Beach Bonfire in Los Angeles
Everything you need to know about having a successful beach bonfire in Los Angeles, California!
I’ve had dozens of beach bonfires in Los Angeles and have learned ways to make it a success, so that’s what I’m here to share with you!
CLICK THE LIST BELOW FOR THE LIST OF MY FAVORITE BEACH BONFIRE PRODUCTS :)
THE LOCATION:
Dockweiler State Beach
12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
It’s a beautiful beach where you can enjoy the airplanes leaving LAX flying right above you, people on the bike path, sailboats in the distance, plenty of birds, and sometimes people are even surfing.
Whether you go during the day or night, I truly love the atmosphere here!
PARKING:
You will drive onto the street and see the attendant so you can pay for parking. You’ll pay (it’s around $7 during the week and around $15 on the weekends, depending on the time of year) and then you can find a place to park.
On the left is the RV side, on the right is the regular car side. Unless you have an RV, you have to park on the right side.
So unless you’re an RV, these directions apply to you :) You’ll pay, then turn right and drive down the road until you see the stop signs.
Now, there are 2 lots that you can pull into to park! You will see them on the left while you’re at the stop signs. The first lot is usually more busy, especially during the summer. However, it is near the restrooms that are open everyday of the week! The second parking lot has a lot of parking as well, but if you go on a weekday then keep in mind to not use the restroom at the very end (the end where there are no more bonfire pits).
CLAIMING A FIRE PIT:
It is “first come, first serve” here. In the summer, definitely go early in the day or else you might not get a fire pit! If you’re going other times throughout the year, there is typically a fire pit available for you to use. If you’re going with a group, having someone there to make sure to claim one is always a great idea :)
PRO TIP: If there are no fire pits available, you can always WALK over to the RV side (you cannot park over there with a normal car) and see if there are any available there instead.
BUILDING THE FIRE:
There are fire pits on the beach, but you need to bring your own fire starter and firewood. I usually order THIS fire starter from Amazon, or grab or from Whole Foods.
You will also need a long lighter — I use THESE to light the fire starter up.
You also need to get regular firewood! I prefer the “ENVIRO-FLAME PREMIUM FIREWOOD” 6 pack from Whole Foods, but Home Depot also has firewood! We usually get at least 5 of these 6-pack logs to last us for a couple of hours.
*I am an Amazon Associate, so some of these links might be affiliate links - I earn from qualifying purchases, but that won’t impact you at all :)
You then want to built a little fort on top of the Enviro-Log using the firewood, then light the Enviro-Log up! Try to even fan the flame with something to get the fire going, if needed.
Once the fire starts to get low, just add more wood to it! It’s very low effort to maintain the fire as long as you keep an eye on it and have enough firewood :)
ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:
There are trash cans at every firepit, so make sure to throw trash away in there and not into the fire pit to burn.
It gets very windy as the sun goes down, so try to stay away from the ashes that will fly (typically in the direction directly towards the road and away from the ocean).
It also gets very COLD, so that’s why some of these next items are useful. Including the flashlight, because it gets extremely DARK so it’s easier to pack up at the end of the night when you can actually see :)
MORE PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND:
Collapsible Wagon: You will be carrying many things and your firepit is not right by the cars, so it’s much easier to wheel a wagon through the sand instead of making 10 trips back and forth! This is great for everyday life as well — we use it for groceries and packages on the regular!
Portable Lightweight Folding Chairs:
These weigh 2.7lbs so they’re SO EASY to carry, and they hold up to 400lbs! These are helpful for staying out of the sand and they even have side pockets to put your phone or anything else inside of it. I even use these in my home when we have lots of people over!
Beach Tent: I always bring this with me, even if noone sits inside of it! This is helpful for sheltering food & items and even limiting wind coming from the waves towards your fire!
2-in-1 Waterproof Mat + Blanket: This combo is so easy to carry and I love it for the beach! The waterproof mat prevents sand from getting all in the blanket, and the blanket is super pretty and machine washable.
Canvas Tote Bag: This is great for limiting sand in your things! I love putting more valuable things in my bag, including my electronics.
Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker: I do love the sound of the waves and good conversation, but having a speaker truly elevates the entire experience! I recommend a wireless waterproof one that can withstand outdoor environments. I also have a silicone cover for mine with a carrying handle and so it protects it from sand!
Beach Towels: Even if you don’t get in the water, you should definitely bring beach towels! They are great to sit on, put food on, and even just to set your things down on because the sand can get everywhere.
Flash Light: It gets VERY DARK after your fire goes out at night and you don’t want to be packing up your things without light! I’ve had this one for years and I love how it’s rechargeable and has different brightness levels. It’s great for the beach!
Water Bottle + Filter Straw: This is ESSENTIAL because you want to make sure you’re not dehydrated, but also limit plastic waste! I love these with the filter straw so I can refill my water and know that it’s immediately purified :)
Leather Backpack: I prefer to use a backpack like this because sand literally just falls off of it instead of sticking onto it! It’s very easy to clean and keeps items free from sand.
Binoculars: These aren’t a “need” but I love watching the green flash as the sun sets over the water! I also love seeing what’s going on and even looking up at the planes flying overhead.
Rechargeable Hand Warmers: I know there will be a literal fire, but you can’t get every part of your body with the heat! I keep 2 of these in my pockets because once the sun goes down, it gets VERY COLD, so I keep myself warm with these.
Sturdy Tripod: This isn’t essential, but if you are planning on capturing memories, you definitely want a STURDY tripod that can withstand the wind! This one is my favorite!
Rechargeable Portable Fan: This is great for if you get too hot, especially before the sun goes down!
Backpack Cooler: I use this A LOT, not even just at the beach! It has 2 separate sections so you can add in hot + cold items. It’s leather, high quality, and it’s also a backpack so it’s easy to bring wherever you go!
Portable Charger: You don’t get the best service at this beach, so your phone dies VERY fast! Especially if you’re playing music or filming with it. I highly recommend this charger — I bring it with me everywhere!
S’mores Sticks: These are perfect for bringing to roast marshmallows or even mini brie cheeses for a cute charcuterie spread! These are extendable so you can protect yourself from the fire’s heat, but also become small so they’re easy to carry and store.
Beach Blanket Towel: I love bringing this as extra seating room and even as a towel to dry off with! Especially if you’re going as a group… not everyone remembers or even knows to bring blankets or towels, so this is small & lightweight enough to bring :)
Boots: I HIGHLY recommend bringing combat boots/closed toed shoes because the beach gets super cold at night! The sand doesn’t get caught in your socks with these shoes.
Portable Water Bottle for Dogs: This is our favorite bottle for our dog because you can add in snacks and it also sucks the unused water BACK IN if they don’t drink it all, so none goes to waste!
