Culver City Plunge

Some of the finest water on LA’s west side: well-maintained, low-chemical, and a perfect cool temperature. The facilities are somewhat labyrinthine both in terms of entry/parking and the locker rooms but, if you swim there more than once or twice you’ll crack the code. It’s a popular pool so reservations for a top-of-the-hour spot are effectively mandatory, though a weekday drop-in after the morning rush is a possibility. Reservations are limited to three swimmers per lane so it’s never too crowded. There are several popular, scheduled long course periods each week with different reservation times and lane capacities from the short course.

The pool is clearly visible on the right driving south on Overland but getting to it and figuring out where to park can be tricky. Your best bet is several large parking lots that you enter from Culver Blvd. (i.e., northwest of the pool). There is some parking along Barman Ave. (south of the pool) but read the signs carefully for time restrictions, etc. Even when the lanes are busy during the evening/short course session with teams and classes, there is still tons of lane availability for lap swimmers and the water is always fantastic.

Rating: 9 on a scale of 10. Excellent. Clean, sparkling pool. The only easily available 50m pool in the LA area. It's only set up long-course at certain times of the day, but the swimmers at those times are focused lap swimmers.