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Pacific Park, Santa Monica, CA

Photo: Saberwyn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsIconicFamily FavoriteFree

Pacific Park

380 Santa Monica Pier · Santa Monica, CA

Why you should go…

Pacific Park sits right on the Santa Monica Pier, with 12 rides, midway games, food stands and shops above the ocean. Walking in costs nothing, and you pay per ride or buy a wristband. The Pacific Wheel is a solar-powered Ferris wheel that looks out over the beach and the bay, and the West Coaster is a steel roller coaster that circles the park. The park opened in 1996 and has shown up in hundreds of films and TV shows.

  • #amusement park
  • #ferris wheel
  • #santa monica pier
  • #roller coaster

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Pacific Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Santa Monica Pier

    Free

    A classic wooden pier with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, arcade, and the official end of Route 66.

    Right next doorMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Santa Monica

    Free

    Official visitor info for Santa Monica, from the pier and beach to Third Street Promenade shopping.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Aqua Surf School

    $50+

    Surf lessons, camps, and board rentals for all skill levels on Santa Monica Beach.

    1.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Quirky Fun

    Venice Beach Boardwalk

    Free

    A freewheeling beachfront strip of muscle-beach bodybuilders, street artists, and skate parks.

    2.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Ripley's Believe It or Not Hollywood

    Under $25

    Walk through oddities, illusions and strange artifacts at Ripley's museum on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    11 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Universal Studios Hollywood

    $50+

    A working movie studio turned theme park, home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Studio Tour.

    12 mi awayMore like this