1 / 3Pier Playground
📍 Santa Monica, CA
Small sand-based playground at Santa Monica Pier featuring a wooden boat climbing structure with crawl spaces and a dragon that sprays water when activated. Best for toddlers and young children as part of a broader pier visit.
I have spent 4 hours of my 6 hours at santa monica pier sitting at this playground, throwing a tennis ball. 11/10, would do again. Just make sure when you go to bubba gumps you ask for no lettuce or tomato or you will only eat the fries (they pretty good tho).
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for toddlers and young children as a quick stop during a pier visit rather than a standalone destination. The boat structure and dragon feature genuinely delight young kids. Families with older children will find the space too small to hold their attention.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →16 Google reviews
JoeyC123
5 years ago
“I have spent 4 hours of my 6 hours at santa monica pier sitting at this playground, throwing a tennis ball. 11/10, would do again. Just make sure when you go to bubba gumps you ask for no lettuce or tomato or you will only eat the fries (they pretty good tho).”
Ashley Sundquist
11 months ago
“This is basically a cute and petite sandbox style playground! The dragon even “breathes” smoke out of his nose when the water is turned on.”
Louise Boilevin
a year ago
“Its a small play area not much here but nice wood boat to climb on crawl around , has sand around it”
Jillian Hsiung
6 months ago
“I took my children here at 9:30am on a Monday morning, the small ship structure was filled with empty beer cans and graffiti. We felt uncomfortable and decided to leave when a mostly unclothed man started walking towards us muttering threats. He followed close behind until we were on the pier. Maybe it is better later in the day when there are more people around.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Pier Playground is a compact sand play area anchored by a wooden boat structure with crawl spaces and a dragon feature that produces a water/smoke effect when running. The footprint is small — approximately 100 square feet of active play space. Friendly custodial staff work the surrounding area. The playground is embedded within the broader Santa Monica Pier precinct with food, rides, and beach access nearby.
