slight uphill going north, and of course, mostly a slight downhill heading back.
Perpendicular to the southern start of San Vicente Boulevard is Ocean Avenue. It could be characterized as a mini oceanfront park, since it has shaded grassy areas and public restrooms. The trails and the sidewalk go parallel to the coast; it is approximately one and one-half miles to the Santa Monica Pier from the start of the San Vicente grassy median.
There is a long bike path that runs through the sand down at the beach. This can get fairly crowded, so it is important to stay alert – the bikes have the right-of-way. Or, if desired, one could run barefoot for a mile or two along the sand.
Why Come Here?
San Vicente Boulevard’s grassy median is a good place to go for an easy run. Because it is an out-and-back, and the “out” is slightly uphill, one can speed up running the “back” and turn it into an exhilarating finish. The easy connection of the median and Ocean Avenue can make for a never-dull long run, especially with all the other people who are likely to be around if you go on the weekend. And, of course, there is a nice cool breeze and view of the beach.
Great Places to Run in Los Angeles: Part I discusses running in Van Nuys Sherman Oaks park and running in Malibu Creek State Park. discusses running in the Sepulveda Basin area and running at Woodley Park.
Great Places to Run in Los Angeles: Part II
Great Places to Run in Los Angeles: Part IV discusses running in Griffith Park.
A Beach!
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