Overview
In 1978, idyllic Zuma Beach was the setting for an eponymous made-for-TV movie starring Suzanne Somers (also featuring Rosanna Arquette and Delta Burke). The premise involved an aging rocker who moved to the beach to try and “get away from it all,” but who instead became wrapped up in the lives of beach-going teens. Though today old rockers opt to escape behind the high walls of their private beachfront compounds, the clean waters and mile-long stretch of broad, sandy beach still attract Malibu High students and a laid-back, local crowd of surfers, families, young beach bums, and sun-worshipers.
Getting to Zuma means taking a beautifully scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway—speaking of rock star compounds, you’ll drive by Cher’s on the way up. The beach is a 30-minute drive north from Santa Monica on a good day, so avoid the nightmarish weekend traffic on the PCH (especially in the summer) and get an early start.
Practicalities
The parking lot is open from 7 am to 7 pm daily and costs $4.75 to park in the winter, $6 in the summer. The lot has more than 2,000 spaces, but there’s also plenty of free parking along the west side of the PCH. Be forewarned that a temperamental marine layer may not burn off until the early afternoon, if at all on some days, and the beach is often windy, so check the weather first and don’t forget a cover-up. You may also want to pack some snacks before you head out, though there’s a fast food stand near the volleyball courts and a small market across the highway. Get an early start if heading up to Malibu to avoid traffic and claim a good parking and beach spot.
Restrooms
Your typical beach-level of cleanliness should be expected in these restrooms, which also have showers and child-sized toilet stalls with walls so low you can peer over to your neighbor.
Sports
The wide, flat stretch of sand between lifeguard towers 6 and 7 features volleyball courts. The waves in this area can be strong enough for body surfing as well as board surfing. In other areas, visitors are allowed to fish and dive, though hopefully not in the same spot. For the kids, there’s a swing set.
Surfing Beaches
Zuma’s water is divided for surfers and swimmers, so one doesn’t crash into the other. Malibu’s coast is covered with more than 20 beaches and secret surfing spots. For experienced surfers, body surfers, and body boarders, a couple of good surfing beaches to the north of Zuma include Leo Carrillo and Nicholas Canyon Beach. The latter, known locally as Zero Beach, offers picnic tables, shore fishing, and plenty of parking. To the south, test the waters around Point Dume, or head straight for Surfrider, one of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. Located at the Malibu Pier, this surf spot’s no secret, so if everyone’s dropping in on your waves during summer months, you may have to hightail it or settle for volleyball. Check the LA County Coastal Monitoring Network for current weather and surf conditions (www.watchthewater.org/beach.cfm?bid=19).