Los Angeles: Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour

The coast feels different on two wheels. This two-hour Segway ride links Santa Monica and Venice Beach with a guide, safety training, snacks, and a front-row route along the waterfront. I like the easy way it covers both beach districts, and I especially like that the route includes Venice’s canals, Muscle Beach, Santa Monica Pier, and the California Heritage Museum.

The main drawback is the price: $199 per person is a serious outlay for a two-hour activity. You also need to follow strict footwear rules, and the tour is not available to children under eight. Still, if you want a guided introduction to the coast without walking the full distance, this is a practical and entertaining choice.

Key points before you book

• Two beach districts in two hours: Ride from Santa Monica toward Venice and return by way of the waterfront.
• A short training session comes first: You learn to control the Segway before joining the public paths.
• Venice canals add something beyond the beach: The route includes the unusual homes and architecture around this historic enclave.
• Muscle Beach is part of the ride: You pass one of Southern California’s most famous fitness landmarks.
• The meeting point is easy to miss: Look for the beachfront entrance near Casa Del Mar Hotel, not Segway of Santa Monica.
• The price includes useful extras: Helmet, guide, instruction, snacks, and beverages are included.

Starting beside Casa Del Mar Hotel

Your meeting point is the beachfront entrance of the Casa Del Mar Hotel at 1910 Ocean Way in Santa Monica. The guide will be wearing an Another Side Tours shirt and riding a Segway, which helps you identify the right person.

This detail matters because the meeting point is not Segway of Santa Monica. The two names are easy to confuse, especially if you are arriving by car. The location is near the toll booth just south of Casa Del Mar.

If you drive, there is a cash parking lot beside the hotel. The stated cost is usually $7 to $12. I would bring cash and allow extra time to park, since arriving late would cut into the instruction period and the actual ride.

The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off. You need to make your own way to the coast, so this works best if Santa Monica is already part of your day. You can call 310-289-8687 if you have trouble finding the guide or the entrance.

Learning the Segway before the crowds

The tour begins with safety instruction and a short practice session. One past account describes the training taking place on a parking area, giving the rider time to feel comfortable before heading onto the concrete paths.

That is a useful feature, especially if you have never tried a Segway. The machine responds to your body position, so you need a few minutes to understand how it moves, stops, and turns. A good guide can make the difference between feeling awkward and feeling ready.

Guide Luce has received particularly warm praise for instruction and customer care. Another guide, Cameron, was also singled out for making the ride enjoyable. The strongest pattern in the feedback is clear: the human side of the tour matters as much as the machine.

You receive a helmet, and safety guidance is included in the booking. The experience is not a race. You are riding with a guide through public areas, so the pace should allow you to stay with the group and take in the surroundings.

You must be at least eight years old. Children under eight cannot participate. The footwear rules are also firm: sandals, flip flops, and sports shoes are not allowed. Check your shoes before leaving your hotel, because the tour provider can refuse participation if you arrive in unsuitable footwear.

Santa Monica’s waterfront and Ocean Front Walk

Once the instruction is complete, the route heads along Santa Monica’s seaside paths. This is the part of the tour that gives you the best sense of the coast as a place to live, exercise, visit, and simply watch the day unfold.

You glide beside the waterfront and along the famous Santa Monica Boardwalk. The concrete route makes the Segway a sensible choice here. You cover more ground than you would on foot, but you remain close enough to notice the seaside homes, galleries, and people using the beach.

I like this section because it is not limited to a single photo stop. You get a moving view of Santa Monica, with the guide helping connect the sights. The ride is also a good option if your time in Los Angeles is short and you want to see both Santa Monica and Venice without arranging separate visits.

The route passes chic galleries along Ocean Front Walk and seaside real estate. These details give the ride some local flavor. Santa Monica is not only a beach and a pier. It is also a polished coastal district where expensive homes, public paths, shops, and leisure spaces sit close together.

The boardwalk can be active, and you need to pay attention while riding. That is one reason the opening lesson matters. You are not practicing in an empty room, then stepping into a quiet street. You are learning a vehicle you will use around other people, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Santa Monica Pier from a rolling viewpoint

The Santa Monica Pier is one of the route’s main landmarks. Its long structure reaching into the Pacific is easy to recognize, and seeing it while moving along the waterfront gives you a different angle than a quick stop at the entrance.

The tour is not presented as a long pier visit or a separate amusement-park experience. Instead, the pier forms part of the larger coastal ride. You should think of it as a scenic landmark within the route rather than a full attraction visit.

That distinction helps set expectations. If you want time for rides, restaurants, or a long walk on the pier, plan to return on your own after the Segway tour. The two-hour schedule is designed to link several sights, not give you extended time at each one.

For a first look at Santa Monica, the pier is well placed. It gives the guide a natural point of reference and helps you understand how the beach district fits together. I also like the fact that the tour does not stop at the pier and turn back. Venice is still ahead.

The California Heritage Museum stop

The route also passes the California Heritage Museum. This adds a cultural note to a ride that could otherwise focus only on beach scenery and celebrity landmarks.

The museum is housed in a historic setting and is connected with the preservation and display of California-related culture and design. The provided tour information identifies it as a stop along the route, so you should expect to see it during the ride rather than assume the schedule includes a full museum admission or interior visit.

That is an important distinction. The tour is primarily a Segway outing, not a museum tour. If the building catches your interest, you can make a separate visit when you have more time.

I appreciate the inclusion because it breaks up the beach sequence. Santa Monica and Venice are known for sunshine and ocean views, but their appeal also comes from the mix of architecture, local stories, art, and public spaces. Even a short museum stop can help you notice more than the obvious postcard sights.

Entering Venice through canals and unusual homes

The route continues into Venice, a district developed by Abbot Kinney as a fantasy version of Venice in northern Italy. The canals are the clearest reminder of that original idea.

Here, the mood changes. You leave the broad beach setting and see a more residential side of the district, with canals, distinctive homes, and unusual architecture. The canals are not a substitute for Venice, Italy, of course, but they give this part of Los Angeles its own character.

I consider the canal section one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour instead of simply renting a bicycle or walking the main boardwalk. A first-time visitor might focus on the beach and miss the nearby residential details. With a planned route, you get a better sense of how Venice shifts between public spectacle and quieter streets.

The tour information also points to Venice’s underground arts scene, active beach culture, and bohemian character. You may see street performers and pass art galleries along the way. The guide helps frame what you are seeing, which is useful in a district where the most interesting details are not always marked with a sign.

Keep in mind that a Segway tour gives you an overview, not unlimited time to browse. If a gallery or performer catches your eye, you may need to return later. That is the tradeoff for covering both Santa Monica and Venice in one outing.

Muscle Beach and the famous Venice boardwalk

Muscle Beach is another major stop. This open-air fitness area has been featured in films and television around the world, making it one of Venice’s best-known names.

The appeal is partly visual and partly cultural. You are seeing a place tied to California’s long-running image of outdoor exercise, beach bodies, and public performance. It is not a conventional museum with quiet rooms and display cases. The interest comes from the setting and the people using it.

You ride along the Venice Boardwalk, where the atmosphere is more eclectic than Santa Monica’s polished waterfront. Street performers, artists, unusual buildings, and the active beach community all contribute to the experience.

I would not choose this tour if you want a slow, unstructured afternoon at the boardwalk. You have a guide, a timetable, and a route to follow. But if you want a lively introduction before exploring independently, the format works well.

The return journey gives you a second look at the waterfront from a different direction. Since the ride goes from Santa Monica to Venice and back, you are not simply dropped at the other beach district. That makes the tour more useful for visitors who need to end near the original meeting point.

What the $199 price really buys

At $199 per person, this is not a budget sightseeing option. The activity lasts two hours, and the price does not include transportation to or from Casa Del Mar Hotel.

The value comes from the combination of equipment, instruction, route planning, and guide service. You do not need to rent a Segway separately, learn the route yourself, or work out how to connect Santa Monica with Venice. A helmet, safety lesson, snacks, and beverages are included as well.

The price makes more sense for someone who values time and guidance. If you have only one day around the west side of Los Angeles, the tour lets you see several major sights in a single outing. It can also suit a family with teenagers who want an activity instead of a standard walking tour.

The value is weaker if you already know Santa Monica and Venice, or if you prefer to explore slowly and spend long stretches in shops, galleries, or on the pier. Walking and cycling can offer more freedom, though they do not include the same initial training or guided route.

Group size is not specified, so I would not book expecting a private tour. One past experience happened to have only two participants, creating a private-feeling outing, but that should be treated as luck rather than a guarantee.

Who will enjoy this Segway ride most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want:

• A guided introduction to Santa Monica and Venice
• A way to cover more ground than walking
• A balance of beach scenery, architecture, canals, and landmarks
• An activity that suits families with children aged eight and older
• A short outing with English or Spanish guidance
• A structured route rather than a self-guided day

You may want a different plan if you dislike balancing on unfamiliar equipment, need hotel transportation, or want long stops at individual attractions. The ride also depends on being comfortable around other people on public paths.

Morning can be a pleasant choice if available. One past outing began at 9 a.m., when the temperature was comfortable and the beach paths felt calm. Starting times vary, so check availability before booking rather than assuming a morning departure.

Practical details that can make the day easier

Book only after checking your footwear. Sandals and flip flops are not permitted, and sports shoes are also listed as not allowed. The information does not specify an approved shoe type, so contact the provider if you are unsure about what to wear.

Bring enough time to find the beachfront entrance. The Casa Del Mar location is specific, and the nearby parking lot is cash only. Do not confuse this meeting point with Segway of Santa Monica.

The tour is available with a live guide in English or Spanish. Confirmation is sent by the activity provider within 48 hours of purchase. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.

Snacks and beverages are included, but you should still arrive prepared for a two-hour outdoor activity. The route is exposed to the coast, and the tour description specifically emphasizes California sunshine. A comfortable pace and sensible preparation will make the ride more enjoyable.

Should you book the Santa Monica and Venice Segway Tour?

Book it if you want to see the Santa Monica Pier, Venice canals, Muscle Beach, and the waterfront in one organized outing. The guides receive strong praise for friendly instruction, and that matters when you are learning a Segway for the first time.

At $199, I see this as a convenience purchase rather than a cheap way to sightsee. It is best for first-time visitors, families with older children, and anyone who would rather glide between sights than walk the full stretch.

Skip it if you want a quiet museum visit, a slow afternoon on the beach, or complete control over your stops. For the right person, though, this is a fun and efficient way to get your bearings along two of Los Angeles’s most distinctive beach districts.

FAQ

How long is the Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $199 per person.

Where does the Segway tour meet?

The meeting point is at the beachfront entrance of the Casa Del Mar Hotel at 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, near the toll booth just south of the hotel. Look for a guide in an Another Side Tours shirt riding a Segway.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. You must arrange your own transportation to and from the meeting point.

What age must participants be?

Participants must be at least eight years old. Children under eight cannot join the tour.

What is included in the tour?

The booking includes the two-hour Segway tour, helmet, safety instruction, professional guide, snacks, and beverages.