How to Experience Santa Monica in 48 Hours Without a Car

Here's the thing about visiting Santa Monica without a car: you're not missing anything. The city's best version is the walkable one — the beach path, the Pier, the Promenade, the bluff park above the ocean. A car mostly means finding somewhere to put it.

Ocean View Hotel is positioned well for this. It sits on Ocean Avenue directly across from Palisades Park, seven minutes on foot from both the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade. Everything below is walkable, bikeable, or a quick transit ride away — and the hotel's own amenities fill in the gaps.

Getting to Santa Monica Without Driving

Most visitors default to a car, but the alternatives are better than they expect:

• Metro E Line (Expo Line) runs directly to Downtown Santa Monica Station — manageable from LAX with one transfer, straightforward from most of central and west Los Angeles
• Big Blue Bus connects Santa Monica to Venice, the westside, and LAX with regular service for $1.25 a ride — route maps are available at the hotel's front desk
• Rideshare from LAX is 25-40 minutes, depending on traffic, and perfectly reasonable if you're arriving with luggage

Once you're here, you won't need anything else for the main Santa Monica draws.

What You Can Reach on Foot from Ocean View Hotel

The hotel's location on Ocean Avenue makes the following genuinely walkable — no transit, no planning required:

• Palisades Park is directly across the street — the bluff-top walking path runs along the ocean edge and is one of the better free views in Los Angeles
• Santa Monica State Beach is a five-minute walk down to the sand
• Santa Monica Pier is seven minutes on foot — the walkway, the fishing pier, and Pacific Park are all there
• Third Street Promenade is seven minutes in the other direction — dining, shopping, and street performers on weekend evenings
• Santa Monica Place mall is adjacent to the Promenade and has rooftop dining with open-air views
• Santa Monica Farmers Market runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays on Arizona Avenue, about a 10-minute walk

Getting to Venice Beach (Without a Car)

Venice is the most common day trip from Santa Monica, and it's easier to reach without a car than most people think. Two options worth knowing:

• Complimentary bike vouchers are available at Ocean View Hotel's front desk — the Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs flat and paved from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, about 2.5 miles along the water. It's one of the better ways to make the trip, regardless of how you're traveling
• Big Blue Bus Route 1 covers the same distance in roughly 20 minutes for $1.25

Once in Venice, Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the Boardwalk, and the Venice Canals (quieter and more interesting than most visitors expect) are all walkable from the trail endpoint.

A Few Things That Make This Easier

Traveling without a car in Santa Monica requires a bit of logistics awareness. The hotel's concierge is a genuinely useful resource — they know the neighborhood, give current restaurant recommendations, and can help with bike arrangements and transit questions. A few other notes:

• The beach path gets busy by mid-morning in summer — a morning bike ride before 9am is a different experience than one at noon
• Bring a reusable water bottle; there are refill stations along the bike path
• The Big Blue Bus day pass offers unlimited rides and is worth it if you're planning multiple trips across town

About Ocean View Hotel

Ocean View Hotel is a boutique hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, situated directly across from Palisades Park and seven minutes on foot from the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade. The hotel offers comfortable rooms including upgraded rooms with furnished balconies and ocean views, complimentary bike vouchers, concierge services, and a central location that makes exploring all of Santa Monica entirely without a car both practical and genuinely enjoyable.

View current offers and book your stay at Ocean View Hotel.