Dawn patrol surfing in Venice

Venice, California

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Venice means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 2 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:14 AM
First Light: 5:44 AM

Day length: 13h 31m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:14 AM

First light: 5:44 AM

Sunset

7:45 PM

Last light: 8:15 PM

Data from Venice Beach· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:14 AM

Sunset

7:45 PM

Day Length

13h 31m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

7:44 PM

Day Length

13h 29m

Sat, Aug 15

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

7:43 PM

Day Length

13h 28m

Sun, Aug 16

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

7:42 PM

Day Length

13h 26m

Mon, Aug 17

Sunrise

6:17 AM

Sunset

7:41 PM

Day Length

13h 24m

Tue, Aug 18

Sunrise

6:18 AM

Sunset

7:40 PM

Day Length

13h 22m

Best dawn patrol spots in Venice

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Featured Beaches(2)

Venice Beach

Beginner friendly

Venice Beach is an iconic LA surf spot with a classic beach break setup.

Venice Breakwater

Intermediate

The Venice Breakwater is a hollow and powerful sandbar/jetty break that produces lefts and rights over a sandy bottom. It needs a solid west or northwest swell and offshore northeast wind to break cleanly. Strong currents around the jetty and a competitive local scene make it better for intermediate surfers.

Dawn patrol access guide for Venice

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Venice Beach
beach
beginner-intermediate

Venice Beach is an iconic LA surf spot with a classic beach break setup.

Early access

Use public beach paths and stay away from dense swimmer or boardwalk traffic.

Parking

Parking and beach traffic are heavy; plan around official lots and early arrival.

Venice Breakwater
breakwater
intermediate

The Venice Breakwater is a hollow and powerful sandbar/jetty break that produces lefts and rights over a sandy bottom. It needs a solid west or northwest swell and offshore northeast wind to break cleanly. Strong currents around the jetty and a competitive local scene make it better for intermediate surfers.

Early access

Walk along the boardwalk and enter the water near the jetty; watch for slippery rocks around the breakwater.

Parking

Park at the public lots off Venice Boulevard or use metered street parking; expect fees and crowds.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Venice

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Venice

Dawn patrol in Venice typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

Make the next surf call sharper

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.

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