Dockweiler State Beach

Would have given it a five if the concession stand prices and rentals were reasonable. Also double charging for parking on the same day (where someone needs to leave and come back) is excessive. Lastly, something could be done to make use/access to the fire pits more equitable instead of folks hoarding/ reserving fire rings in advance of using them by unloading personal property around a pit to prevent others from using them. I can understand think of a hat dozen ways the firing access be made more equitable. Surely beach management could come up with a few or be open to suggestions.

Dont waist your time trying to go here if your a Skoolie. The lady turned me away immediately saying, "OH No...YOUR A BOX TRUCK! IM NOT GOING TO LET YOU IN!!!" I tried to explain to her that I'm a Yellow Skoolie. My registration says RV. Just wanna go down to the beach where the RVs are at. Still she kept cutting me off shouting Go Go Go go...and shooing me off. Pretty rude. But yea. Bad experience and the place does have a bad sewage smell. And no, its not because of the ocean. Had to drive a mile down to another spot. At lease this other spot doesn't smell and parking is free..my advice is if your a Skoolie, Don't waist your time and money with this place.

This is our go to spot for summer bonfire. The con is planes are passing by every 5-10mins. Fire pits are claimed early morning so be there if you want to have a fire pit at night.

Love coming to this beach on Sunday mornings, so nice and peaceful sitting over by the camp site vs. the area by the main parking. I do wonder why the parking attendants will not allow us to use the handicap parking directly behind the entrance booth. The attendant stated we could not use it, we have the placard, as it was for employees only. We did notice a car there with no handicap placard or license plate. Seems odd that the county would prohibit parking there and limit it to employees only with or without handicap authorization.

Camping areas and fire rings on the sand! It's great if you're OK with frequent overflights by jets taking off (or landing, the rare times when the wind reverses) just inland over a dune or two. It's not a big deal to me since I spent several childhood years on the other end of the airport in Westchester, and jets are much quieter now than they were in the early 1970s. But some facilities are overdue for maintenance - lots of sand built up in the outdoor showers, a clogged urinal in the men's room, etc.

The airport and a desalination plant are nearby and ugly and parking is $9, but the beach is great and has a long stretch for cycling and running, and there are restaurants along the way. There is RV parking too

It's really nice,you can have your barbecue and enjoy with your family and. You have to get there early to get a good spot. You just pay $13

Mom and me enjoying the high tides. Drinking a Coffee Bean Caramel Iced Drink Extra Caramel Drizzle.

Dockweiler State Beach may be my new favorite beach! Parking right now is $9 and when I went on Saturday around 930am, it was plentiful. Tons of parking and tons of spots to set up at the beach. A lot of the firepits were still open at that hour, but by Noon they were all taken. Restrooms were better here than at Venice and not a far walk. I actually liked how short of a walk it was from the parking to good beach spots. Only a few pieces of trash on the beach and garbage cans abound to assist in curbing litering. Planes from LAX fly overhead so I could see that being annoying if you want total silence. However I saw this as a fun positive, looking at all the activity in the sky. Just a gorgeous beach that I'm a fan of and will be back to!

Dockweiler Beach is Just a relaxing place to stop and feel the sea breeze on your face .. smell the ocean air .. listen to the waves crashing .. and maybe even read a book. Sometimes ... one must schedule time with themselves ... to do absolutely nothing. Cheers !!

This is a great beach for the simple fact there's so many things to do. You can look at the shippers and you can have bonfires on this beach legally.

Got to enjoy this beach this past Labor day, and around 10am was a perfect smooth time to come in with not that much people filling up the lots yet. Parking was still $13 cash/card, and the trek from the lot to the coast isn't too bad. As expected being located near the airport, there is the loud burts of noise coming from the airplanes that fly by every so often. The waters were nice and lots of people were enjoying the waves. It got fairly windy as time flew by so I definitely recommend a jacket even when it's hot. Lots of parking but definitely can be rough if you come at a busy peak time during a holiday! Bathrooms available Shop vendor located selling things like ice, snacks, desserts. Pretty cool that the shop is usually closed on Mondays, but are open on holidays!

A great place to relax, enjoy the sun, read a book, or watch the sunset. Super clean beach!

The beach here is really nice & clean. They have active staff here checking on everyone, making sure it stays clean, & making sure it's safe. The fire pits are a little hard to come by if you're there a little later but overall it's a nice place to setup your day & relax

So last Saturday, I went to the beach to go swimming. Why? Because I always going swimming in the water especially in the summer. It was cloudy but I got in the water and enjoyed getting whopped by the waves, lol. I love being shirtless in the water. I have fun, I spent 2 hours in the water. So when it came time to leave, I stayed away from the bathrooms. They're gross anyway. That's my two cents. P.S,: I peed in the ocean and became one with the Earth. I was so happy that I peed in the water because I love to let out my urine into the sea, all I had to do was relax and there you go. Before you go mad at me, I'd rather pee in the water than waste my time in the toilets or have a full bladder on the way home. Better in the water than sorry. I'd encourage you to pee in the water rather than leave your comfort zone. Good day, loves :3

Love love love Cali and love love love the beach. Got to get those negative ions, breathe fresh air, get outside and marvel at God's Wonders!

Dockworker State Beach is one of the closest beaches to the San Fernando Valley, and with our beautiful California weather, you can enjoy the beach almost year-round. I recently visited with my family to grill hot dogs and make s'mores, and it was such a great time. It's one of the few beaches in the area that offers fire pits, so be sure to get there early to secure a spot. The beach itself is generally very clean, and there are lifeguards stationed along the shore to ensure everyone stays safe. There's also a parking lot with rates that vary throughout the year, usually ranging from $10 to $25, depending on the season.

Love Dockweiler Beach everytime we bring or pick up someone from the Airport we go for a run to the beach. We had done a run event here before too. Fresh Air and seeing other runners and cyclist is cool. Wish I live closer lol We ran 8 miles yesterday but you can run a half marathon there. Recommended it. Parking is $7.00 for all day. Bathroom were clean.

The parking is $13 cash and card accepted. This beach is great because of the multiple parking lots you get to choose from once you pay at the entrance and there are buildings that help you recognize where the bathrooms are. The sand is beautiful and smooth with waters that are great to step into. I never loved the feeling of seaweed brushing against my legs-- and I'm happy to announce that there was no sign of seaweed when I went! It is also ADA-friendly with the disability parking spots and the ramps/concrete walkways spanning from the lot. Still some traveling on sand of course, but it is not bad compared to other beaches with a very vast sandy coast. Janitorial staff drove by several times throughout the beach experience with their car and checked on the trash bins, even on Labor Day. The lifeguards were stationed and attentive as well!!! Really the only downside is the loud sounds of the airplanes passing by from LAX-- which is every 5 minutes. All in all, enjoyed our experience here and is always so great to have group hangouts happen here!! P.S. Experience will be great if you arrive EARLY! The car lines to get inside and outsode got really long by the time we were leaving.. which was at around 2PM!!

This is one of my favorite beaches to get running miles in as the bike path is a smooth winding one along nice the beach. Plenty of rest stops with benches, restrooms and easy parking.

One of the few beaches in LA that have bonfire pits. During the summer and weekends you definitely have to get there early to claim a pit. This beach has a strong police presence, lifeguards both in the towers and walking around, & plenty of street parking on Vista Del Mar. There are also Full RV hook ups in the parking lot. Cons: The restrooms are always out of paper towels. It's close to the Airport, so planes are passing by every 10 minutes. Overall, my experience was positive

It's not the cleanest or quietest, but it has a raw, untamed vibe that makes it stand out from more polished beaches like Santa Monica or Venice. Parking can be easy, depending on the time and days. Somehow, I always manage to find free parking here -- whether it's tucked away on nearby streets or in a few small, free lots scattered around. There are some restrooms, but cleanliness can be hit-or-miss. It's not luxury-level, but it's functional. The beach is generally well-patrolled with plenty of lifeguards, especially during busy hours, which adds a layer of security -- helpful, since the waves here can be intense. This isn't always the best spot for casual wading; it's popular with surfers for a reason. If you're planning a swim, it's smart to check wave and surf reports beforehand. Unfortunately, the beach is often on the dirtier side -- not because of nature, but because people just don't clean up after themselves. It's got a laid-back, come-as-you-are energy. Great for a spontaneous sunset hang, a quick surf, or even a casual beach bonfire if you're in one of the fire pit areas.

Tied for the best beach in Los Angeles Between this and el Porto beach in Manhattan. I prefer el Porto because they have food and parking

California the weather the food the people. Waking up to the sound of the ocean and not having to spend a fortune on an expensive hotel It was legend

Of the few beaches I've visited in California, this one reminded me of Florida the most. With the flat sand and a view as far as you can see, this is such a great spot to watch the sun rise or set. There is lots of parking and it's a quick minute walk to get directly on the beach.

This hidden gem offers breathtaking views that are literally ten minutes from the airport. Before returning our rental, we stopped here. The parking fee was very reasonable at $7. There's a small shack with snacks, essentials, and bathrooms. It's a very relaxing beach with a place for campfires on the sand. We spent an hour here before our flight, watching the planes take off and the waves crash.

This is definitely my go to beach in Los Angeles! I love watching the planes take off from LAX. They have lots of bonfire pits but if you are going on a weekend, try to come earlier to grab a spot as they can be all claimed by sunset. There's also a small store to buy some snacks and even some wood and lighter fluid for your bonfire. There is a $9 parking fee before you enter but there's plenty of parking. That's LA for you tho! With that said, you won't be disappointed spending your whole day here.

The police/security/special forces people you got up there are way way way too aggressive! We are working professional locals in our 50's. They pulled guns on my brother last year for turning into the driveway part because they decided to close it while he was in the turning lane. (Obviously get that response) and he even had an RV there. when there is 8 of them talking tough about their war stories that's what you end up getting. All in tactical gear too. Then they close the bathrooms whenever they want. So I ended up going all the way to the gangland in the other side and those bathrooms (closed!) then their portapottys haven't been service in who knows how long. There was crap at the top of hole. You know how deep those are? When I knocked on one I interrupted two teenagers have relations in that nasty porta john. Getting a bj in a pj. Groups of kids smashing bottles in that parking lot and lighting off fireworks. Pairs of teens laying together in the dark in the sand everywhere you look. And by the way.... Not o e security guard in site. I finally go find the one elderly woman security guard that was sleeping in her car and I told her about the baths. By now it's 9:18 I said no bathrooms. And she wouldn't give me the code because it's for the employees apparently. I had to go back to my RV to get the code even though I had I'd . I asked why are the bathrooms closed early. She said "thas his choi" I said , am I supposed to poop right in front of the door. So she called the green beret wanna bees, and the whole night the only security found was sleeping in her car until now! They acted like there was a man hunt. It was crazy as I watched them from the bike lane go rv to rv with flashlights and hands on their guns.(why do they have guns?) Everyone at that beach needs to be fired from security to the cleaning staff that cuts corners because there's no supervision. Ummm we are the supervision. We pay taxes and I bring my family to park the rv on weekends because we live in the area. It's not a prison camp!

I've only come here once, and that time was to Planespot. The plane views are good, but not as good as at other spots. The water is filthy (obviously) and there is almost no shade unless you bring your own umbrella to get shade. This beach really doesn't have anything special about it. It's definitely not a good choice to come here to swim. I would recommend other beaches to swim at, not this one.

This is by far one of my favorite beaches to go to during summertime however Im gonna have to give one star because of a few things. They charge $13 dollars for parking now and there is a time limit for being here and if you plan on doing a bonfire you must come at least by morning or late afternoon to guarantee yourself a free fire pit. This beach is huge I don't understand why they cant add more fire pits as weekends it is a shit show with huge groups and partygoers already taking over the pit spots. I feel like this beach has lot its touch compared to a few years ago. The city should really look into upgrading this beach and adding more fire pits especially for the amount of parking they charge on a daily.

DockWeiler sucked pito tonight. Cops patrolling every 2 seconds and didn't let us have a bonfire. Then they tell us last minute that the lot closes in 15 minutes and kicked us out. This has never happened before and I've been going to Dockweiler for years. Worst experience at a beach ever and safe to say im never going back again!

I would like to say that yesterday the day before Mother's Day we were at the beach. We went to an event at the rec center and it took 45 minutes to get into the parking as they only had one person working the booth. He was charging $8 for parking area. The gentleman that was working was doing the best he could but it wasn't good enough. You would think on a record breaking 100 degree day that they would have placed more than one person at the booth. He seemed like he didn't know how to work the credit card system and subsequently held up the traffic and we were late getting into the gathering. Do better! And for the supervisor who thought it was professional to reprimand the worker you need sensitivity training as that's no way to speak to your worker while he is assisting customers. Very sad. The one star is for the supervisor and management get some help at the guard booth on these hot days. You know folks will be at the beach!!

I've been here countless times over the last two years and it's always to watch the sunset. I've never had an issue finding parking in the almost empty lot one stop down from the main entrance. It's still paid parking but seems a little more relaxed during the evening. The main building has a public restroom and showers. I think there's also a restaurant open during the day, but I've never been there when it's open. I also read online that you can use the bon fire pits here. I've gotten tar stuck on my foot two times while walking barefoot in the sand because of all of the oil fracking going on. That's a pain to get out (you need oil, soap, and a lot of scrubbing). But if you wear slippers or flip flops, you should be fine. If you follow the bike/walking path south, it gets a little dirtier as there's a lot of litter around. There's also a community that has settled there. Otherwise it's a nice and less populated beach than most spots around.

Love this beach. It's usually so calming and love how there are so many fire pits around to have a bonfire. Took my sister here and she loves how spacious it was and our bonfire experience. When we came, it was clean and the pit was well maintained. Plenty of parking and it's only about $7 to park per car. Definitely recommend coming here if you are thinking of doing a bonfire.

Went on a Sunday mid August- we throughly we'd need to get there at 7am to get a fire pit based on other reviews. There were still plenty of pits at 10am, the last one was taken by noon. So do with that what you will. Parking was $14 I think. Plenty of parking but started to fill up by 3pm. The beach is super dirty from all the ash, very noisy from parties, beyond packed with families and children all afternoon. But it's the only space in LA country where beach bonfires are allowed, so I won't complain too much.

Never Again!!! If you have a dog(s) & are visiting from out of town don't go to this place take into account & do your research before. My family & I were planning on going to the beach for our dogs but this was far from non. They charge you a $9 fee upon entering. This has been years ago so don't take my word. Prices may have changed (raised) since visiting last. I've asked myself so bicyclists & joggers are in your lane while trying to walk your fur baby? Mind you it was the weekend & parking was free. But did the employees mention that? Take a wild guess! The answer is no anything to make a few dollar(s) Just do your research & find dog friendly beaches or parks without fees.

Haven't been to this beach and I have lived here all my life. The beach was pretty clean but the water wasn't. Still a great experience though. Everyone on the beach was there to have a good time. We had a car show in the parking lot, a DJ mixing some good ole house music to the side of us, and a comedy show behind us. It was really great just sitting there because every once in awhile, well quite often, the airplanes go over you since LAX is so close. It is definitely a sight to see. We definitely want to come back and possibly visit the other side where you can camp out in your RV. Great location to enjoy a few nights away from home.

3 day camping trip with my family, RV, golf cart, a dj, bonfire, I paid $13 to park inside each day, and I am having a great time in nature. We are bbq'ing and having a good time.

Lots of fun With fire pits and being sprayed by jet fuel from the planes taking off from LAX. Incredible sight

I usually come to this beach specifically to have bonfires! Their pits are pretty distant from each other and very spacious for the wood. At the time I went, it wasn't too crowded and a lot of pits were empty. But usually on weekends during the summer months, the pits are taken by 2PM, so plan accordingly! Very relaxing vibe here, where people just play football or cooking hot dogs with their friends/family. The beach was pretty clean and there were a lot of trash bins around to prevent littering. People are really friendly from what I've encountered so far. I'm not sure if it's entirely pet friendly, but I did see some people bring their dogs. I'm so happy I went to Dockweiler when I did because I caught the prettiest sunset I've seen since being in LA. Overall, very enjoyable experience and I highly recommend this beach if you want somewhere less crowded or want to do a bonfire with your friends! There's a lot of parking available, but you have to pay about $10. Not bad of a price, especially since it is for the entire day and not by the hour.

I went to Dockweiler State Beach for a friend's birthday party a couple months ago. If you like bonfires and airplanes, this is the beach for you. Our toddler is really into planes, so we decided to be brave and take him and the baby to this grown-up party. I suspect a lot of the childless people at the party took one look at us and were like, I have made all the right choices here. It was a pretty cold day (though I gather that this beach is always kind of cold and windy in the afternoon, before the fires get going) and the baby was just not having it. I tried to feed him with a spoon that I immediately dropped in the sand, and we left before I'd have to nurse him in that stinging wind. The planes were great, though, and kept our toddler happy and occupied while we drank some wine with other adults. The beach was also pleasantly calm, with ample parking and open space for large parties. If we hadn't come with the children, we would've stayed and enjoyed the bonfire. Next time, maybe we'll leave the kids at home and bring a good thick blanket.

Dockweiler has become just a place for locals to party. The campground has been over run with weekend party's, and that's just sad. The grass between the sites used to be well kept up, the sites were clean, but those days are gone. All the site have a small amount of left over trash from the previous camper. This trip we had a Mexican Band playing until 11pm, until the cops broke it up. I remember the days when all the Motorhome would park together in two sections and the trailers had two sections, now everyone is together and it sucks. Too many rowdy people taking over the park. This will be our last trip here. Park and Recreation has lost control of both areas of Dockweiler Beach. Time for a management change.

This beach is musty. The sand made my feet black like I work in a chimney. Parking was $13 for a nasty beach. Did the parking attendant even actually work there? The entire beach smelled like nasty bbq. The bathrooms are from a horror film (think of the Saw franchise). There are literal homeless encampments. People brought DJ equipment to a beach, and they weren't even good. There was a quincenera, gender reveal, and birthday party all next to one another. It was packed. We had to walk extremely far to find an area without people. Couldn't even go into the water due to the bacteria and not wanting a UTI. Two women were talking about clotheslining pre-pubescent boys on the bike path who were following the rules. It is the GHETTO. I had to take an hour shower upon my return home and SCRUB MY FEET!

09/18/2021 Coming out here early in the morning with the marine layer covering the morning sun. There are already employees collecting parking money as you enter. There are fire pits here for you to enjoy a BBQ or just a nice fire at sunset. You have to bring your own wood. Still puzzling why you bring what you packed but you don't pack it up when you leave. This Saturday that we are all here is for Coastal Clean up Day with Heal the Bay. About 90 people came out to help pick about 40 lbs of trash. I hear everyone complaining about the little itty pieces of styrofoam. Definitely no shortage of plastic straws found on this beach too. We also witnessed the lifeguard testing as they were all wearing bright green swim caps. Will you all be joining me for the next beach clean up? How are you helping to reduce and/or recycle?? Tell me, please.

Fun day at the beach with family. We were able to get a fire pit only because I showed up early to claim one. It was fun watching my great grandchildren roast marshmallows for s'mores. Extra tasty with a dash of sand! Walk, bike, play, swim, eat, then gather around the fire pit!

Freezing my butt off, winds were super harsh today! The sand from Beach blew onto streets. Nice beach and easy parking, cool attendants as well. I think they were filming a movie here too! Super awesome

Love the beach and their bonfires but the beach is dirty, I recommend Marina del Rey or Palos Verdes beaches.

Great underrated beach. No frills and usually uncrowded, at least the times I've gone. Parking is $8 for most of the day into the evening, a good value for a family outing, but a little expensive for just a few hours. I come here to re-learn surfing, less intimidating than the more crowded beaches south of here and or course not as sexy as Hermosa or Manhattan Beach. Definitely less crowded and no worries about getting in the way of kids, wiping out, etc. or having to run back to the meters to pay for parking again. All this for peace of mind is worth it.

Camp site management does not care that people are blasting loud music past midnight. Zero enforcement of the rules. Will not be returning.

We were here this Weekend. I had not been to Dockweiler in a while. Its right off of the 405 freeway near the LAX Airport. Very nice Los Angeles beach that gets more attention now from the locals. All the tourists hang out in Santa Monica. So its nice to be here and barbecue and cook on this beach. Bon fires are allowed here too. They have recently did a good clean up of this beach. SOmetimes it attracts bad crowds here. But all in all, its a good beach.

One of the very few if not the only beach with bonfires. I would've loved to take advantage of their bonfires. Sadly, we didn't get the opportunity to on this visit. They also offer hang gliding lessons, which looks like a ton of fun. I've heard a lot of negative things about this beach in regards to its cleanliness. I also heard efforts were put forth to clean it up. And it shows because I didn't really see a single piece of litter while on the beach. My issues were the water processing plant l. Which I'm aware is extremely necessary, but at the same time also an eyesore. We had to walk a great distance to get to the one inconveniently located rest room that we found at the youth center. Worst of all is the fact that they don't have stairs leading to the beach. It's not really a problem for me. But a member or two of my party had a rather challenging time, climbing down & up the hill to get to & from the beach.

I'm new to certain places like this beach I have only been here maybe a handful of times. Each time was to get some air and feel like I'm living durning this pandemic. Came here for the Sunset and to enjoy playtime with my Goddaughter to create some normalcy. Parking was 7.00 cannot complain. I found a location to park , found a spot immediately to set my stuff. There was not many folks and those around where beyond 6 feet. I was happy it was not crowed. The beach was picked up not much trash around. Occasionally I seen people eating and leaving there trash. Hoping one day folks can "leave no trace"

The one main positive to dockweiler beach was it was huuuge. The day I went was pretty empty, so there was quite a bit of open beach space. Even if it were a busy Saturday, there was plenty of sand to go around. Parking was surprisingly cheap for a lot, being $8 for all day. There is no close street parking, so your only options are to pay for parking or walk up the inclined streets across from the beach to park. Overall, not a bad beach spot, but there are better beaches in the area

A popular Southern California beach destination thanks to its bonfires, visited here on a Saturday evening in late July 2023. Parking is always a rock paper scissors likelihood gamble, and this particular visit it was more challenging then usual. Traffic control stopped entry to the parking lot right in front of me, so it took over 90 minutes to find parking in the secondary lot adjacent to the Dockweiler youth center. From there it was a forty minute walk to the particular lifeguard tower my friends were gathered at. On the bright-side I hit my daily 10,000 steps. Wish there was a digital board visible on Imperial Highway and or frequent social media posts about Dockweiler parking availability to better assist excited visitors who trek far and wide to enjoy the bonfire and overall beach amenities. There could be better lighting along the beach boardwalk pathway from the various parking lots, visibility is a bit strained after sunset.

Pretty neat beach with lots of room. Cool thing about this is that it is next to LAX so planes fly overhead. Slightly annoying thing is that it can get loud when that happens. Lots of fire pits, you gotta get there early (think like 7-8am) if you want to reserve one of a holiday weekend. I would give 5 stars but sometimes some events like car shows take up a lot of spaces in the parking lot and it is super annoying to deal with because they aren't even there for the beach. Parking costs like $13. Come here for a chill beach day and/or a group of friends for a "bonfire".

Its my little slice of heaven and Ive been hesitant to write it up because I want it all to myself! But sharing is caring and I hope if you decide to come visit this lovely stretch of beach, you'll leave with lasting memories and leave with any trash you brought with you and dispose of it properly. That said...I love coming to Dockweiler almost every day from fall to winter. Yes you read that right. I don't come for the fun and frolic of the actual water in the warmer months, but rather I like to enjoy the spectacular sunsets that occur during the cooler months (see my photo posts). The beach path is easily accessible from the street or you can drive in via the Ranger station at the end of Imperial hwy. I believe it's still under $10 to park inside the lot. There are several concrete rings that I believe can be reserved on line to get a bond fire going with you family and friends. And south of the main entrance there is parking and hook ups for those that shlepping their RV's. Looks pretty cool to me! Misc: The public bathrooms (but this applies to all public bathrooms) could be clearer. It's a tough thing to maintain. Ey! Whatareyagonnado? Overall: Cats out of the bag! Its an easily accessible well maintained beach with some amenities for you and your family to enjoy. Remember to place your trash in the cans people! Please.

Cool little beach with fire pits! Came here around 8pm with some takeout to enjoy on the beach next to a fire. There are so many fire pits! We asked to join an existing one and met some cool friends. Parking was $7 and I was a little disappointed to still see the parking fees be collected so late, but what are you going to do? Didn't see any options for free parking. It was nice to watch the airplanes land at LAX over the water, enjoy the firepits and the nice atmosphere and the ocean waves. Definitely recommend this beach if you're looking for a place to have a firepit and a warm night out!