These LA suburbs are perfect for families who love walking to restaurants, parks, playgrounds and everywhere in between.
Getting your steps in is easy when you hit the streets of LA’s vibrant suburban communities on foot. But, as any local will tell you, the real joy comes from living in an amazing locale where you can walk to your favorite café on a whim or take the stroller out for a spin and explore some of the world’s best kid-friendly museums and boutiques on your way.
The challenge, though? Finding a truly walkable suburb in LA. Because each area is so unique—and because everyone defines “walkability” differently—nailing down the right town can be tricky. But, at the same time, whether you want to live a true car-free lifestyle or just the freedom to run for the corner store for milk, it’s easy to find the right LA suburb. Some towns with the best “walkability?”
Santa Monica
The beach, four farmers’ markets, a handful of downtown streets scattered with restaurants, shops and their friendly owners, the 3rd Street Promenade…the real question is, where can’t you walk in Santa Monica?
Walkability has been one of the best parts of living in or visiting Santa Monica for decades, and the city works hard to keep it that way—right down to offering Santa Monica Free Ride with – yep, you guessed it—free rides between downtown, the Santa Monica Pier, Main Street and Montana Avenue. In electric-vehicle shuttles, no less!
Fairfax / Beverly Grove
The Mid-City West section of town is one of the most walkable and one of the most fun to explore on foot. Home to kid-friendly hotspots like LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits, and prime shopping (The Grove and The Original Farmers Market), Fairfax and Beverly Grove don’t leave much to be desired in the way of walking. If you enjoy an active lifestyle and the flexibility to run errands without the hassle of a car, this suburb is definitely worth checking out.
Silver Lake
Far from the main LA hub but still super walkable, Silver Lake boasts strong schools and tons to do for the whole family when classes aren’t in session. Given its urban-meets-suburban feel—and tons of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and parks which are heavily walkable — LA families won’t feel like they’ve wandered too far from home. What’s more, Silver Lake’s nightlife scene (which Niche gives an A+) makes residents feel like they’re in the middle of the action but, still, calm and tucked away in suburbia.
West Hollywood
With a walking score of 91, WeHo is easily one of LA’s most-walkable suburbs. The city only spans 1.9 miles and is jam-packed with cuisine from every ethnicity and price point imaginable, plus bars, luxury condos and the WeHo Heights, Norma Triable and West Hollywood North shopping districts. When you’ve had enough walking back and forth, grab a ride home (or across LA) on the free CitylineX shuttle.
Pacific Palisades
The recent opening of Palisades Village last fall transformed the Village area making it incredibly family-centric—and incredibly walkable. Pair that with Alphabet Streets and the Huntington Palisades adjacent and, overall, you’ve got a walker- and biker-friendly community that’s perfect for young families looking to escape the hustle and bustle—but still have everything nearby. There’s a reason Coastal Living dubbed Pacific Palisades a “dream town”—and one stroll through and you’ll see why.
There are hundreds of towns to choose from. How do you figure it all out? You simply don’t, without getting a Suburban Jungle Strategist to help you through it all. Schedule here for your strategy session with our innovative suburbs strategy team. All services are completely free.