State Parks Near El Monte, California
31 state park units lie within 50 miles of El Monte. The closest is Pío Pico State Historic Park, about 6 mi southwest of town. 7 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Pío Pico State Historic Park6 mi southwest
- Within 25 miles
- 7of 31 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 12parks list campsites
- Dog-friendly
- 17pets allowed
State parks near El Monte, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central El Monte; driving distance is usually longer.
Pío Pico State Historic Park
Things to do include historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Pío Pico State Historic Park →Los Angeles State Historic Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, biking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Los Angeles State Historic Park →Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area
Things to do include picnicking and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area →Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park →Verdugo Mountains Park Property
Visitors come for wildlife watching, geocaching, biking, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Verdugo Mountains Park Property →Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
The park supports fishing, wildlife watching, biking, picnicking, and hiking. The official site lists about 5 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area →Chino Hills State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Chino Hills State Park →Dockweiler State Beach
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, biking, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Dockweiler State Beach →Bolsa Chica State Beach
The park supports surfing, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and biking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Bolsa Chica State Beach →Santa Monica State Beach
Things to do include surfing, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and biking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Santa Monica State Beach →Los Encinos State Historic Park
Things to do include historic sites, ranger programs, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Los Encinos State Historic Park →Will Rogers State Historic Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Will Rogers State Historic Park →Will Rogers State Beach
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and biking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Will Rogers State Beach →Huntington State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Huntington State Beach →Topanga State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for Topanga State Park →Placerita Canyon State Park
Things to do include historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Placerita Canyon State Park →Corona del Mar State Beach
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Corona del Mar State Beach →Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, biking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park →California Citrus State Historic Park
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking.
Hours, fees and rules for California Citrus State Historic Park →Crystal Cove State Park
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, and boating. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Crystal Cove State Park →Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, surfing, historic sites, boating, and swimming. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Malibu Lagoon State Beach →Malibu Creek State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, swimming, fishing, and ranger programs. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for Malibu Creek State Park →Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park →Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
Things to do include surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area →Saddleback Butte State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Saddleback Butte State Park →Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Castaic Lake State Recreation Area →Point Dume State Beach
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, surfing, historic sites, swimming, and ranger programs. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Point Dume State Beach →Doheny State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, historic sites, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for Doheny State Beach →Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach →Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve →Lake Perris State Recreation Area
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, and boating. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Lake Perris State Recreation Area →
Best picks by activity
Camping near El Monte
- Chino Hills State Park 21 mi southeast · Campground listed
- Dockweiler State Beach 25 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Bolsa Chica State Beach 26 mi south · Campground listed
- Topanga State Park 32 mi west · Campground listed
- Placerita Canyon State Park 33 mi northwest · Campground listed
+ 7 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near El Monte
- Los Angeles State Historic Park 11 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
- Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park 15 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area 20 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
- Chino Hills State Park 21 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Bolsa Chica State Beach 26 mi south · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 12 more in the list above
Swimming near El Monte
- Dockweiler State Beach 25 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Bolsa Chica State Beach 26 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- Santa Monica State Beach 27 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- Will Rogers State Beach 29 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- Huntington State Beach 30 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 10 more in the list above
Hiking near El Monte
- Los Angeles State Historic Park 11 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area 12 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Verdugo Mountains Park Property 18 mi northwest · Hiking trails listed
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area 20 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Chino Hills State Park 21 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
+ 23 more in the list above
Fishing near El Monte
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area 20 mi west · Fishing listed
- Bolsa Chica State Beach 26 mi south · Fishing listed
- Santa Monica State Beach 27 mi west · Fishing listed
- Will Rogers State Beach 29 mi west · Fishing listed
- Huntington State Beach 30 mi south · Fishing listed
+ 9 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near El Monte
What is the closest state park to El Monte?
Pío Pico State Historic Park is the closest, about 6 miles southwest of El Monte in a straight line. Next are Los Angeles State Historic Park and Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area.
How many state parks are near El Monte?
31 state park units are within 50 miles, and 7 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near El Monte have camping?
12 parks list camping, the nearest being Chino Hills State Park, Dockweiler State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near El Monte?
Yes, at 17 parks, including Los Angeles State Historic Park, Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near El Monte?
None of the nearby parks list free entry; most charge a daily vehicle fee or accept an annual pass. Fees are on each park page.
State parks near other cities
- Near Glendale, CA14 mi northwest
- Near Pomona, CA15 mi east
- Near Anaheim, CA22 mi southeast
- Near Long Beach, CA22 mi south
- Near Los Angeles, CA22 mi west
- Near Ontario, CA24 mi east
- Near San Fernando, CA28 mi northwest
- Near Rancho Palos Verdes, CA30 mi southwest
Or see all California state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.