Long Beach Bike Routes
Explore the best Long Beach bike routes for epic coastal adventures, scenic valley rides, and challenging singletrack. Use this guide and the route planner to find rides that match your goals and riding style.
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Best Long Beach Bike Routes for Different Ride Goals
For Fitness & Training
The San Gabriel River Trail is the go-to route for Long Beach cyclists looking to build fitness. This 38-mile paved path offers a flat, fast surface with minimal traffic crossings — perfect for interval training, tempo rides, and building endurance. Start at the Long Beach Marina trailhead and ride north for a customizable out-and-back.
For Commuting
Combine the LA River Bike Path with Long Beach's protected downtown bike lanes for a safe, efficient commute. The Broadway and 3rd Street protected lanes connect directly to the waterfront, making it easy to get from residential neighborhoods to downtown offices without dealing with heavy traffic.
For Sightseeing & Tourism
The Marvin Braude Bike Path offers the quintessential Long Beach experience — ride from Shoreline Village past the Queen Mary, through Belmont Shore, and down to the Long Beach Marina. Stop for coffee, grab lunch at a waterfront restaurant, and enjoy some of the best ocean views in Southern California.
For Social & Group Rides
The Naples Island loop is a favorite for social group rides. At just 3 miles, it's short enough for conversation but scenic enough to feel special. The charming canals, waterfront homes, and bridge crossings make it one of the most picturesque rides in the city. Extend the ride by connecting to the Marvin Braude Bike Path for a longer social outing.
Types of Bike Routes in Long Beach
Beginner-Friendly Bike Routes in Long Beach
If you're new to cycling or just looking for a relaxed ride, Long Beach has excellent beginner-friendly routes. The city's flat terrain and extensive bike infrastructure make it one of the easiest places to start cycling in Southern California.
Colorado Lagoon Loop
This 3-mile loop around the restored Colorado Lagoon is the perfect beginner route. The path is fully paved, traffic-free, and offers beautiful water views. It's short enough for a first ride but interesting enough to keep you coming back. Parking is available at the lagoon, and there are benches and grass areas for rest breaks.
El Dorado Park Trails
El Dorado Park offers a network of paved and unpaved paths through one of Long Beach's largest green spaces. The park is flat, the paths are well-marked, and there's plenty of shade. It's an ideal spot for families with children or anyone who wants to practice riding in a car-free environment.
Naples Island Loop
The Naples Island loop is a gentle 3-mile ride over charming bridges and along scenic canals. The route is flat, the traffic is minimal, and the scenery is stunning. It's a great confidence-builder for new cyclists who want to experience the joy of cycling without the stress of traffic.
Scenic Bike Routes in Long Beach
Long Beach is blessed with some of the most scenic cycling routes in Southern California. From oceanfront paths to tranquil waterways, these routes showcase the best of the city's coastal beauty.
Marvin Braude Bike Path — The Coastal Classic
This 6.8-mile oceanfront path is the most scenic route in Long Beach. Ride from Shoreline Village past the Queen Mary, along Belmont Shore Beach, and down to the Long Beach Marina. The path is separated from cars and pedestrians, offering uninterrupted ocean views the entire way. Sunrise and sunset rides are especially spectacular.
San Gabriel River Trail — The River Journey
While not coastal, the San Gabriel River Trail offers a different kind of scenic beauty. The paved path follows the San Gabriel River from Long Beach north into the San Gabriel Valley, passing through parks, nature reserves, and suburban landscapes. The tree-lined sections provide shade and a sense of escape from the city.
Naples Island & Alamitos Bay
For a shorter scenic ride, the Naples Island loop combined with the Alamitos Bay waterfront offers charming canals, waterfront homes, and bay views. Cross the iconic bridges, ride past the Naples Canals, and stop at the cafes along Second Street in Belmont Shore.
Custom Bike Routes with the Long Beach Route Planner
Want to create your own custom route? Our AI-powered Route Planner takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect ride. Simply enter your starting location, choose your preferred duration, distance, and difficulty, and let the planner generate personalized route recommendations tailored to your preferences.
How It Works
The Route Planner uses AI to analyze your preferences — including location, desired distance, riding time, difficulty level, and optional themes like scenic, family-friendly, or coastal cruising — and generates three custom route recommendations. Each recommendation includes a route name, start and end points, distance, estimated duration, key highlights, and the best time to ride.
Tips for Best Results
- Be specific with your starting location — Use a specific address or landmark for the most accurate routes
- Match difficulty to your fitness level — Long Beach is flat, so even 'hard' routes are accessible to most riders
- Try different themes — Each theme produces different route suggestions based on your interests
- Save your favorites — Once you find a route you love, save it to your profile for future reference
Ready to plan your ride? Use the Route Planner above to generate your custom Long Beach cycling routes.
How to Choose the Right Long Beach Bike Route
Match the Route to Your Goals
Start by identifying what you want from your ride. Commuting calls for direct routes with minimal stops — the LA River Bike Path and downtown protected lanes are ideal. Fitness riders should seek distance and consistent surfaces — the San Gabriel River Trail is the top choice. Sightseeing and social rides benefit from scenic, low-traffic routes like the Marvin Braude Bike Path or Naples Island loop.
Consider Your Fitness Level
Long Beach's flat terrain makes most routes accessible, but distance still matters. Beginners should start with routes under 5 miles — the Colorado Lagoon loop or Naples Island are perfect. Intermediate riders can handle 10-20 mile routes like the full Marvin Braude Bike Path out-and-back. Advanced cyclists can tackle 30+ mile rides on the San Gabriel River Trail or LA River Bike Path.
Factor in Time of Day
Long Beach routes change character depending on when you ride. Early morning offers cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and the best light for photography. Midday is great for river trail rides where shade is available. Late afternoon and sunset rides on the coastal path are stunning but can be crowded — especially on weekends. Avoid the Marvin Braude Bike Path between 10 AM and 4 PM on summer weekends if you prefer solitude.
Check the Weather
Long Beach has great cycling weather year-round, but the marine layer (May-July) can make mornings foggy and cool. Afternoon winds pick up along the coast, so plan for headwinds on southbound coastal rides. Summer temperatures can reach the 80s — bring extra water for longer rides. Check the forecast and plan accordingly.
What to Know Before Riding in Long Beach
Long Beach Bike Infrastructure
Long Beach is one of the most bike-friendly cities in California, with an extensive network of protected bike lanes, bike paths, and sharrows. The city has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, including protected lanes on Broadway, 3rd Street, Pine Avenue, and along the waterfront. Familiarize yourself with bike lane markings and follow all traffic laws.
Route Safety
Always wear a helmet, use lights at night, and follow the rules of the road. On bike paths, keep right except to pass and announce passes clearly. On streets, ride predictably and use hand signals. Long Beach drivers are generally accustomed to cyclists, but always make eye contact at intersections and be cautious around large vehicles.
What to Bring
- Helmet — Required for safety, recommended for all riders
- Water — Essential on all rides, especially in summer
- Sunscreen — Coastal sun is strong even on overcast days
- Phone — For navigation, emergencies, and photos
- Lock — If you plan to stop at shops or restaurants
- Basic repair kit — Tube, pump, and multi-tool for longer rides
Where to Get Gear
Need a bike, gear, or a repair? Long Beach has excellent bike shops throughout the city. Check out our Long Beach bike shops guide for rental locations, repair services, and gear recommendations. Many shops are located near popular trail access points.
Explore Long Beach's Bike Trails
Check out our guide to the best bike trails in Long Beach with detailed descriptions and ratings.
Find Local Shops
Discover bike shops in Long Beach for gear, repairs, and refreshments along your route.
Join Group Rides
Connect with Long Beach bike group rides and explore these routes with other cyclists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Long Beach AI Route Planner work?
The AI Route Planner uses your starting location, desired duration, distance, difficulty level, and optional theme to generate three personalized cycling route recommendations. It draws on knowledge of Long Beach's bike paths, protected lanes, and scenic routes to suggest rides that match your preferences. Each recommendation includes start and end points, distance, estimated time, highlights, and the best time to ride.
Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to use the Route Planner?
Not at all! The Route Planner works for cyclists of all skill levels. Simply select 'Easy' difficulty for flat, leisurely routes, or 'Hard' for longer, more challenging rides. Long Beach's flat terrain makes most routes accessible to beginners, so even 'hard' routes are manageable for riders with basic fitness.
Can I save routes I like?
Yes! If you're logged in, you can save any recommended route to your profile by clicking the save icon on the route card. Saved routes appear in your profile page and can be accessed anytime. You can also view detailed maps and directions for saved routes.
What are the best routes for commuting in Long Beach?
For commuting, the LA River Bike Path provides a traffic-free connection from Long Beach to downtown LA. Within Long Beach, the protected bike lanes on Broadway, 3rd Street, and Pine Avenue make downtown commuting safe and efficient. The San Gabriel River Trail is also great for north-south commuting to cities like Cerritos and Whittier.
What's the most scenic bike route in Long Beach?
The Marvin Braude Bike Path is the most scenic route in Long Beach. This 6.8-mile oceanfront path offers uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean, passing the Queen Mary, Belmont Shore Beach, and the Long Beach Marina. For a shorter scenic ride, the Naples Island loop offers charming canals and bay views in about 3 miles.
Are the AI-generated routes suitable for road bikes?
Yes! All Long Beach bike paths are fully paved and suitable for road bikes with thin tires. The Marvin Braude Bike Path, San Gabriel River Trail, and LA River Bike Path all feature smooth asphalt surfaces. The Route Planner considers surface type when generating recommendations, so road cyclists can ride with confidence on any suggested route.