The main beach runs north from the pier for about two miles, all the way to the Hermosa Beach border. It is broad, sandy, and consistently less crowded than its more famous neighbours to the north — Hermosa and Manhattan tend to draw the heavier crowds, leaving Redondo with more elbow room even on summer weekends.
The surf is moderate and beach breaks make for forgiving conditions for beginning surfers and bodyboarders; lessons are easy to arrange at any of the surf shops along the pier. Lifeguards are on duty year-round at the busiest stretches and seasonally elsewhere. Volleyball courts and fire rings dot the sand at intervals; outdoor showers and bathrooms run the length of the beach.
The Esplanade, the cliffside road that runs above the beach, has continuous parking meters and is the easiest place to find a daytime spot — though weekends fill up by mid-morning.