beach
Venice Beach
LA's bohemian beachfront known for its eccentric boardwalk, Muscle Beach, skate park, and non-stop people-watching.
4 km · about 10 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia
Santa Monica
California, United States · North America
About Santa Monica
Santa Monica works well as a base: 5 minutes from Brentwood, 13km from Mulholland Drive.
Santa Monica is in California, United States, with about 93,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Brentwood, about 4 km away.
Where to Stay in Santa Monica
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Santa Monica?
Within an hour or so of Santa Monica: Venice Beach (4 km), Deus Ex Machina Los Angeles (5 km), The Getty Center (7 km), Mulholland Drive (13 km).
Are there any good drives near Santa Monica?
The nearest famous roads are Mulholland Drive.
Where is Santa Monica?
Santa Monica is in California, United States, about 4 km from Brentwood.
Road trip
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Quick Information
- Population
- 93,220
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California
- Timezone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates
- 34.0195, -118.4914
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Santa Monica
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Deus Ex Machina Los Angeles
The Venice Beach location of Deus combining California motorcycle culture with specialty coffee and custom builds.
5 km · about 10 min drive
museum
The Getty Center
A hilltop campus by Richard Meier with world-class European paintings, sculptures, and panoramic views of Los Angeles.
7 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
Mulholland Drive
Winding road through the Santa Monica Mountains with LA city views
13 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
LA's premier car museum with a striking stainless-steel facade, showcasing the artistry and cultural impact of the automobile.
13 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Tail o' the Pup
A 17-foot hot dog stand shaped like a hot dog in a bun, built in 1946, dismantled in 2005 and painstakingly restored to a new West Hollywood site in 2022. A landmark of Californian programmatic architecture.
13 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Universal Studios Hollywood
The original Universal theme park and working film studio offering studio tours and movie-based attractions.
18 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Hollywood Sign
Iconic 14-metre-tall white lettering on Mount Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains, the universal symbol of the entertainment industry.
20 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Santa Monica
- Right hereMulholland DriveWinding road through the Santa Monica Mountains with LA city views
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Santa Monica.
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