Need to cool down? You’re in luck- there are TONS of great places to swim in Long Beach! Read on for a full list of our favorites.
Temperatures are creeping up, and with many in Long Beach living without AC, it gets HOT both inside and outside!
One of the best ways to cool down is by throwing yourself into some water and getting some relief from the heat.
Luckily, we know exactly where to swim in Long Beach. Whether you want a pool, beach, or just a place to splash around, we’ve got you covered with this list of the best places to swim in Long Beach.
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The Best Places to Swim in Long Beach
First up, you’ve got to decide what you’re looking for. Do you need a cheap or free option? Do open bodies of water freak you out? Or are you just looking for somewhere for the kids to cool off?
No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find what you need right here in town.
Option 1: Pools in Long Beach
Are you looking for a pool to swim in here in Long Beach? You’ve got some great options!
We’ve got a whole post about the best public pools Long Beach, with all the info you need to get in the pool fast.
Here’s the Cliffs’ Notes version if you don’t have a lot of time to browse our full post:
- Long Beach Public Pools- Long Beach city pools are open around the city, with somewhere to swim almost every day for a low cost. Pools are located at Silverado Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Jordan High School, and Cabrillo High School.
- Lakewood Public Pools- We’ve also got two public pools located in Lakewood, with narrower open swim hours but low prices. They are located at Bolivar (called McCormick Pool) and Mayfair. We’ve got a whole post about Mayfair Pools if you need more information.
- Community Centers- It may be worth looking into a membership at the YMCA or Alpert JCC, where open swim will be free and easy.
Option 2: Splash Pads and Wading Pools
If you don’t want to get wet yourself, but just want a cool place for your kids to play, there are wonderful splash pads near Long Beach.
Here are a few ideas if you don’t want to head over to our splash pad post:
- Lakewood Parks Wading Pools- There are amazing wading pools located across Lakewood, with times and hours varying across the parks.
- Long Beach Towne Center Splash Pad- This is the only splash pad in Long Beach proper.
- Clarkdale Park– Clarkdale Park is a tiny hidden gem, but man is it a neat little park. Read all about Clarkdale Park here.
- Further South- There are more splash pads in Orange County than there are in Long Beach. Head to our Splash Pad post for more information.
Option 3: Water Parks Near Long Beach
In the mood to go BIG? There are tons of neat water parks near Long Beach.
The downside? These are going to cost you. But if you grab a season pass, you’ll be swimming sweet all summer long.
Here are our favorites:
- Knott’s Soak City- Located just a half hour away in Buena Park, this is some pretty easy water park fun. Both bigger and littler kids will enjoy it.
- Splash! La Mirada– Also about thirty minutes away, Splash! La Mirada is a LOT of bang for your buck. You can easily spend a happy day there with your kids tehre.
- Wild Rivers in Irvine- This one is quite a drive, but this newly reopened water park is getting rave reviews already.
Option 4: Best Swimming Beaches in Long Beach
We’re surrounded by water, and so there’s no shortage of places to go for a swim. However, not all of the beaches make for great swimming.
If you’ve got younger kids, you probably want to stay away from the ocean-facing beaches if you’re in the mood to actually swim.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Colorado Lagoon– You’ve got to think more “lake” and less “beach” to enjoy this one, but it’s my kids’ favorite place to actually go for a swim.
- Alamitos Bay– This is probably the most popular beach in Long Beach, with excellent swimming (but not so great parking). Your best best is to park near the Leeway Sailing Center.
- Mother’s Beach– This is more of a “wading pool” depth, which is how it got it’s name. Littler ones will enjoy swimming here, but at low tide, older kids and adults won’t get much swimming in.
Related Post: Best Beach Snacks for Kids
We hope you were able to find a place to swim in Long Beach that’s just right for you and your family on this list.
And if not, there’s always plenty of ways to keep cool in your own backyard.
What did we miss? We’d love to hear your favorites in the comments!
Looking for more water fun? Head here next-