The Hermosa Beach Strand is a quintessential Southern California experience that combines stunning ocean views, a laid-back vibe, and plenty of activities for all ages. Whether you’re a local looking to enjoy a leisurely stroll or a visitor exploring the best of the South Bay from Hermosa to Manhattan beach, this guide will cover everything you need to know about walking the Hermosa Beach Strand at any time of the day.
I have walked the Hermosa Beach Strand for over two decades and almost every week since! Single, married, with kids, two kids, day, night…been there on the Hermosa to Manhattan Beach strand!
Why? It’s stunning. It NEVER gets old (at least for me) and it truly is nature therapy and hours of fun outdoors, especially for beach lovers like myself and I don’t even surf!
Overview of the Hermosa Beach Strand
The Hermosa Beach Strand, also known eloquently, as The Strand, is a paved path that runs along the coastline of Hermosa Beach, offering picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean. On a sunny day the sand is powdery, the skies are baby blue, and the ocean is a spa-soundtrack and you might even spot some dolphins! Kinda paradise, as a lot of Hermosians love to say.
The Strand stretches approximately 4 miles and connects with neighboring Manhattan Beach to the north and Redondo Beach to the south.
If you are walking from the Hermosa Beach Pier to the Manhattan Beach Pier, which is the most popular walk, it’s almost a 40-50 minute walk. The distance from the Hermosa Beach pier to the Manhattan Beach pier is 2 miles, and when you have that view, the time just goes by and you’ve got yourself a little workout too. If you go from Hermosa to the very end of the Manhattan Beach strand, you’ll get to El Porto which has a cool beach snack shack and is a locals surf spot.
Here’s what you’ll find along the way:
Hermosa Beach Pier:
The heart of the Strand, featuring shops, restaurants, and an iconic pier to walk out onto the ocean. It truly is magic and no matter the weather, there are always people out and about (it’s California).
As you get towards the strand from Pier Ave, strolling through Hermosa Pier Plaza, checking out some Hermosa murals, seeing the iconic Tim Kelly statue, and noticing the beautiful rainbow lifeguard tower to the right of the pier for those epic Instagram worthy photos…it’s not hard to smile and think, wow, this place is cool!
Manhattan Beach Pier:
A northern highlight with its Roundhouse Aquarium. While the aquarium is vintage, it still delights the kids and honors the historical beauty of what is the MB Pier.
Veterans Parkway:
Greenbelt trails running parallel for those who want a quieter route.
This is 5 blocks up from the beach at the end of the 500 block and alongside Valley Park, very accessible, and ideal for a woodchip run or walk.
Take any street like Pier Ave, Longfellow Ave, or Manhattan Beach Blvd and just walk up. That’s it. The Greenbelt is just a few blocks from the Strand.
A lot of people walk their dogs here and plenty of locals love this path for their morning exercise.
I walked with my kids since they were in the stroller on the Greenbelt, and we still do. I especially love it for a knee-friendly run.
Plenty of plants and pretty flowers along the way.
Watch out for Mr. Coyote if you have small dogs as in the City of Los Angeles they find homes everywhere. I have a friend that bought their pup a dog coyote vest because of it.
Redondo Beach Marina:
A lively area with restaurants and water activities at the southern end. Go left at the Hermosa Pier if you are looking at the ocean, and it’s going to take you about 20-30 minutes to walk there.
The Hermosa Beach pier to Redondo Beach pier is about 2.3 miles. Lots of boats to see, a cool skate park, maybe some seals, definitely some easy to spot orange garibaldi (the California state fish) swimming around, and the Redondo Beach pier has a seafood market where they cook your choice on the spot.
A Good Morning on the Strand
Why visit in the morning? The morning is a peaceful time to enjoy the Strand and walk from Hermosa Beach Pier to Manhattan Beach Pier. Grab your coffee, air pods, and stroll! I even did it with my babies in the cold ocean fog, bundled up and breezy many times for many years.
With cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and the soft glow of the sunrise, the Strand is actually bustling in the morning. People are often jogging, walking, and breathing in the crisp air. You’ll see the Fit 4 Mom groups heading to Valley Park doing stroller walks on the weekdays and will see early risers with lattes in hand and dog leashes in the other on the strand on the weekends.
This is a great time for the bike path because it is not crowded, but always look for those quick e-bikes and wear your helmet if you are on the bike path.
It doesn’t take long for the marine layer to burn through and the sun to come out and start warming your skin. So bring your sunglasses!
What to Do
- Take a jog or bike ride: Early mornings are perfect for exercise with minimal interruptions.
- Easily go from the Strand and up a small incline into the neighborhood and back onto the Strand for some hill workouts.
- I did this for a year and it made a huge difference for me. It was the perfect workout path.
- Grab breakfast: Start your day with a complete meal at Good Stuff Restaurant, juice from Juiced Cafe on the Pier, an acai bowl from Paradise Bowls, or coffee from Cafe Bonaparte near the Hermosa Beach Pier. You can also walk over .7 miles (15 minute walk) to Martha’s Hermosa Beach. There are lots of family friendly restaurants and easy cafes in Hermosa.
- Martha’s renovated during covid and since, has such a solid menu. Quality tastes and food! The service is good and the coffee is strong. I love Martha’s so much and can no longer gatekeep this gem! It’s one of the best restaurants in Hermosa Beach for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. When I have people in town, we will go to Martha’s. (plan to wait an hour on the weekends for a table, just FYI, but the beach is right there!)
- Beach yoga or meditation: The sound of the waves and crisp morning air create the ideal ambiance for mindfulness practices. You can find any spot along the strand and get some stretches in and take in that ocean energy before continuing your strand journey.
Afternoon on the Strand
Why visit in the afternoon? The Strand buzzes with activity in the afternoon, making it a great time to experience the vibrant local culture.
People are really out by noon time and the entire Strand, especially on the weekends, has lots of people. Keep in mind, I mentioned the Strand has bikes too so the weekends can feel busy.
The energy is magnetic! It’s a great time to be on the Hermosa Beach strand when locals and visitors alike are enjoying the sun, walking, jogging, roller skating, people watching, and just soaking in the best ocean view in the South Bay.
What to Do
Afternoons can bring a lot of energy when walking the Hermosa Beach Strand.
- Beach day: Lay out a towel, set up a beach umbrella, and enjoy the sun and surf. I actully cannot go without my sandfree towel and easy to set up beach tent that I find has more shade than an umbrella.
- Lunch spots: There is something on the Hermosa Beach Pier and also up Pier Ave. for everyone. There are juice spots, ice cream, pizza slices at Paisano’s, and fresh fare in the myriad restaurants available to stop at during your walk on the Hermosa Beach strand.
- Shopping: Explore Spyder surf shop on Pier Avenue. It’s the best shop for suits and sandals.
- AVP Volleyball Tournaments: Check the schedule and show up at the Strand to see the sights, tents, booths, and spot some pro volleyball players. Be aware the Strand is EXTRA busy during volleyball tournaments in Hermosa Beach and some houses on the Strand are having parties.
- Festivals: There are lots of events and festivities through the year in Hermosa Beach. You can easily enjoy the entire day between the Hermosa Beach Pier, the Strand, and the beach on these exciting days.
Sunset on the Hermosa Beach Strand
Why visit at sunset? Sunset transforms the Strand into a magical place, with golden hues reflecting on the water and a serene atmosphere that’s perfect for winding down.
People line up on the Strand to capture their epic sunset pictures and videos. Near the Hermosa Beach Pier is one of the spots to view the Hermosa sunset because it’s next to the pier. The sun setting, the orange sky, and the pier out in the water give a lot of perspective and is truly picture-perfect.
Need a cute what to do with kids in Hermosa beach? My children saw their first true sunset watching experience near the Hermosa Beach Pier. We set up sand made beach seats (dug some holes in the sand to recline in) and we made a big deal about seeing the sunset. It was a great moment to simply, soak up the moment and make a memory out of the event. They actually sat to see it go down. We made a thing out of it, and it was so cute!
What to Do
- Sunset stroll: Walk the Strand to soak in the vibrant colors of the setting sun. Stop at any ppoint along the Strand and watch the sunset dip into the ocean horizon.
- Photography: Capture stunning views of the ocean, pier, and beachside homes. There are so many vantage points that are perfect if you are a hobby or professional photographer.
- Dining with a view: Grab sunset cocktails, but arrive early, at the two ocean front bars at the end of the Hermosa Pier plaza.
Nighttime on the Strand
Why visit at night? The Strand at night is quiet and can also be romantic, with cool ocean breezes and the twinkling lights of beachside homes.
What to do:
- Night walk: A peaceful way to end the day, often under a blanket of stars and seeing the pier lights out in the ocean is serene.
- Night Jog: I did this for years and loved a cool run at night along the Strand. I did eventually get a running light, because it’s dark on the strand once you are away from the piers. Also, be aware that you will be far enough from people and lights (it’s super dark mid-Strand) if you walk the Strand at night since it’s two miles between the piers. Please note that sand gets on the strand and it’s very slippery! Also, people still bike on the Strand at night. So again, a running light is good to have to see better and also be seen.
- Bar tips: There are cool bars, live music spots, and dancing in Hermosa Plaza, but a night walk after drinks on the Strand isn’t exactly the best. It’s dark and the sandy sections are slippery. Choose the well lit Hermosa Ave for a safer route. Uber to Manhattan Beach for a safer trip to continue the night.
Kid-friendly tips: Consider an earlier evening walk if you’re with kids, as the Strand gets quieter and more adult-focused later in the evening. People are bar hopping, bikes are still on the strand in the dark, and its better to stay close to the pier if you have kids and it is getting dark out.
Kid-friendly tips and is the Hermosa Beach Strand safe for Kids?
Bring a scooter or bike for kids to ride along the Strand. Early mornings mean fewer people, giving them better space to roam more safely.
Personally, I only take my small children on the Strand on the Hermosa Beach section to walk or I just take the bigger kid with his scooter since he can stay close to the wall and stay more safe. There are e-bikes that go fast and regular bikes allowed on the strand in Hermosa and when it gets busy, I find it to not be the best for super little kids.
So if you are on the strand in the Hermosa Beach section, just keep your kids close and just be mindful that bike riders are also on the same path. It’s not the place to let toddlers run around.
With that said, the Manhattan Beach Strand does NOT allow bikes, since there is a bike path, and I do allow the little ones to scoot and freely enjoy that path. The MB strand is strictly pedestrians. I find it to be much safer for tiny tots that want to be out of a stroller.
Where are Bathrooms on the Hermosa Beach Strand
- Hermosa Beach Pier
- 22nd St, Hermosa Beach
- 8th St, Manhattan Beach
- Manhattan Beach Pier
Public restrooms and beach showers are available at the Hermosa Beach Pier. There are more at 22nd st near Martha’s Restaurant. Then you have to go to the the Manhattan Beach Strand section, halfway toward the pier, in order to reach the next bathroom and shower location.
There is also a shower at Longfellow Ave, but no bathroom there. You will have to be a customer at Boccato’s (two blocks up on Longfellow Ave.) and they have a bathroom. (Boccato’s is awesome! So, it won’t be hard finding stuff to buy there and they have awesome sandwiches.). If you walk back to the strand from Boccato’s, but on the opposide side of the street on Longfellow, find the little mouse house and mushroom fairy houses at the corner before you cross Hermosa Ave.
So if you need to use the toilet then you need to use it as soon as you can access when on the Hermosa Beach Strand.
Note the beach bathrooms are not that pristine, but if you have your shoes on you should be good.
Also, here’s a note about the showers. The Hermosa and MB Beach Pier showers are solid with good pressure, otherwise, the other showers are not as forceful and you still will have sand on you. So, as a mother of two beach kids, I always pack change of clothes, baby powder for quick sand removal, and pack your patience and piece of mind that sand in your car and on your body is actually a blessing and a sign of a good beach day. It’s like glitter…the sand is going to be there.
There are no good changing tables and when I would bring my babies, I even changed them at the car or on a mat in the sand. If you are a customer, you will have luck finding a changing table at Cafe Bonaparte and Starbucks.
Tips for Walking the Strand
- What to bring: Sunscreen, a hat, reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a camera.
- Best time to visit: Weekdays and mornings are less crowded, while weekends offer a lively vibe.
- Parking: Metered parking is available along Hermosa Avenue and Pier Avenue. Arrive early during weekends to secure a spot and even earlier if there is an event. Parking is limited. Never go over your time since tickets happen. Read signs in the neighborhood. Pack your patience.
- Time of Day: Day is nice and sunny. Night on the Strand is quiet and dark.
- Accessibility: The Strand is wheelchair and stroller-friendly BUT in order to transition from the Hermosa to Manhattan Beach strand you need to go up to the next side street and then get to the Manhattan Beach strand, otherwise you’ll encounter stairs. There are blue paths out to the beach that are perfect for getting through the sand and closer to the water. READ this post on accessibility access in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. I think it will benefit you greatly to be prepared before you arrive.
The Hermosa Beach Strand is a happening destination that offers something for everyone…no matter the time of day. From peaceful morning strolls to lively afternoon activities and romantic sunsets, the Strand embodies the spirit and essence of California beach life. Pack your essentials, bring your family or friends, and enjoy this iconic Southbay coast experience!
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