Finding a place to sweat in Santa Monica is honestly a bit of a nightmare if you care about your wallet. You have the ultra-premium spots like Equinox on Wilshire where the eucalyptus towels probably cost more than my first car, and then you have the gritty outdoor boxes that are great until it actually rains—which, yeah, does happen sometimes. 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica sits in this weird, essential middle ground. It’s the workhorse of the 4th Street corridor.
It isn't perfect. Let's just get that out of the way.
If you're looking for a "wellness sanctuary" with crystals and a shaman, you're in the wrong zip code. But if you want to hit a deadlift platform at 6:00 AM without a thirty-minute wait or just need a reliable squat rack after a long shift at Silicon Beach, this is basically the anchor of the local fitness scene.
The Reality of Training at 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica
The Santa Monica location—technically the "Santa Monica Super-Sport" for those keeping track of the corporate tiers—is tucked away at 1417 2nd Street. It's a massive subterranean footprint. Being underground in Southern California feels a little counter-intuitive when the beach is three blocks away, but the square footage they’ve managed to cram into that basement is actually impressive.
You've got rows of cardio. Olympic lifting platforms. A turf zone.
The vibe is distinct. It’s a mix of UCLA students, career trainers who have been there since the early 2000s, and tourists who realize their hotel gym is just a broken treadmill and a 5-lb dumbbell. It gets loud. It gets crowded. But there is a specific energy to a basement gym in a beach town that you just don't get at the fancy boutiques on Montana Avenue.
What Actually Sets This Location Apart?
Most corporate gyms feel like carbon copies of each other, but the Santa Monica spot has some quirks. For one, the Olympic lifting platforms are actually maintained. In many big-box gyms, the bars are bent and the plates are crumbling, but because the Santa Monica crowd actually knows how to clean and jerk, the equipment tends to stay in better rotation.
Then there's the turf.
🔗 Read more: How to Eat Chia Seeds Water: What Most People Get Wrong
Functional training is king here. You’ll see people doing sled pushes and farmer’s carries right next to someone doing bicep curls in the mirror. It’s chaotic, but it works. The staff is surprisingly chill for a high-volume gym. They’ve seen everything. From pro athletes trying to stay incognito to people who haven't touched a weight in a decade, the "Super-Sport" designation means they try to keep the amenities a step above the basic clubs.
Navigating the Peak Hours (And Why You Should Care)
Listen, if you show up at 5:30 PM on a Monday, you’re going to have a bad time. That is the universal law of 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica. The "after-work" rush in Santa Monica is legendary because everyone is trying to blow off steam before hitting the 10 or the PCH.
Try the mid-morning lull.
Between 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, the place transforms. It’s quiet. You can actually hear the music over the sound of slamming plates. This is when the local freelancers and hospitality workers take over. If you have the flexibility, this is the "hack" to enjoying the club. You get full access to the squat racks and the cable machines without having to play the "how many sets do you have left?" game every five minutes.
The Parking Situation: A Necessary Warning
Parking in Santa Monica is a sport in itself. The gym offers validated parking in the structure, but don't expect it to be a breeze. The turns are tight. The spaces are small. If you're driving a massive SUV, may the odds be ever in your favor. Honestly, if you live within two miles, just bike or take a scooter. You'll save ten minutes of circling levels 3 through 6 and probably get a better warm-up anyway.
Amenities and the "Super-Sport" Label
What does "Super-Sport" even mean? In the 24 Hour Fitness hierarchy, it’s supposed to denote higher-end finishes and more perks. At the Santa Monica location, this translates to:
- Sauna and Steam Room: These are hit or miss. Sometimes they are the best part of the day; sometimes one is down for maintenance. When they’re working, they’re a godsend for recovery after a heavy leg day.
- Lap Pool: It’s an indoor pool. It’s not the Olympic trials, but for lap swimming in a city where most pools are private or overcrowded public lidos, it’s a massive plus.
- Whirlpool: Great for soaking, though again, check the "maintenance" sign before you get your hopes up.
- Personal Training: They have a deep bench of trainers. Some are clearly just starting out, but there are a few veterans who have forgotten more about biomechanics than most "influencer" trainers will ever know.
The locker rooms are... locker rooms. They are clean enough, but they're high-traffic. Bring your own lock. Always.
💡 You might also like: Why the 45 degree angle bench is the missing link for your upper chest
The Membership Maze
Price is usually why people end up at 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica instead of Equinox or narrowed-focus studios like OrangeTheory. But the corporate pricing can be confusing. You’ve got "National Access" vs. "Single Club," and then there’s the annual fee that always seems to surprise people in their third month.
Pro tip: Check for Costco deals or corporate discounts through your employer.
Santa Monica is an expensive city to exist in. Spending $50 to $70 a month for a full-scale gym with a pool and sauna is objectively a steal compared to the $250+ people pay elsewhere in the neighborhood. Just make sure you read the fine print on the cancellation policy. It’s better than it used to be, but it’s still a big corporation. They want your monthly draft to stay active forever.
Misconceptions About Big Box Gyms in SM
People think because it’s a "chain," the quality isn't there. That's a mistake. The density of fitness talent in Santa Monica is so high that the people training next to you at 24 Hour Fitness are often professional trainers themselves who just want a place to lift heavy things without the fluff.
It’s a "lifting" gym disguised as a corporate club.
You’ll see people moving serious weight. It’s inspiring if you’re into that, and a bit intimidating if you’re not. But the culture is generally respectful. Everyone is there to do the work and get out. There’s less of the "see and be seen" vibe that you find at the gyms closer to the Promenade. It’s grittier.
Is It Worth It for You?
If you live in the 90401, 90403, or 90405 zip codes, this is your best bet for a "do everything" facility. You can swim, lift, cardio-out, and steam in one go.
📖 Related: The Truth Behind RFK Autism Destroys Families Claims and the Science of Neurodiversity
It’s for you if:
- You value variety over aesthetic lighting.
- You actually use the pool or sauna.
- You need to train at odd hours (though check current hours, as "24 Hour" doesn't always mean 24 hours anymore post-pandemic).
- You want a gym where you can wear an old t-shirt and nobody cares.
It’s NOT for you if:
- You get stressed by crowds.
- You need "spa-like" cleanliness at all times.
- You hate underground spaces without natural light.
- You want a curated, boutique class experience every single time.
Actionable Steps for Joining
Don't just walk in and sign the first thing they put in front of you. Start with a Free Pass. They almost always offer a 3-day or 7-day trial. Use it. Go at the exact time you plan on training. If you plan to go at 6:00 PM, go then during your trial. See if you can handle the crowd. See if the machines you like are available.
Check the equipment.
If you’re a swimmer, look at the pool lanes at 8:00 AM. If you’re a powerlifter, see if the bars are straight. Once you're ready to commit, look for "no initiation fee" promos. They happen constantly, especially around the New Year, before summer, and during back-to-school season.
Finally, get a locker lock with a key or a combo you won't forget. Don't leave your bag on the floor. It’s Santa Monica—it’s safe, but it’s still a high-traffic public space. Respect the gym floor, re-rack your weights, and you’ll find that 24 Hour Fitness Santa Monica is one of the most reliable tools in your health arsenal.
Keep your eyes on the goal, not the crowd. The best gym is the one you actually show up to.