Marina Peninsula Beach (Charlie Beach)
Photo Gallery
About Marina Peninsula Beach (Charlie Beach) in Los Angeles, California
South of Venice Beach and the Venice Fishing Pier is a peninsula formed between the ocean and the Marina Del Rey Harbor. This area, called Marina Peninsula is technically in Los Angeles, but it’s considered by most to be in the adjacent small city of Marina Del Rey which surrounds the harbor. Locals call this less-touristy beach on the peninsula “Charlie Beach”.
The beach here is much quieter, but just as sandy as the nearby Venice beaches. There’s a parking strip along Via Marina on the north side of the harbor entrance channel next to Ballona Lagoon, an extension of the Venice Canals. This parking lot is the easiest way to access Marina Peninsula Beach. You could also walk here from the Venice Pier area along the Ocean Front Walk in front of the peninsula’s homes or along the wet part of the beach, a distance of one mile.
There is a paved walkway with railings that leads out onto the end of the north jetty and provides excellent views back toward Marina Del Rey and over to the Venice Pier. Another paved walkway leads to a restroom building that is an island in the sand.
Across the harbor entrance channel and the mouth of Ballona Creek is the Playa Del Rey neighborhood and the flight path of LAX airport so you might see planes coming and going. Yachts and sailboats will likely be passing by the jetty too.
- Address
- Via Marina & Pacific Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90292 - Park Name
- Marina Del Rey Inlet Park, Aubrey E. Austin Jr. Park, Venice Beach Protected Sand Dunes
- Other Names
- South Venice Beach, Ballona Lagoon, Ballona Creek
- Owner
- City Beach
- Pet Details
- No dogs allowed on the beach
- Fees
- Metered parking
- Activities
- Walking, Sunbathing, Swimming, Surfing, Biking, Skating, Beach Walking
- Amenities
- Lifeguards, Restrooms, Showers, Paved Paths, Benches, Jetties, Viewpoints, Accessible Features, Interpretive Signs (at the lagoon)
Nearby Beaches
Playa Del Rey Beach
0.6 miles away
Playa Del Rey Beach is the wide sandy beach in front of the Playa Del Rey neighborhood of Los...
Venice Pier Beach
0.7 miles away
The Venice Pier Beach is at the long fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean from the Venice...
Marina Beach (Mother’s Beach)
0.8 miles away
Marina Beach in Marina Del Rey is usually referred to as Mother’s Beach by locals because it has a...
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Charlie is a cool beach that few people know about. Can watch sailboats going in and out of MDR harbor and birds on the lagoon by the parking lot. The breakwater usually makes the waves by the jetty pretty small. My favorite beach to walk in Venice.