Cool Spots

Clutter’s Park: The Best Place to Watch Planes in L.A.

August 1, 2014 by Brian Champlin

Sometimes it’s just a cool experience to find a great vantage point at a nearby airport and watch the miracle of flight as 25 ton chunks of metal arrive and depart in a never-ending assembly line of human transportation.

Well, Clutter’s Park in El Segundo provides just such a perspective on the planes at Los Angeles International Airport.

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Named after former city councilman Jim Clutter for his (according to a nearby plaque) “hard work in maintaining the small town atmosphere of the LAX adjacent community,”  this is not really a park as the name might suggest, but more of a lookout point where you can glean panoramic views of the airport and marvel at the sheer beauty of physics in motion (or just a fun way to kill an evening).

Located on a bluff at the intersection of Imperial Ave & Sheldon St, this is arguably the single best spot to watch planes takeoff and depart in the entire city (along with the Westchester In N Out). And best of all, it’s completely free!

Clutter's Park Google Streetview

[Photo Credit: Google Street View]

 

Things to know:

– Several concrete benches and chess board style tables for you to take a load off and watch the planes.

– Fairly ample street parking available on Imperial Hwy parallel to lookout, but can get crowded at peak times. You’ll almost always see somebody hanging around there taking in the view.

– Bring a zoom-lens and some snacks. You can totally make a date out of it 🙂

Location of Clutter’s Park

Imperial Ave & Sheldon St
El Segundo, CA 90245

 

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