01
Best all-around beach day
Zuma Beach
Northern Malibu • Wide Family-Friendly Beach • Go-To Classic For Locals
A huge, easy-to-access stretch of sand with room for families, surfers, and long seaside walks.
Zuma is the beach most Thousand Oaks locals picture when they say they’re “heading to Malibu.” The broad shoreline makes it easy to spread out, with lifeguard towers, restrooms, snack shacks, and plenty of paid parking along the highway. On summer weekends it gets busy, but the beach is long enough that you can usually find space if you’re willing to walk a bit from the main access points.
02
Most dramatic coastal views
Point Dume State Beach
Point Dume Headland • Scenic Cove With Cliffs • Best For Cliffside Views And Photos
A sheltered cove tucked under bluffs, with a short headland hike that delivers big Pacific views.
Point Dume feels more intimate than the big open beaches, with its curved bay, rocky outcrops, and cliffs framing the sand. A quick walk up the headland trail rewards you with views up and down the Malibu coast, and in winter you may spot migrating whales. Parking is limited and fills quickly, so this is a great pick for earlier starts or off-peak days when you want scenery over amenities.
03
Iconic surf and pier scene
Malibu Lagoon State Beach (Surfrider Beach)
Near Malibu Pier • Historic Surf Break And Mellow Beach • Best For People-Watching And Surf Culture
A compact beach with gentle waves, a famous point break, and the classic backdrop of the Malibu Pier.
If you want that recognizable Malibu look, this is the spot: surfers working the long, peeling right-hand waves with the pier and hillside homes in the background. The beach itself is on the smaller side, but it pairs nicely with a stroll on the pier or a bite in the nearby cafes when you’re done in the sand. Expect crowds on summer weekends and bring patience for parking, but the scene and setting make it worth the effort at least once.
04
Best for tide pools and rock-hopping
Leo Carrillo State Beach
Western Malibu • Rocky Cove With Tide Pools And Caves • Great For Explorers And Families With Kids
A more rugged stretch of coast with tide pools, sea caves, and coves that invite exploring between swims.
Leo Carrillo is where you go when you want the beach to double as a mini adventure. At lower tides you can poke around tide pools, scramble over rocks, and, with care, check out shallow sea caves along the shoreline. There’s also a campground just inland, so you can turn a simple beach day into an overnight coastal getaway without driving too far from Thousand Oaks.
05
Closest rugged beach escape
Thornhill Broome Beach
Point Mugu Coastline • Wind-Swept Shoreline With Beach Camping • Best For Low-Key Sunsets And Bonfire Vibes
A raw, wave-lashed stretch of sand where the mountains meet the sea, with campsites just steps from the water.
Set within Point Mugu State Park, Thornhill Broome feels wilder and more exposed than the sheltered Malibu coves, and that’s exactly its appeal. You park and, if you’re camping, sleep practically on the sand, falling asleep to the sound of the surf. It’s not the place for polished amenities or calm swimming days, but for quick sunset runs from Thousand Oaks or a simple camp chair-and-cooler setup by the water, it’s hard to beat.