Zuma Beach

30000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA

Last updated 8/27/2026

Zuma Beach, Los Angeles County's largest public beach at roughly two miles long, sits along Malibu's stretch of Pacific Coast Highway and offers a noticeably wider, less crowded shoreline than the more densely packed beaches closer to central LA, with consistently good surf conditions drawing a dedicated local surfing community. Its position well outside the densest parts of the city, requiring a genuine drive up the coast from downtown LA or Santa Monica, has kept Zuma somewhat less crowded than its size and quality might otherwise suggest, appealing specifically to visitors willing to make the trip for more space and cleaner sand. The beach's consistent waves and wide, gently sloping shore have made it a popular spot for both surfing and general recreational swimming, with Malibu's broader coastal identity as a surf-culture hub reflected directly in Zuma's mix of dedicated surfers and casual beachgoers. For a Los Angeles beaches list, Zuma is the essential "worth the drive up the coast" entry — LA County's largest public beach, offering considerably more space and consistently good surf than the more crowded beaches closer to the city center.

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Top 6 Beaches in Los Angeles
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