Gyms, boxing and free outdoor workouts in Santa Monica. The beach is the cheapest gym in town.
Short answer: Santa Monica has three free places to train outdoors, and the paid options start with boxing at Iron Fitness and a free first class at Box ’N Burn. Time Out lists the rings and ropes south of the pier, the Santa Monica Stairs (170 wooden steps, 199 concrete) and Clover Park’s 15-station course with no entry fee. Indoors, Iron Fitness publishes $89/month for gym only and $119/month for boxing only, and Time Out lists Box ’N Burn’s first class as free.
Yes, the city that gave us Muscle Beach still lets you do pull-ups on the sand for nothing. After that it gets pricier, and most gyms here do not post a rate, so here is what each one says in public.
$0
outdoor options Muscle Beach rings, the Santa Monica Stairs and Clover Park’s fitness course list no entry fee (Time Out)
$89
gym-only month at Iron Fitness; boxing only is $119 and gym plus boxing is $159 (Time Out)
199
concrete steps on the Santa Monica Stairs, next to 170 wooden steps (Time Out)
At a glance
Compare in 10 seconds
From each business’s own page or license record, checked November 2, 2026. Prices and hours change, so confirm before you go.
Move in Santa Monica compared
Place
Type
From
Try it
Good fit for
Original Muscle Beach
Outdoor rings, bars, ropes
No entry fee listed
Walk up
Pull-ups, rings, calisthenics
Santa Monica Stairs
Outdoor stair climb
No entry fee listed
Walk up
Cardio, leg days
Clover Park fitness courseCity of Santa Monica
15-station outdoor circuit
No cost listed
Walk up
Circuit training, jogging loop
Iron Fitness
Gym and boxing
$89/mo gym · $119/mo boxing
—
Boxing, weights under one roof
Box ’N Burn
Boxing and kickboxing classes
$30 per class
First class free
Beginners, bag work
Santa Monica Striking
MMA, Muay Thai
—
—
Striking, private sessions
CrossFit Santa Monica
Coached CrossFit
—
Drop-in, no advance sign-up
Group workouts
Blue Republic CrossFit
CrossFit, Olympic lifting
—
Walk-ins welcome
Early weekday classes
AMP CrossFit Santa Monica
Coached CrossFit
—
—
Scaled group workouts
“—” means the source we checked doesn’t list it, not that the place never offers it.
Where to go
Move in Santa Monica
No paid placements. Each place is here for a stated reason, with the source we checked on November 2, 2026.
Original Muscle Beach
Free
Rings and bars
Ocean view
Outdoor calisthenics area on the sand south of Santa Monica Pier with rings, parallel and uneven bars, swings and ropes.
Why it’s here. No signup, no card, no tour. Free to use, with an ocean view thrown in.
Price
No entry fee listed. Two-hour metered parking nearby; downtown structures offer the first 90 minutes free, per Time Out.
Hours
No hours published by the sources. Pacific Park’s page tells visitors to check its operating calendar before going.
How
Walk up and wait your turn on the rings. Equipment listed by Time Out: parallel bars, uneven bars, rings and ropes.
Where
Ocean Front Walk, off Appian Way, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Twin staircases, one wooden with 170 steps and one concrete with 199, where people jump rope, jog, and do pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups between climbs.
Why it’s here. A leg day with a free price tag. Good for men who like a hard workout and no one selling them a membership.
Price
No entry fee listed. Water is sometimes sold at the top for $1 on an honor system.
Hours
No hours published.
How
Walk up, bring your own water. Time Out says Adelaide Drive parking is residents-only (try San Vicente or metered spots on Ocean Avenue) and the nearest restroom is along Ocean Avenue at Idaho. It also names the La Mesa stairs (201 steps, no railing) as a quieter option.
City park with a 15-station outdoor fitness course (rope climb, balance beam, vault bar, horizontal ladder, dips, chin-ups) beside a paved, lit jogging path.
Why it’s here. A ready-made circuit with a lit jogging path around it. The Time Out page is dated 2013, so check the city’s site for current hours and fees.
Price
No cost listed on the page.
Hours
Not published on the page.
How
Walk up and follow the loop. Time Out says the path passes each station; the parking lot is off 28th Street.
Gym with cardio, strength and functional equipment, plus boxing classes with a ring, heavy bags and mitts; Santa Monica.com adds an outdoor training area and a recovery room with an infrared sauna and cold plunge.
Why it’s here. Monthly prices on the record and boxing coaching in the same building as the weights. Time Out lists lockers, showers, towels and parking.
Price
$89/month gym only · $119/month boxing only · $159/month both. Time Out says memberships include access to both the Santa Monica and Brentwood clubs.
Boxing and kickboxing classes mixing bag work, conditioning circuits and sparring, with a Santa Monica location on Lincoln Blvd. (named in a Santa Monica Daily Press feature originally published in 2017).
Why it’s here. A free first class and a listed $30 drop-in (both from the Brentwood listing, so confirm for Santa Monica), so you can find out whether you like getting hit with a medicine ball before committing.
Price
$30 for one class; $169/month unlimited at both locations. Per Time Out’s Brentwood listing. Confirm current rates with the gym.
Hours
Not published for the Santa Monica location. The Time Out listing is for the Brentwood club and shows one phone number and one set of hours without saying which club they apply to.
How
Time Out’s Brentwood listing says the first class is free. It describes instructors covering the basics for newcomers while the rest of the class warms up.
Paraphrased from public discussions, with links. Not endorsements.
Where can I work out in Santa Monica without paying?Time Out lists the rings and bars south of the pier, the Santa Monica Stairs and Clover Park’s 15-station course with no entry fee. Time Out ↗
Can I try boxing before I commit?Time Out lists the first class at Box ’N Burn as free, with single classes at $30 afterward. Time Out ↗
What does a gym with boxing cost?Iron Fitness lists $89/month for gym only, $119/month for boxing only and $159/month for both. Time Out ↗
Before you book
Make the first visit easy
Ask for the price before the tour
Most CrossFit and striking gyms here do not publish rates. Ask for the monthly price, the contract length and the cancellation terms in writing.
Parking is part of the workout
Time Out says Adelaide Drive is residents-only. Use San Vicente or the metered spots on Ocean Avenue instead.
Trainers aren’t state-licensed
California does not license personal trainers, so ask which certification a coach holds and check it with the certifying body.
On NOCTI
Independent professionals in Santa Monica
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Quick answers
FAQ
Is Muscle Beach in Santa Monica free?
Time Out lists no entry fee for the rings, bars and ropes south of Santa Monica Pier. Pacific Park’s page says to check its operating calendar before visiting.
How many steps are the Santa Monica Stairs?
Time Out counts 170 steps on the wooden staircase and 199 on the concrete one.
Does Box ’N Burn offer a free first class?
Yes, per Time Out. It lists single classes at $30 and $169 a month for unlimited classes.
How much is Iron Fitness in Santa Monica?
Time Out lists $89/month gym only, $119/month boxing only and $159/month for gym plus boxing, with access to its Santa Monica and Brentwood clubs.
Listings checked November 2, 2026. NOCTI is not affiliated with the businesses listed and receives nothing for listing them. Ratings and reviews belong to their platforms; follow the links to read them. This guide is general information, not medical advice.