Zuma Beach Complete Guide — Hours, Amenities & What to Bring
Zuma Beach is the biggest and most practical beach in Malibu: 1.8 miles of wide sand across 105 acres, around 2,000 parking spaces, lifeguards, restrooms, showers and food at both ends of the beach. This guide covers everything you need before you go — the exact hours, what the beach actually has, the rules that catch visitors out, what to pack, and the best things to do within a few minutes' drive.
Zuma Beach opening hours
Zuma Beach follows the sun rather than a clock: our opening hours page carries the site's rule, sunrise to sunset every day, and the county's own beach rules prohibit loitering between midnight and 6 a.m. The clock hours you will see quoted belong to the car parks — the county lists parking and street parking as 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The attended lots close earlier than that, on a seasonal calendar of their own: roughly 6:30 p.m. in winter and 8:30 p.m. in summer, so if you are coming for a late-afternoon or sunset visit, check the gate time posted at the entrance or call (310) 821-1081. Lifeguards are on duty during daylight hours only, and overnight parking is not allowed.
What to bring to Zuma Beach
Zuma is served by food stands and a restaurant, so you do not have to bring everything, but these are the items people most often forget:
- Sunscreen and lip balm — the marine layer burns off by midday and the sand reflects hard. Reef-safe sunscreen is the local norm.
- Cash or a card for parking — the pay stations take Visa/Mastercard and $1 or $5 bills only, give no change, and want a $2 minimum on a card. See the parking guide for rates.
- Water and snacks — there are food stands at both ends of the beach and the Sunset Restaurant at the southern end, but lines are long on summer weekends.
- Towels and a change of clothes — outdoor showers are provided for rinsing off.
- A wetsuit if you plan to swim or surf. Zuma's water is colder than at other LA beaches; most people are comfortable in a springsuit or full wetsuit outside the warmest weeks.
- A beach umbrella — but not a tent. Tents and overnight shelters are prohibited on LA County beaches.
- Footwear for hot sand and a light layer for the afternoon breeze.
Leave at home: your dog (dogs are not permitted on Zuma or any LA County beach), alcohol, glass containers, smoking materials, and fireworks. Fires and barbecues are also prohibited. If you need a dog-friendly day out, our Zuma Beach dogs and pet policy page lists the nearby alternatives, including the dog beach at Leo Carrillo.
What's at Zuma Beach
| Amenity | Details |
|---|---|
| Beach | 1.8 miles of sand over 105 acres — the widest beach in Malibu |
| Parking | 8 lots, ~2,000 spaces, including accessible bays |
| Restrooms | Yes, spaced along the beach |
| Showers | Yes, outdoor rinse showers |
| Food | Food stands at both ends of the beach, plus a restaurant (The Sunset) at the south end |
| Volleyball | Volleyball nets available |
| Picnic areas | Picnic tables available |
| Lifeguards | On duty during daylight hours |
| Accessibility | Beach wheelchairs available; access mat in place approximately April–October |
| Transit | Metro Line 134 along Pacific Coast Highway (the corridor's route since the 534 was renumbered) |
| Surfing | Surf lessons and board/wetsuit rentals through permitted surf schools at the beach |
| Dogs | Not permitted |
Things to do at Zuma
Swimming and bodyboarding are the classics, though the surf can be rough with rip currents — swim near a lifeguard tower. The beach is popular with surfers and windsurfers, volleyball players, and in winter it is a good vantage point for grey whales on their migration. Full details are on our Zuma Beach activities page, and if you want to learn to surf, see Malibu surf lessons and rentals.
Nearby: what to pair with a Zuma day
- Point Dume Natural Preserve — five minutes south of Zuma, a bluff-top walk to one of the best whale-watching lookouts in Malibu (December through April); State Parks describes two miles of scenic trails, and at low tide a spur and staircase drop to Big Dume Beach and its tide pools. Parking is the hard part: State Parks says free two-hour parking at the top of Point Dume is available but "extremely limited", and the county lists 373 spaces for the Point Dume Beach lot — which is closed due to service road erosion, with State Parks reporting on 28 August 2026 that road access to the lower lot is unavailable. See the Point Dume Beach guide before you go.
- Westward Beach — the beach at the foot of Point Dume, with free street parking along Westward Beach Road. Access is restricted at present — the road to the lower lot is the one State Parks closed — and dogs are not permitted on the Point Dume trails or the beach.
- Trancas Country Market — just across Pacific Coast Highway from the Zuma/Point Dume area, a 17-acre market with shops and casual dining; the easy stop for coffee, groceries or ice cream on the way home.
- Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach — about 10–15 minutes south, for pier dining and Malibu's surf history. Compare the two in Zuma Beach vs Malibu Beach.
For food options in and around the beach, see the Zuma Beach food guide; for the best months to visit see our Zuma Beach weather page.
Getting there
Zuma Beach sits at 30050 Pacific Coast Highway, about 30 minutes north-west of Santa Monica via PCH, or via the 101 and Kanan Road. Driving directions are on our how to get to Zuma Beach page, and the lot layout is on the map. For parking rates, gate hours and free alternatives, start with the Zuma Beach parking guide.
FAQ
What time does Zuma Beach open?
Parking opens at 6 a.m. and parking and street parking run to 10 p.m., while the beach itself is open sunrise to sunset every day. The attended parking gates close earlier than 10 p.m. — about 6:30 p.m. in winter and 8:30 p.m. in summer.
Is Zuma Beach dog friendly?
No. Dogs are not permitted on Zuma Beach, in its parking lots, or on any LA County beach. Service animals are the documented exception.
Are there restrooms and showers at Zuma Beach?
Yes — restrooms and outdoor showers are provided, along with food stands at both ends of the beach, volleyball nets, picnic tables and beach wheelchairs.
Do you need cash for Zuma Beach parking?
No, but it helps. The pay stations take Visa and Mastercard as well as $1 and $5 bills, give no change, and require a $2 minimum on a card.
Hours, rates and amenities were verified against the LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors' Zuma Beach page and parking rate sheet for the 2026–27 season. The county can change fees, gate hours and rules; confirm before you travel.