This stretch of sand in Long Beach is a pooch-friendly paradise. Indeed, it’s the only one of its kind around here: The four-acre waterfront spot is the sole off-leash dog beach in L.A. County. The park is named after the area’s late local canine celebrity, Rosie the English bulldog. There are no fences marking the dog-friendly area, though you will see some signs on the beach that mark the dog-friendly area (roughly between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue). You’ll know you’re in the right spot if you see the orange “Dogs at Play” sculptures. Look for metered parking ($2 per hour) in the Bennett Avenue lot between 6am and 8pm daily.
Los Angeles is surprisingly lousy when it comes to dog-friendly beaches. So you want to bring your four-legged friend to one the best beaches in L.A.? Well, among the roughly 70 miles of coastline, there’s only one off-leash dog beach (in Long Beach) in all of L.A. County. Woof.
But we’re not here to whine and howl about it; instead, we want to let pup-loving Angelenos know about the few beaches where they can have their best friend tag along without getting ticketed, both on and off leash. We’ve included a pair of picks in L.A. County, plus one in neighboring OC. We haven’t included any in Ventura County given that it’s a considerable trek for most Angelenos—but if you’re willing to put in the extra miles to go to Oxnard or Ventura, you’ll find those cities are considerably more welcoming to dogs on their beaches than L.A.
Regardless of the policy at the beach you head to, do make sure to bring a leash with you (as well as some poop bags). Also, just like with humans, hydration is important so bring an empty bowl and some water, as well; we’d also suggest making sure that your pup doesn’t devour too much salt water or sand.
When a day at one of the city’s best parks just won’t do, here are the few dog-friendly beaches in L.A. for a day by the ocean (and maybe afterwards treat yourself and your pup to a snack at one of our favorite dog-friendly restaurants).
Oh, and just in case you think, it’s fine, I’ll sneak my dog onto a regular beach—don’t. If you’re lucky you’ll walk away with a warning, otherwise you’re looking at a $100 fine for a first offense.
