Malibu Lagoon State Beach

The Malibu Lagoon is where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. The park unit is composed of the lagoon and the historic Adamson House. If you take the Adamson House tour, you can enjoy the balcony view that overlooks Malibu's historic Surfrider Beach and Malibu Pier. The area is one of the first places where modern surfing culture developed.

To the east, the famous Malibu Pier offers fishing, restaurants and views of the surf. At the Malibu Lagoon day use area, visitors will find picnic tables and nature trails, excellent for bird watching and the study of a unique tidal wetland ecosystem.

The Adamson House at Malibu Lagoon State Beach overlooks the Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach. This showplace of Malibu historical artifacts is a California Historical Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1929, this Spanish Colonial Revival home contains the best surviving examples of decorative ceramic tile produced by Malibu Potteries. The home was built for Merritt Huntley Adamson and Rhoda Rindge Adamson, daughter of Frederick Hastings Rindge and May Knight Rindge—last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish grant.

The adjacent Malibu Lagoon Museum allows visitors to walk through the history of the area from the regional capital of the Chumash tribe, to the early Californio ranchos and later, the American gentleman’s ranches, to the birth of the surfing era. Museum docents give delightful tours filled with historical anecdotes.

Location-Directions
From Santa Monica, follow the Pacific Coast Highway 13 miles west. From the 101 Freeway, exit at Las Virgenes Road, proceed 10-miles west through Malibu Canyon, turn left at Pacific Coast Highway, travel 1.5-miles east. Entrance for parking and the nature area is at Cross Creek Road. Walk east across the bridge and follow the dirt lane to the Adamson House.
Latitude/Longitude: 34.0333 / -118.6783

The State Beach parking lot is located on the west side of the Malibu Creek Bridge. A county parking lot is located directly in front of the Adamson House.

Parking fees (for the State Beach parking lot):

• All day – $12.00 per car, per day
• 3 hrs – $9.00 per car
• 2 hrs – $6.00 per car
• 1 hr – $3.00 per car
• Large Bus- $125 per bus
• Small Bus- $50 per bus

Disabled Access
Vehicles are not allowed on the grounds unless the license plate displays the disabled emblem. Disabled access to the museum and the first floor of the house is available. A video of the upper floor is available upon request.

Know Before You Go

Malibu Lagoon/ Adamson House does not have Public Parking on site. Public Parking is located on Cross Creek Road. Once parked, we ask that you walk east across the bridge and follow the dirt lane to the Adamson House.

Surfrider Beach is operated by Los Angeles County - please visit their website for additional information and parking.