August 29, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Crowds Pack Local Beaches on Memorial Day

Memorial Day
Santa Monica Beach. (Thinkstock)

Los Angeles area beaches saw heavy use this Memorial Day, with some parking lots filled before 10 a.m. and throngs of vehicles clogging roads leading to the coast.

Los Angeles police advised motorists throughout Monday afternoon to avoid Pacific Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in the Venice area due to traffic congestion.

Police also said the Vista Del Mar parking lot at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa Del Rey was full and there was a half-mile of backup of cars headed towards beaches on Imperial Highway.

Both directions of Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica were moving at 8 to 12 mph around midday, according to automated reports.

Congestion was also reported on the westbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway in West Los Angeles and Santa Monica leading to PCH.

Battalion Chief Fernando Boiteux of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division called it “a big official kickoff for the summer.”

He didn’t have an immediate tally, but said the water rescue total would easily top 100 by the end of the day. There were no fatalities and the bulk of the rescues were routine, he said.

The division, which manned 150 lifeguard stations, was also involved in at least four boat rescues, Boiteux said.

Beach parking lots in Venice and Santa Monica were full by 10 a.m., he said.

“The lifeguards have been busy,” he said. “It’s probably the heaviest crowd we’ve had in 2014.”

Related Posts

(Video) The Opening of Mr. Charlie’s with Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Vegan burger restaurant with brightly colored decor now open on 26th street across fromthe Brentwood Country Mart. The Opening of...

California Pizza Kitchen Debuts Heart-Shaped Pizza Celebrating Swift–Kelce

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

13 Days of Engagement Pizzas, and Return of Hot Honey Flavors California Pizza Kitchen is rolling out a series of...

Culver Hotel Celebrates 101 Years With 101 Anniversary Menu and Live Music

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Guests Can Enjoy a Four-Course Meal, Nightly Performances, Trivia Contest The historic Culver Hotel is celebrating its 101st anniversary this...

Westside Chefs Shine at the Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival in September

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

South Bay’s Culinary Festival Returns With Two Nights of Food, Wine, and Music Santa Monica, Westchester, Los Angeles, and West...

(Video) Come Tour The Willows Community School!

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Sign up for a tour at The Willows and come see what makes our school such a vibrant, inspiring place...

Border Patrol Operation at Playa Vista Home Depot Causes Anger, Arrests

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Witnesses Say Agents Clashed With Bystanders as Two People Were Detained Chaos erupted outside Home Depot on Jefferson Avenue in...

Metro LA’s Aug. 30 Deadline for Public Comment on Sepulveda Transit Draft EIR Approaches

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Community Members Can Weigh In Before the 90-Day Comment Period Closes. Metro is reminding community members that the 90-day public...

Culver City, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Uni High Gear Up for Early-Season Games

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025

The Centaurs, Eagles, Normans, and Wildcats Face Key Matchups This Week Football season is heating up across our area, with...

I-405 to See Lane Reductions, Ramp Closures as Pavement Rehab Project Continues

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025

Drivers Should Expect Delays With Overnight Work Aug. 26–28, Sept. 5 Motorists using Interstate 405 through the Sepulveda Pass should...

Kobe Day Tribute: Lakers Welcome UCLA Newborns With Purple-and-Gold Gifts

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025

Babies Received Adorable Care Packages in Celebration of “Kobe Day.” Families welcoming newborns at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center and...

Suspect Arrested After Eight-Hour SWAT Standoff in Jefferson Park Shooting

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025

 Police Say a Man Was Killed and a Suspect Barricaded Himself Inside a Home Hours after a fatal shooting near...

Attorney General Rob Bonta Secures Release of $900M in Frozen Education Funds for California

August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025

Trump Administration Agrees to Release Frozen Education Funds  California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday that the Trump administration has...

“Rich Rollin” Burglary Crew Linked to 92 Break-Ins Taken Down in LAPD Operation

August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025

Ten Suspects, Including Confirmed Gang Members, Face Charges Nearly 100 residential burglaries across the city have been tied to a...

Sawtelle Neighborhood Could See Seven New Small-Lot Homes Under SB 684

August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025

Plans Filed Call for Replacing a Single-Family Residence With Two-Story Homes A proposed housing development could build seven small-lot homes...

18-Year-Old Woman Fatally Shot While Trying to Break Up a Fight on a Metro Bus

August 24, 2025

August 24, 2025

Police Say the Teen Was Killed in Westchester After Intervening in a Dispute  Efforts to break up a fight on...